Yeti

I've converted this Yeti cut file into a tent-fold card using my Silhouette. I've mirrored the main shape and created a foldline for the cardbase, and added the elements to decorate the front.

Designed for:

Papermill Direct

Card Recipe:

Papermill Direct:

• White Card Hammered 255gsm
• Celestial Blue Plain Card 290gsm
• Smooth White Card 160gsm
• Black Plain Card 240gsm

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Beary Happy Birthday

I've masked a couple of stamps to create this Beary Happy Birthday card in Springtime colours for a cheerful card.  The organza ribbon has been accented with some cream satin ribbon to give some texture to an otherwise clean and simple layout. I've used some sparkle gel pens on the balloons, candles and cake icing.

Designed for:
Dies to Die For

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

• Fur: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, Gathered Twigs, Tattered Rose, Tea Dye
• Cake: Frayed Burlap, Walnut Stain
• Balloons: Milled Lavender, Dusty Concord, Seedless Preserves, Spun Sugar, Worn Lipstick, Picked Raspberry, Kitsch Flamingo
• Candlelight: Squeezed Lemonade, Mustard Seed

Card Recipe:

From Dies To Die For:

• MFT Beary Special Birthday
• MFT BB Cool Day (Sentiment)
• MFT Watercolour Paper Pad
• MFT Stitched Basic Edges 2
• Intensive Pink Card
• 6mm Cream Satin Ribbon
• 15mm Organza Ribbon

I've been inspired by:

• Sketch Challenge 688
• Colour Challenge 231  
  
  
  

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Easter Bunny

I've made this Cute Bunny from the Silhouette Store into an Easter cardbase by creating a mirror image and scoreline and then cuting the elements in various shades of pink.  I've raised his paws on 3D foam pads and added some white higlights to his eyes and nose.

Designed for:

Papermill Direct

Card Recipe:

Papermill Direct:

• Smooth White Card 160gsm
• Plain Pink Card
• Baby Pink Card
• Soft Berry Pink Card
• Black Plain Card 240gsm
• Pietra Sirio Card 290gsm

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Happy Mother's Day

I love the bear images from Lili of the Valley so I've used this pretty image which is ideal for a Mother's Day card.  At As You Like It Challenge this week, we want to know if you prefer monochrome or colours on your crafting creations. I do prefer to restrict myself to a small number of colours on my images, rather than a whole rainbow, and I carry those colour themes through as accents on my papers, matting layers and any embelishments.  

For this card, I've concentrated on Spring lemons with some accents in orange and green. I've added a small hint of bronze (to match the bear's fur) in the form of a narrow strip of satin ribbon on the base matt (mainly to cover where I'd joined two smaller pieces of yellow card together beneath the image panel).

To finish off my card, I've foiled the typed sentiment using my Minc machine.  It's challenging to photograph the effect of the foil, but it does show fairly well in this photo.

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

Papermill Direct

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

• Fur: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, Tattered Rose, Tea Dye
• Greens: Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Rustic Wilderness, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• Sky: Tumbled Glass
• Yellows: Squeezed Lemonade, Dried Marigold, Wild Honey, Rusty Hinge

Card Recipe:

• James with Heart Bouquet from Lili of the Valley
• 6mm Satin Ribbon

Papermill Direct:

• Smooth White Card 160gsm
• Woodstock Giallo Card 285gsm

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Monster Munch

I've made this cute Monster Popcorn Box with my Silhouette machine. It's ideal for small snacks and can be made in any colour. I've used some monster-green with scraps of orange, white and black for his face.

Designed for:

Papermill Direct

Card Recipe:

Papermill Direct:

• Emerald Green Plain Card
• Smooth White Card 160gsm
• Black Plain Card 240gsm
• Orange Plain Card

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Christmas already?

This fortnight at As You Like It Challenge we are asking if you prefer crafting feminine or masculine style of creations.  I very much favour the cute, fussy, floral style and I find the more traditionally masculine / minimalist cards much more of a challenge!

