Sugar Nellie Gold Fairy

I've recently admitted that I've bought some lovely gold themed papers (First Edition Gilded Winter). Today's card features one of the papers from the 6x6 pad (I may have bought both the 6x6 and 12x12 pads!)

I've kept the layout quite simple as the paper was one from the glittery section and I didn't want to cover it all up with embellishments.  There's also an overdose of bling too, with the glittered papers, glamour dust on my fairy's wings, and the gold mirri card.  Well, it is nearly Christmas, and if you can't use glitter at this time of year, then when can you use it! :0)

Card Recipe:

• Image - Time Together from Funky Kits
• Colouring - Copics
• Clouds - Dovecraft chalks
• Cardworks Card base
• First Edition Gilded Winter paper pad
• Die-namics Stitched Circle Stax
• Flat Backed Pearls
• Crystal Glamour Dust
• Glossy Accents
• Viva Pearl Pen - Ice White

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Bling It On
  (glittered papers, glamour dust wings, mirri card and gold pearls)
• Winter Wonderland - Christmas Presents
• Sketch Saturday - Sketch

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Winter Birthday

I always think it's hard for people who have birthdays close to Christmas. Any festivities of family get-togethers, parties and presents dedicated solely to their birthday are overshadowed by the other 'big day' just around the corner, and restaurants are booked up with office parties.

I know a few people who have birthdays after 20 December and this card is for one of them.  It's got a wintry theme, but is actually a birthday card, so I've highlighted that with my sentiment.

I've followed a sketch by Sketch Saturday that caught my eye today.  I wanted a layout that was clean and elegant, and I quite like it so may use it again! :0)

Card Recipe:

• Image - Skater Wryn from Tiddly Inks
• Typed Sentiment using Word Art
• Colouring - Promarkers, Copics
• Clouds - Dovecraft chalks
• Cardworks Card base
• First Edition Silent Night papers
• Maja Design Vintage Summer Basics paper
• Cheery Lynn Designs LG Square Stitched Die
• Mini spotty button
• Embroidery Thread

I've been inspired by:

• Sketch Saturday - Sketch
• Tiddly Inks Challenge - Happy Winter Blues
• Deep Ocean Challenge - Brown and Blue
• A Little Bit Crafty - Anything but Christmas
• Bunny Zoe - Buttons
• Copic Challenge - Anything Goes

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Dashing Through the Snow...

Simple things are never simple.

This looked fine in my head, but actually took two attempts and I'm still not entirely sure it's worked as I imagined!

Anyhoo...

I tore some diagonals roughly to make snowy hills, and embossed them using a snowflake folder.

The layers of hills are raised up on foam pads to give them some further dimension and the torn edges have been given some snowy sparkle using some Wink of Stella.

Card Recipe:

• Image - Frosty Fun from LOTV
• Typed Sentiment (Wendy Medium font)
• Colouring - Copics
• Clouds - Dovecraft chalks
• Cardworks Card base
• Momento Stamp Pad Ink
• Embossalicious Snowflakes
• Glossy Accents
• Wink of Stella

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Monday Challenge - Transportation
• Inky Chicks - Winter Wonderland
• Friday Sketch Challenge - Sketch
• Totally Tilda - Snowflakes

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Walter the Penguin

I wrote my Christmas cards out on Sunday for mailing out on Monday.  Unfortunately that was already too late to meet the posting deadlines for some of the overseas destinations, but I naively have my fingers crossed that they may still arrive in time!

Despite making my Christmas cards throughout the year so that there is no rush in December, inevitably most of them end up being cute and girlie, just because that's my preferred style.

Before I write out my cards, I write each recipient's name on a mini post-it note.  I then spread all my cards over the dining room table, and match recipients to the cards using the post-it stickers.

As usual, after all the appropriate matching had been done, I appeared to have a large number of post-its still in my hand; most of them bearing male names.  *sigh* !!

So, I needed some non-fussy cards for some of the guys I send cards to.  After a couple of attempts, I finally settled on a design that I liked (cased from here).

