Eeyore

I was in love with these donkeys when I saw the new release at Stamping Bella.  I've always been fond of Donkeys since a child, having one as a soft toy as a baby.  I also love Eeyore from Winnie the Pooh so this set was a must-have as far as I'm concerned!

The sentiment is from another Stamping Bella set, and it seemed perfect for this little fella.

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

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

Card Recipe:

• Stamping Bella Donkey Trio Stuffies
• Stamping Bella Bunny Pile Stuffies (Sentiment)
• Ink On 3 Fadeout Stamp Pad
• Memory Box Notingham Border
• MFT Stitched Basic Edges 2
• MFT Paper Pad
• Flat Backed Pearls
• 6mm Satin Ribbon

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Monday Challenge - Midsummer Blues

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Gnomie Merry Christmas

I hope you're not bored of these already because I've got another sneak peek of the gnomes from Lili of the Valley.  This one's in less traditional purples, but it's a colour I love at Christmas (or any other time of the year!)

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

• Skin: Tattered Rose, Tea Dye
• Beard: Pumice Stone
• Boxes: Frayed Burlap, Walnut Stain
• Purples: Milled Lavender, Dusty Concord
• Greens: Old Paper, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• Boots: Hickory Smoke, Black Soot
• Sky: Tumbled Glass
• Ground: Weathered Wood

Card Recipe:

• LOTV Gnome
• LOTV Handdrawn Sentiment set
• Nitwit Collections Papers
• Crealies Crea-Nest-Lies Stitched Rectangles
• Purple gems

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Gnomie Seasons Greetings

This is my second sneak peek using the new gnome release at Lili of the Valley.  I've used one of the tag sentiments as a signpost by adding a wooden post again. I'm usually really forgetful at adding sentiments so this is a nice way to incorporate it into the image.

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

• Bunny: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy
• Skin: Tattered Rose, Tea Dye
• Beard: Pumice Stone
• Greens: Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• Reds: Candied Apple, Barn Door, Aged Mahogany
• Sky: Tumbled Glass
• Snow: Weathered Wood

Card Recipe:

• LOTV Gnome
• LOTV Tags Sentiment set
• MFT Stitched Basic Edges 2
• MFT Merry & Bright Paper pad

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Gnomie Christmas Wishes

Lili of the Valley have a new release due out later this month featuring gnomes and snowmen and I've got some sneak peeks of the new images over the next few days.  There are some sentiments and I've used one of them as a signpost by adding a wooden post and some snow at its base.

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

• Bears: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo
• Skin: Tattered Rose, Tea Dye
• Beard: Pumice Stone
• Greens: Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• Sky: Tumbled Glass
• Reds: Candied Apple, Barn Door, Aged Mahogany
• Snow: Weathered Wood

Card Recipe:

• LOTV Gnome
• LOTV Handdrawn Sentiment set
• MFT Stitched Basic Edges 2
• MFT Merry & Bright Paper pad

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Curvy Baker

I haven't made an apron shaped card for a while and decided the Curvy Girl Baker image was just the ticket to try it again. The shape is actually just a rectangle with the armholes cut out using an oval die.  I attached the ribbon 'ties' before adding the patterned paper and popped my image on the front. She's a 'big girl' so it's quite a big card because I decided against cropping her (I'd already coloured her and couldn't face chopping her legs off to make her fit a smaller card base!).

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
• Green: Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Peeled Paint
• Sky: Tumbled Glass
• Outfit: Shaded Lilac, Hickory Smoke, Candied Apple, Barn Door
• Poppy: Candied Apple, Barn Door, Aged Mahogany
• Cake: Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, Spun Sugar, Candied Apple, Aged Mahogany
• Ground: Hickory Smoke

Card Recipe:

From Dies To Die For:

• Stamping Bella Curvy Girl Baker
• Ink On 3 Fadeout No Line Stamp Pad
• Stitched Rectangle Die
• Oval nesting Die
• MFT Block Happy Birthday
• Organza Ribbon, Flower Ribbon, Flat Backed Pearls

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Monday Challenge - Happy Birthday
• Cute Card Thursday - Anything Goes
• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Add a Die Cut using MFT Birthday

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Birthday Piggies

We want to see your favourite flowers at As You Like It Challenge this week.  I have lots of favourite flowers, but I really love roses and lilies. I've used both on my card today as well as some cherry blossom and floral papers too!

