Thursday, 30 November 2023

Advent Mouse Tag

This fortnight at As You Like It Challenge we're asking who is your favourite person to craft for.  

Although I enjoy crafting as a hobby, it's far more motivating when I know the recipient of my project will appreciate the hours of creative work you've poured into your project.  I particularly like making for my Bestest Crafting Buddy who also happens to be my Partner in Crime when it comes to buying more stash (although to be fair, no encouragement is usually required!)

Today's project is a gift tag I've made to decorate an Advent calendar that I've made with a few crafty bits inside. I can't disclose what's inside because she won't start opening the doors until tomorrow and I don't want any spoilers, but I hope she finds some crafting inspiration from its contents as each day arrives.

I can at least share the tag which she should have already seen by now, in preparation for tomorrow's 'Grand Opening Ceremony'!

It's a simple die cut tag, which I've layered onto a slightly larger matt base, and some embossed card at the top for some decoration.








Designed for:
As You Like It Challenge
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
  • Greens: Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Peeled Paint, Pine Needles
  • Sky: Tumbled Glass
  • Snow: Speckled Egg
Card Recipe:
Papermill Direct:
I've been inspired by:
Happy crafting
Annette
xx



Wednesday, 29 November 2023

Christmas Bear

A clean and simple card, featuring an adorably cute cuddly festive teddy bear!




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
  • Greens: Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Rustic Wilderness, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
  • Sky: Tumbled Glass
  • Reds: Candied Apple, Fired Brick, Aged Mahogany
  • Greys: Hickory Smoke, Speckled Egg
Card Recipe:
Papermill Direct:
I've been inspired by:
Happy crafting
Annette
xx



Thursday, 23 November 2023

Sweater Weather - Moose

This is the last one in the set, I promise! 




Designed for:
Dies to Die For
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
  • Antlers: Frayed Burlap, Walnut Stain
  • Reds: Candied Apple, Fired Brick, Aged Mahogany
Card Recipe:

I've been inspired by:

Happy crafting
Annette
xx



Wednesday, 22 November 2023

Sweater Weather - Zebra

I'm back with another 'Sweater Weather' card in my quick-makes series!  



Designed for:
Dies to Die For
Papermill Direct

Water-coloured on Ecoline Watercolour Card with Ranger Distress Ink Reinkers:
  • Zebra: Hickory Smoke, Black Soot, Tattered Rose
  • Reds: Candied Apple, Fired Brick, Aged Mahogany
Card Recipe:

From Dies To Die For:

Papermill Direct:
I've been inspired by:
Happy crafting

Annette
xx



Saturday, 18 November 2023

Sweater Weather - Giraffe

Another little critter in my set of  Clean and Simple Christmas cards, this time featuring am adorable giraffe!





Designed for:
Dies to Die For
Papermill Direct

Water-coloured on Langton Watercolour paper with Ranger Distress Ink Reinkers:
Water-coloured on Ecoline Watercolour Card with Ranger Distress Ink Reinkers:
  • Giraffe: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, Gathered Twigs 
  • Purples: Milled Lavender, Dusty Concord, Wilted Violet, Villainous Potion

Card Recipe:


From Dies To Die For:
Papermill Direct:
I've been inspired by:
Happy crafting

Annette
xx



Friday, 17 November 2023

Sweater Weather - Polar Bear

Today I'm sharing two cards along the same theme, but in different colour combos.  Red and green are traditional Christmas colours, but I also love purple for a more frosty themed card too.










Designed for:
Dies to Die For
Papermill Direct

Water-coloured on Langton Watercolour paper with Ranger Distress Ink Reinkers:
  • Fur: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, Tattered Rose, Tea Dye
  • Purples: Milled Lavender, Dusty Concord, Wilted Violet, Villainous Potion
  • Reds: Candied Apple, Fired Brick, Aged Mahogany

Card Recipe:


From Dies To Die For:
Papermill Direct:
I've been inspired by:
Happy crafting
Annette
xx



Thursday, 16 November 2023

Penguin Christmas

Today at As You Like It Challenge we're wanting to see your favourite Christmas critter, and for me it's the pingu!  What's not to love about these cute tuxedo-wearing waddlers!



Designed for:
As You Like It Challenge
Lee Holland
Papermill Direct

Water-coloured on Ecoline Watercolour Card with Ranger Distress Ink Reinkers:
  • Penguin: Hickory Smoke, Black Soot, Tattered Rose, Tea Dye, Wild Honey, Rusty Hinge 
  • Sky: Tumbled Glass
  • Reds: Candied Apple, Fired Brick, Aged Mahogany
Card Recipe:
Papermill Direct:
Happy crafting
Annette
xx



Wednesday, 15 November 2023

Donkey

I coloured this adorable donkey a while ago and have finally got him onto a card.




Designed for:
Dies to Die For

Water-coloured on Ecoline Watercolour Card with Ranger Distress Ink Reinkers:
  • Fur: Hickory Smoke, Black Soot, Tattered Rose, Tea Dye
  • Grass: Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Rustic Wilderness, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
  • Sky: Tumbled Glass
Card Recipe:

From Dies To Die For:
Papermill Direct:
I've been inspired by:
Happy crafting
Annette
xx



Monday, 13 November 2023

James the Bear - Star

How about a pink Christmas card to brighten a dreary November Monday?



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
  • Reds: Candied Apple, Fired Brick, Aged Mahogany
  • 'Whites': Weathered Wood
Card Recipe:
Papermill Direct:
Happy crafting
Annette
xx



Sunday, 12 November 2023

Sweater Weather - Fox and Owl

I'm building up my Christmas cards with a simple design featuring these Sweater Weather images from My Favorite Things. Just a little stencilling and a die cut sentiment keeps the design very clean and simple.