I printed the letters J and Y using a large fancy font on my computer and stamped the image between them (with a bit of trial and error!).

I used a stitched square die to give some interest around the image, and layered the panel onto matching coloured cardstock.

I hope you like my quick male(ish) makes!  Yes, I know they're still cute, but it's the best masculine style I can manage!  I made them in a few colours for variety.

Card Recipe:

• Image - Walter from Purple Onion Designs
• Typed Sentiment (Papyrus font)
• Colouring - Copics
• Momento Stamp Pad Ink
• Cheery Lynn Designs LG Square Stitched Die
• Wink of Stella glitter pen

I've been inspired by:

• Winter Wonderland - Penguins or Polar Bears
• Allsorts - Animals
• Sweet Stampin' - Things with Wings
• Kit & Clowder - Animals
• Stamp & Create - Christmas

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

If I ever have a so called "bright" idea again, please shoot me....

Back in October I bought a gorgeous Gilded Winter 12x12 paper pad from First Edition, and decided to make a few crackers using the lovely thick gold papers.

If you visit me often you'll know that I've previously made a few Christmas Crackers using my freebie cracker template.

Here's one of them, also using some gorgeous double sided wide satin ribbon.  It's gold on one side, and chocolate brown on the other. I also have it in green and red and I love it. :0)

After making about 6 crackers I was starting to wonder what I was going to do with them.

We only have a small family so I'd already overdone it for Xmas Dinner guests!

Then I had the "bright" idea of giving them to my colleagues at work.

The trouble is, I work in an open plan office with 17 people!!!

So 17 sheets of Gilded Winter later, the gift boxes were not the only thing that were crackered!

Here they all are...

Then there was the problem of what to put inside them!!!

I didn't want the usual cheap plastic moustaches or mini pack of playing cards, and decided it would be nice to put personalised items in each one.

Again my "bright" idea was misplaced because it posed two problems ...

1) thinking of different things to buy for 17 very different colleagues, and
2) needing it to be small enough to fit inside the cracker.

I was stumped after 6!

I found the girls a bit easier to buy for.  Some of the guys were really hard because I wanted the gift to be matched to the person and a few have kids so hobbies are probably a luxury!  I admit that a couple of the gifts were only 'loosely' personalised!  Eg, one guy likes going to watch the tennis at Wimbledon, so he got a tennis themed drinks coaster for his desk (it just squeezed inside the cracker if I put it in at an angle!)

Perhaps they would have preferred the plastic moustaches after all!

Recipe:

• Freebie cracker template
• First Edition Gilded Winter 12" paper pad
• Typed Names (Font = PWJoyeuxNoel)
• Die-namics Stitched Circle Stax
• Fiskars Snowflake Border Punch
• Various Ribbons

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Little Angel

Considering I don't usually like green much, it seems to have made a bit of an appearance today!

The design is uber CAS, and I've made the image large to fill quite a bit of the space.  I also used one of my new digi sentiments from Digi Stamp Boutique.

Despite the green, I quite like how this one turned out.

I hope you do too.  :0)

Card Recipe:

• Image - Little Angel from Saturated Canary
• Sentiment - Digi Stamp Boutique Christmas Greetings Set 3
• Colouring - Copics
• Cardworks Card base
• Cheery Lynn Designs LG Square Stitched Die

I've been inspired by:

• Cute Card Thursday - Little Angel (the stamp is called this!)
• Sweet Stampin' - Things with Wings

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

New Shoes

The challenge this fortnight at As You Like It Challenge is 'your favourite song or film'.

As soon as you look at my card, you'd be forgiven for thinking it's the Cyndi Lauper song 'Girls just wanna have fun', but just to confuse you, I've opted for New Shoes by Paolo Nutini.

As well as liking the song, I also have a bit of a fondness for shoes!

Hence the shoe charm and shopping bags!

I'm imagining that those bags are full of lovely new shoes (and maybe some chocolate)!

