Bunny Christmas

It's definitely time to get your Christmas jumpers out!

Water-coloured on Ecoline Watercolour Card with Ranger Distress Ink Reinkers:

• Fur/pudding: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, Tattered Rose, Tea Dye
• Sky: Tumbled Glass
• Jumper: Hickory Smoke, Black Soot

Card Recipe:

• Bunny Christmas from Lee Holland
• Honey Bee Christmas die
• Glossy Accents
• Smooth White Card 160gsm
• Intensive blue card 210gsm
• Nitwit Collections Papers
• Crystal Glamour Dust
• Crealies Crea-Nest-Lies XXL41 Pierced Circles
• Flat backed pearls

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Winter Critters

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Teddy Umbrella

I think purple Christmas cards are my favourite!!!

Water-coloured on Ecoline Watercolour Card with Ranger Distress Ink Reinkers:

• Fur: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, Gathered Twigs, Tattered Rose, Tea Dye
• Scarf: Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Rustic Wilderness, Peeled Paint
• Sky: Tumbled Glass
• Umbrella: Milled Lavender, Dusty Concord, Villainous Potion

Card Recipe:

• Big Teddy with Umbrella from Lee Holland
• Honey Bee Christmas die
• Smooth White Card 160gsm
• Violet Plain Card 290gsm
• Nitwit Collections Papers
• Crystal Glamour Dust
• Flat backed pearls

I've been inspired by:

• Country View Crafts - Christmas (using Distress Reinkers)

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Little Ted

Today's card is a cute watercoloured teddy bear in a simple, but bright colour combo for a fun Christmas card.

Designed for:
Lee Holland

Papermill Direct

Water-coloured on Ecoline Watercolour Card with Ranger Distress Ink Reinkers:

• Fur: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, Gathered Twigs, Tattered Rose, Tea Dye
• Sky: Tumbled Glass
• Reds: Candied Apple, Fired Brick, Aged Mahogany
• Whites: Hickory Smoke

Card Recipe:

• Teddy with Christmas Decorations by Lee Holland
• Honey Bee Christmas die
• Glossy Accents
• Smooth White Card 160gsm
• Intensive Blue Card 240gsm
• Nitwit Collections Papers
• Crystal Glamour Dust
• Memory Box Twilight Snowflakes
• Blue gem

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Monday Challenge - Dies

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Christmas Bear

I've made a Christmas card for my Mother in Law using this cute polar bear, and a spot of foiling on a typed sentiment using my Minc machine for some Christmas sheen.

Water-coloured on Ecoline Watercolour Card with Ranger Distress Ink Reinkers:

• Fur: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, Tattered Rose, Tea Dye
• Sky: Tumbled Glass
• Sea: Stormy Sky, Faded Jeans
• Scarf: Candied Apple, Fired Brick, Aged Mahogany, Hickory Smoke

Card Recipe:

From Dies To Die For:

• MFT Cool Day (bear)
• MFT Playful Penguins (iceburg)
• MFT Cloud Stencil

Papermill Direct:

• Smooth White Card 160gsm
• Intensive Blue Card 160gsm

I've been inspired by:

• MFT - Ready Set Christmas Challenge

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Puppy Christmas

I've made this little puppy card for a friend who has a King Charles Spaniel called Freddie. Unfortunately I forgot that he's black and tan, rather than black and white, but she seemed to like the effort nonetheless!

I've fussycut the image and added him on foam pads to this slimline card with pretty papers and a die cut snowflake border and sentiment.

Water-coloured on Ecoline Watercolour Card with Ranger Distress Ink Reinkers:

• Fur: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, Gathered Twigs,Hickory Smoke, Black Soot, Frayed Burlap, Walnut Stain

Card Recipe:

• King Charles Spaniel Collection by Amanda Jayne Designs on Etsy
• Whimsy Stamps Elegant Snowflake Die
• Glossy Accents
• Smooth White Card 160gsm
• Plain Red Card 290gsm
• Nitwit Collections Papers
• Poppystamps Snowy Merry Christmas

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Monday Challenge - Use Dies

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Gnome for Christmas

It's the final challenge of the year at As You Like It Challenge so we're having a super-easy 'Anything Goes' this week, which is a handy way to catch up on some final Christmas cards.  Hubby came home with a late request for a Gonk themed Christmas card for his colleague, so I've used this cute image from Lee Holland.  As usual, the image is watercoloured, and I've added added some pretty papers with red accents throughout.

