Tweetings

We're in the middle of a heatwave here in the UK so for my midweek card I've made a Christmas card!  I decided that I have been neglecting my good intention of making a few Christmas cards per month and today's card is a feeble attempt to increase the numbers (by 1) with a tweet sweet stamp set from Honey Bee called Season's Tweetings (I've used the sentiment of the same name too).

The birds are really cute and could be chicks, penguins or robins so are quite versatile.  I stamped and masked 3 of them in this mini flock and sponged ink around them in Victorian Velvet, Tumbled Glass, Stormy Sky and Black Soot.

Water-coloured on Langton Watercolour paper with Ranger Distress Ink Reinkers:

• Birds: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, Tattered Rose, Worn Lipstick
• Greens: Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Peeled Paint
• Sky: Victorian Velvet, Tumbled Glass, Stormy Sky, Black Soot
• Santa Hat: Festive Berries, Aged Mahogany, Iced Spruce

Card Recipe:

From Dies To Die For:

• Honey Bee Stamps Season's Tweetings (Image and sentiment)
• Versafine Ink Pad

Other:

• Nitwit Collections Papers (Promises Solids)
• Black Glaze Pen
• White Gel Pen

I've been inspired by:

• Crafty Calendar - Things with Wings
• Country View Crafts - Humorous watercoloured using DI Reinkers and Pads from CVC
• Crafty Inspirations - CAS (or Fussy, but it's easy to see which I opted for!)
• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Use more than one stamp (using Honey Bee Stamp Set & watercoloured using DI Reinkers)

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

3 Bottles

I decided to try to be organised for my holidays this year by buying some 100ml cosmetic bottles for my holibobs (Wilkos had them for 50p each or 3 for 2).  They even have detachable clips to prevent them from dispensing whilst squished in transit.  

I decided to decorate the labels with semi-related images;  I chose 

1. James with his umbrella for shower gel, 
2. Umbrella bear with a wet head for shampoo, and 
3. Dressed Up girlie bear touching her face for cleanser

Well, they kind of work!  :0)

All of the digis are from Lili of the Valley and I printed them onto normal white printer labels.  I will admit that the labels were awful to colour but the images were so small I decided it didn't really matter. My blending and shading sort of went out the window but they'll be no prizes for colouring on this project!

I covered the labels with clear tape to protect them from condensation and moisture when they're in the bathroom, but I took the photographs before I added the tape because I knew it would be difficult to photograph if they were glossy.

In case you're desperate to know, the font I used for the text is called "KG Beneath Your Beautiful Chunk".  It bothers me that I want to change the "your" in its name to "you're" because as it currently reads I am left to ponder what a 'KG' is, why one might be stored beneath a 'chunk' and what a 'chunk' actually is (beautiful or otherwise).  

Surely these are too many questions for a mere font name to generate?

I'm off to lie down in a dark room.

Recipe:

• Dressed Up from Lili of the Valley (cleanser)
• James Umbrella from Lili of the Vallley (shower gel)
• Umbrella bear from Lili of the Valley (shampoo)
• Wilko empty cosmetic dispensers
• Coloured (badly) with Copics
• White printer labels
• Font: KG Beneath Your Beautiful Chunk

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Monday Challenge - Inspired by a Song (Summer Holiday!)

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

The Best Friends Have Four Legs

I treated myself to the recently released 'New Best Friend' from MFT at a Dies to Die For pop-up shop a few months ago. This is my first card using the stamps and co-ordinating dies.  The stamped sentiment is from the same set too.

Water-coloured on Langton Watercolour paper with Ranger Distress Ink Reinkers:

• Hair/Boots: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, Gathered Twigs
• Fur: Frayed Burlap, Walnut Stain
• Skin: Tattered Rose, Tea Dye, Worn Lipstick
• Grass: Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• Blues: Tumbled Glass, Stormy Sky, Faded Jeans
• Jumper: Candied Apple, Barn Door, Aged Mahogany

Card Recipe:

From Dies To Die For:

• MFT New Best Friend
• MFT Dienamics New Best Friend
• Versafine Ink Pad
• MFT Stitched Scalloped Basic Edges 2

Other:

• Nitwit Collections Papers
• Pink pawprint ribbon

I've been inspired by:

• The Sketchy Challenge - Ribbon or Twine
• Penny Black & More - Anything Goes

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Hello Duckie

My favourite colours are pink, purple and blue but choosing between them is sometimes difficult (and often depends on my mood!).  I've always loved pink though; it's so soft and feminine.  The new pink or blue challenge at As You Like It Challenge had to be pink for my choice. (just don't ask me the same question again tomorrow if you want the same answer!)

