1, 2, 3 (and 4, 5, 6, 7)

In contrast to yesterday's CAS card, I've gone a little overboard with the embellies today. So much that instead of stopping at the 1, 2, 3 theme for this fortnight's In The Pink challenge, I've also got a 4, 5, 6 and 7!

I've used 1 bow (& 1 image), 2 papers, 3 colours (pink, green, brown), 4 dies, 5 lanterns on the bunting, 6 pearls and 7 flowers......  and relax!

I am really pleased with this card and I'm not sure I want to part with it now!

Card Recipe:

• Image - Cute Sakura Tilda
• Colouring - Distress Ink Reinkers
• LOTV paper pad (retired)
• Stazon Ink Pad
• The Langton Watercolour paper
• Wild Orchid Craft Flowers
• Viva Pearl Pen - Ice White
• Memory Box Party Lanterns die
• Lawn Fawn Stitched Scalloped Border die
• MFT Stitched Circles die
• Mama Elephant Smile Script Die
• 15mm Velvet Ribbon
• Flat Backed Pearls

Created for:

Sponsored by:

I've been inspired by:

• All About Magnolia - Crafting
• Bunny Zoe - Lovely Layers
• Chocolate Coffee Cards - Just us Girls
• Lovely hAnglar or Sweet Magnolia - Anything Goes
• The Ribbon Girl - Any Image
• Noor! Design - Spring Flowers

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Beary Special Wishes

I'm a tad late posting this today, but better late than never, huh?  I'm sharing an image that is new for me from Whipper Snapper called Beary Special and I love his cute face and little ears.  I've also used a new Die-Namics Sunny Skies die and mixed it in with some stitched clouds.  Both the image and the sun die are available from My Mum's Craft Shop.  I've added some chalked clouds to my image using a home-made 'cloud' mask which you can download for free here if you like it.

Card Recipe:

• Image - Whipper Snapper Beary Special
• Typed Sentiment (Wendy Medium font)
• Colouring - Alcohol Markers
• Clouds - Dovecraft chalks with freebie template
• Die-Namics Sunny Skys Die
• Maja Design Papers
• Momento Stamp Pad Ink
• Memory Box Stitched Clouds
• Flat Backed Pearls
• Glossy Accents
• Cheery Lynn Designs LG Square Stitched Die

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Monday Challenge - Make a Wish
• Alsorts - Happy Birthday
• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Bow-tastic

To tie, or not to tie, that is the question.  Yup, we're talking bows at As You Like It this fortnight and we want to know if you like them big or small! I'm definitely into my double bows, so I'd say the bigger the better! I love satin ribbons (I have a whole array of 15mm wide satins in all the colours under the sun) and love matching them to my papers.

Card Recipe:

• Image - Cute Sakura Tilda
• Colouring - Distress Ink Reinkers
• Stazon Ink Pad
• The Langton Watercolour paper
• Wild Orchid Craft Flowers
• Viva Pearl Pen - green
• MFT Stitched Ovals
• 15mm Satin Ribbon
• Gem brad
• Flat backed pearls

I've been inspired by:

• All About Magnolia - All About Crafting
• The Ribbon Girl - Any Image
• Live & Love Crafts - Blossoms

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Wild Thing

Wooohooooo.  It's time for another SRC (Squirrel's Random Challenge).  That's right, a totally random challenge over on Squirrel's blog with a bundles of prizes to be won.

The theme this time is Wild Thing, and oddly the three of us who've made samples for the challenge have all used giraffes!  How weird is that!

We can't wait to see what you create. You have 5 weeks to join in as it doesn't close until Friday 17 June, so come on, take a walk on the wild side!

Click on the link below to go straight to the challenge entry page:

Card Recipe:

• Image - Gigi the Giraffe Stuffie from Stamping Bella
• Colouring - Distress Ink Reinkers
• Stazon Ink Pad
• The Langton Watercolour paper
• Button Twine

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Blossoms

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Computer Fun

There's only a few more days to enter the sketch challenge at Lili of the Valley and I've got a bit of last minute inspiration for you using one of the re-released boy images. This one's called 'Computer Fun' (something the man in my life doesn't seem to have grown out of!).