Designed for:
As You Like It Challenge
Lee Holland

Water-coloured on Ecoline Watercolour Card with Ranger Distress Ink Reinkers:

• Skin: Tattered Rose, Tea Dye
• Greens: Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Rustic Wilderness, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• Sky: Tumbled Glass
• Reds: Candied Apple, Fired Brick, Aged Mahogany
• 'Whites': Speckled Egg, Hickory Smoke, Black Soot.
• Black: Hickory Smoke, Black Soot

Card Recipe:

• Gnome with Candy Cane by Lee Holland
• Nitwit Collections Papers

Papermill Direct:

• Smooth White Card 160gsm
• Plain Red Card 290gsm

I've been inspired by:

• Country View Crafts - Christmas Challenge (using Ranger Distress Inks for watercolouring)

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Advent Mouse Tag

This fortnight at As You Like It Challenge we're asking who is your favourite person to craft for.  

Although I enjoy crafting as a hobby, it's far more motivating when I know the recipient of my project will appreciate the hours of creative work you've poured into your project.  I particularly like making for my Bestest Crafting Buddy who also happens to be my Partner in Crime when it comes to buying more stash (although to be fair, no encouragement is usually required!)

Today's project is a gift tag I've made to decorate an Advent calendar that I've made with a few crafty bits inside. I can't disclose what's inside because she won't start opening the doors until tomorrow and I don't want any spoilers, but I hope she finds some crafting inspiration from its contents as each day arrives.

I can at least share the tag which she should have already seen by now, in preparation for tomorrow's 'Grand Opening Ceremony'!

It's a simple die cut tag, which I've layered onto a slightly larger matt base, and some embossed card at the top for some decoration.

Designed for:
As You Like It Challenge
Lee Holland

Papermill Direct

Water-coloured on Ecoline Watercolour Card with Ranger Distress Ink Reinkers:

• Fur: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, Gathered Twigs, Tattered Rose, Tea Dye
• Greens: Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Peeled Paint, Pine Needles
• Sky: Tumbled Glass
• Snow: Speckled Egg

Card Recipe:

• Mouse on Fern Tree by Lee Holland Digis
• Gummiapan Large Old Tag Die
• Whimsy Stamps Holly Slimline Embossing Folder

Papermill Direct:

• Smooth White Card 160gsm
• Plain Red Card 290gsm

I've been inspired by:

• Country View Crafts - Repurpose / Recycle Amazon packing paper used as the wrapping for my project.  (Using Ranger Distress Ink Reinkers from Country View Crafts)
• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Christmas Bear

A clean and simple card, featuring an adorably cute cuddly festive teddy bear!

Designed for:
Lee Holland

Papermill Direct

Water-coloured on Ecoline Watercolour Card with Ranger Distress Ink Reinkers:

• Fur: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, Gathered Twigs, Tattered Rose, Tea Dye
• Greens: Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Rustic Wilderness, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• Sky: Tumbled Glass
• Reds: Candied Apple, Fired Brick, Aged Mahogany
• Greys: Hickory Smoke, Speckled Egg

Card Recipe:

• Teddy in Santa Hat from Lee Holland Digi
• MFT Stitched Basic Edges
• MFT Stitched Scalloped Basic Edges
• Nitwit Collections Papers
• Glossy Accents
• Crystal Glamour Dust
• Typed Sentiment

Papermill Direct:

• Smooth White Card 160gsm
• Plain Red Card 290gsm
• Post Box Red Smooth 240gsm

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Wednesday Challenege - Anything Goes

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Sweater Weather - Moose

This is the last one in the set, I promise! 

Designed for:
Dies to Die For

Papermill Direct

Water-coloured on Ecoline Watercolour Card with Ranger Distress Ink Reinkers:

• Fur: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, Gathered Twigs, Tattered Rose, Tea Dye
• Antlers: Frayed Burlap, Walnut Stain
• Reds: Candied Apple, Fired Brick, Aged Mahogany

Card Recipe:

From Dies To Die For:

• MFT Sweater Weather in the Woods
• Avery Elle North Pole Pals (sentiment 'Christmas')
• Spellbinders Serenade Sentiment Etched Dies

Papermill Direct:

• Smooth White Card 160gsm
• Plain Red Card 290gsm

I've been inspired by:

• MFT - Ready Set Christmas

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Sweater Weather - Zebra

I'm back with another 'Sweater Weather' card in my quick-makes series!  