Water-coloured on Langton Watercolour paper with Ranger Distress Ink Reinkers:

• Duck: Mustard Seed, Fossilized Amber, Mustard Seed, Spiced Marmalade, Rusty Hinge
• Present: Spun Sugar, Worn Lipstick
• Greens: Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• Sky: Tumbled Glass
• Spots: Broken China, Stormy Sky, Wilted Violet, Abandoned Coral

Card Recipe:

• Duck with Presents from Kinda Cute by Patricia
• Wild Orchid Crafts Cosmos Daisy
• Wild Orchid Crafts Open Roses
• Wild Orchid Crafts Mini Rosebuds
• Crealies Crea-Nest-Lies XXL53 Scalloped Circles
• Crealies Crea-Nest-Lies XXL41 Pierced Circles
• 15mm Satin Ribbon

I've been inspired by:

• Creative Inspirations - Fussy & Fancy
• Crafty Calendar - Things With Wings
• The Sketchy Challenge - Ribbon

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

You Make Every Day Better

I've been playing with some cute owls from Gerda Steiner today.  I masked the owls before adding the tree and used a sentiment from an MFT set.

Water-coloured on Langton Watercolour paper with Ranger Distress Ink Reinkers:

• Owls: Antique Linen, Tea Dye, Vintage Photo, Gathered Twigs
• Greens: Twisted Citron, Shabby Shutters, Mowed Lawn, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• Tree: Frayed Burlap, Walnut Stain

Card Recipe:

From Dies To Die For:

• Gerda Steiner Fall In Love
• MFT Friends Furever
• MFT Bundles of Blossoms Pastels Paper Pack
• Versafine Ink Pad

I've been inspired by:

• Creative Inspirations - CAS or Fussy & Fancy
• Crafty Calendar - Things with Wings
• Gerda Steiner - Share Your Designs

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Pop Up Critters

It's a picture heavy post today because I've made a twist and pop card with each panel featuring a different critter.  I've also tried some 'ombre' inking using distress inks and a sponge dauber to create the sky and ground.

It is my first card using this fold and it took a while to make, but I was pleased with the finished result.  

My Japanese friend often sends me pop-up or 3D cards so I specifically wanted to make one for her birthday and chose this style to try.

This is an image of the front of the card:

This is the inside once it's 'popped' open:

Next I have a few close ups of each of the 4 inside panels:

And finally how they lined up inside the card:

Card Recipe:

• Purple Onion Designs Stacy Yacula Studio Rosie
• Purple Onion Designs Stacy Yacula Studio Scattered Flowers & Hush Butterfly
• Purple Onion Designs Stacy Yacula Studio Johnny Sitting Bear
• Purple Onion Designs Stacy Yacula Studio Elliot Mouse with Leaf
• Purple Onion Designs Stacy Yacula Studio Puddles Dog
• Purple Onion Designs Stacy Yacula Studio Chloe Bunny with Flower
• Purple Onion Designs Stacy Yacula Studio Bloom No.2
• Water-coloured on Langton Watercolour paper with Ranger Distress Ink Reinkers

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Monday Challenge - Ombre (using Ranger Distress Ink Reinkers)
• Creative Inspirations - CAS or Fussy & Fancy
• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Animal Magic
• Penny Black & More - Anything Goes

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Have a Tail Wagging Good Time

For my mid-week card this week, I'm in puppy mode with this tail wagging cutie from MFT.  I've added a little bit of background for him in colours to match the papers, but I've kept the whole design quite plain and masculine (apart from the pearls!)