Card Recipe:

• Image - Sushi Girls Chelsea and Lauren from Stamping Bella's Uptown Girls
• Sentiment - Victoria and Juliette's Night Out from Stamping Bella's Uptown Girls
• Colouring - Copics
• Cardworks Card base
• Neenah Classic Crest White Stamping Card
• Momento Stamp Pad Ink
• Blue Button Twine
• Shoe Charm
• Sewing machine

I've been inspired by:

• That's Crafty - Faces
• Crafting When We Can - CAS
• Copic Europe - Anything Goes
• Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Christmas Presents

I'm really trying hard to focus on improving my colouring at the moment.  To help my attempts I may have possibly ordered a few more markers.

OK, OK.  Maybe more than few!

It's actually hubby's b'day today, and I've been happy to let him assume all the packages that have been arriving lately might be for him as I've squirrelled  them away to the safety of my craft desk.

Luckily I'm fairly sure he'd not be as interested in some alcohol markers and a few Sugar Nellies as I am!

Anyway, back to my card ... I'm actually quite pleased with this one.  Firstly I love the cute teddy image, but also don't think I did too bad with the colouring either.

I really love this colour scheme; aqua and purple, and think it all comes together nicely with the simple layout and huge die cut sentiment.

I made this card to support the new challenge at Without Words Challenge where the theme is Christmas Present.  It's actually implying a modern Christmas, rather than the gift variety of the word, although I have covered both!

Card Recipe:

• Image - Jenny All Shopped Out (retired) by Lili of the Valley
• Sentiment - Simon Says Stamp Merry Christmas Die
• Colouring - Promarkers, Copics, Sakura Stardust Gel pens
• Cardworks Card base
• Lili of the Valley Snow Princess paper pad
• Momento Stamp Pad Ink
• Viva Pearl Pen - Ice White

I've been inspired by:

• Kit & Clowder - Christmas
• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes
• Copic Europe - Anything Goes
• Crafting When We Can - CAS
• Simon's Monday Challenge - Holiday Cards

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Tinkerbell

This card is for my neighbour, who has a fondness for fairies and the colour purple.

Since I've been using my Copics a lot lately, I decided to get out my DI reinkers and do some watercolour painting!  This card is the result.  Unfortunately I didn't quite let the base coat dry before adding the folds detail on the dress, so it looks a bit wispy, but maybe it suits the fairy image?

The papers are some of my favourites at the moment, and I've had a bit of a purple theme going on this weekend (others to share another day).  I've also popped on a personalised sentiment.

Card Recipe:

• Image - Saturated Canary Little Darlings Fairy Wishes Rubber Stamp
• Typed Sentiment (Wendy Medium font)
• Colouring - Distress Ink Reinkers
• Cardworks Card base
• Maja Design Papers - Coffee in the Arbor
• The Langton watercolour paper
• Stazon Ink Pad
• Pearls
• Viva Pearl Pen - Ice White
• Wink of Stella
• Sewing machine

I've been inspired by:

• Papertake Weekly - Sketch #96
• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes
• That's Crafty - All About Face

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Christmas Fairy

I really love purple at Christmas, and a lot of my favourite Christmas cards this year seem to feature this colour!  So why change the habit!  Here's another Sugar Nellie fairy, the adorable 'Gift Wrapping' from the Fairy Glen range.  There's a new challenge starting today at The Sugar Bowl Challenge so I hope you will join us this month.