Designed for:
Dies to Die For

Papermill Direct

Water-coloured on Ecoline Watercolour Card with Ranger Distress Ink Reinkers:

• Zebra: Hickory Smoke, Black Soot, Tattered Rose
• Reds: Candied Apple, Fired Brick, Aged Mahogany

Card Recipe:

From Dies To Die For:

• MFT Sweater Weather on Safari
• Avery Elle North Pole Pals (sentiment 'Christmas')
• Spellbinders Serenade Sentiment Etched Dies

Papermill Direct:

• Smooth White Card 160gsm
• Plain Red Card 290gsm

I've been inspired by:

• MFT - Ready Set Christmas

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Sweater Weather - Giraffe

Another little critter in my set of  Clean and Simple Christmas cards, this time featuring am adorable giraffe!

Designed for:
Dies to Die For

Papermill Direct

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

Water-coloured on Ecoline Watercolour Card with Ranger Distress Ink Reinkers:

• Giraffe: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, Gathered Twigs 
• Purples: Milled Lavender, Dusty Concord, Wilted Violet, Villainous Potion

Card Recipe:

From Dies To Die For:

• MFT Sweater Weather on Safari
• Avery Elle North Pole Pals (sentiment 'Winter')
• Spellbinders Serenade Sentiment Etched Dies

Papermill Direct:

• Smooth White Card 160gsm
• Violet Plain Card 290gsm

I've been inspired by:

• MFT - Ready Set Christmas

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Sweater Weather - Polar Bear

Today I'm sharing two cards along the same theme, but in different colour combos.  Red and green are traditional Christmas colours, but I also love purple for a more frosty themed card too.

Designed for:

Dies to Die For

Papermill Direct

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

• Fur: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, Tattered Rose, Tea Dye
• Purples: Milled Lavender, Dusty Concord, Wilted Violet, Villainous Potion
• Reds: Candied Apple, Fired Brick, Aged Mahogany

Card Recipe:

From Dies To Die For:

• MFT Sweater Weather in the Woods
• Avery Elle North Pole Pals (sentiment 'Christmas')
• Spellbinders Serenade Sentiment Etched Dies 'Wishes'

Papermill Direct:

• Smooth White Card 160gsm
• Plain Red Card 290gsm
• Violet Plain Card 290gsm

I've been inspired by:

• Stamping Sensations - Get ready for Christmas
• MFT - Ready Set Christmas

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Penguin Christmas

Today at As You Like It Challenge we're wanting to see your favourite Christmas critter, and for me it's the pingu!  What's not to love about these cute tuxedo-wearing waddlers!

Designed for:
As You Like It Challenge
Lee Holland

Papermill Direct

Water-coloured on Ecoline Watercolour Card with Ranger Distress Ink Reinkers:

• Penguin: Hickory Smoke, Black Soot, Tattered Rose, Tea Dye, Wild Honey, Rusty Hinge 
• Sky: Tumbled Glass
• Reds: Candied Apple, Fired Brick, Aged Mahogany

Card Recipe:

• Penguin with Balloon by Lee Holland Designs
• Nitwit Collections Papers
• Glossy Accents
• Glamour Dust

Papermill Direct:

• Smooth White Card 160gsm
• Plain Red Card 290gsm

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Donkey

I coloured this adorable donkey a while ago and have finally got him onto a card.

Designed for:
Dies to Die For

Water-coloured on Ecoline Watercolour Card with Ranger Distress Ink Reinkers:

• Fur: Hickory Smoke, Black Soot, Tattered Rose, Tea Dye
• Grass: Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Rustic Wilderness, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• Sky: Tumbled Glass

Card Recipe:

From Dies To Die For:

• Donkey Trio Stuffies by Stamping Bella
• Avery Elle North Pole Pals (sentiment 'Happy')
• Spellbinders Serenade Sentiment Etched Dies

Papermill Direct:

• Smooth White Card 160gsm

I've been inspired by:

• Stamping Sensations - Anything Goes

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

James the Bear - Star

How about a pink Christmas card to brighten a dreary November Monday?