Water-coloured on Langton Watercolour paper with Ranger Distress Ink Reinkers:

• Fur: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo
• Grass: Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• Sky: Tumbled Glass
• Collar: Stormy Sky, Faded Jeans

Card Recipe:

• Puppy Pals from MFT
• Versafine Ink Pad
• MFT Patterned Plaids Merry & Bright Paper Pack
• MFT Stitched Scalloped Basic Edges 2
• Flat Backed Pearls

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Monday Challenge - Time Out using Ranger Distress Ink Reinkers
• Crafty Creations - Anything Goes
• Creative Inspirations - Clean & Simple
• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Animal Magic

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Tiggers

I've always loved tigers. They're beautiful, graceful solitary creatures who unlike most cats, actually love water!  Unfortunately many are endangered and some subspecies are already extinct.  I remember writing a whole scrapbook project on them when I was at school and I've loved them ever since I can remember.  I'm pretty sure that I still have that scrapbook somewhere. I may have to dig it out and read it again! 

So why am I telling you this? Well today is the start of a new challenge at As You Like It where we want to know your favourite animal.  I've been a little bit creative with the choice of image for my card, because I've opted for a mini-tigger in the form of a ginger kitty.  I do actually have my own mini-tigger called Arnie who is currently curled up on the chair next to me snoring. He's quite old now (we think about 17 or 18) and (selectively) deaf, but he's still my 'baby boy'.  He used to go out, but we have to keep him inside because he got into the habit of walking up and down the middle of the road rather than using the pavements (clearly not applying his Green-Cross-Code) and he can't hear the cars beeping their horns.  

My neighbour told me once that she saw Arnie walking down the center of the road at his own pace with a bus crawling along following.  The bus driver eventually stopped, got out and picked up Arnie to plonk him onto the pavement before driving round him, but this was a common occurrence.  Understandably some drivers did not think him so amusing so we have to keep him in for his own protection. It has its merits because he's turned into a real lap cat now and barely leaves my side/lap when I'm home which I love!  

When he was allowed out, he used to sit on the gatepost waiting for me to come home in the evenings. I'm not sure how long he spent out there, but a local photographer put some photos of our street on the web and there was a pic of Arnie on his gatepost looking a bit peeved at having his photograph taken!

Anyway, if you're still with me, apologies for my drivel today.  Here's my card!  The ribbon is far more 'Cadbury' than the blue hue that's showing in my photo. It's even called 'Chocolate Purple'!  I just can't get the colour to appear as it does in real life in the picture, so you'll have to take my word for it!

Water-coloured on Langton Watercolour paper with Ranger Distress Ink Reinkers:

• Fur: Antique Linen, Tea Dye, Vintage Photo
• Ribbon: Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• Present: Milled Lavender, Dusty Concord
• Sky: Tumbled Glass
• Ground: Old paper, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss

Card Recipe:

• Kitten Trio Presents from Lili of the Valley
• 15mm Chocolate Purple Satin Ribbon
• 6mm Chocolate Purple Satin Ribbon
• Glossy Accents
• Flat Backed Pearls
• Nitwit Collections Papers (Promises Solids)
• Wild Orchid Crafts Cherry Blossom
• Wild Orchid Crafts Cosmos Daisy
• Wild Orchid Crafts Open Roses
• Go Kreate Labels nested die
• Crealies Crea-Nest-Lies XXL65 Double Stitched Circles

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Monday Challenge - Flower Power
• Crafty Creations - Anything Goes
• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Yappy Birthday

There's a pack of puppies seeking some attention and wishing a Yappy Birthday today!  The set's from Mama Elephant and I had to do a bit of masking of these cuties to group them. I added a sentiment and paw print from the same set.

Water-coloured on Langton Watercolour paper with Ranger Distress Ink Reinkers:

• Grey Dog: Pumice Stone, Black Soot
• Tan Dog: Tea Dye, Vintage Photo
• Brown Dog: Frayed Burlap, Walnut Stain
• Greens: Shabby Shutters, Mowed Lawn, Forest Moss
• Reds: Festive Berries, Aged Mahogany
• Ground: Hickory Smoke, Black Soot

Card Recipe:

From Dies To Die For:

• Mama Elephant Playful Pups
• Versafine Ink Pad
• MFT Paper Pack Plaid Patterns Merry & Bright
• Lawn Fawn Stitched Border Dies

I've been inspired by:

• Creatalicious - Anything Goes with dies

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Baby Bottle

I've made a second card for the new release of baby images at Lili of the Valley which are due out today.  I've created a bottle shaped base card and added the Clouds image in a pink theme.

