Birthday Heffalump

It's my last day as Guest Designer for Sketch Saturday today, and I've got a card featuring a cute Heffalump from the sponsors, Bugaboo.  Again he's coloured with my markers rather than watercolour inkies, but I admit that I found the open spaces harder to shade than the more intricate girlies that I've posted the last couple of days.  I think he turned out well though, and is full of fun, bright colours.

And here's the sketch I followed:

Card Recipe:

• Image - Birthday Elephant from Bugaboo (flipped)
• Colouring - Alcohol Markers
• Lili of the Valley paper pad
• Spellbinders Grand Ovals
• Lawn Fawn Stitched Scalloped Border die
• Button Twine
• Glossy Accents

I've been inspired by:

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

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Thinking of You

I'm sharing my second "post-Faye" creation with you today using an adorable Stamping Bella image called Amanda is Awesome.  I've also used my huge bunting die which hasn't seen much action since I bought it (having 'needed' it so badly).

Card Recipe:

• Image - Tiny Townie Amanda is Awesome from Stamping Bella
• Colouring - Alcohol Markers
• Lili of the Valley paper pad
• My Favourite Things Stitched Circles
• Lawn Fawn Stitched Party Banner die

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Monday Challenge - Inspired by a Song (Missing You, John Waite)
• Creative Inspirations - Anything Goes
• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Nutty Friend

I'm a bit nervous today as it's my first Copic blogpost since my lesson with the lovely Faye last week. Eeeek! I've used an image from Sugar Nellie but I can't find it in the shop now so I think she may be retired which is a shame.  I was quite pleased with how she turned out so I made her the focus on an uber CAS layout. I hope you like her. :0)  She's supporting the new challenge a Sugar Bowl this month, and also the 'favourite occasion' challenge at As You Like It Challenge.  I've chosen a 'friend' theme as I think 'just because' cards are nice to send, ie for no other reason than I'm thinking of you. :0)

Card Recipe:

• Image - Hazel Nutty from Sugar Nellie (retired)
• Friend die
• Colouring - Alcohol Markers
• Lili of the Valley paper pad

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Monday Challenge - Inspired by a Song (I'll be there for you - theme tune from Friends!!! - I was humming it as I wrote this post!)
• Bunny Zoe - Wings
• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

House Mouse Notepad

My husband asked me for a scrap paper to make some notes so I decided to make him a notepad. I cut up some A4 paper into quarters and added a cover, binding it together with my Zutter binding machine. I used brass coloured wires to match the natural colour combo, and used a sweet little House Mouse image which matches the note theme. Ironically the papers are from Lili of the Valley's Country Lady pad (now retired) but I've used them more for masculine themed projects as they're neutral colours rather than lots of pinks and purples.  He seemed quite pleased with it. Hopefully now I'll stop finding his scribblings all over used envelopes, the corners of the newspaper and folded up bits of printer paper.

I've used the sketch from Sketch Saturday where the new challenge starts today.  Here's the sketch which I rotated anti-clockwise:

Card Recipe:

• Image - Amanda Writes from House Mouse
• Typed Sentiment (and a bit of patience to print it on the right place on the DP!)
• Colouring - Distress Ink Reinkers
• Lili of the Valley Country Lady paper pad
• Stazon Ink Pad
• The Langton Watercolour paper
• Lawn Fawn Stitched Scalloped Border die
• American Crafts Ribbon (gift from Sue, xx)
• Zutter Binding Machine & Wires

I've been inspired by:

• Creative Inspirations - Anything Goes

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Penelope says "Hi"

I met up with the lovely Faye yesterday for a Copic lesson (or two) and wanted to give her a little card to say how much I appreciated her help. So here's what I made (pre-lesson quality).  I wasn't over pleased with Penelope's hair so I'll have another go with her at the weekend and see how that turns out (post lesson!)

Card Recipe:

• Image - Penelope has a Pencil
• Colouring - Alcohol Markers
• Lili of the Valley paper pad
• Momento Stamp Pad Ink
• 15mm Spotty Ribbon
• Heart Button
• Flat Backed Pearls

I've been inspired by:

• Deep Ocean - Hearts
• Inky Chicks - Love Letters / Hearts

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Heartfelt Thanks

It's just a quick post from me today with an uber CAS card which is only one single layer.

Although it looks like I've matted the main image onto brown card, it's actually just an inked border (if you look closely you might spot that it's a bit smudged on the bottom right corner - d'oh!) but it honestly is all just stamped and coloured directly onto the card base.