I'm also making a start on my Christmas cards too (yes, I know it's only February!) with this cute polar bear and some of my favourite festive papers from Nitwit Creations.

Designed for:
As You Like It Challenge

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

• Fur: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Tattered Rose, Tea Dye
• Sky: Tumbled Glass
• Purples: Milled Lavender, Dusty Concord
• Pinks: Spun Sugar, Kitsch Flamingo
• 'Whites': Weathered Wood

Card Recipe:

• Polar Bear Image by Amanda Jayne Designs
• Marine Blue Card 240gsm
• Nitwit Collections Papers
• Cherry Blossom
• Open Roses
• Hip Rosebuds
• Crystal Glamour Dust
• Crealies Crea-Nest-Lies XXL41 Pierced Circles

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

I'm Yours. No Refunds.

Happy Valentines Day!!!

I've created this fun pop-up card using a Silhouette cut file which I've edited to include a custom sentiment made into a banner. Most of the hearts are embossed for some texture and it folds flat (not that I'm mailing it!). 

Designed for:

Papermill Direct

Card Recipe:

Papermill Direct:

• Various Red and Pink card (at least 5 or 6 different shades)

Other:

• Silhouette Cut File Grid Pop Up Heart (replaced the cat with a banner)
• Various Embossing Folders
  

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Summer Garden

This week at As You Like It Challenge we want to know if you prefer using digi or physcial stamps. I confess that I do love the benefits of a digital stamp, including storage, re-sizing, masking and merging and the confidence that there's a reduced chance of wasting watercolour card on a mis-print, but I also still love my physical stamps. There's something special about peeling back the rubber and seeing a perfectly inked image on the card!  I must admit this image was a particular challenge in that respect, and I had several increasingly frustating attempts before I got a fully stamped image becuase it's such a big stamp. But I ended up fussy cutting some of the misprints and using them on some other cards which I'll share later in the month.

Designed for:
As You Like It Challenge
Dies to Die For

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

Card Recipe:

From Dies To Die For:

• Colorado Craft Company Summer Garden
• Typed Sentiment (fonts: KG Beneath Your Beautiful Chunk & Outside)

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Tilda with Foxy

I don't often use my Tilda images and I happen to know the recipient of this card likes them, so it's given me a good excuse to brush the dust from one and get inky with it. I also know she is rather fond of foxes, so this image was ideal on both counts.

The theme at As You Like It Challenge this week is pearls or gems, and I am definitely a fan of the more subtle sheen of a pearl than the bling impact of a gem.  I have pearl embelishments in almost every colour, and my gem stash barely gets used, so it's not difficult to see where my preferences lie!  I've also added some speckles of liquid pearls around the image for some texture.

Designed for:
As You Like It Challenge

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

• Fox/Hair: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, Gathered Twigs
• Skin: Tattered Rose, Tea Dye, Worn Lipstick
• Grass: Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Rustic Wilderness, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• Outfit: Stormy Sky, Faded Jeans, Chipped Sapphire, Weathered Wood, Speckled Egg

Card Recipe:

• Magnolia Tilda with Foxy
• Smooth White Card 160gsm
• Marine Blue Card 240gsm
• Nitwit Collections Papers Petal Fresh
• Cherry Blossom
• Cosmos Daisy
• Open Roses
• Hip Rosebuds

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Mouse Birthday

My first card of 2024 is a cute birthday card that I've made for a Dutch friend.  I've been drooling over these German stamps from The Stamp Corner for months, and I finally caved in just before Christmas and ordered 4 sets. This little meecie is one of the cuties that tempted me.  I've created a personalised card using my Silhouette to make the card more special.

I've used some of my favourite brand of papers on this card.  I've loved Nitwit Collections papers for years and they're my largest collection by a long way!  I used to love the printed paper pads but now they're only available as digis.