Water-coloured on Langton Watercolour paper with Ranger Distress Ink Reinkers:

• Giraffe/Basket/Brown teddy: Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, Gathered Twigs
• T-shirt: Tattered Rose, Worn Lipstick
• Baby: Tattered Rose, Tea Dye, Worn Lipstick
• Bunnies: Worn Lipstick
• Blue teddy: Stormy Sky, Faded Jeans
• Birds: Brushed Corduroy, Tattered Rose
• Sky: Tumbled Glass
• Baby's clothes: Seedless Preserves
• Clouds: Weathered Wood

Card Recipe:

• Flat Backed Pearls
• Nitwit Collections Papers
• Pink twine

Created for:

I've been inspired by:

• The Sketchy Challenge - Anything Goes

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Heffalump Babygro

There's an adorable new baby themed release due tomorrow at Lili of the Valley and I've made this card using one of the cute new images. This guy's called Scruffy Edward and I've used the balloon he comes with to create a bunch which I've fussy-cut and linked to the heffalump using embroidery thread.  I've added some small heart buttons and doodle-stitch around all the edges in markers which complement the papers.

Water-coloured on Langton Watercolour paper with Ranger Distress Ink Reinkers:

• Elephant: Weathered Wood, Tattered Rose, Worn Lipstick, Hickory Smoke
• Jumper: Stormy Sky, Faded Jeans, Hickory Smoke, Antique Linen
• Balloons: Stormy Sky 

Card Recipe:

• Scruffy Edward from Lili of the Valley
• Nitwit Collections Papers
• Navy blue heart buttons

Created for:

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Monday Challenge - Doodle
• The Sketchy Challenge - Anything Goes

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Christmas Cookies

Since it's still not feeling like Spring here yet, I've opted for another tally mark on the Christmas card stock with a cute mouse and sentiment from Gerda Steiner.  The papers are not specifically festive but are sufficiently versatile to fit the bill!

Water-coloured on Langton Watercolour paper with Ranger Distress Ink Reinkers:

• Fur: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, Gathered Twigs
• Greens: Twisted Citron, Shabby Shutters, Mowed Lawn, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• Reds: Abandoned Coral, Aged Mahogany
• White/Ground: Hickory Smoke, Black Soot
• Cookies/Boots: Brushed Corduroy, Ground Espresso

Card Recipe:

From Dies To Die For:

• Gerda Steiner Smell Like Christmas
• MFT Plaid Patterns Merry & Bright Paper Pack
• Versafine Ink Pad
• MFT Stitched Basic Edges
• Flat Backed Pearls

I've been inspired by:

• Creatalicious - Anything Goes
• Gerda Steiner - Share Your Designs

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Rose

I've been playing with some other colouring mediums lately (like my Zig Brush markers and also my DoCrafts Artiste watercolour markers), but my go-to 'safe place' always has to be my DI reinkers. I'm forever learning with them and I have some favourite blends that I use all the time, but I may have gone a bit overboard with the shadows on today's image because there is quite a bit of depth in the petals!  

Ultimately I really like watercolouring with the inks - it's therapeutic although it does take me about 3 times longer than using Copics!

I matched her with rose petal papers called 'Always and Forever' from LOTV (available from Nitwits as digi papers now). Come and share your favourite colouring medium with us this fortnight at As You Like It Challenge.

Water-coloured on Langton Watercolour paper with Ranger Distress Ink Reinkers:

• Hair/Ground: Hickory Smoke, Black Soot
• Skin: Tattered Rose, Tea Dye, Worn Lipstick
• Greens: Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• Reds: Candied Apple, Barn Door, Fired Brick, Aged Mahogany

Card Recipe:

• Stamping Bella Tiny Townie Garden Girl Rose
• Versafine Ink Pad
• Nitwit Collections Always and Forever Papers
• Crealies Crea-Nest-Lies XXL36 Double Stitched Rectangles

I've been inspired by:

• Creatalicious - Anything Goes

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Do I Smell Cake?