Designed for:
Lili of the Valley

Papermill Direct

Water-coloured on Ecoline Watercolour Card with Ranger Distress Ink Reinkers:

• Fur: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, Gathered Twigs, Tattered Rose, Tea Dye
• Reds: Candied Apple, Fired Brick, Aged Mahogany
• 'Whites': Weathered Wood

Card Recipe:

• James Little Star by Lili of the Valley
• Nitwit Collections Papers
• Typed Sentiment

Papermill Direct:

• Smooth White Card 160gsm
• Plain Red Card 290gsm

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Sweater Weather - Fox and Owl

I'm building up my Christmas cards with a simple design featuring these Sweater Weather images from My Favorite Things. Just a little stencilling and a die cut sentiment keeps the design very clean and simple.

Designed for:
As You Like It Challenge

Papermill Direct

Water-coloured on Ecoline Watercolour Card with Ranger Distress Ink Reinkers:

• Fur: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, Gathered Twigs, Tattered Rose, Tea Dye
• Greens: Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Rustic Wilderness, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• Reds: Candied Apple, Fired Brick, Aged Mahogany

Card Recipe:

From Dies To Die For:

• MFT Sweater Weather in the Woods
• Avery Elle North Pole Pals (sentiment 'Winter')
• Spellbinders Serenade Sentiment Etched Dies

Papermill Direct:

• Smooth White Card 160gsm
• Apple Green Card 240gsm

I've been inspired by:

• Stamping Sensations - Get Ready For Christmas

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Bear in the Snow

Question: What's more cute than a teddy bear?

Answer: A teddy bear wearing a bobble hat, playing in the snow!!!

Designed for:
Lili of the Valley

Water-coloured on Ecoline Watercolour Card with Ranger Distress Ink Reinkers:

• Fur: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, Gathered Twigs, Tattered Rose, Tea Dye
• Sky: Tumbled Glass
• Purples: Milled Lavender, Wilted Violet, Villainous Potion
• 'Whites': Weathered Wood

Card Recipe:

• James in the Snow by Lili of the Valley (mirrored)
• Nitwit Collections Papers
• Glamour Dust Fine Glitter
• Glossy Accents
• Typed Sentiment

Papermill Direct:

• Smooth White Card 160gsm
• Violet Plain Card 290gsm

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Winter Wonderland Bear

I've decided that I need to get a wriggle on with my Christmas cards and although I can apprecaite the warmth of deep reds, golds and evergreens at Christmas, I really love soft pinks and purples at Christmas too. I've used one of my favourite wintry papers on this pastels card with some pink accents.

Designed for:
As You Like It Challenge

Water-coloured on Ecoline Watercolour Card with Ranger Distress Ink Reinkers:

• Fur: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, Gathered Twigs, Tattered Rose, Tea Dye
• Sky: Tumbled Glass
• Blues: Tumbled Glass, Broken China
• Purples: Milled Lavender, Wilted Violet, Villainous Potion
• Pinks: Spun Sugar, Kitsch Flamingo

Card Recipe:

• Winter Wonderland Bear by Amanda Jayne Designs on Etsy
• MFT Stitched Basic Edges 2
• Glossy Accents
• Glamour Dust glitter
• Smooth White Card 160gsm
• Nitwit Collections Digi Papers
• Pink Twine
• White acrylic paint

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Snowflake Lantern

I've made a small tealight holder from black card and velum using a Silhouette file by Jennifer Rush

Designed for:

Papermill Direct

Card Recipe:

Papermill Direct:

• Black Plain Card 240gsm

Other:

• Snowflake Hanging Tea Light Lantern Silhouette Cut file
• Velum
• Battery powered tealight
  

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Snowman Countdown

This week at As You Like It Challenge we're wanting to know if you prefer Santa or Snowmen on your Christmas creations.  Although I find white challenging to colour, I much prefer the cuteness of a snowman than a jolly Father Christmas (sorry Saint Nick!), so today I'm sharing my Christmas Countdown calendar featuring one of the Advent critters from our lovely sponsors Lili of the Valley.

I used a Christmas Countdown calendar cut file but swapped out the 'head' for the Snowman using my Silhouette.

