Christmas Double Act

I've been using some of the new papers and rubber stamps from Lili of the Valley to create a couple of simple Christmas cards. 

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

• Fur: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, Gathered Twigs, 
• Greens: Shabby Shutters, Mowed Lawn, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• Reds: Abandoned Coral, Festive Berries, Fired Brick, Aged Mahogany
• Snow': Weathered Wood
• Yellows: Squeezed Lemonade, Fossilised Amber, Rusty Hinge

Card Recipe:

• Christmas Friends Rubber stamp set
• Christmas Teds Rubber stamp set
• Scandi Christmas Paper pad
• MFT Stitched Scalloped Basic Edges 2
• Holly Jolly Christmas sentiment

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Heffalump Hugs

Lili of the Valley are releasing some of their most popular images in rubber again next week (release date for your diary is Tuesday 30 October).

One of the images is this adorable little ellie.  He's meant to be a 'baby' themed image, but I love him for any occasion so I've added a 'big hugs' die cut sentiment instead.

I've also used some of the LOTV papers that will be released next week.

I used Distress Oxide for the sky and sprinkled some water using an old toothbrush for some speckles.

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

• Ellie:  Milled Lavender, Dusty Concord, Tattered Rose
• Outfit/Balloon: Shabby Shutters, Mowed Lawn, Peeled Paint
• Sky: Shaded Lilac
• Ground: Pumice Stone, Black Soot

Card Recipe:

• Scruffy Edward from 'Hello Little One' stamp set from Lili of the Valley
• Soft Cuddles (Blue) Paper pad from lili of the Valley
• Versafine Ink Pad
• MFT Stitched Scalloped Basic Edges 2

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Halloween Flags

We want to know your favourite Halloween colours at As You Like It Challenge this week.  I love purple for Halloween and am not usually a fan of orange, but I love it combined with the purple for these backgrounds for a pop of bright colour. 

I've used a banner die to create the flags and used some twigs from the garden through some punched holes to make little flags.

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

• Dog/Cat/Owl: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, Gathered Twigs
• Purples: Milled Lavender, Dusty Concord, Wilted Violet
• Oranges: Wild Honey, Spiced Marmalade, Carved Pumpkin, Rusty Hinge
• Sheets: Pumice Stone

Card Recipe:

From Dies To Die For:

• Gerda Steiner Where's the Candy Stamp Set
• Versafine Ink Pad
• Bunting Dies

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Monday Challenge - Halloween / Spooky (using Ranger Distress Ink Reinkers)
• That's Crafty! - Spookalicious
• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Halloween / Spooky (using Ranger Distress Ink Reinkers)
• Gerda Steiner - October Share Your Design

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Make a Wish

I think this is my favourite image from Stamping Bella's September release. It's really easy to colour too despite my usual apprehension about colouring 'white'.  The pops of colour are really effective.

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

• Polar bear/icing: Weathered Wood
• Mouse: Pumice Stone, Tattered Rose
• Greens: Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• Purples: Milled Lavender, Dusty Concord
• Reds: Abandoned Coral, Festive Berries, Fired Brick, Aged Mahogany
• Ground: Hickory Smoke, Black Soot

Card Recipe:

From Dies To Die For:

• Polar Bear on a Cupcake Stuffie
• Versafine Ink Pad
• MFT Stitched Basic Edges 2
• MFT Plaid Patterns Papers
• Glossy Accents

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Mice Christmas

A couple of quick makes today, using a little mouse from Purple Onion Designs.  They're similar but subtly different papers and colours.

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

• Purples: Milled Lavender, Dusty Concord, Seedless Preserves
• Pinks: Tattered Rose, Worn Lipstick
• Greys Pumice Stone, Hickory Smoke, Black Soot

Card Recipe:

• Holly Mouse from Purple Onion Designs
• Versafine Ink Pad
• MFT Dienamics Stitched Circle Stax
• Nitwit Collections Papers

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Animal Antics

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Warm and Cozy Meecies

When I saw this image I immediately knew who I wanted it for but as soon as I coloured it I fell in love with it myself.  The little meecies are really sweet and the image was easy to colour.