It's sooo unlike me to make something that's not cute, but I wanted something that was a bit more elegant and this was what I came up with.

Card Recipe:

• Image - Stampendous Ruffled Flower
• Sentiment - Clearly Besotted
• Colouring - Alcohol Markers
• Momento Stamp Pad

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - One Layer (brown border is actually inked)
• Sweet Stampin' - Clean & Simple

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Happy Valentines Day

Just popping in to wish you all a Happy Valentines Day using this sweet Lili of the Valley image. I hope you all have a lovely day. :0)

Card Recipe:

• Image - Love Grows from Lili of the Valley (sadly now retired)
• Colouring - Distress Ink Reinkers
• Lili of the Valley Country Lady paper pad
• Stazon Ink Pad
• The Langton Watercolour paper
• Rose Charm
• Button Twine

I've been inspired by:

• Deep Ocean - Hearts
• Inky Chicks - Hearts
• Cute Card Thursday - Sweet Valentines
• That's Crafty - First Love
• The Ribbon Girl - Card Challenge

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Going Out

I'm sharing a sneaky peek of one of the forthcoming new images from Crafty Sentiment Designs today, and I've combined it with a sketch from Sketch Saturday because I'm joining in as a Guest Designer this month. :0)

Here's the sketch I followed which I rotated anticlockwise one turn:

Card Recipe:

• Image - Going Out by Crafty Sentiment Designs
• Colouring - Distress Ink Reinkers
• Lili of the Valley paper pad
• The Langton Watercolour paper
• Wild Orchid Craft Flowers
• Die-namics Stitched Rounded Rectangle Stax
• WOC & Mulberry Flowers
• 15mm Ribbon
• Flat Backed Pearls

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Spring Bunny

Today's card is for the new challenge at As You Like It Challenge where the theme is your favourite shape of card base, or fancy fold.  I have always loved this shape of card which I create using my Go Kreate labels die. I usually like to team it with a circle shaped image too because I think it accentuates the lovely shape of the card base.  I've even used my favourite colour and a cute bunny from Lili of the Valley's Little Critters range.

Card Recipe:

• Image - LOTV Little Critters Bunny Friends
• Colouring - Distress Ink Reinkers
• Magnolia papers
• Stazon Ink Pad
• The Langton Watercolour paper
• Wild Orchid Craft Flowers from Ribbon Girl
• Go Kreate Labels nested die
• My Favourite Things Stitched Circles
• Memory Box Stitched Clouds
• Flat Backed Pearls

I've been inspired by:

• Deep Ocean - Hearts
• Inky Chicks - Hearts
• That's Crafty - First Love (heart paper)
• Ribbon Girl - Card

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Stuffie Gang

I've used one of the ADORABLE Stuffie images from Stamping Bella for today's card, which is for a friend's 60th birthday this weekend. I'm really loving these Stuffies and this little gang is no exception.  I tried a bit of mottling on Harry the bear's fur, and I think it turned out OK.  I decorated his little flag with a handwritten "60" and some dinky stars and spots.

Card Recipe:

• Image - The Stufie "Gang" from Stamping Bella
• Typed Sentiment
• Colouring - Distress Ink Reinkers
• Wild Rose Studio Vintage Rose Paper Pad
• Stazon Ink Pad
• The Langton Watercolour paper
• Wild Orchid Craft Flowers
• WOC & Mulberry Flowers
• Flat Backed Pearls
• Glossy Accents

I've been inspired by:

• Cute Card Thursday - In the Pink
• Winter Wonderland - Best Friends

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Birthday Baggie

It's a friend's birthday next weekend so I've been busy making her a card and gift bag.  I'll share the card in a day or two, but today I've got the gift bag to show you.

I've made a bag-in-a-box with double-sided pink papers and lace for the handles.  I'm planning to wrap her pressies in pink tissue and pop them inside with the tissue peeking out.

I made a scalloped base using a Lawn Fawn stitched die, and made some little reinforcers for the lace handles with the scraps.  The ribbon is a scrap I've had for years, but it seemed to match all the colours of the papers, so it's finally found a home.