I've made a few more with different Critters:

Designed for:
As You Like It Challenge
Lili of the Valley

Papermill Direct

Card Recipe:

• Advent Characters from Lili of the Valley
• LOTV Digi Advent Number Set
• Silhouette Cut File Advent Calendar

Papermill Direct:

• Smooth White Card 160gsm
• Post Box Red Smooth 240gsm
• Dark Green Card 240gsm

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Monday Challenge - Text it

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Stencil Flowers

A couple of simple, stencilled cards using two colour combinations of Distress Ink pads and a blending brush.

Designed for:

Papermill Direct

Card Recipe:

• Sweet Poppy Lazy Daisy Stencil
• Ranger Distress Ink Pads

Papermill Direct:

• Smooth White Card 160gsm
• Violet Plain Card 290gsm
• Orange Plain Card

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Pastel Lights

I've made this simple Christmas Light garland using some beautiful pearl card and a light bulb cutting template.  I've added some simple white acrylic paint strokes as highlights on each bulb and strung them together using some twine.  My photo skills don't do the pearl paper justice but they're so pretty in real life.

Designed for:

Papermill Direct

Card Recipe:

• Nested Christmas Lights Silhouette Cut File
• Bakers Twine

Papermill Direct:

• Buttercream Pure Pearl Card
• Baby Blue Pearlescent Card
• Powder Pink Pure Pearl Card
• Periwinkle Purple Pure Pearl Card
• Gold Pure Pearl Card
• Titanium Silver Pure Pearl Card

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Advent Reindeer

I've made this advent calendar from scratch using mountboard which I've covered with some thin baby pink card and decorated with some pretty digi papers. The boxes are all glued on, filled with mini chocolates and decorated with the same digi paper and embossed numbers cut in a raspberry pink card.  

I've stamped the numbers and fussy cut them using my Silhouette machine before embossing them.  The front is decoarated with a watercoloured image, paper flowers and a personalisation in the same coloured card ready for gifting before 1 December!

Designed for:
As You Like It Challenge
Amanda Jayne Designs

Papermill Direct

Water-coloured on Ecoline Watercolour Card with Ranger Distress Ink Reinkers:

• Reindeer: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, Frayed Burlap, Walnut Stain
• Sky: Tumbled Glass
• Ground: Hickory Smoke, Speckled Egg

Project Recipe:

• Amanda Jayne Designs Reindeer Digi
• Advent Numbers (LOTV) and Fussy Cut with Silhouette
• Nitwit Collections Papers
• Cherry Blossom
• Cosmos Daisy
• Open Roses
• Hip Rosebuds
• Crealies Crea-Nest-Lies XXL41 Pierced Circles
• Nellie Snellen Embossing Folder

Papermill Direct:

• Smooth White Card 160gsm
• Baby Pink Plain Card 240gsm
• Raspberry Pink Plain Card 240gsm

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Christmas

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Gnome Christmas Snowflake & a LOTV Discount Code

Today I'm sharing a cute new gnome image from Lili of the Valley's latest Christmas release.

Plus, as an extra special bonus, between 10 and 17 October, because I'm part of the Lili of the Valley Design Team, if you use the discount code 'ANNETTECONNELLY20' at the checkout you'll get 20% off your purchase at Lili of the Valley.  Happy Shopping!

Designed for:
Lili of the Valley

Papermill Direct

Water-coloured on Ecoline Watercolour Card with Ranger Distress Ink Reinkers:

• Skin: Tattered Rose, Tea Dye
• Greens: Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Rustic Wilderness, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• Lamp: Squeezed Lemonade, Dried Marigold, Rusty Hinge
• Whites: Hickory Smoke, Weathered Wood, Speckled Egg

Card Recipe:

• Gnome from Lili of the Valley
• Simon Says Stamp Swirling Snowflakes
• The Paper Boutique Winter Wishes Snowflake Die

Papermill Direct:

• Smooth White Card 160gsm
• Quartz White Pure Pearl Sparkle Card 300gsm
• Green Grass Pure Pearl 300gsm

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Poncho

I've used some yarn from Lidl and a 'Weekend Poncho pattern' from Kathy's Crochet Closet on Etsy to make this pretty poncho style shawl. It's got more holes than I usually like, but that's made it quite warm!  

It was quick to make up, I managed it in a week just crocheting in the evenings and I expect I'll be wearing it soon if the weather gets a bit chilly!

Happy crafting
Annette
xx