Noteworthy

When I saw this image I knew that I wanted to feature her on a notepad, so I dug out my binding machine. I actually made 2 different notepads, but I'll share the other one with you next week  :0)

I decided to keep the front quite simple because fancy embellishments could get knocked off if the notebooks get a bit of wear and tear in use, so I've just added a trio of pearls and a small pearl star.

This project is to support the Anything Goes challenge which starts today at Tiddly Inks.

Card Recipe:

• Image - Inking of You by Tiddly Inks
• Colouring - Promarkers, Copics
• Maja Design Papers
• Ribbon
• Flat Backed Pearls
• Pearl star
• Zutter Binding machine and metal wires
• Mountboard

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes
• Crafty Ribbon - Anything Goes with Ribbon
• Crafty Calendar - Add some Metal

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Easter Bunnies

These bunnies are so cute so they've come out to play again today!

Card Recipe:

• Image - Spring Bunnies from WRS
• Typed Sentiment
• Colouring - Distress Ink Reinkers
• Cardworks Card base
• First Edition Animal Antics paper pad
• The Langton watercolour paper
• Stazon Ink Pad
• Vellum
• Wild Orchid Craft Flowers
• Die-namics Stitched Rounded Rectangles die
• Fantastic Ribbons
• Flat Backed Pearls

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes
• Deep Ocean Challenge - Easter / Spring
• Bunny Zoe - Spring Colours

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Can Dragons be Cute?

Thank Crunchie it's Friday which also means it's Fab Friday at Tiddly Inks.  I've got a little trio of cute dragons to share, each on their own tag.  They're quite large so I cut the tag shapes by hand.  The edges are dimpled using a dressmaker's wheel and inked to give them some visual texture.

Tags Recipe:

• Image - Treasured Friend
• Wink of Stella glitter pen
• Ribbon scraps

I've been inspired by:

• Stamping Sensations - Boys
• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes
• Crafty Ribbons - Anything Goes

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Walkies

Today's card is the first inking of a Xmas gift from a lovely blogging pal.  I've coloured her in Copics and added some clouds with my shimmer chalks.  The papers were so pretty that I didn't want to cover them up, so the embellies are minimal.  I thought they looked a bit vintagey so I used lace instead of ribbon for a change and think it looks much softer.

This project is to support the challenge at Sugar Bowl and also there's a new challenge at As You Like It Challenge.

Card Recipe:

• Image - All Dressed Up Walkies from Funky Kits
• Typed Sentiment (Wendy Medium font)
• Colouring - Promarkers, Copics
• Clouds - Dovecraft chalks
• Maja Design Vintage Summer Basics Papers
• Momento Stamp Pad Ink
• Flat Backed Pearls
• 8mm Pearl Brad
• Viva Pearl Pen - Ice White
• Corner punch
• Lace

I've been inspired by:

• Crafty Calendar - Metal (brad)
• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Bunny Hop

I needed to make an Easter card for my brother-in-law and this is how it turned out.

I admit that it's still cute, but it passed hubby's approval.

Although I'm sure I caught him rolling his eyes as he nodded his acceptance.

Card Recipe:

• Image - Leap Frog from LOTV (it may be retired as I can't find it now)
• Typed Sentiment on Vellum
• Colouring - Distress Ink Reinkers
• First Edition Animal Antics paper pad
• The Langton watercolour paper
• Stazon Ink Pad
• Die-namics Stitched Rounded Rectangles die
• Fantastic Ribbons
• Flat Backed Pearls

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Easter Picture Inspiration
• Creative Inspirations - Sporty
• Bunny Zoe - Easter
• Stamp & Create - Is it Spring Yet?
• Stamping Sensations - One for the Guys

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Long Time No Tilda

I've not used a Magnolia Tilda image for what seems like ages, so I've ended her hibernation with today's card, which uses one of my favourite Magnolia images.

She's been water-colour painted with DI reinkers, and boy did I find that hair difficult!  I spent at least an hour just on her locks!  But by the end of it I was quite pleased with the finished result.

She's for a colleague's birthday which is in a fortnight's time.  I just hope she likes pink!

Card Recipe:

• Image - Hawaii Flower Tilda
• Typed Sentiment (Wendy Medium font)
• Colouring - Distress Ink Reinkers
• Cardworks Card base
• Maja Design Vintage Summer Basics paper pad
• The Langton watercolour paper
• Stazon Ink Pad
• 3mm Pearl String
• Wild Orchid Craft Flowers
• 2-tone Rose Bud
• Spellbinders Labels 18
• Flat Backed Pearls
• Wink of Stella

I've been inspired by:

• That's Crafty - Wings and Things
• Fairytale Stampers - Things with Wings
• Lovely hAnglar or Sweet Magnolia - Butterflies
• Sweet Sketch Wednesday - Sketch (turned one quarter):

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Spring Bunnies

I'm not doing too well with the New Year's Resolution because this is one of my new stamps from WRS.