Designed for:
As You Like It Challenge
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
  • Reds: Candied Apple, Fired Brick, Aged Mahogany
Card Recipe:

From Dies To Die For:
Papermill Direct:
I've been inspired by:
Happy crafting
Annette
xx



Thursday, 9 November 2023

Bear in the Snow

Question: What's more cute than a teddy bear?

Answer: A teddy bear wearing a bobble hat, playing in the snow!!!






Designed for:
Lili of the Valley

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
  • Purples: Milled Lavender, Wilted Violet, Villainous Potion
  • 'Whites': Weathered Wood
Card Recipe:
Papermill Direct:
Happy crafting
Annette
xx



Thursday, 2 November 2023

Winter Wonderland Bear

I've decided that I need to get a wriggle on with my Christmas cards and although I can apprecaite the warmth of deep reds, golds and evergreens at Christmas, I really love soft pinks and purples at Christmas too. I've used one of my favourite wintry papers on this pastels card with some pink accents.




Designed for:
As You Like It Challenge

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
  • Blues: Tumbled Glass, Broken China
  • Purples: Milled Lavender, Wilted Violet, Villainous Potion
  • Pinks: Spun Sugar, Kitsch Flamingo
Card Recipe:
Happy crafting
Annette
xx



Tuesday, 24 October 2023

Snowflake Lantern

I've made a small tealight holder from black card and velum using a Silhouette file by Jennifer Rush





Designed for:
Papermill Direct

Card Recipe:

Papermill Direct:
Other:

Happy crafting
Annette
xx



Thursday, 19 October 2023

Snowman Countdown

This week at As You Like It Challenge we're wanting to know if you prefer Santa or Snowmen on your Christmas creations.  Although I find white challenging to colour, I much prefer the cuteness of a snowman than a jolly Father Christmas (sorry Saint Nick!), so today I'm sharing my Christmas Countdown calendar featuring one of the Advent critters from our lovely sponsors Lili of the Valley.

I used a Christmas Countdown calendar cut file but swapped out the 'head' for the Snowman using my Silhouette.





I've made a few more with different Critters:

Wednesday, 18 October 2023

Stencil Flowers

A couple of simple, stencilled cards using two colour combinations of Distress Ink pads and a blending brush.






Designed for:

Friday, 13 October 2023

Pastel Lights

I've made this simple Christmas Light garland using some beautiful pearl card and a light bulb cutting template.  I've added some simple white acrylic paint strokes as highlights on each bulb and strung them together using some twine.  My photo skills don't do the pearl paper justice but they're so pretty in real life.





Designed for:

Wednesday, 11 October 2023

Advent Reindeer

I've made this advent calendar from scratch using mountboard which I've covered with some thin baby pink card and decorated with some pretty digi papers. The boxes are all glued on, filled with mini chocolates and decorated with the same digi paper and embossed numbers cut in a raspberry pink card.  

I've stamped the numbers and fussy cut them using my Silhouette machine before embossing them.  The front is decoarated with a watercoloured image, paper flowers and a personalisation in the same coloured card ready for gifting before 1 December!











Designed for:
As You Like It Challenge
Amanda Jayne Designs
Papermill Direct

Water-coloured on Ecoline Watercolour Card with Ranger Distress Ink Reinkers:
  • Reindeer: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, Frayed Burlap, Walnut Stain
  • Sky: Tumbled Glass
  • Ground: Hickory Smoke, Speckled Egg
Project Recipe:

Papermill Direct:
I've been inspired by:
Happy crafting
Annette
xx



Tuesday, 10 October 2023

Gnome Christmas Snowflake & a LOTV Discount Code

Today I'm sharing a cute new gnome image from Lili of the Valley's latest Christmas release.





Plus, as an extra special bonus, between 10 and 17 October, because I'm part of the Lili of the Valley Design Team, if you use the discount code 'ANNETTECONNELLY20' at the checkout you'll get 20% off your purchase at Lili of the Valley.  Happy Shopping!





Designed for:
Lili of the Valley
Papermill Direct

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
  • Lamp: Squeezed Lemonade, Dried Marigold, Rusty Hinge
  • Whites: Hickory Smoke, Weathered Wood, Speckled Egg

Card Recipe:

Papermill Direct:
Happy crafting
Annette
xx



Saturday, 7 October 2023

Poncho

I've used some yarn from Lidl and a 'Weekend Poncho pattern' from Kathy's Crochet Closet on Etsy to make this pretty poncho style shawl. It's got more holes than I usually like, but that's made it quite warm!  

It was quick to make up, I managed it in a week just crocheting in the evenings and I expect I'll be wearing it soon if the weather gets a bit chilly!





Happy crafting
Annette
xx



Thursday, 5 October 2023

Pumpkin

This week at As You Like It Challenge we're asking if you prefer Halloween or Fairies. I'm not a huge fan of fairies, and although I don't technically celebrate Halloween, I do love the decorations.  We usually get dozens of Trick or Treaters visit the house because we live very close to one of the largest schools in our town, so there are a lot of kiddies (and not so little ghouls) who dress up to ring the doorbell demanding treats.

Rather than make a card, which I don't tend to send for this holiday, I'm sharing some home decor in the form of a crocheted pumpkin that I've made using some fluffy chenille wool.

The pattern is from YouTube, chenille yarn from Aldi, and the stalks were from Amazon.







Happy crafting
Annette
xx