Card Recipe:

• Image - Gift Wrapping from Sugar Nellie
• Colouring - Promarkers, Copics
• Clouds - Dovecraft chalks
• Cardworks Card base
• First Edition Gilded Winter Papers
• Go Kreate Labels die
• MFT Snowflake Die
• Wild Orchid Craft Flowers
• Satin Ribbons (6mm & 15mm)
• Pearls
• Crystal Glamour Dust
• Glossy Accents
• Viva Pearl Pen - Ice White

I've been inspired by:

• Kit & Clowder - Christmas
• The Cutie Pie Challenge - Festive & Furry
• NordSalten HobbyClub - Mono (purple) Pop (green)
• Papertake Weekly - Product Theme - Ribbon
• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes
• Fab 'n' Funky - Anything with a die

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Baby Squirrel

This card was a commission for a lovely guy who'd purchased one of my cards in the summer for his friend, who he calls Squirrel, (not to be confused with this Squirrel).  He contacted me to say that his friend is having a baby next month and he wondered if I could make a white with girly pink accessories, baby squirrel card.

Today I'm sharing the result.

The circle sentiment reads "Congratulations Squirrel, beautiful baby girl".

I hope she likes it.  :0)

Here's a close up of the squirrel to show the shimmer on the flowers.  I also popped some glossy accents on his nose, and this has unfortunately caught the light a bit too much!

Card Recipe:

• Image - Fluffy on the Lily from Wee Stamps
• One of my own custom sentiments
• Colouring - Promarkers, Copics
• Cardworks Card base
• Wild Orchid Craft Flowers
• Die-namics Stitched Circle Stax
• Embossalicious Floral Embossing Folder
• Magnolia Swirl Die
• Organza Ribbon
• Pearls
• Velvet Ribbon

I've been inspired by:

• Stamp & Create - Ribbons & Bows
• Sister Act - Anything Goes
• Penny Black & More - Anything Goes
• Sweet Sketch Wednesday - Sketch:

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Yellow Fairy

I haven't had much (any) time to do any colouring this weekend as I've been busy doing some tidying of my recently purchased stash, so I'm sharing a card made with an image I coloured a while ago.  It's a bit of a summery image which makes a change from my current festive makes.  I hope you like her.

I'm off to hide tidy away some of this week's purchases.

Card Recipe:

• Image - Flower Dance from LOTV
• Colouring - Distress Ink Reinkers
• Cardworks Card base
• The Langton watercolour paper
• Stazon Ink Pad
• Memory Box - Nottingham Border
• Ribbon
• Viva Pearl Pen

I've been inspired by:

• Cupcake Inspirations - Colours
• Sister Act - Anything Goes
• Papertake - Girlie
• Penny Black & More - Anything Goes

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Cold Hands, Warm Heart

I'm still in festive mood, with another reminder for the Snow-vember challenge which is happening over at Squirrel's blog.  It ends on 30 November, so get your (ice) skates on and get your snowmen entries in.

I've again tried a spot of grey added to the shadow areas. I don't know why, but I find white hard to 'colour'.  I do like the pink and aqua colour scheme though.  Hope you do too.

Card Recipe:

• Image - LOTV Cold Hands, Warm Heart
• Colouring - Promarkers, Copics
• Clouds - Dovecraft chalks
• Cardworks Card base
• Lili of the Valley paper pad and The Snowman paper pack
• Neenah Classic Crest White Stamping Card
• Momento Stamp Pad Ink
• Magnolia Mistletoe Die
• MFT Snowflake Die
• Satin Ribbon
• Pearls
• Crystal Glamour Dust
• Glossy Accents
• Viva Pearl Pen - Ice White

I've been inspired by:

• LOTV - Christmas
• Bunny Zoe - Snow
• Kit & Clowder - Christmas
• Passion for Promarkers - Entertain Us (The Snowman)
• Sister Act Card Challenge - Anything Goes

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

D'oh. It's a paw, not a flower

I've been in a bit of a funny mood lately and that usually means trouble for my bank balance.  The dangerous thing about Paypal is that it's so easy to browse and find myself buying things online without actually having to get up from my chair and search for my credit card.

I've purchased enough stamps to last me 100 years.

And maybe a few more for luck.

Then, to make the most of my new stamps, I signed up for one of the Kit & Clowder colouring classes at the weekend.

Of course then I needed some new copic colour combos to practice my colouring.

I'm expecting a call from my credit card company any day to ask if my Amex has been stolen.

