Polar Stars

I've been a little AWOL recently as I've been crazy busy and haven't had much time for any crafting which is also making me a little stir-crazy!  Anyway, I do have a card to share with yout day because this fortnight at As You Like It Challenge we want to know if you prefer square or some other shaped cardbases.  While I love a shaped cardbase, a 6" square really is my go-to cardbase.  I find it's not too big to fill the space, and I prefer the square to a rectangle.

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, Tattered Rose, Tea Dye
• Sky: Tumbled Glass
• Reds: Candied Apple, Fired Brick, Aged Mahogany
• Greys: Hickory Smoke

Card Recipe:

• Starry Night by Lili of the Valley
• MFT Dienamcis Stitched Square Stax
• Flat Backed Pearls
• 15mm Satin Ribbon
• Nitwit Collections Papers
• Cherry Blossom
• Open Roses
• Hip Rosebuds
• Mini Rosebuds

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Monday Challenge - Christmas / Winter Card

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Badger Brush

This week at As You Like It Challenge we want to see your favourite die, and for me it's a simple stitched circle. I love the circle dies, and have them in vairous styles, including double stitched, pierced and deckled, but the simple stitch is my favourite. I love the subtle texture without taking the focus away from the image or embelishments.

Designed for:
As You Like It Challenge
Lee Holland

Water-coloured on Ecoline Watercolour Card with Ranger Distress Ink Reinkers:

• Fur: Hickory Smoke, Black Soot, Tea Dye
• Grass: Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Rustic Wilderness, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• Brush: Antique Linen, Frayed Burlap, Walnut Stain, Hickory Smoke
• Sky: Tumbled Glass
• Reds: Festive Berries, Barn Door, Aged Mahogany

Card Recipe:

• Badger digi from Lee Holland Digis
• Smooth White Card 160gsm
• 15mm Organza Ribbon
• Nitwit Collections Papers
• Cherry Blossom
• Open Roses
• Mini Rosebuds
• Crealies Crea-Nest-Lies XXL41 Pierced Circles

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Puppy Carols

Yup, I'm still in festive mode!  Well, it does feel like summer's over now!

Designed for:
Lili of the Valley

Water-coloured on Ecoline Watercolour Card with Ranger Distress Ink Reinkers:

• Browns: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, Gathered Twigs
• Skin: Tattered Rose, Tea Dye, Worn Lipstick
• Greens: Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Rustic Wilderness, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• Sky: Tumbled Glass
• Yellows: Scattered Straw, Squeezed Lemonade
• Reds: Candied Apple, Fired Brick, Aged Mahogany
• 'Whites': Hickory Smoke, Black Soot

Card Recipe:

• Canine Choir from Lili of the Valley (retired image)
• Smooth White Card 160gsm
• Typed Sentiment

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Gnome Flower

This fortnight at As You Like It Challenge we want to know if you prefer flat or layered cards.  I've used my favourite layout on today's card, which is 2 different patterned papers with a ribbon covering the join, and some pretty flowers framing my watercoloured image.  It seems to be my default layout, so I'm going to opt for layered as my favourite!

Designed for:
As You Like It Challenge
Lee Holland

Water-coloured on Ecoline Watercolour Card with Ranger Distress Ink Reinkers:

• Skin: Tattered Rose, Tea Dye, Worn Lipstick
• Greens: Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Rustic Wilderness, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• Sky: Tumbled Glass
• Oranges: Dried Marigold, Fossilised Amber, Wild Honey, Rusty Hinge
• 'Whites': Hickory Smoke, Black Soot

Card Recipe:

• Gnome with Flowers by Lee Holland Digis
• Smooth White Card 160gsm
• Nitwit Collections Papers
• Cherry Blossom
• Open Roses
• Hip Rosebuds
• Crealies Crea-Nest-Lies XXL41 Pierced Circles
• Seam binding
• Enamel dots from Hobbycraft

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Tree-mendous

Is anyone else thinking about Christmas!!!