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

• Fur: Hickory Smoke, Black Soot, Tattered Rose, Tea Dye
• Shirt: Uncharted Mariner
• Toy: Dusty Concord, Villainous Potion, Seedless Preserves, Squeezed Lemonade, Wild Honey, Rusty Hinge, Candied Apple, Aged Mahogany
• Ground: Black Soot, Speckled Egg, Weathered Wood

Card Recipe:

• Stamp Corner Online Luis, Mümmel & Pippa
• Smooth White Card 160gsm
• Violet Plain Card 290gsm
• Nitwit Collections Papers
• Crealies Crea-Nest-Lies XXL41 Pierced Circles

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Cute Critters

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Farewell 2023 .... Hello 2024

I'm finding myself at yet another New Year's Eve and wondering where that last year has gone!

So it must be time for my traditional 31st Dec round-up, to bid farewell to the old year with some of my favourite creations from the past twelve months.

Yet again, I've continued to notice that many of my blogposts have no comments compared to the simpler click of a 'like' button on other Social Media platforms, which makes my faithful commenters here far more appreciated. I am truly grateful for anyone who takes the time to comment, however brief, and I do read every single comment. 

So, as I sign off the year with a few of my favourites, I wish you all a happy, healthy and creative 2024. 

1)  I often struggle with colouring both white/grey and beards, which means I usually avoid gnomes but they seem to have been everywhere this year, and I've been tempted by some of the cutest ones!  This Stamping Bella image was a particular challenge for me, because I decided to make him almost monochrome in my most dreaded colours!

2)  Another gnomie, this time from Lee Holland's digi shop in a more colourful combo. I struggled a little with the beard but enjoyed the brights of his outfit and flower.

3)  There's a theme going on here because I'm sharing yet another gnome.  This card is probably my favourite from the whole year, and I was really pleased with how he turned out. Here's a link to the original Flowery Gnome card.

4)  Moving away from gnomes for this card, I really enjoyed making this personalised card using an image from Amanda Jayne Digis and my Silhouette for cutting the name.

5)  I have also enjoyed making some other styles of projects including this Festive cup/box which I made using my Silhouette.  Assembling it was a little tricky, but I was pleased with how it turned out, and it's quite solid, so it could be used as a gift box.

6)  I have also enjoyed my crochet projects this year, which have included my first jumper, but the project I'm most pleased with is this little guy (yes another gnome!!!  I told you they were everywhere!)

7)  And finally, a list of my favourites couldn't be complete without James Bear (Lili of the Valley) framed by some of my favourite NitWit Collection papers.

Well that's all folks. 

I look forward to crafting with you next year, but for now, have a lovely New Year's Eve, and I'll see you on the other side.

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Crochet Snowman Ornament

Crochet Pattern:

Mufficorn Snowman Keychain Ornament

Yarn:

King Cole CottonSoft

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Pooh and Piglet

These two crocheted cuties were made for my bestie as part of her Christmas pressie.

Crochet Patterns:

Winnie the Pooh and Friends by Bumcraft

Yarn:

King Cole Cottonsoft

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Granny Bauble Cover

Crochet Pattern:

You Tube Tutorial by Cosy Rosie Crochet

Materials:

Stylecraft DK Yarn

Polystyrene bauble

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Bunny Christmas

I've saved this sweet bunny card to share late in the hope that it's now been opened by its recipient.    The customised sentiment is typed in a couple of fancy fonts, and as usual, the image is watercoloured.

Designed for:
Lili of the Valley

Papermill Direct

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

Card Recipe:

• Romantic Rabbits by Lili of the Valley
• Smooth White Card 160gsm
• New Lilac Plain Card 240gsm
  
• Fonts used: Outside and Cute Rita

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Christmas Pudding Bear

One more Christmas Teddy, with an enormous Christmas Pud!