Anyway, I've actually used a recent purchase on today's card.

It's one of my first CC Designs.

And I kinda like them!  (oh dear!)

Despite my mission to focus on the colouring, unfortunately I made a bit of a boo-boo on this image. I coloured the girlie first, but it was only when I coloured the cat that I realised that the 'flower' in her hair was actually the moggie's left paw.  The trouble was that I'd already coloured it bright red.

Whoops!

Mid-colour, I fessed up to the lovely Squirrel, who suggested that I pop a bandage on the red paw. Instead opted to darken up the rest of the kitty so that I could colour over the red in dark brown. Hopefully it doesn't have too much of a red tinge to it now, but it does merge into her brown hair a bit.

I was pleased to see that it's not just me who had issues with this image though, as 2 days ago I took solace in reading that Squirrel had problems of her own with it!

And yes, I had also coloured the mistletoe as holly as she did.

D'oh.  

But as Squirrel said, who has ever seen prickly mistletoe?

Anyhoo, this project is to support the challenge at As You Like It Challenge which is to showcase your favourite type of Christmas card, modern or traditional.  I've opted for a modern image,  but I guess my chosen red and green colours are fairly traditional!  However, it's cute and therefore modern for me all the way.

Here's a close up of the image (and the troublesome paw).  I must say that this image does remind me of myself and my furbaby Pickle!

Despite my futile attempts at trying to persuade her otherwise, she's not very keen on snuggles. This is almost exactly the pose she's mastered when I scoop her up.

Card Recipe:

• Image - Kisses by CC Designs
• Typed Sentiment (Wendy Medium font)
• Colouring - Promarkers, Copics
• Cardworks Card base
• Lili of the Valley Always & Forever paper pad
• Momento Stamp Pad Ink
• Die-namics Stitched Circle Stax
• Pearls
• Wink of Stella glitter pen
• Star nestie die

I've been inspired by:

• Friday Sketch Challenge - Sketch (mirrored)
• The Cutie Pie Challenge - Festive Furry Friends
• Stamping Sensations - Christmas
• Kit & Clowder - Christmas

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Seeing Stars

It's another watercolour card from me today, but a bit more fussy than yesterday's layout.  I'm also back in festive mode with a Tiddly Ink Wryn carol singing.

I've used a Night Sky Border die that I've had for ages, but I'm not sure whether I've actually used it more than once already, so I decided to give it an outing today using some silver mirri card.  I'm also a teensy bit addicted to my new stitched circle stax die, so that's also made another appearance.  I hope you're not getting tired of it! :0)

Card Recipe:

• Image - Tiddly Inks Wryn Goes Caroling (this was actually a rubber version)
• Colouring - Distress Ink Reinkers
• Cardworks Card base
• First Edition Gilded Winter papers
• The Langton watercolour paper
• Stazon Ink Pad
• Wild Orchid Craft Flowers
• Die-namics Stitched Circle Stax
• Memory Box Night Sky Border die
• Silver Mirri card
• Green Organza Ribbon
• Viva Pearl Pen - Ice White

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - We're seeing stars
• Cute Card Thursday - Red and Green
• Sweet Stampin' - To Die For

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Girls Just Wanna Have Fun

I'm having a break from Christmas cards, although this image is versatile enough to become a Christmas or New Year image with the right sentiment!

This is also another CAS layout, but I stitched the image panel for some added interest.  These images are really large so there's not really much room for anything else anyway!

Hope you like it.

Card Recipe:

• Image - Uptown Girls Victoria and Juliette's Night Out
• Sentiment - LOTV Sentiment Tags
• Colouring - DI Reinkers
• Cardworks Card base
• Maja Design Papers
• Baby Blue Button Twine
• The Langton watercolour paper
• Stazon Ink Pad
• Pearls
• Viva Pearl Pen - Ice White
• Wink of Stella

I've been inspired by:

• Craft Your Passion - Things Beginning with B (Best Friends, Blue, Best Wishes, Bow)
• CAS on Sunday - Ribbon or Twine
• A Little Bit Crafty - CAS
• Stamp & Create - Ribbons or Bows

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Carolling Trio

I'm still in festive mood today with a quick reminder for the fun Snow-vember challenge taking place over at Squirrel's blog.

