Friday, 29 November 2013

Bluebell Behind Presents

It's another Wild Rose Studio Bluebell card today; this one features Bluebell Behind Presents, and the papers are also from Wild Rose Studio.

I've followed a sketch which wanted lots of layers, which I think I've managed to pull off with a multi layered snowflake die, double bow, and three layers of paper panels, all matted onto red card.



See my cards available to buy on eBay
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Card Recipe featuring items from The Stamp Basket:
I've been inspired by:
Happy crafting
Annette
xx

   
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Thursday, 28 November 2013

Rosie Book Drawer Tutorial

The theme today at As You Like It Challenge is to showcase your favourite digi stamp.  I do love my digi images; they're so simple to print (with no risk of inky fingers!).  I also love that I can flip and resize them to fit my project.  However, I have so many that my favourites change all the time.

Bears are definitely always in my top picks, but at the moment I'm really loving the girlie Sugar Nellie cuties. The one I've used today, called Rosie, is one I have favoured a couple of times recently because she's so pretty.  I've also used my favourite digi paper brand, Nitwits on this project.

I refer to it as a 'project', because instead of making a card (why oh why didn't I just make a card!!!) I saw this book drawer over on Dian's amazing blog while I was 'Pinterest hopping' a couple of weeks ago, and I decided to have a go with some photo mount-board that I purchased for my recent clocks.

I seriously underestimated how long this project would take me to make, although to be fair, I did faff around a bit working out how to make it.

I made the outer part quite quickly by cutting a rectangle and scoring the spine, but the board was quite thick, so I had to peg it in place against the inside drawer frame overnight to ensure it was holding tightly.

Then the next day I made the drawer.

And the next day I inked it all up, and decorated it.

3 days!!!

Here's how I did it:

Outer Cover:

  1. Cut a rectangle in thick card 23cm x 13cm.
  2. Score it at 9.5cm and 4cm measured in from one of the short edges.
  3. Score a series of lines between the two existing score lines at tight intervals to create the spine.
  4. Bend the cover into shape.
Drawer Encasement:
  1. Cut a rectangle 12cm x 23cm.
  2. Score it at 4cm, 7cm, 15.5cm and 18.5cm from one of the short edges.
  3. Shape it into a box open at both ends.
  4. Stick it inside the book cover sticking to both the front and back "covers".
Drawer:
  1. Cut a rectangle 17.5cm x 13.75cm.
  2. Score a line 2.75cm in from each of the 4 edges.
  3. Cut 2.75cm slits along the scoreline you've created on both sides of each short edge.
  4. Fold the box up and stick the tabs on the insides to hold the sides up.
  5. Insert the drawer into the encasement. Because the encasement is open at both ends, the drawer can be opened by pushing it through from either end. If it's a tight fit (as mine is) it won't open without being pushed quite hard.
Decorating:
  1. Using a rough brush, dab it in brown ink (I used Walnut Stain DI reinker)
  2. Streak it in straight lines along the edges of the insert and the drawer to resemble 'pages'.
  3. Ink around the top of the drawer and the edges of the cover to match.
  4. Decorate the rest of your book as you wish.
.... and relax!

Because it took me sooooo long to make, I'm going to bore you all with some more pics!   

Brace yourself ...










And before I disappear, (if you're still with me), I have some news ...


Yup, I'm back with my old (and some new) teamies at Crafty Little Fairies.  The adorable Squirrel asked me last week and I couldn't possibly refuse her, so woohoo, I'm back!!
Thanks hun.  Love ya loads.  :0)

I think my first outing will be next week (if I get my arse in gear and get creating), but in the meantime this week's theme is Red & Green Christmas, so pop over to see what the fairies have created and join in the Fairy Fun.


See my cards available to buy on eBay
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Card Recipe:
I've been inspired by:
Happy crafting.
Annette
xx

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Wednesday, 27 November 2013

A festive, blue, cute, sketchy, non-square card with an animal !!!

The theme today at ABC Christmas Challenge is to create something that is not a square.  But I've also combined this project with two other challenges, Christmas with Sketches (who not only provided a sketch but also a photo inspiration this week) and also Fab 'n' Funky, who's theme is a nice and easy 'cute'.

That was a whole lot of themes to cram into one creation, but I was being too lazy to create more than one project for each theme!  :0)

Because of all the themes, I've kept the embellishments light......



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Card Recipe:
I've been inspired by:
Happy crafting.
Annette
xx

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Tuesday, 26 November 2013

Tilda with Lamb

The theme today at Top Tip Tuesday is to use Kraft, so I decided to decorate a little Kraft coloured gift bag.  I kept the design quite simple, using some white jute style fabric which I frayed at the edges, a large image and a sweet little flower which I made using a template.

I decided to water colour the image (as I've been promising myself that I'd do some painting again for ages. I find the hair really difficult, but quite like how the toes turned out,  LOL!