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
• Greens: Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Rustic Wilderness, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• Pudding: Antique Linen, Frayed Burlap, Walnut Stain
• Sky: Tumbled Glass
• Reds: Candied Apple, Fired Brick, Aged Mahogany
• Greys: Hickory Smoke, Black Soot, Silver gel pen

Card Recipe:

• Teddy Pudding by Lili of the Valley
• Smooth White Card 160gsm
• Plain Red Card 290gsm
• Nitwit Collections Papers
  

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

London Guardsman

Merry Christmas Everyone!

I made this little guy, intending to gift him, but I didn't want to part with him once he was finished!!!

Crochet Pattern:

CrochetPage Christmas Gnome

Yarn:

King Cole CottonSoft

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Santa Face

I've gone all glittery today with this Silhouette cut file Santa face. I've adapted the file a bit, firstly to make it a card base instead of a box, and also to thin down his eyes and glasses which were originally quite thick.

Designed for:

Papermill Direct

Card Recipe:

• Christmas Santa from Silhouette

Papermill Direct:

• Smooth White Card 160gsm
• Post Box Red Smooth 240gsm
• Nude Sirio Card 290gsm
• Black Plain Card 240gsm
• Iridescent White Glitter Card 220gsm
• Non-shedding Red Glitter Card

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Santa Clause

I've mad a few of these Santa cards for Hubby's work colleagues using my Silhouette machine.  The cut file was originally a gift card holder, but I've adapted it into a cardbase.

Designed for:

Papermill Direct

Card Recipe:

• Santa Beard Flip Card Silhouette Cut File - adapted into a card

Papermill Direct:

• Smooth White Card 160gsm
• Post Box Red Smooth 240gsm
• Black Plain Card 240gsm
• Iridescent White Glitter Card 220gsm
• Gold Glitter card

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Holly Teddy

Another watercoloured bear, this time holding his holly sprig.  I've given him some pretty Christmas floral papers and a few 3D flowers to frame him.

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

• Fur: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, Gathered Twigs, Tattered Rose
• Holly: Bundled Sage, Peeled Paint
• Sky: Tumbled Glass
• Berries: Candied Apple, Fired Brick, Aged Mahogany

Card Recipe:

• Holly Bear from Amanda Jayne Designs
• Honey Bee Christmas die
• Glossy Accents
• Flat Backed Pearls
• Smooth White Card 160gsm
• Maroon Card 240gsm
• Nitwit Collections Papers
• Cherry Blossom
• Open Roses
• Tulip Flowers
• Crystal Glamour Dust
• Crealies Crea-Nest-Lies XXL41 Pierced Circles

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Moonlight Bear

My recent cards have been fairly simple in layout, but this one has a little extra effort with a blended moonscape background for my watercoloured bear.

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

• Fur: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, Tattered Rose, Tea Dye
• Scarf: Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Rustic Wilderness, Peeled Paint, Hickory Smoke
• Snow: Speckled Egg
• Moon: Scattered Straw, Antique Linen

Card Recipe:

• Polar Opposties by MFT
• Honey Bee Christmas die
• Smooth White Card 160gsm
• Fuchsia Pink Pure Pearl Card
• Nitwit Collections Papers
• Crealies Crea-Nest-Lies XXL24 Rectangles with Stichline

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Monday Challenge - Let it Snow
• Country View Crafts - Christmas using Ranger Distress Ink Reinkers (for watercolouring the bear) & Inkpads (for blending the background)

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Mouse Christmas

Today's card is a simple watercoloured mouse with a patterned paper frame.  I've made this card for a meecie fan, so I'm hoping that she likes it (if it arrives)!

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
• Snow: Hickory Smoke

Card Recipe:

• Christmas Mouse by Lee Holland
• Honey Bee Christmas die
• Glossy Accents
• Smooth White Card 160gsm
• Post Box Red Card 240gsm
• Nitwit Collections Papers
• Crystal Glamour Dust
• Flat backed pearls

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Monday Challenge - Let it Snow

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

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