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

• Mice: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Tattered Rose
• Ground: Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• Reds: Abandoned Coral, Festive Berries, Fired Brick, Aged Mahogany
• White: Old paper

Card Recipe:

From Dies To Die For:

• Mice in Boots from Stamping Bella
• Sentiment from Rudolph with a Present on Top
• Versafine Ink Pad
• MFT Merry & Bright Paper Pad
• MFT Stitched Basic Edges

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Animal Antics

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Purple Onion Christmas

There was a time that I thought I would never be brave enough bring myself to join the 'clean and simple' brigade.  There's so much focus on the main image when there's nothing frilly and fancy to distract the attention!  I used to splatter every card with embellishments; flowers, ribbons, dies, pearls, lace, brads etc.  Although I still revert back to full-on embellishment mode every now and then, I have become more adventurous with the 'less is more' concept and actually now enjoy it!  Today's card still has some pearls and die cuts, but there is plenty of white space for the image to take centre stage!

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

• Browns: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, Tattered Rose
• Greens: Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• Sky: Tumbled Glass
• Reds: Abandoned Coral, Festive Berries, Fired Brick, Aged Mahogany
• Snow: Weathered Wood
• House: Antique Linen, Hickory Smoke, Black Soot, Frayed Burlap, Walnut Stain

Card Recipe:

• Home Sweet Home from Purple Onion Designs
• Peppermint Puppy with Bow from Purple Onion Designs
• Cranberry Bird with Gift from Purple Onion Designs
• Versafine Ink Pad
• MFT Pop Up Holiday Greetings die
• MFT Stitched Scalloped Basic Edges 2
• Flat Backed Pearls

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Let it Snow

I'm safely back in Christmas mode today and have created a frosty sky around my image by masking the image (very tricky with all the baubles, holly and star!) and sponging ink around it in two shades of dusky blue.  The snow is added with a white gel pen.

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

• Browns: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, Gathered Twigs
• Blues: Stormy Sky, Faded Jeans
• Reds: Abandoned Coral, Festive Berries, Fired Brick, Aged Mahogany
• Yellow: Squeezed Lemonade, Mustard Seed
• Snow: Weathered Wood

Card Recipe:

From Dies To Die For:

• Peekaboo Reindeer Stuffie
• Versafine Ink Pad
• MFT Watercolor Wash paper pad
• MFT Stitched Scalloped Basic Edges 2
• Glossy Accents

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Just a note ...

Breaking away from my Xmas makes, I'm sharing a quick little notecard today featuring a mouse from Purple Onion Designs. I've not used this notecard die for a while so have created a simple layout using it.  The sentiment is typed.

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

• Fur: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, Gathered Twigs
• Ears: Tattered Rose, Worn Lipstick
• Ground: Old Paper, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• Pinks: Spun Sugar, Worn Lipstick

Card Recipe:

• Heartfelt Mouse with Heart from Purple Onion Designs
• Versafine Ink Pad
• Paper Smooches Notebook die
• Nitwit Collections Papers
• Typed sentiment

I've been inspired by:

• Cute Card Thursday - Anything Goes

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Trio of Tags and a Magnet

It's not a card from me today, but instead I have some tags and a little fridge magnet to share with you.  All of the images are Purple Onion Designs and the tags are from two different dies.  

Card Recipe:

• Fawn (Winter Rabbit)
• Sweetheart (Owl with Heart)
• Bella (Bunny holding Flower)
• Versafine Ink Pad
• Lawn Fawn Puffy Cloud Border Dies
• MFT Dienamics Stitched Circle Stax
• Crealies Crea-Nest-Lies Extreme Labels and Tags No.12
• Paper Smooches Stitched Tag

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Monday Challenge - Tag it

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Carolling Fun #2

I've used another couple of stamps from the newly released 'Carol Singing' set from Lili of the Valley.  It's similar to yesterday's card, but uses different characters.