The sentiment is a circular die that I've snipped so that I can stretch it out to fit the larger circle I'd used to frame my piggies. It's worked really well so I might do it again.

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

• Piggies: Tattered Rose, Tea Dye
• Pot: Ripe Persimmon, Tea Dye
• Flower: Dusty Concord, Wilted Violet
• Grass: Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• Sky: Tumbled Glass

Card Recipe:

• MFT Piggy Pebbles
• MFT Happy Birthday Circle
• Versafine Ink Pad
• Flat Backed Pearls
• 15mm Orchid Satin Ribbon
• Wild Orchid Crafts Cherry Blossom
• Wild Orchid Crafts Open Roses
• Wild Orchid Crafts Hip Rosebuds
• Wild Orchid Crafts Mini Rosebuds
• Wild Orchid Crafts Lily Flowers
• Crealies Crea-Nest-Lies XXL65 Double Stitched Circles

I've been inspired by:

• MFT Birthday Challenge - Flowers
• MFT Colour Challenge - Lilac, Coral (piggies/papers), Persimmon (pot/flowers), Grey (pearls)
• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes
• Cute Card Thursday - Anything Goes

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Selfies

I admit that I don't personally partake in the current trend for selfies, but these little guys from Dies to Die For are too cute not to indulge in a little Polaroid fun!  

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

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

Card Recipe:

• MFT Picture Perfect Stamp Set
• Polaroid Dies
• MFT Paper Pad
• Versafine Ink Pad

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Monday Challenge - Bright & Cheerful

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Hanging Stockings

I'm still in Christmas mode with these little sweeties from the new release at Lili of the Valley.



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

• Fur: Pumice Stone, Tattered Rose
• Greens: Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• Reds: Abandoned Coral, Barn Door, Aged Mahogany
• Ground: Weathered Wood, Black Soot
• Bacground: Antique Linen

Card Recipe:

• LOTV Hanging Stockings with Dad
• MFT Plaid Patterns

I've been inspired by:

• Dream Valley - Christmas in July

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Gingerbread Christmouse

Lili of the Valley have some cute new Christmas Critters and I've used these adorable gingerbread meecies for my card.

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

• Fur: Pumice Stone, Hickory Smoke, Weathered Wood, Tattered Rose
• Gingerbread: Tea Dye, Vintage Photo
• Sweets: Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Wilted Violet, Candied Apple, Mermaid Lagoon, Squeezed Lemonade

Card Recipe:

• LOTV Gingerbread Mice
• MTF Petite Plaid Papers

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Fly With Me

I made some little tags for a couple of gifts I sent recently using some adorable little heffalumps from Mama Elephant.

Card Recipe:

• Mama Elephant Fly With Me
• Crealies Crea-Nest-Lies XXL67 Double Stitched Ovals
• Lawn Fawn Puffy Clouds
• Nitwit Collections Promises Papers

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Monday Challenge - Not a Card using ME Fly with Me Stamps

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Birthday Blanche

Today's card is a simple birthday card featuring Blanche the Butterfly Fairy from Stamping Bella and a Birthday die.

Blanche's wings are smothered in Pixie Dust and they shimmer when the light's on them.

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

• Hair: Hickory Smoke, Black Soot
• Skin: Tattered Rose, Tea Dye, Worn Lipstick
• Grass: Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• Sky: Tumbled Glass
• Purples: Milled Lavender, Dusty Concord, Wilted Violet
• Yellows: Scattered Straw, Wild Honey, Rusty Hinge

Card Recipe:

From Dies To Die For:

• Stamping Bella Blanche the Butterfly
• Versafine Ink Pad
• MFT Watercolor Papers
• MFT Birthday Text Dies
• MFT Stitched Basic Edges 2
• MFT Stitched Scalloped Basic Edges 2
• Liquid Pixie Dust

