Cuddle Bunnies

It's been a week since my last post but today I've got a real cutie to share with you using a sweet bunny image from Digi Stamp Boutique called Bently and Bunny.  The challenge at As You Like It Challenge is to showcase your favourite colouring medium and mine is definitely my reinkers. I find them so therapeutic when I have the paintbrush in my hand blending out the ink.  The only downside is when I confuse my water bottle with my cuppa and dunk my brush in the wrong one.

Card Recipe:

• Image - Bently and Bunny from Digi Stamp Boutique
• Colouring - Distress Ink Reinkers
• Maja Design Papers
• The Langton Watercolour paper
• Wild Orchid Craft Flowers
• 15mm Ribbon
• Flat Backed Pearls
• Spellbinders Grand Ovals

I've been inspired by:

• The Ribbon Girl - Any Image
• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Beach Babe

I'm in summer mode today with a lovely image from Stamping Bella called Sandy has a Sombrero. I just wish it was me on the beach!  I've added some lace to support the Lace challenge at In The Pink too!  Gotta dash as I'm off to meet some friends today in "Tweeksbury"! :0)

Card Recipe:

• Image - Sandy has a Sombrero
• Colouring - Alcohol Markers
• Maja Design Papers
• Momento Stamp Pad Ink 
• MFT Stitched Scallop Edges
• Die-namics Sunny Skies
• Mama Elephant Hello Script Die
• Memory Box Stitched Clouds

Created for:

Sponsored by:

I've been inspired by:

• Bunny Zoe - Summer
• That's Crafty - In the Pink
• Stamping Bella - Sketch
• Noor Design - Summer

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Maisy and Madeline

It's mid-week and I'm here to share one of my creations for My Mum's Craft Shop, this time little Maisy and Madeline.  I've used a 'new to me' colour combo of aqua and orange which is definitely away from my usual pinks and purples!  I started off picking my backing paper first, and then decided when painting the image chose orange for the flower, so matched that on the embellishments.  :0)

Card Recipe:

• Image - Stamping Bella Woodsies Maisy and Madeline have some tea
• Colouring - Distress Ink Reinkers
• Magnolia Papers
• Stazon Ink Pad
• The Langton Watercolour paper
• Wild Orchid Craft Flowers
• MFT Stitched Ovals
• 15mm Satin Ribbon
• Flat Backed Pearls

Created for:

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Monday Challenge - Patterned Papers

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Super Critters

This is my very first attempt at a pop-up box card, and I'm hooked.

This one did take me an age to construct but I really loved the end result.  I used my new Clearly Besotted Caped Cuties and matching dies (a lovely surprise gift from a very dear friend) and lots of dies (grass, fence, landscape borders, stars, stitched circles etc) and created a bespoke sentiment printed onto my backing paper.

I hope you like it because I'm already thinking about my second one!

Here's a bit of a close up. The flying bunny is on a little strip of acetate.

You can tell I loved how this one turned out by the multitude of pictures ... here's one from the front:

Card Recipe:

• Image - Clearly Besotted Caped Cuties
• Clearly Besotted Caped Cuties Matching Die Set
• Typed Sentiment
• Colouring - Alcohol Markers
• Maja Design Papers
• Momento Stamp Pad Ink
• MFT Stitched Circles
• Memory Box Stitched Clouds
• Frantic Stamper Stitched Scene Builder Die
• Memory Box Fence Die
• Whiff of Joy Grass die
• Nesting Star dies

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Animal Magic

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Hold my hand

We want you to show us your favourite dies this week at As You Like It Challenge and this Nottingham border die has been my favourite for a while.  I love the pretty flowers and it's my 'go-to' die for clean and simple feminine designs.

I've teamed it up with a recently purchased stamp set called Snuggle Bunnies from MFT, and the sentiment is from the same set.

Although they look black in the pic, the ribbon and pearl are actually navy blue. I do find it difficult to find true blue embellishments because most of my blues are aquas, but these navy blues seemed to match the papers.