Here's a close up of the bag:




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Card Recipe:
I've been inspired by:
Happy crafting.
Annette
xx

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Monday, 25 November 2013

Bluebell and Presents

Hello everyone.  Today's card is another C&S design (I'm getting a bit hooked on these!).

I am also a bit addicted to this gorgeous rich red burlap twine, and have again embellished the bow with a gold bell.

Hopefully you saw my post on Saturday (yup I'm still super excited) and so today is, you've guessed it, a WRS image.  I tried a bit of a different dotting technique on Bluebell's fur.   I'm not entirely sure about it though.

I also ran a row of dimples around the edge of the image panel, but they've barely come out on the photo.  I think I should have stitched it, but it is all stuck down now. :0(


Whilst I've got your attention, there is a new release at Stampfairy out today, Molly Snow Time.

Here's a preview of the new set - isn't she adorable ...


And, as if that is not enough, there's a Stampfairy sale on until the end of December, including all new images.  Pop over there to grab a bargain while they're all reduced.



See my cards available to buy on eBay
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Card Recipe featuring items from The Stamp Basket:
I've been inspired by:
Happy crafting
Annette
xx

   
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Saturday, 23 November 2013

Whoopee

No card today, but after what can only be described as 'a shitty week' for a whole variety of different reasons, I have some happy news that I can finally share.

For the last 2 or 3 years, I've entered a card-making competition in the magazine that I subscribe to, Cardmaking and Papercraft.  This year I sent off a few entries which, after judging, are sent off to charity.  This is nice because, although I'm ultimately entering a competition, some good will come from it in the form of a whole lot of cards raising some money for charity.

A couple of weeks ago, I was on a weekend city break in Bristol, and I received an email from the publishers saying that I'd been chosen as the winner of the Wild Rose Studio category.  Well, you could've knocked me over with a feather, and I had to read the email several times to make sure I wasn't mistaken.

Even hubby could see that I was slightly excited (ok 'slightly excited' is an understatement).

Then last week a HUGE bundle of stamps arrived on my mat, which felt like Christmas had come early and I had a lovely time rummaging through my new images.  Needless to say that you might expect some more WRS card samples to be on my blog soon!

Finally today, the winners have been published in the December issue of the magazine which Mr Postie popped through the door this morning.

Here I am on the first page spread of the article (bottom middle, under Wild Rose Studio category) :





And here's my 'close up'.  Please don't look too close at the photo, as I am far more comfortable behind the lens than in front of it...



To be honest, I'm still in shock.  It's been a long term dream to have one of my cards printed in a magazine, and it is amazing to see it there on the page.

I am so grateful to the magazine for hosting the competition, and Dulcie from Wild Rose Studio both for providing the prize and helping to select me as the winner.

Up until now, my main claim to success was winning a pair of binoculars in a competition run by a flooring company when I was about 10 years old - they wanted entrants to name the rhino that was their brand image, and I imaginatively suggested 'Flora'.    :0)

This win is on a whole new level, and I'm so honoured to have been chosen from such high quality entries.

Thanks to everyone involved in the competition, and huge congratulations to the winners of the other sponsored categories.

What a lovely end to the week.
Happy crafting everyone.
Hugs
Annette
xx

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Friday, 22 November 2013

Paper Pieced Present for You

Hello everyone.  Today's card is quite simple.  I paper pieced some of the image and then used a simple sketch with a couple of border dies and some gorgeous rich red burlap twine embellished with a couple of gold bells.




See my cards available to buy on eBay
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Card Recipe featuring items from The Stamp Basket:
I've been inspired by:
Happy crafting
Annette
xx

   
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Tuesday, 19 November 2013

Barry is an Angel at Bedtime (and a freebie)

I've made another little clock today, this one featuring Barry Angel and a freebie from the Barry Bedtime set, both from Stampfairy.

I've decided that if this is to be used in an infant's room, it might help to have all the numbers on the clock face rather than just 3, 6, 9 and 12, which were on my last clocks, especially if it is going to be used to help teach the little'un how to tell the time!   So I've added all the other numbers to my template, although I had to make them a bit smaller to fit them all in.

The revised template is at the bottom if you want to grab it.  Please note my T&Cs though.





See my cards available to buy on eBay
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Freebie:
As promised above, here is my Clock Template freebie that I've used above.  You're free to download it if you like it; click on the image for a larger version, then right click and 'save picture as' to save to your own computer. 

My conditions are as follows:
  1. Please become a follower, then you will see more freebies as they are posted,
  2. Please leave a comment on this post to let me know you've downloaded it, and
  3. Please don't share my freebies directly with other people, but please send them over to collect it themselves.
  4. Please give me credit when you use them and post your finished creations on your blog.
I also adore seeing your creations using my digi freebies, so I'd really love you to send me an email with links to your creations so I can pop over for a peek!