The image is quite large so it's another CAS card too, but I did sneak in some peals and a spot of stitching.  :0)

Card Recipe:

• Image - Snowy Trio from Purple Onion Designs
• Typed Sentiment
• Clouds - Dovecraft chalks
• Cardworks Card base
• Lili of the Valley paper pad
• Neenah Classic Crest White Stamping Card
• Momento Stamp Pad Ink
• Pearls
• Crystal Glamour Dust
• Glossy Accents
• Viva Pearl Pen - Ice White

I've been inspired by:

• Craft Your Passion - B for Blue
• A Random Fan - Winter Wonderland
• Stamping Sensations - Simply Christmas
• Bunny Zoe - Snow
• Christmas at Sweet Stampin - Snow People

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Seeds and Greetings

I'm still in a festive mood, with a reminder for the Snow-vember challenge that's taking place over at Squirrel's blog.  But there are no traditional red, green or gold colours in today's creation.  Instead I've used purples and lilacs with a gorgeous shimmery backing paper to match.

And yes, it's another CAS layout - I think this style is growing on me as it really makes me think about my colouring!

Card Recipe:

• Image - LOTV Seeds and Greetings
• Colouring - Promarkers, Copics
• Cardworks Card base
• MFT Snowflake Die
• Embroidery thread
• Card Candi
• Crystal Glamour Dust
• Glossy Accents
• Viva Pearl Pen - Ice White
• Pearl

I've been inspired by:

• LOTV - Christmas
• Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes with Optional Glitter
• The Ribbon Girl - Christmas Card
• Kit & Clowder - Christmas

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Fairy Cracker

The new challenge at As You Like It Challenge is to make your favourite kind of gift wrapping or box. This cracker is one of my favourites for several reasons.

1. It is really simple to make
2. It's quite large, so it's great for wrapping awkward shaped gifts, and
3. It's a template that I created myself (from a bit of trial and error) which is always a bit more satisfying!

If you want a copy of the template, then please take a peek at my freebie tutorials page.

Card Recipe:

• Image - Sugar Nellie Wish Upon A Star
• Cracker Template (one of my freebies)
• Colouring - Promarkers, Copics
• Lili of the Valley paper pad
• Fantastic Ribbons
• Viva Pearl Pen
• Fiskars Snowflake Border Punch

I've been inspired by:

• That's Crafty - Hot & Spicy colour challenge
• Stamping Sensations - Christmas
• A Random Fan - Red, Green & White
• Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes
• Stamp & Create - Ribbons & Bows

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Autumnal Bird Box

I found this little box in a craft shop and decided to make a garden themed box for collecting seeds from my favourite flowers as autumn turns.

I covered it with LOTV Country Lady papers and used my Watering Can image to decorate it.  The only embellishment is a pearl I added to help lift up the lid as it's magnetic. I also inked around all the edges to age it a bit.

And finally to all my fellow Brits ... HAPPY "GUY FAWKES NIGHT"!
If you're braving the weather tonight and going out with your sparklers, have fun. :0)

Project Recipe:

• Image - Watering Can from LOTV
• Country Lady Paper Pad from LOTV
• Colouring - DI Reinkers
• Wooden Box
• Pearl

I've been inspired by:

• Sketchy Colours - Green, Beige, Brown
• Sparkles - Autumn Colours
• Penny Black & More - Anything Goes
• Simon's Monday Challenge - Good Ol' Days (hunting round the garden collecting seeds for planting next year, like I used to do when I was younger - trouble was back then I didn't know the difference between flowers and weeds.  Hmm, perhaps not much has changed there!)
• Lawnscaping Challenge - Fall / Autumn

Happy crafting
Annette
xx