Just so that you can see how deep it is, I've taken a pic of the view from the side:

Card Recipe:

• Image - Heartfelt from Purple Onion Designs
• Colouring - Distress Ink Reinkers
• Clouds - Dovecraft chalks
• Stazon Ink Pad
• The Langton Watercolour paper
• My Favourite Things Stitched Circles
• Lawn Fawn Stitched Scallop Border
• Lace
• Star ribbon

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Have a Heart (used MFT Stitched Circles)
• Crafty Ribbons - Animals
• Cute Card Thursday - In the Pink
• Creative Knockouts - Love is in the Air
• That's Crafty - First Love
• Seven Hills - More than one Fold (used Stitched Scallop Border)

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

A Bite of Strawberry

I'm a guest designer at Sketch Saturday this month, and today's sketch just happens to be one of my favourites so it wasn't hard for me to enjoy this one.

I've used a cute little critter from A Day For Daisies, but I naively didn't fully consider that there's a whole lotta fur on this little guy!  I guess it allowed me some practice of colouring fur!

And I can never have too much practice!

Mind you, even the strawberry was a challenge and I can't blame that on fur (unless you're eating it with the clotted cream I bought at Christmas for the mince pies, and then promptly forgot about!)

Anyhoo, I hope you like him and please do pop over to Sketch Saturday to join in this week.

Here's the sketch I followed:

Card Recipe:

• Image - A Bite of Strawberry from A Day For Daisies
• Colouring - Alcohol Markers
• Maja Design Coffee in the Arbour Papers
• Wild Orchid Craft Flowers
• My Favourite Things Stitched Ovals
• 15mm Satin Ribbon
• Flat Backed Pearls

I've been inspired by:

• Crafty Ribbons - Animals

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Ellie Loves Phant

It's a CAS creation from me today featuring my newest Stamping Bella acquisition, Ellie Love Phant. I've also used the sentiment from the set (yup, it's so unlike me to use a stamped sentiment at all, let alone the matching one!)  I love these STUFFIES!

Card Recipe:

• Image & Sentiment - Ellie loves Phant from Stamping Bella
• Colouring - Distress Ink Reinkers
• Lili of the Valley paper pad
• Stazon Ink Pad
• The Langton Watercolour paper
• Viva Pearl Pen - Ice White
• Glossy Accents
• Memory Box Heart Border die

I've been inspired by:

• The Ribbon Girl - Love
• Bunny Zoe - Hearts
• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Have a Heart
• Creative Inspirations - Hugs and Kisses
• Cute Card Thursday - In the Pink!
• Creative Knockout - Love is in the Air

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Close your eyes

It's another 'fussy' card today, which is for the challenge at In The Pink where the theme is "With Love"; perfect for the romantics amongst us in the lead up to Valentines.

In reality my card is actually for some friends' engagement rather than valentines, but the engagement theme has still enabled me be all romantic with lots of pearls, flowers and sparkly organza ribbon.

I was rather pleased with the end result; it was one of those 'warm glow' cards (you know the kind I mean!!!) and I didn't really want to give it away.  :0)

Card Recipe:

• Image - Close Your Eyes by LOTV
• Sentiment - Pretty Grungy Good Times by LOTV
• Colouring - Distress Ink Reinkers
• Nitwits Digi Papers Always and Forever
• Stazon Ink Pad
• The Langton Watercolour paper
• Wild Orchid Craft Flowers
• My Favourite Things Stitched Circles
• WOC & Mulberry Flowers
• 15mm Satin Ribbon
• Flat Backed Pearls
• Gem brad
• Beaded Twirl
• Organza ribbon

Created for:

Sponsored by:

I've been inspired by:

• The Ribbon Girl - Love
• Noor! Design - Love
• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Hugs and Kisses
• Creative Inspirations - Hugs and Kisses
• Live & Love Crafts - Love is in the Air
• Cute Card Thursday - In the Pink!
• Creative Knockout - Love is in the Air

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

There's no shell like home

Today's card is my one of the few 'fussy' cards I've made so far this year. I must admit that I'm a bit of a convert when it comes to the CAS card styles, and they are very much growing on me, but I do still like the effort that goes into creating an embellished card and I think it really sets them apart from the flat mass produced cards you can find in most shops.  This layout is one of my favourites, with the two papers, ribbon, a double bow, and two little arrays of blooms in opposite corners. Plus of course, some pearls!

This project is to jointly support the challenge at As You Like It Challenge and Sugar Bowl Challenges which both start today.