Card Recipe:

• Image - Computer Fun from Lili of the Valley
• Colouring - Distress Ink Reinkers
• LOTV paper pad (retired)
• The Langton Watercolour paper
• Button Twine
• Star brads

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Honeybears

Woohoooo, it's Wednesday which means it's midway through the week (and I'm already ready for the weekend!)  Today I'm sharing my Favourite Stamping Bella images, Honeybear Stuffies, available from My Mum's Craft Shop. I've kept the layout simple with a Scalloped Border and added a cute little bee button that I found in my stash.  I love these bears! :0)

Card Recipe:

• Image - Stamping Bella Stuffies Honeybear Stuffies
• Colouring - Distress Ink Reinkers
• LOTV paper pad (retired)
• Stazon Ink Pad
• The Langton Watercolour paper
• Lawn Fawn Stitched Scalloped Border die
• Ribbon
• Paper flower
• Bee button

Created for:

I've been inspired by:

• Penny Black & More - Anything Goes
• Crafty Calendar - Things with Wings

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Riding my Bike

There's a sketch challenge going on at Lili of the Valley and you've still got time to enter, so I've made this card using one of the re-released boy images.  This little laddie riding his bike was retired a while ago but is coming back *yay*.  I hope you like my CAS card using the sketch, and pop along to join in the fun on the Facebook page.

Card Recipe:

• Image - Riding my Bike from Lili of the Valley
• Colouring - Distress Ink Reinkers
• Clouds - Chalk and 
• LOTV paper pad (retired)
• The Langton Watercolour paper
• Button Twine
• Bicycle charm

I've been inspired by:

• Bunny Zoe - Transport/Travel
• Creative Inspirations - For the Boys / Sporty

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Patterns

Today's challenge at As You Like It Challenge asks whether you prefer patterned or embossed papers and for me it's pretty designer papers every time.  I do love the look and texture of dry embossing, but I can't deny my love of pretty papers.  My card today only has a slither of papers, but I rarely have any project without patterned papers of some sort.

Card Recipe:

• Image - Stamping Bella Uptown Girls Brittany the Birthday Girl
• Colouring - Distress Ink Reinkers
• Papers - Nitwits Always & Forever
• Stazon Ink Pad
• The Langton Watercolour paper
• Joanna Sheen Starry Night Edger die
• Satin Ribbon

I've been inspired by:

• Magnolialicious - Anything Goes
• The Ribbon Girl - Anything Goes
• Penny Black & More - Anything Goes

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

In the Shed

I'm sharing another one of the new masculine releases from Lili of the Valley although I'm not sure whether the red/pink shed makes it a 'she-shed' instead!  Either way, I'd be happy with this shed in my garden. :0)

Card Recipe:

• Image - In the Shed by Lili of the Valley
• Sentiment - Sweet & Simple by Lili of the Valley
• Colouring - Distress Ink Reinkers
• Papers - Nitwits Cottage Charm
• The Langton Watercolour paper
• Flat Backed Pearls
• Frantic Stamper Stitched Scene Builder Die

I've been inspired by:

• Creative Inspirations - For the Boys

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Off in the Caravan

There's a new release of masculine stamps at Lili of the Valley out now and this is my first using one of the scenic images called Off in the Caravan.  It makes me wish I was on holiday!

Card Recipe:

• Image - Off in the Caravan from Lili of the Valley
• Typed Sentiment (Papyrus font)
• Colouring - Distress Ink Reinkers
• Nitwits Papers - Cottage Charm
• The Langton Watercolour paper
• Memory Box Stitched Clouds
• Flat Backed Pearls
• Frantic Stamper Stitched Scene Builder Die

I've been inspired by:

• Bunny Zoe - Travel / Transport
• Creative Inspirations - Masculine/Sporty
• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes
• Penny Black & More - Anything Goes

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Bath Time

Today's In The Pink theme is to create a card for a child or baby so I've used this cute image from LOTV which I've not used in a while. I've tried to be really soft on the colouring and I'm quite pleased with how it turned out. I hope you like it too. :0)

Card Recipe:

• Image - Bath Time and Corner Swirl (both retired) from Lili of the Valley
• Colouring - Distress Ink Reinkers
• LOTV paper pad (retired)
• Stazon Ink Pad
• The Langton Watercolour paper
• MFT Stitched Ovals
• Mulberry Flowers
• Button Twine
• Flat Backed Pearls
• Glossy Accents
• Paw charm