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Mistletoe Mice

I've been playing with another one of the soon-to-be released images from Lili of the Valley. This one's called Mistletoe Mice and they're adorable.  I've added some glamour dust as snow and a simple sentiment.
Water-coloured on Langton Watercolour paper with Ranger Distress Ink Reinkers:

• Fur: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Tattered Rose
• Mistletoe: SBundled Sage, Peeled Paint
• Sky: Tumbled Glass
• Reds: Candied Apple, Fired Brick, Aged Mahogany
• Snow: Weathered Wood

Card Recipe:

• Mistletoe Mice
• MFT Merry & Bright Plaid Papers
• MFT Stitched Basic Edges 2
• Glossy Accents
• Glamour Dust glitter
• Purple Onion Design Handwritten Holiday Sentiments

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Monday Challenge - Animal Magic using Ranger Reinkers & MTF Edgers

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Christmas Sled

We want to know whether you prefer birds or beasts today at As You Like It Challenge and for me it's definitely the cute and furries, in particular bunnies!  So I've been playing with one of the soon-to-be-released bunny images from LOTV with this clean and simple watercoloured card.

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

• Fur: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, Tattered Rose
• Greens: Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• Sky: Tumbled Glass
• Reds: Candied Apple, Fired Brick, Aged Mahogany
• Sled: Frayed Burlap, Walnut Stain
• Snow: Weathered Wood

Card Recipe:

• LOTV Christmas Sled
• MFT Plaid Patterns Papers
• MFT Stitched Basic Edges 2
• Glossy Accents
• Crystal Glamour Dust
• Vivo Liquid Pearls

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Monday Challenge - Animal Magic

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Beary Good Birthday

My favourite Stamping Bella bear, Harry, has come out to play today, sending some special birthday wishes to a special friend.  I managed to somehow get some liquid pixie dust in the bottle that I wash my brushes in, so if you wonder why he's got glitter in his fur, that'll be why!

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
• Envelope: Old Paper

Card Recipe:

From Dies To Die For:

• Stamping Bella Harry the Stuffie had Happy Mail
• MFT Polar Pals (sentiment)
• Versafine Ink Pad
• MFT Stitched Basic Edges 2

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Monday Challenge - Animal Magic

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Christmas Bunnies

I've been playing with the soon-to-be-released Christmas bunnies from Lili of the Valley.
They're due out on 25th and the DT are giving some sneak peeks over the next week.  These two are called Christmas Cheers and Bunny and Robin. I've kept the designs really simple with some stripy backing papers matted onto sparkly gold card which frames both the image and the papers.  The images will be available on 25th July so you've not got too long to wait.

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

• Bunny: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo
• Badger: Hickory Smoke, Black Soot
• Greens: Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• Sky: Tumbled Glass
• Reds: Abandoned Coral, Fired Brick, Aged Mahogany
• Brown outfits: Frayed Burlap, Walnut Stain

Card Recipe:

• Christmas Cheers from Lili of the Valley
• Bunny and Robin from Lili of the Valley
• MFT Plaid Patterns papers
• Glossy Accents
• Crystal Glamour Dust
• Simon Says Stamp "Merry Christmas" Wafer Thin Die
• Gold speckled card

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Happy Heffalumps

I've got a couple of cute tags to share with you today featuring the aptly named Adorable Elephants from MFT.  They're simply made die cut or fussy cut and popped up on foam pads on a die cut tag.  Simples!

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

• Elephants: Hickory Smoke, Tattered Rose

Card Recipe:

From Dies To Die For:

• MFT Adorable Elephants
• MFT Dienamics Adorable Elephants
• Paper Smooches Tag Die
• MFT Watercolor Wash Papers
• Versafine Ink Pad

I've been inspired by:

• Cute Card Thursday - Anything Goes

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Babygro

It's a baby challenge at As You Like It Challenge this week and I've made a little babygro card using a cute image from Lili of the Valley.  I love making shaped cards and this little fella seemed perfect for a cute babygro card. I've added faux stitching around the edge of the card and fussy cut the baby giraffe.