I'm trying not to neglect my older images though, and want to have a mini-mission to use some of my existing stash.

But today isn't one of those days! :0)

Card Recipe:

• Image - Spring Bunnies from WRS
• Typed Sentiment
• Vellum
• Colouring - Distress Ink Reinkers
• Cardworks Card base
• Maja Design Papers
• The Langton watercolour paper
• Stazon Ink Pad
• Die-namics Stitched Rounded Rectangles die
• Wild Orchid Craft Flowers
• Flat Backed Pearls

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Picture Inspiration (Easter/bunnies)
• Papertake Weekly - Happy Anything
• Simon's Monday Challenge - Animals
• Stamp & Create - Is it Spring yet?

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Easter Chickies Galore

As promised on Thursday I'm back with a couple more CAS Easter cards using my new stitched hillside border dies.

I've used a different image though this time for a bit of variety!

Card Recipe:

• Image - Easter Sweeties from LOTV
• Typed Sentiment (Papyrus font)
• Colouring - Distress Ink Reinkers
• First Edition Animal Antics paper pad
• The Langton watercolour paper
• Stazon Ink Pad
• Lawn Fawn Stitched Hillside Border dies
• Pearl beads
• Embroidery thread
• Viva Pearl Pen - Ice White
• White gel pen

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Monday Challenge - Animals
• Papertake Weekly - Happy Anything
• Totally Tilda & Friends - Easter
• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Picture Inspiration Easter/Spring

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Easter Bunnies Galore

I was busy over the weekend painting Easter images, and I've got a set of 2 to share today.  You may also recognise the same CAS layout that I used a couple of days ago, but I've popped on some embroidery thread and some pearl beads.

Card Recipe:

• Image - Hoppy Easter from LOTV
• Typed Sentiment (Papyrus font)
• Colouring - Distress Ink Reinkers
• First Edition Animal Antics paper pad
• The Langton watercolour paper
• Stazon Ink Pad
• Lawn Fawn Stitched Hillside Border dies
• Pearl beads
• Embroidery thread
• Viva Pearl Pen - Ice White
• White gel pen

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Monday Challenge - Animals
• Papertake Weekly - Happy Anything
• Totally Tilda & Friends - Easter
• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Picture Inspriation Easter/Spring

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

All about the boys

There's a new challenge which is "all about the boys" at Tiddly Inks today, and I've made a very clean and simple card using Wizard.   I'm also getting a tiddly bit addicted to my new stitched hillside border die which I love in this layout.  (you may be seeing a bit more of it over the next couple of weeks so I apologise in advance if I bore you!).

Card Recipe:

• Image - Wizard from Tiddly Inks
• Sentiment - Stampfairy (now closed)
• Colouring - Promarkers, Copics
• Cardworks Card base
• Lawn Fawn Stitched Hillside dies
• K & Company Daisy Pad papers
• Glossy Accents
• Wink of Stella

I've been inspired by:

• Inky Chick - Movie Star (Harry Potter)
• Papertake Weekly - Happy Anything
• Passion for Promarkers - Checks
• Stamping Sensations - Boys

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Easter Egg Chicks

I'm sharing a cute little Easter card today, coloured with my Derwent Inktense pencils, but it's an uber clean and simple layout with just a spot of velvet ribbon and a little die cut tag.  Don't forget there are a couple more weeks for you to enter the Easter or Bunnies challenge at Without Words, so hop (see what I did there!) on over there and get your entries in.

Card Recipe:

• Image - Easter Sweeties
• Maja Design papers
• Colouring - Derwent Inktense Pencils
• The Langton watercolour paper
• Stazon Ink Pad
• Velvet pink ribbon
• Whiff of Joy Banner die
• Viva Pearl Pen - Ice White

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Things that Fly
• Bunny Zoe - Spring Colours
• Stamp & Create - Is it Spring yet?
• Cute Card Thursday - Celebration
• Totally Tilda & Friends - Easter

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Happy Mother's Day

I've made a gift for my MIL for Mother's Day using the image I'm showcasing today, and I wanted to make a card to match.  She's called PomPom (the image, not my MIL!), but I think she must be retired now as I can't find her in the store.  She was one of my earliest Lilis and she's been one of my favourites, but I've been busy with new images lately and haven't used her in a while.  So today I'm rectifying that. :0)

The sentiment was printed on vellum using Word (I created an arc in WordArt to match the curvature of the image panel).  I stamped and painted the image in DI reinkers, and used some of my favourite Maja Design papers (I may be a teensy bit addicted to these).  The ribbon actually matches the image more than it appears in the photo, and I added a die cut butterfly (another neglected item in my stash).