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

• Fur: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, Gathered Twigs
• Pinks: Tattered Rose, Worn Lipstick
• Greens: Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• Blues: Stormy Sky, Faded Jeans
• Reds: Candied Applie, Barn Door, Fired Brick, Aged Mahogany
• 'Whites': Weathered Wood
• Songbooks: Old Paper, Peeled Paint

Card Recipe:

• Carol Singing from Lili of the Valley
• Bauble Bears (sentiment) from Lili of the Valley
• Versafine Ink Pad
• Winter Pastels Paper Pad from Lili of the Valley
• MFT Stitched Scalloped Basic Edges 2
• MFT Stitched Basic Edges 2
• Memory Box Stitched Snowflake dies
• Flat Backed Pearls

I've been inspired by:

• Creative Inspirations - Anything Goes
• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Carolling Fun #1

You've probably seen that today is the final day Lili of the Valley are selling digis because they're reverting back to rubber stamps and physical paper pads.  I've been playing with one of the new sets.  This one's aptly named 'Carol Singing' and I've combined 3 of the images in the set to create a little festive scene.  The Winter Pastel papers are from the new release and the sentiment is from another of the new stamp sets called Bauble Bears.

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

• Fur: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, Gathered Twigs
• Pinks: Tattered Rose, Worn Lipstick
• Greens: Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• Blues: Stormy Sky, Faded Jeans
• Reds: Candied Applie, Barn Door, Fired Brick, Aged Mahogany
• 'Whites': Weathered Wood
• Songbooks: Old Paper, Peeled Paint

Card Recipe:

• Carol Singing from Lili of the Valley
• Bauble Bears (sentiment) from Lili of the Valley
• Versafine Ink Pad
• Winter Pastels Paper Pad from Lili of the Valley
• MFT Stitched Scalloped Basic Edges 2
• MFT Stitched Basic Edges 2
• Memory Box Stitched Snowflake dies
• Flat Backed Pearls

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes
• Creative Inspirations - Anything Goes

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Summer Flower Tilda

Summer is definitely my favourite season of the year. I love the warmth of the sunshine and the long light days.  Unfortunately we're coming to the end of it now and it's certainly starting to feel colder.  We relented this week and have had the heating on since Tuesday!

We're asking what your favourite season is at As You Like It Challenge and I've used this colourful floral image, papers and embellishments to represent summer.  

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

• Hair: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, Scattered Straw
• Skin: Tattered Rose, Tea Dye, Worn Lipstick
• Grass: Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• Sky: Tumbled Glass
• Purples: Milled Lavender, Dusty Concord
• 'Whites': Weathered Wood

Card Recipe:

• Cute Sakura Tilda
• Versafine Ink Pad
• Nitwit Collections Papers
• Wild Orchid Crafts Open Roses
• Wild Orchid Crafts Mini Rosebuds
• 5mm Pink Crystals
• 15mm Satin Purple ribbon

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes using Distress Ink
• Creative Inspirations - Anything Goes
• Lovely hAnglar or Sweet Magnolia - Flowers (mine are more Summer than Autumn though)

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Magical Christmas

I'm still in Christmas mode but I've used a non-Christmas fairy image today to create a magical card by adding some snowflake papers and a typed sentiment.

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

• Hair: Hickory Smoke, Black Soot
• Skin: Tattered Rose, Tea Dye, Worn Lipstick
• Sky: Tumbled Glass
• Purples: Milled Lavender, Dusty Concord
• Yellows: Squeezed Lemonade, Scattered Straw
• Ground: Pumice Stone, Hickory Smoke, Black Soot

Card Recipe:

• Blanche the Butterfly from Stamping Bella
• Versafine Ink Pad
• Snow Princess papers from Nitwit Designs

I've been inspired by:

• Crafty Catz - Christmas

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Squirrels

A really simple card featuring a Christmas scene which is very, erm, green!