Designed for:
Lee Holland

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
• Tree Trunk: Antique Linen, Frayed Burlap, Walnut Stain
• Sky: Tumbled Glass
• Hat: Candied Apple, Fired Brick, Aged Mahogany, Hickory Smoke, Black Soot

Card Recipe:

• Teddy Bear decorating a Christmas Tree
• Smooth White Card 160gsm
• Dark Green Plain Card 240gsm
• Typed Sentiment

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Cute Koala

I really love making shpaed cards, so I've made this fun koala bear card using some pearlescent grey layers and scraps of white, dark greys and black for the accents.  He's a tent fold cardbase so he sits up to display.

Designed for:

Papermill Direct

Card Recipe:

• Cute Koala

Papermill Direct:

• Titanium Silver Pure Pearl Card
• Smooth White Card 160gsm
• Gray Sirio Pearl Merida Card
• Black Plain Card 240gsm

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Woolly Balls

I saw Lee's digitally coloured image of this woolly ball bear recently which has inspired me to share this version which I've watercoloured with Distress Reinkers.  I've used hot foil on the sentiment to give it some shine, but have otherwise kept the card clean and simple to give the adorable bear centre stage.

Designed for:
Lee Holland

Water-coloured on Ecoline Watercolour Card with Ranger Distress Ink Reinkers:

• Fur: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, Gathered Twigs, Tea Dye, Worn Lipstick
• Sky: Tumbled Glass
• Woolly balls: Too many colours to remember (sorry!)

Card Recipe:

• Little Teddy holding balls of Wool by Lee Holland Digis
• Heidi Swapp Foiling machine & blue metalic foil
• Typed Sentiment

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Panda Tumble

This fortnight at As You Like It Challenge we're asking you to showcase your favourite colouring medium. 

I love my Distress Ink Reinkers, which I decant into a palette and use as watercolours with a paintbrush.  

I've tried watercolour pencils but I keep returning to the reinkers, although they are quite messy, especially with kittens jumping on my desk!  

I have previously used Copics, but they were very expensive and once I'd dabbled with watercolouring, I was hooked!

Designed for:
As You Like It Challenge
Lee Holland

Water-coloured on Ecoline Watercolour Card with Ranger Distress Ink Reinkers:

• Panda: Hickory Smoke, Black Soot
• Browns: Antique Linen, Frayed Burlap, Walnut Stain
• Grass: Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Rustic Wilderness, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• Sky: Tumbled Glass

Card Recipe:

• Panda on a Branch by Lee Holland Digis
• Smooth White Card 160gsm
• 15mm Organza Ribbon
• Nitwit Collections Papers
• Cherry Blossom
• Open Roses
• Mini Rosebuds
• Crealies Crea-Nest-Lies XXL41 Pierced Circles
• Enamel dots from Hobbycraft

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Plant a Garden

I really love these little critters by Colorado Craft Company and I've used one of the background stamps which I've fussy cut to create a small scene.  The background is a simple embossed panel with a stamped sentiment from another Colorado Craft Company stamp set.

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: Shabby Shutters, Mowed Lawn, Rustic Wilderness, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• Butterfly: Scattered Straw, Wild Honey, Rusty Hinge

Card Recipe:

• Colorado Craft Summer Garden Stamp
• Colorado Craft Rooting for You (sentiment)
• Smooth White Card 160gsm
• Dark Green Plain Card 240gsm
• Crealies Crea-Nest-Lies XXL41 Pierced Circles
• Nellie Snellen Embossing Folder

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Add a Sentiment

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Chubby Sheep

I've made this Chubby Sheep cut file into a tent-fold cardbase for a fun shaped card.  I love making shaped cards, and this one is really effective with just some cream hammered card (for texture) and scraps of black and white. I've inked around the edge of the cream to give it a bit more interest.

Designed for:

Papermill Direct

Card Recipe:

Papermill Direct:

• Smooth White Card 160gsm
• Black Plain Card 240gsm
• Rich Cream Card Hammered 255gsm

Happy crafting
Annette
xx