   

Card Recipe:
Please pop on over to StampFairy to see the newly released digi images which were released yesterday.


Here's a preview of the set being released:





    I've been inspired by:
    Happy Crafting

    Annette
    xx

       
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    Monday, 18 November 2013

    Vintage Thanks

    I wanted to have a vintage style thank you card, but it seems that I've ended up with another mix up card today.

    But this time it's not a girl-in-a-skimpy-dress-on-a-Christmas-card kind of mix up.

    I've used papers from a Christmas pad (these ones have nothing on them to mark them as Christmassy) and a summery image from Crafter's Companion.

    OK so actually it is another "Girl-In-A-Skimpy-Dress-On-A-Christmas-Card" kind of mix up.

    D'oh!!!

    I'll get my coat....



    See my cards available to buy on eBay
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    Card Recipe featuring items from The Stamp Basket:
    I've been inspired by:
    Happy crafting
    Annette
    xx

       
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    Saturday, 16 November 2013

    Chloe with Reindeer

    The challenge this week at A Gem of a Challenge is Purple and Turquoise, and when I heard those colours, I just knew I wanted to create a winter themed card.  I don't know why, but it just seemed to fit.  But of course purple and turquoise are two of my favourite colours too, so it wasn't hard to get motivated.

    I decided to make a shaped card again, using my new(ish) Go Kreate Frilly dies.  I really love this shape.




    See my cards available to buy on eBay
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    Card Recipe:
    I've been inspired by:
    Happy crafting.
    Annette
    xx

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    Friday, 15 November 2013

    Bluebell with Saddle

    I'm in love with these cute little deer images from Wild Rose Studio. There's a whole set to choose from and they're all adorable.  This one is Bluebell with Saddle.

    I've kept the colour scheme quite simple with neutral browns and creams, with a spot of red and green on the image.  The base card is covered with an embossed page from my favourite Christmas paper pad, Silent Night, and each layer is matted onto shimmer tan backing paper.

    My rich chocolate satin bow is held on with one of my favourite Hobby House 8mm pearl brads.  I'm down to my last packet of these now and will have to get some more as I couldn't bear to run out!




    See my cards available to buy on eBay
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    Card Recipe featuring items from The Stamp Basket:
    I've been inspired by:
    Happy crafting
    Annette
    xx

       
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    Thursday, 14 November 2013

    Tilda with Lamb (and being brave with Frantage)

    The theme today at As You Like It Challenge is to choose your favourite from either Spots or Stripes.

    Well I'm definitely not a stripes person, so for me it had to be spots.  To be honest I'm not usually over keen on large polka dots, but I do like these sweet small spotty papers.  Yup, you've guessed it, they're from my Silent Night paper pad.  That'll be 3 times in 4 days that I've used this pad  :0)

    I've not used a Tilda image for a while. Actually thinking about it now, I can't even remember the last time I used a Tilda.  This is one I've not inked up yet, so I thought I'd use this challenge as an excuse to give her an outing.

    I've also been brave and opened my pot of Frantage for the first time.  I think I bought it back in the early summer, but have not yet had the courage to use it.  I actually wasn't sure how much to use, and now think I could have put a spot more on, but for a first attempt it's not too bad, and next time I won't be so scared to throw a bit more on.

    I've also used a lilac colour accent on my card after seeing the fab combo with the same paper pad on Lisa's card last week.  Funnily enough, my layout also looks a bit like her card, but I was actually following a sketch on The Sketchy Challenge, so that's just a bit of a coincidence.






    See my cards available to buy on eBay
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    Card Recipe:
    I've been inspired by:
    Happy crafting.
    Annette
    xx

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    Wednesday, 13 November 2013

    Winter Wishes

    The theme today at ABC Christmas Challenge is 'Winter Wishes'.  I've used Sabrina from our sponsor, Saturated Canary which is not a winter image, but I've coloured her in frosty colours and used my lovely Silent Night papers (again!).

    Hmm, I admit that she might not exactly be dressed for winter, but hopefully no-one will pick up on the fact that she might be a bit chilly in that skimpy dress!  A scarf, hat and gloves might not go amiss.

    That's probably an age 'thing' though, because I remember when I was younger going out into town for a night out with my pals dressed in similar attire, even if the paths were covered in frost.  The youngsters still go out in their skimpy frocks, whereas now I would wear more to go to bed!!

    I layered all of my Silent Night paper panels onto shimmer kraft coloured card, wrapped around some textured white wool and added some white pearls.

    I seem to be on a C&S drive with my Christmas projects at the moment (take a look at Monday's post for C&S extreme) but I might need to have an embellishment frenzy tomorrow to make up for it!!   :0)



    See my cards available to buy on eBay
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    Card Recipe:
    I've been inspired by:
    Happy crafting.
    Annette
    xx

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    Tuesday, 12 November 2013

    Hang in there

    The theme today at Top Tip Tuesday is to use the sketch that our lovely teamie Deneen has found for us.