Created for:

Sponsored by:

I've been inspired by:

• Dream Valley - All Creatures Great & Small
• Simon's Monday Challenge - Metal
• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes
• The Sketchy Challenge - Sketch
• The Ribbon Girls - Any Image
• Creatalicious - Baby

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Smile

I've used the super cute Leo the Balancing Stuffie and a Mama Elephant Creative Cuts Smile Script Die to create this uber simple card.  I was really nervous about die cutting the image after I'd spent so long painting him, so instead I stamped the image again and coloured in a small portion to ensure that I cut the die straight before adding it on top of my main image.

Card Recipe:

• Image & Sentiment - Stamping Bella Leo the Balancing Stuffie
• Colouring - Distress Ink Reinkers
• Stazon Ink Pad
• The Langton Watercolour paper
• Mama Elephant Creative Cuts Smile Script Die

Created for:

I've been inspired by:

• Bunny Zoe - Transport

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Life is a balance

The theme at As You Like It Challenge this fortnight is to show us your favourite animal.  I love most types of animals (except creepy crawlies) but most of all I do love kitties of all sizes and I'm slave to two rescued felines at home.

I was pleased with how this one turned out, and I could probably learn something by taking on board the sentiment myself now and then!

Card Recipe:

• Image & Sentiment - Stamping Bella Stuffies Leo the Balancing Stuffie
• Colouring - Distress Ink Reinkers
• LOTV paper pad (retired)
• Lawn Fawn Stitched Scallop Borders
• Stazon Ink Pad
• The Langton Watercolour paper
• Whiff of Joy Banner dies
• Pearls

I've been inspired by:

• Bunny Zoe - Transport
• Crafty Calendar - Anything Goes
• Creative Inspirations - Your Favourite Things (Cats, Watercolouring, stitched dies)

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Bunny Cuddles

I've splashed out on a fair few Bellas lately and this is my first inking of Becky.  I've followed a sketch, but added on some embellishment in the form of flowers, ribbon and some pearls (my three favourites).  The frills on her skirt were a bit daunting, but not enough to deter me. Cute huh!

The burgundy ribbon and flowers have come out quite a bit darker on the photo than it is in real life which is a shame. :0(

Card Recipe:

• Image - Stamping Bella Tiny Townie Becky Loves Bunny Wobbles
• Colouring - Alcohol Markers
• LOTV paper pad (retired)
• Momento Stamp Pad Ink
• Wild Orchid Craft Flowers
• WOC & Mulberry Flowers
• 15mm Satin Ribbon
• Flat Backed Pearls
• Glossy Accents
• Spellbinders Grand Ovals

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Monday Challenge - April Showers bring May Flowers (flowers)
• The Ribbon Girls - Card Challenge
• Saturday Sketch - Sketch!

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Jasmine Coffee

Today's clean & simple creation features Jasmine Coffee from Lili of the Valley and one of the new sentiments.  I've also managed to stumble across a small teapot charm which I've added with some twine onto a scalloped border.

Card Recipe:

• Image - Jasmine Coffee
• Sentiment - Sweet & Simple
• Colouring - Distress Ink Reinkers
• LOTV paper pad (retired)
• Stazon Ink Pad
• The Langton Watercolour paper
• Lawn Fawn Stitched Scalloped Border die
• Button Twine
• Flat Backed Pearls
• Metal Charm

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Polka dots (dress) and Lawn Fawn Products
• Creative Inspirations - Your Favourite Things (Pearls, Girlie, Watercolouring, Stitched Dies)
• The Ribbon Girls - Card Challenge

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Good Luck

Today is my first post since I joined the uber talented DT at My Mum's Craft Shop and I'm a teensy bit nervous!

My début creation features Stamping Bella's Woodsies Maisy and Madeline have some tea. It's my first time stamping these little furballs too, and I must admit I think they're adorable.

I made this card as a Good Luck card, but really the image could be appropriate for almost any occasion, possibly even a 'with sympathy' which I find is a really difficult theme to get right.

I also think this image would make a great 'thinking of you' card, which are my favourites because those kind of cards just whisper in someone's ear: 'even though it's not a special occasion day, you're still in my thoughts'.