I hope it motivates you to dig out your old favourites for some reminiscing!

Card Recipe:

• Image - PomPom by Lili of the Valley (retired)
• Typed Sentiment (Papyrus font)
• Colouring - Distress Ink Reinkers
• Cardworks Card base
• Maya Design Vintage Summer Basics Paper pad
• The Langton watercolour paper
• Stazon Ink Pad
• Wild Orchid Craft Flowers
• Memory Box Vivienne & Isabella Butterfly Dies
• MFT Die-namics Stitched Circle Stax
• Gingham Ribbon from Fantastic Ribbons
• Flat Backed Pearls
• Glossy Accents
• Vellum
• Papermania Gem Brad
• Viva Pearl Pen

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Monday Challenge - B (Bow, Butterfly, Blooms)
• Crafty Calendar - Metal (brad)
• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Things that Fly

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Somebunny Loves You

It's FRIDAAAAAAAY (actually Friday 13th, but we won't dwell on that)

So, it's time for another Fabby Friday at Tiddly Inks.  I've chosen to use Wryn (again!) with some Spring bunnies.  I've kept the layout fairly simple and just added some flowers and a few (ok, quite a few) pearls.  The image has been painted with DI reinkers, but I've used some basic white craft card rather than watercolour card. It's harder to blend the colours (although that probably worked better for Wryn's hair) and it doesn't give such a soft effect.  However, it does mean that I can watercolour digis if I want to.  :0)

Card Recipe:

• Image - Somebunny Loves You
• Colouring - Distress Ink Reinkers
• Cardworks Card base
• Maja Design papers
• Wild Orchid Crafts
• Stitched Circle
• Flat Backed Pearls

I've been inspired by:

• Make the Day Special - Colour inspiration (third set blues/browns/creams)  MTDS sell the stitched circle dies
• Simon's Monday Challenge - B (bunny, blooms, brown, blue)

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Baby Blue Rocking Horse

I am taking a break from the Happy Bears and have made a Baby Boy card.  This project is to support the challenge at As You Like It Challenge where we'd love to know if you prefer Digi or Rubber.

Although I do love my digis, (great for storage and sizing / flipping directions etc), I am really getting back into the proper inky stamping which is where I started out.  I love using my DI reinkers too, which I prefer painting on thicker card which won't go through my printer.  I also have a small addiction to some of the rubber designs, including Lili of the Valley which is featured on today's card.

Card Recipe:

• Image - Rocking Horse by Lili of the Valley
• Colouring - Distress Ink Reinkers
• Cardworks Card Elegant Square cardbase
• Maja Design paper pad
• The Langton watercolour paper
• Stazon Ink Pad
• Wild Orchid Craft Flowers
• The Ribbon Girl Chrysanth White Kort & Godt flower
• Stitched Circle die
• Ivory Jute Mesh
• Button Twine
• Flat Backed Pearls
• Aqua ribbon

I've been inspired by:

• Make the Day Special - Colour inspiration (third set blues/browns/apricot) MTDS sell stitched circle die
• Nordsalten Hobbyklubb - Blue & Brown
• Stamping Sensations - Boys
• Creatalicious - Not a Square
• Simon's Monday Challenge - B (Baby Boy, Blue & Brown, bow & blooms)

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Happy Bears

This is my third Happy Bears image in as many posts!

But they're so adorable, how can I resist?

Especially when I'm using my favourite colours, pink and blue. :0)

I hope you like it.

Card Recipe:

• Image - Happy Bears from LOTV
• Colouring - Distress Ink Reinkers
• Cardworks Card base
• Papermania Lucy Cromwell Papers
• The Langton watercolour paper
• Stazon Ink Pad
• La La Land Heart Banner Die
• Wild Orchid Craft Flowers
• Square Stitched Die
• Fantastic Ribbons
• Flat Backed Pearls
• Viva Pearl Pen - Ice White
• Wink of Stella glitter pen

I've been inspired by:

• Make the Day Special - Colour inspiration (first set pinks/blues)  MTDS sell the stitched square dies
• Cute Card Thursday - Die Cuts & Punches
• Simon's Monday Challenge - B (bears, blue, banners, blooms)

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Masterpiece in Progress

As threatened on Friday, there's no card from me today, but instead something a little different.