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

• Giraffe: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, Tea Dye, Tattered Rose, Frayed Burlap, Walnut Stain
• Green: Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss

Card Recipe:

• Toy Giraffe from LOTV
• Memory Box Plush Frosty Mitten die (button)
• CC Designs Mini Alphabet and Numbers die
• Embroidery Thread

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Special Fairy Friend

There are some sweet new fairy images released from Lili of the Valley and I've been playing with one of them.  She's called Forever Friends and I've used a sentiment from the matching Fairy Sentiment set.

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

• Bunny: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy
• Hair/Dress: Milled Lavender, Dusty Concord, Wilted Violet
• Skin: Tattered Rose, Tea Dye, Worn Lipstick
• Wings/Flowers: Scattered Straw, Wild Honey
• Grass: Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• Sky: Tumbled Glass
• Tree Stump: Frayed Burlap, Walnut Stain

Card Recipe:

• LOTV Forever Friends
• LOTV Fairy Sentiments
• MFT Stitched Basic Edges 2
• Nitwit Collections Papers
• Crealies On The Edge scalloped stitched border die
• InkOn3 Liquid Pixie Dust (shimmer on wings)

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Peekaboo Heffalumps

I've followed a tutorial on Noor & Zo for a peekaboo birthday card using the MFT Adorable Elephant stamp set.  It's easier to make than it might look at first glance, so it was quite a quick card to make. Hopefully my video has uploaded so you can see it doing its peekaboo action!

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

• Elephants: Pumice Stone, Tattered Rose
• Balloons: Picked Raspberry, Seedless Preserves, Wilted Violet

Card Recipe:

From Dies To Die For:

• MFT Stamps - Adorable Elephants
• MFT Dienamics - Adorable Elephants
• MFT Roses all over Pastel Papers
• Circle Die

I've been inspired by:

• MFT Peekaboo Challenge
• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Summer Clock

We want to know whether you prefer summer or winter colour combos this week at As You Like It Challenge and for my sample I've made a clock using a couple of cute Lee Holland digi images.

I don't normally opt for orange and yellow but I have been feeling really cold lately (despite it being June!) so I'm craving some warm colours.  These sunshine tones fit the bill perfectly.

The clock template is a freebie (help yourselves from my freebie page if you'd like a copy) and as usual I've water-coloured the images. I've decorated with Glossy Accents (on the numbers) and some Pixie Dust (on the bee wings) which gives them a lovely shimmer.

The bees were actually unplanned, but I like them now they're added.  I'd finished the colouring and was just putting it all together when I accidentally splashed two tiny drops of water onto the clock face. I immediately dabbed them with some kitchen paper, but they left two pale circles in the sky.  I hunted around in my stamps for a small butterfly and found the bees on my Joyful Heart Bears stamp set. They were the perfect size so I popped them on, gave them a bit of colour and shimmer, and voila! 

I've made the clock for a colleague who is due to start her maternity next week. She has a safari theme for her nursery but doesn't know the gender of her baby yet so I hope that, despite the flowers, it's acceptably gender neutral, although to be fair, I doubt her newborn will be using it to tell the time themselves for a while yet.... !

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

• Giraffe: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, Tea Dye
• Heffalump: Tattered Rose, Pumice Stone, Black Soot
• Grass: Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• Sky: Tumbled Glass

Card Recipe:

• Baby Giraffe and Cute Elephant from Lee Holland digis
• Bee stamps from MFT Joyful Heart Bears
• Glossy Accents
• Liquid Pixie Dust
• Flat Backed Pearls
• Wild Orchid Crafts Open Roses
• Wild Orchid Crafts Mini Rosebuds
• Clock Mechanism
• Mountboard
• Clock Template (freebie)

I've been inspired by:

• Country View Crafts - It's a Bug's Life using DI reinkers

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Friendly Foxes

I've watercoloured some more foxies for a Father's day card using a sentiment from the same MFT stamp set.

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

• Foxes: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Tea Dye, Spiced Marmalade, Rusty Hinge 
• Tie: Stormy Sky, Faded Jeans
• Greens: Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• Sky: Tumbled Glass

Card Recipe:

From Dies To Die For:

• MFT Friendly Foxes
• Versafine Ink Pad
• Stitched Rectangle Dies

I've been inspired by:

• Crafty Calendar - Masculine

Happy crafting
Annette
xx