Card Recipe:

• Stamping Bella Woodsies Maisy and Madeline have some tea
• MFT Stitched Rounded Rectangles
• Typed Sentiment
• Colouring - Distress Ink Reinkers
• LOTV paper pad (retired)
• Stazon Ink Pad
• The Langton Watercolour paper
• Flat Backed Pearls
• Whiff of Joy Bunting dies
• Star nesting dies

I've been inspired by:

• Cupcake Inspirations - Patterns
• Crafty Calendar - Anything Goes

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Oliver Game Boy

I've got a clean and simple card to share tonight, featuring one of the new teenager Oliver stamps from Lili of the Valley.  I really struggle with masculine cards, so I hope this one fits the bill!

Card Recipe:

• Image - Oliver Game Boy
• Sentiment - Teenage Boy Sentiments
• Colouring - Distress Ink Reinkers
• LOTV paper pad (retired)
• Stazon Ink Pad
• The Langton Watercolour paper
• Frantic Stamper Stitched Scene Builder Die
• Button Twine
• Metal Brad

Created for:

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Happy Birthday
• The Ribbon Girls - A Card

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Time for Cuddles

I'm sharing a clock today which I made using my usual clock template.  A lovely lady had ordered 2 baby cards for her newborn niece, so I made her this clock as an extra (mainly because I like making them!) and personalised it for her.

It's also perfect to support the APRIL challenge at Lili of the Valley as I've used Aqua, Pink and Ivory. Click on the image below to take you to the challenge details:


Card Recipe:

• Image - Odd Dog Little Pals
• Typed Sentiment
• Colouring - Distress Ink Reinkers
• Clouds - Dovecraft chalks
• Stazon Ink Pad
• The Langton Watercolour paper
• Wild Orchid Craft Flowers
• Viva Pearl Pen
• Clock Mechanism
• Mount Board
• Glossy Accents

I've been inspired by:

• Cute Card Thursday - Something Shiny
• Crafty Calendar - Anything Goes
• Simon's Monday Challnege - Try to Resist (used a mask to create the chalked clouds)

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

A Spot of Gingham

The theme at As You Like It Challenge today is to tell us what you like making other than cards, and I must admit that I have a huge weakness for boxes. Especially cute boxes.  As we're sponsored by Lawn Fawn, I've used a couple of their dies (I may have a couple of these box dies to choose from in my stash!).  I've used the milk carton and the pillow box dies to create two Spring-themed boxes featuring a Spring lamb from the Farmyard Friends set at Lili of the Valley.

Card Recipe:

• Image & Sentiment - Farmyard Friends from Lili of the Valley
• Colouring - Alcohol Markers
• Graphic 45 Papers
• Stazon Ink Pad
• The Langton Watercolour paper
• Lawn Fawn Milk Carton Die
• Lawn Fawn Pillow Box Die
• 15mm Gingham Ribbon
• Flat Backed Pearls

I've been inspired by:

• Deep Ocean Challenge - Spring is in the Air
• Country View Crafts - Spring

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Baby Pink Bear

There's a new challenge at Lili of the Valley where we're celebrating APRIL with the theme A.P.R.I.L. standing for Aqua, Pink, Red, Ivory and Lilac (you have to use at least 3 of the colours).

I've chosen Aqua, Pink, Red and Ivory (I couldn't quite manage to get the Lilac in for a "full house" unfortunately). This card was one of two commissioned cards I had for a new baby. I was asked to get quite a bit of wording on this particular card, so I decided to use some cloud dies to frame the blocks of text.  Lining the text up to fit inside the dies was somewhat of a challenge in itself though!

Click on the image below to take you to the challenge details.

Card Recipe:

• Image - Little Sleepy Head by Lili of the Valley (Retired)
• Typed Sentiments
• Colouring - Distress Ink Reinkers
• Wild Rose Studio paper pads
• Stazon Ink Pad
• The Langton Watercolour paper
• Wild Orchid Craft Flowers
• Lace
• Velvet Ribbon
• My Favourite Things Stitched Circles
• Memory Box Stitched Clouds
• WOC & Mulberry Flowers
• Flat Backed Pearls

I've been inspired by:

• Dream Valley - Girlie
• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes

Happy crafting
Annette
xx