Card Recipe:

• Image - Snuggle Bunnies & Sentiment by MFT
• Colouring - Distress Ink Reinkers
• Maja Design Papers
• Stazon Ink Pad
• The Langton Watercolour paper
• Viva Pearl Pen - Ice White
• Memory Box Nottingham Border Die
• Flat backed pearl
• Ribbed ribbon

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Animal Magic
• ABC - Just as you like it

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Wedding Day

I attended a family wedding last weekend and I made the bride and groom a card with a matching guest book / photo album.

I really love this image from Lili of the Valley and painted it up in their wedding colours which were pink and white.

I used lots of flowers, ribbon, jute mesh and lace all from The Ribbon Girl and I was really pleased with how it turned out.  I love the combination of the rustic jute mesh together with the soft velvet ribbon and lace.

I also made a little bound book using the same image. I covered 2 pieces of stiff mountboard with patterned papers and added a strip of contrasting coloured paper along one edge.  I wrapped all the raw edges around the edge of the mountboard and stuck them down on the reverse side of each cover. I then punched a hole in the opposite edge, added a hole reinforcer cut from the same contrasting backing paper, threaded a piece of narrow pink satin ribbon through the hole and stuck it down on the reverse with tape.  I then lined the inside of each cover with kraft paper.  I cut 40 square pages of plain kraft paper for the inserts, and bound the lot together with my binding machine using matching pink wires.  Sorry about the photo quality, I forgot to take a proper photo before I gave it away, so only had a basic picture on my phone so the colours are a bit bright.

Hope you brought your sun glasses!

Card Recipe:

• Image - Wedding Couple from Lili of the Valley
• Typed Sentiment
• Colouring - Distress Ink Reinkers
• Nitwits Paper (book)
• Magnolia Paper (card)
• Stazon Ink Pad
• The Langton Watercolour paper
• Wild Orchid Craft Flowers
• Viva Pearl Pen - Ice White
• MFT Stitched Circles
• WOC & Mulberry Flowers
• Ivory Jute Mesh
• 9mm Pink velvet ribbon
• Lace
• 6mm Satin Ribbon
• Flat Backed Pearls
• Beaded Twirl
• Whiff of Joy Heart Banner

I've been inspired by:

• Bunny Zoe - Lovely Layers
• The Ribbon Girl - Card
• Creatalicious - AG optional Wedding

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Coffee (in a Teapot)

It's my turn to showcase a project at My Mum's Craft Shop and I've got a cute little mousey from Whipper Snapper Designs called Colby's Caffeine.  I've made a teapot shaped card from a circle with shaped spout, handle and base.  The 'lid' is just an added circle with a brad on it.  I've cut the image out with a stitched circle stax die and kept the embellishments simple with just some flowers and a die cut '50'.

Card Recipe:

• Image - Whipper Snapper Designs called Colby's Caffeine
• Colouring - Distress Ink Reinkers
• LOTV paper pad (retired)
• Stazon Ink Pad
• The Langton Watercolour paper
• Wild Orchid Craft Flowers
• Viva Pearl Pen - Ice White
• Sizzix Sizzlits Graffiti number dies
• MFT Stitched Circles
• WOC & Mulberry Flowers
• Glossy Accents
• Large brad

Created for:

I've been inspired by:

• The Ribbon Girls - Card Challenge
• Creatalicious - Anything Goes

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

My name is Annette, and I'm a Chocoholic ...

This weeks' challenge at As You Like It Challenge is to show us what is your favourite food or drink. My favourite could be either, because you can both eat and drink chocolate!  In my project I've used the edible variety in the form of a chocolate cake. Yum!

Card Recipe:

• Image - CC Designs Baker Nancy
• Colouring - Alcohol Markers
• Papers from Wild Rose Studio
• Momento Stamp Pad Ink
• Wild Orchid Craft Flowers
• Viva Pearl Pen - Ice White
• 15mm Satin Ribbon
• Flat Backed Pearls
• Spellbinders Grand Ovals 

I've been inspired by:

• Sweet Stamping - Embossing (I embossed around the edge of the oval with a tool)
• ABC Challenge - Important (it's for by friend's birthday on Sunday)

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

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