    I'll admit that I was a bit unsure about the sketch when I first saw it;  I prefer square cards to rectangles, and I seem to struggle with oval shapes, but I interpreted it in my own style and adapted it a bit, although you should still be able to see the underlying sketch.

    My card features a sweet image called Fluffy Hanging in There.  It's available in rubber from our sponsor, Stamp & Create, or as a digi stamp from Wee Stamps.



    See my cards available to buy on eBay
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    Card Recipe:
    I've been inspired by:
    Happy crafting.
    Annette
    xx

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    Monday, 11 November 2013

    Silver Snowflake Christmas Duo

    I may possibly have mentioned (just once or twice) that I've found a fabulous Christmas paper pad where I love all of the papers, and there are none that will get left unloved at the end.  My project today features one of the papers from this pad in two different ways. It has a lovely silver mirror effect in a pretty snowflake pattern that drew so much attention when I used the paper, that for once I didn't want to hide it up or create more 'fuss' with lots of embellishments.

    For my card, I layered a square panel of the paper onto a silver mirror panel and raised it up on foam pads onto another sheet from the pad on the base card.  I used a sweet Fizzy Moon stamp with another silver panel behind it to match the papers, and added a trio of silver rhinestones.

    They don't come much more C&S than this :


    I decided that the papers were so pretty that I'd try something else.

    I'd bought a couple of large MDF baubles. They're quite large, about 16cm / 6.5 inches, tied on some rustic string.


    I untied the string, and stuck some of the same paper that I'd used on the card onto the bauble, and cut around the shape.  as the MDF shape was over 6 inches, and my papers are only 6 inches, I used an off-cut from the patterned part at the top (where the string is attached).  I then re-punched the hole, threaded the string back through and re-tied it again.

    I finished it off with some of the same gemstones that I used on the card.

    Ok, I lied above when I said they didn't come much more C&S than my card, cos this is even less fussy!  :0)

    Hope you like my duo of Christmassy projects today.




    See my cards available to buy on eBay
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    Card Recipe featuring items from The Stamp Basket:
    I've been inspired by:
    Happy crafting
    Annette
    xx

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    Sunday, 10 November 2013

    Gold Jake

    I've got another Christmas card to show you today, featuring Jake Wintertime from StampFairy.  It's a C&S design as the papers are embossed and glossy, so I didn't want to cover them up.  The middle panel is layered onto gold mirri card which was hard to photograph, but I've complemented the colour scheme with some gold organza ribbon.



    See my cards available to buy on eBay
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    Card Recipe:
      I've been inspired by:
      Happy Crafting
      Annette
      xx

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      Friday, 8 November 2013

      Pink Gifts

      I'm back to cards, and more specifically a Christmas card featuring some gorgeous pink papers that I've got from The Stamp Basket.  I've been saving them for a time when I needed to get myself motivated.

      Although I've really enjoyed making the clocks over the last few days, I've not been feeling very positive about some of my recent cards, so I needed a bit of a 'card boost'.  It seems that a proper girlie theme is just what I needed, and I'm really pleased with this one, probably because it uses lots of my favourite things: pink, glitter, ribbon, flowers, pearls and my favourite pearl brad.

      Hopefully this is a turning point and I'll be back on track again!



      While I've got your attention, there's a clearance sale on at the Stamp Basket. Loads of items are reduced and it's a great opportunity to grab some bargains if you're thinking of buying Christmas presents for crafting friends.  All the details are on the Stamp Basket's blog.

      See my cards available to buy on eBay
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      Card Recipe featuring items from The Stamp Basket:
      I've been inspired by:
      Happy crafting
      Annette
      xx

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      Thursday, 7 November 2013

      Time for some Jungle Antics

      I've got another clock to share today.  I had such fun making the first one that I've had a second go!!

      Plus, after spending the time to create the template for my last one, I am making sure that I'm getting good use from it!

      This one is for a friend who recently had a baby girl, called Daisy Mae, so it's another pink one.  :0)

      I've used 3 little critters from Pink Gem Designs Funky Animals collection to create a jungle theme.  I think these little guys look like stuffed cuddly toy animals too, so they're perfect for a baby project.

      Hope you like my project.




      See my cards available to buy on eBay
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      Project Recipe:
      I've been inspired by:
      • The Ribbon Girl - Stripes (the tiger's stripes) using button twine from TRG
      • Papertake - Anything Goes
      • Graph-it Challenges - Tic Tac Toe (Texture = flowers, twine, button, glitter, pearls, ribbon, Fluffy stuff = the fluffy button twine, Fur = on the animals)
      • Tando Challenge - Green, Orange and Pink
      Happy crafting.
      Annette
      xx

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