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

• Fur: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, Gathered Twigs
• Greens: Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• 'Whites': Weathered Wood

Card Recipe:

• Squirrels from Lili of the Valley
• Holiday Magic papers from Nitwits

I've been inspired by:

• Creative Inspirations - Anything Goes
• Crafty Catz - Christmas

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Honey Pot Thanks

I love this stamp set from W Plus 9. The bears remind me of a certain 'silly old bear' and I've used two different bears from the set along with the log, beehive (hanging from the tree) and a worried bee!  It's a simple card layout with just a die cut border and sentiment.

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

• Fur: Antique Linen, Scattered Straw, Brushed Corduroy
• Tree: Frayed Burlap, Walnut Stain
• Grass: Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• Sky: Tumbled Glass
• Beehive: Tea Dye, Vintage Photo
• Flowers: Seedless Preserves

Card Recipe:

• Curious Forest Friends from WPlus9
• Versafine Ink Pad
• Crealies Crea-Nest-Lies Extreme Labels and Tags No.12 (used for the stitched border)

I've been inspired by:

• Creative Inspirations - Anything Goes
• Stamping Sensations - B for bears, blue, brown, bee, beehive
• Allsorts - Create a scene

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Puppy Power

For someone who's usually more a 'cat person', I couldn't resist these puppies when I saw them and just 'had' to have them!  

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

• Fur: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, Gathered Twigs, Frayed Burlap, Walnut Stain
• Grass: Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• Sky: Tumbled Glass

Card Recipe:

From Dies To Die For:

• CC Designs Puppy Power
• Versafine Ink Pad
• MFT Plaid Patterns Papers
• MFT Stitched Basic Edges 2

I've been inspired by:

• Creative Inspirations - Anything Goes

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Sending Hedgehugs

A quick post tonight with a card I made last week and had decided I wasn't going to post it, but I came home tonight and figured I'd make a last ditch attempt for the MFT challenge. I decided I've nothing to lose (except my pride, which is long gone!). 

For someone who doesn't really like green, I seem to have used it a lot recently!

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

• Fur: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, Gathered Twigs, 
• Greens: Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• Sky: Tumbled Glass, Broken China
• Acorn: Tea Dye, Vintage Photo
• Log: Frayed Burlap, Walnut Stain

Card Recipe:

From Dies To Die For:

• MFT Happy Hedgehogs
• MFT Roses All Over Pastel Papers
• MFT Stitched Basic Edges

I've been inspired by:

• MFT Colouring

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Bunny Pop-Up Box Card

I've not made one of these pop up box cards for a while and had to dig out my template (safely filed away!) but they're fun to make. I used my cute bunny bubbles stamp set.  The 'mechanism' for making the inside box 'pop' is just an elastic band and it folds flat for posting which is ideal!

I've attempted a little video - hopefully it shows the pop up mechanism working.

Card Recipe:

From Dies To Die For:

• MFT Bubble Over With Joy stamp set
• MFT Bundles of Blossoms paper pad
• MFT Watercolor Wash paper pad
• MFT Dienamics Square Peek-a-boo Window

I've been inspired by:

• MFT Innovation
• Stamping Sensations - B for Bunnies Blowing Bubbles on a Box card

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Bear with me ....

We're asking whether you prefer girlie or masculine cards at As You Like It Challenge
this week, and it's got to be cute and girlie for me. I love pretty papers, pinks, and embellishments, as well as cute images, none of which tend to lend themselves to masculine cards!  

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

• Fur/Hair: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, Gathered Twigs, 
• Skin: Tattered Rose, Tea Dye, Worn Lipstick
• Grass: Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• Purples: Milled Lavender, Seedless Preserves

Card Recipe:

• A Hand To Hold from Lili of the Valley (rubber version but digi also sold)
• Nitwit Papers - Romance and Roses
• Wild Orchid Crafts Cosmos Daisy
• Wild Orchid Crafts Open Roses
• Wild Orchid Crafts Mini Rosebuds
• Crealies Crea-Nest-Lies XXL65 Double Stitched Circles
• 5mm Pink Crystals
• Spotty satin ribbon

I've been inspired by:

• Allsorts - Bears
• Stamping Sensations - B for bears

Happy crafting
Annette
xx