I think I could probably sniff out chocolate at 50 paces, but this little fella has sniffed out a huge cupcake that he's now got is eyes on.  I don't think the cake would've lasted too long with me but it looks like it's about to disappear soon anyway.

Water-coloured on Langton Watercolour paper with Ranger Distress Ink Reinkers:

• Monster: Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• Purples: Milled Lavender, Dusty Concord
• Pinks: Spun Sugar, Worn Lipstick
• Ground: Pumice Stone, Black Soot

Card Recipe:

From Dies To Die For:

• Gerda Steiner Monster Fun
• Versafine Ink Pad
• MFT Stitched Scalloped Basic Edges 2
• MFT Stitched Basic Edges 2

Other:

• Nitwit Collections Papers
• 5mm Crystal Gems

I've been inspired by:

• That's Crafty - Circles
• The Sketchy Challenge - Favourite colours (purple with a splash of pink)
• Gerda Steiner - Share Your Designs
• Simon's Monday Challenge - Mythology (monsters!)

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Love gnomes no boundaries

I've been playing with these sweet gnomes this week to create a bright and fun card. The punny text was typed and I noted the irony of offsetting the sentiment outside the "boundary" of the image panel! :0)

Water-coloured on Langton Watercolour paper with Ranger Distress Ink Reinkers:

• Hair: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, Gathered Twigs, 
• Skin: Tattered Rose, Tea Dye, Worn Lipstick
• Greens: Shabby Shutters, Mowed Lawn, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• Sky: Tumbled Glass
• Reds: Candied Apple, Aged Mahogany
• 'Whites': Pumice Stone
• Belt: Pumice Stone, Black Soot
• Flowers: Mustard Seed, Wild Honey, Rusty Hinge

Card Recipe:

• Gerda Steiner 
• Nitwit Collections Papers
• Sentiment typed (Font: Beneath your beautiful chunk)

I've been inspired by:

• Gerda's Monthly Challenge
• Cute Card Thursday - Anything Goes
• Creatalicious Challenge - Friendship

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Sabre Tooth Tigger

I'm sharing a rare 'just for fun' card using a stamp set I've recently bought from Clearly Besotted. I masked the cavemen characters together, making the little girl and boy appear to be holding hands.

I also masked all three of them in order to ink the sky using a small dauber and Tumbled Glass ink pad. The little daubers give a lovely smooth coverage and the colour gets really close to the black line of the image without bleeding into the image itself.  I find it much easier than using a paintbrush and blending it out.

Water-coloured on Langton Watercolour paper with Ranger Distress Ink Reinkers:

• Tiger: Tea Dye, Wild Honey, Rusty Hinge, Ground Espresso, Hickory Smoke
• Girl's Hair: Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, Gathered Twigs
• Boy's Hair & Club: Frayed Burlap, Walnut Stain
• Skin: Tattered Rose, Tea Dye, Worn Lipstick
• Ground: Hickory Smoke, Black Soot
• Sky: Tumbled Glass

Card Recipe:

• Clearly Besotted You Rock Additions
• Versafine Ink Pad
• First Edition Animal Antics paper pack

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Happy Birthday
• Creatalicious - Anything Goes
• Simon's Monday Challenge - Trio (3 characters)

Happy crafting

Annette
xx

You're my Favourite Human

I've been playing with my MFT puppies again with a cute little canine themed card. This little fella needs to tuck into those biscuits before someone else grabs them! 

Water-coloured on Langton Watercolour paper with Ranger Distress Ink Reinkers:

• Fur: Hickory Smoke, Black Soot 
• Grass: Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• Sky: Tumbled Glass
• Reds: Abandoned Coral, Fired Brick, Aged Mahogany

Card Recipe:

From Dies To Die For:

• Puppy Pals from MFT
• Versafine Ink Pad
• MFT Patterned Plaids Merry & Bright Paper Pack
• MFT Stitched Scalloped Basic Edges 2
• Flat Backed Pearls

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Monday Challenge - Trio (trio of pearls and only 3 colours used: green, blue and red)
• Creative Knockouts - Outside Fun

Happy crafting
Annette
xx