I bought this little wooden hanger a while ago and wanted to make a decorated sign with it.  I have coloured on wood with Copics before and found it quite hard, so this time I tried painting it with DI reinkers. I admit the ink on the bear did run a little and it was hard to blend, but I managed to keep it mainly inside the lines, and I love the way that the natural wood grain still shows through.

The little bear image was the perfect size for the hanger and I inked the sentiment in stardust gel pen.

The finished hanger has been sent to a treasured blogpal who creates the most beautifully painted masterpieces.

Card Recipe:

• Image - Happy Bears from LOTV
• Typed Sentiment
• Colouring - Distress Ink Reinkers
• Sakura Stardust Gel Pens

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Monday Challenge - Hint of Clover (green)
• Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes
• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Special Lady (this hanger has been sent to a treasured blogpal who creates the most beautifully painted masterpieces)
• That's Crafty - Doodles (hand written sentiment)

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Happy 50th Birthday

Today's card is for a lovely lady who is one of the few fellow crafters who've I've actually met a couple of times, albeit briefly.  She has a special birthday today (49 + 1) and I've made this creation using one of my new Happy Bear images, painted in DI reinkers.  The balloon was covered in Wink of Stella for some sparkle, and the panels are all stitched.

The little banner was created with some tag dies, strung together with some natural twine, and I typed both sentiments.

I've used a hint of green on the accents, and although it's not my favourite colour, I think it goes well with the apricot orange, and brings out the colours in the image.

And that's about it for today.  I'll be back on Sunday with another Happy Bear, and all I'll say is that he's not on card!

Card Recipe:

• Image - Happy Bears from LOTV
• Typed Sentiments
• Colouring - Distress Ink Reinkers
• Cardworks Card base
• Maja Design Papers and Graphic 45 Papers
• The Langton watercolour paper
• Stazon Ink Pad
• Whiff of Joy banner dies
• Natural Twine
• Wild Orchid Craft Flowers
• Flat Backed Pearls

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Special Lady
• Papertake Weekly Challenge - Anything Goes
• Simon's Monday Challenge - Hint of Clover
• Creatalicious Challenge - No Square or Rectangle cards
• Cute Card Thursday - Die Cuts/Punches

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Plums

I've got another fruity bunny image today, featuring Plums from Scrapberrys. These bunnies are so adorable and I don't know which is my favourite.  This one's been coloured in purples, and teamed with purple accessories, including a gorgeous purple velvet ribbon.

Card Recipe:

• Image - Plums from Scrapberrys at Funky Kits
• Sentiment - Lili of the Valley sentiment tags
• Colouring - Distress Ink Reinkers
• Cardworks Card base
• Maja Design paper pad
• The Langton watercolour paper
• Stazon Ink Pad
• Velvet Ribbon
• Wild Orchid Craft Flowers
• Flat Backed Pearl

I've been inspired by:

• Live & Love Crafts - Photo Inspiration
• The ABC Challenge - E = Exceptionally Cute
• Creatalicious - Not a Square
• The Ribbon Girl Challenge - Add Flowers
• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Girlie

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Friendship

There's a 'charming' challenge starting today over at Tiddly Inks so I've made this little sweetie.

I've created a simple layout using my new stitched hillside border dies, a spot of twine and a little rose charm that matches the rose in the image.

The fairy's wings are smothered in Wink of Stella sparkle.

And that's about it.

Simples!

Card Recipe:

• Image - Fairy Fae from Tiddly Inks
• Sentiment - There's Magic in the Air
• Colouring - Promarkers, Copics
• Maja Design paper
• Lawn Fawn Stitched Hillside dies
• Button Twine
• Rose Charm

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes
• Bunny Zoe - For the Girls
• Copic Marker - Wings
• NordSalten Hobby Club - Blue and Brown
• Make the Day Special - Colour inspiration (third set blues/browns/tans) MTDS sell the Lawn Fawn dies

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

The Bunny is Coming

A new challenge starts today at Without Words Challenge where the theme is Easter and/or Bunnies, so I've used both!  I've also dusted off my beloved Nottingham border die which I think is perfectly Spring/Summery to match the theme and still keeps the layout clean and simple.

I'm afraid I can't remember where the papers are from, they were sat in my stash for a while.  I'm not usually a fan of yellow, but again, I thought that they matched the seasonal theme, so on they went.

Card Recipe:

• Image - Hoppy Easter from LOTV
• Colouring - Watercoloured with Distress Ink Reinkers
• Cardworks Card base
• The Langton watercolour paper
• Stazon Ink Pad
• Ribbon scrap
• Memory Box Nottingham Border die
• Viva Pearl Pen - Ice White

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes
• Deep Ocean Challenge - Our Furry Friends
• Stamp & Create - Is it Spring Yet?

Happy crafting
Annette
xx