Card Recipe:

• Image - No Shell Like Home by Sugar Nellie
• Colouring - Alcohol Markers
• Lili of the Valley paper pad
• Wild Orchid Craft Flowers
• Lace
• Spotty ribbon
• My Favourite Things Stitched Circles
• WOC & Mulberry Flowers
• Flat Backed Pearls

I've been inspired by:

• Southern Girls - Anything Goes
• Ribbon Girls - Any Image
• Noor! Design - Anything Goes

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Bunny Love

I've had this image coloured for a while but not made it into a card, so I've decided to rectify that with a CAS design in pink and green.  I'm not really keen on green, but it seems to fit the natural colours of the image.

Card Recipe:

• Image - Bunny Pile Stuffie from Stamping Bella
• Sentiment - Ellie Loves Phant by Stamping Bella
• Colouring - Distress Ink Reinkers
• Lili of the Valley paper pad
• Stazon Ink Pad
• The Langton Watercolour paper
• Viva Pearl Pen
• Lawn Fawn Large Stitched Square Stackables
• Button Twine
• Flat Backed Pearls
• Glossy Accents

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Create with Critters
• Ribbon Girls - Any Image

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Patsy - Good Luck

This is the final sample of my set of 4 for Crafty Sentiment Designs, and this one is 'Dressing Up' with one of the sentiments from the same set.  I love the bright reds on this one, and one of my favourite layouts too.

And here's a close up of her when she was on the TV last Friday with Suzette!!!  :0)

Card Recipe:

• Image & Sentiment - Dressing up by Crafty Sentiment Designs
• Colouring - Alcohol Markers
• Lili of the Valley paper pad
• Momento Stamp Pad Ink
• Wild Orchid Craft Flowers
• My Favourite Things Stitched Circles
• WOC & Mulberry Flowers
• 15mm Satin Ribbon
• Button Twine
• Flat Backed Pearls

I've been inspired by:

• Ribbon Girl - Any Image

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Patsy - Thinking of You

This is another card using one of the new images from Crafty Sentiment Designs featuring Patsy and Gizmo.  The sentiment is from the same set.

And here's a close up of her when she was on TV last Friday   :0)

Card Recipe:

• Image & Sentiment - Thinking of You by Crafty Sentiment Designs
• Colouring - Alcohol Markers
• Lili of the Valley paper pad
• Momento Stamp Pad Ink
• Button Twine
• Metal brad

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Create with Critters
• Winter Wonderland - Something New (new stamp & sentiment set only released Friday)
• Simon's Monday Challenge - Best Friends

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Patsy - Dressing Up

Today I'm sharing my second card featuring the new release at Crafty Sentiment Designs available from Hochanda TV.  This one's called Dressing Up and includes the sentiment.

And here is my card on TV from a screenshot I took during Suzette's show yesterday.  You were fab Suzette!!!  I loved the shows and it was fabulous to see both you and our cards on the screen.

Card Recipe:

• Image and Sentiment - Dressing Up by Crafty Sentiment Designs
• Colouring - Alcohol Markers
• Lili of the Valley paper pad
• Momento Stamp Pad Ink
• Wild Orchid Craft Flowers
• My Favourite Things Stitched Ovals
• Lawn Fawn Stitched Scalloped Border die
• Memory Box Stitched Clouds
• WOC & Mulberry Flowers
• Flat Backed Pearls

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Monday Challenge - Best Friends
• Winter Wonderland - Something New (brand new stamp only released yesterday!)
• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Create with Critters

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Patsy - I Love You

I'm quite excited today because my lovely As You Like It teamie, Suzette, who also happens to be one of the artists and owners of Crafty Sentiment Designs, has some new images out today, and I've been lucky enough to have been allowed to play with some of them ahead of the release.  Not only that, she's demonstrating her new images on TV today. so if you're near a TV or have access to the tinterweb take a peek at Hochanda TV at 10am, 1pm or 5pm today!  I'm hoping one of my cards might even be on TV!!

I'll post some samples over the next few days, but today's card uses a stamp and sentiment set called Dreams, featuring a little girl (Patsy) and her puppy (Gizmo).

Update!!! ... Here's a screenshot of my card on TV earlier today *big grin*...

Card Recipe:

• Image and Sentiment - Dreams by Crafty Sentiment Design
• Colouring - Alcohol Markers
• Lili of the Valley paper pad
• Momento Stamp Pad Ink
• Wild Orchid Craft Flowers
• Die-namics Stitched Rounded Rectangle Stax
• WOC & Mulberry Flowers
• Satin Ribbon
• Flat Backed Pearls

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Monday Challenge - Best Friends

Happy crafting
Annette
xx