Easel Angels

I've got another couple of cards from my Papercraft Essentials magazine feature using two sweet angel images from Lili of the Valley. They each use easel shaped bases but I've varied them slightly. I kept the colours light, with a bit of red accent on each, because the images were pale and I didn't want them to be overpowered by strong coloured backing papers.

Card Recipe:

• Image - Christmas Angels Praying & Flying
• Colouring - Distress Ink Reinkers
• Nitwits Woodland Wishes Papers
• Stazon Ink Pad
• The Langton Watercolour paper
• Wild Orchid Craft Flowers
• MFT Stitched Ovals
• MFT Stitched Circles
• Memory Box Grand Merry Christmas Die
• Simon Says Stamp "Merry Christmas" Die
• WOC & Mulberry Flowers
• Flat Backed Pearls
• Die'sire Mini Victoriana border die

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes
• Fab n Funky - Christmas

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Dropping the Shopping

I'm sharing another card from my featured set of Lili of the Valley for Papercraft Essentials.  This one is a gorgeously sweet image called Dropping the Shopping and I am pleased with how it turned out. I added some pink mesh ribbon as an accent as well as some stitched snowflake dies and a little sentiment tag.

Here's a close up of the image:

Card Recipe:

• Image - Dropping The Shopping from LOTV
• Sentiment - Christmas Sentiment Tags from LOTV
• Colouring - Distress Ink Reinkers
• Nitwits Woodland Wishes Papers
• Stazon Ink Pad
• The Langton Watercolour paper
• Wild Orchid Craft Flowers
• Memory Box Stitched Snowflake Dies
• Spellbinders Grand Oval dies
• Viva Pearl Pen - Ice White
• Pink mesh ribbon
• Crystal Glamour Dust
• Button Twine
• Flat Backed Pearls
• Glossy Accents

I've been inspired by:

• That's Crafty - Christmas in September
• The Ribbon Girls - Any Image
• Creatalicious - Anything Goes
• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes using Spellbinders Oval Nesties

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Stuffie Gang

I've been playing with my Stamping Bella images again today and have used Stuffie Gang on today's CAS card. I've tried to use (sort of) autumnal colours with the browns and golden browns (although I did sneak in a touch of pinky purple in the accents).  I think this is probably my favourite Stamping Bella image, closely followed by Honey Bears.

Card Recipe:

• Image - Stamping Bella Stuffies The Stuffie Gang
• Colouring - Distress Ink Reinkers
• Nitwit Collections Papers
• Momento Stazon Ink Pad
• The Langton Watercolour paper
• Viva Pearl Pen - Ice White
• Crystal Glamour Dust
• Lawn Fawn Stitched Scalloped Border die
• Button Twine

I've been inspired by:

• Cupcake Inspirations - Party Time
• The Ribbon Girl - Any Image (using Button Twine)

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Sending Birthday Wishes

Today's card is one I made for my FIL's birthday, and although it was slightly peachy in colour, hubby concluded that it was sufficiently masculine enough despite the cute image!  The bear is James from Lili of the Valley and he's one of the new digi images they've recently released.

Card Recipe:

• Image - James Big Sign Digi from Lili of the Valley
• Colouring - Distress Ink Reinkers
• The Langton Watercolour paper
• Kraft card
• Docrafts Bellisima paper pad
• MFT Stitched Rounded Rectangle Stax
• Lawn Fawn Stitched Scalloped Border die

I've been inspired by:

• Creatalicious - Anything Goes

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Splashing Around Baggie

There's another new release at Crafty Sentiment Designs, and my project today features one of them, called 'Splashing Around'.  I've made a little baggie Simoand decorated it with a tag using the image. The handles are lace and there's a little closure which I've made using a mini magnet.

Project Recipe:

• Image - Splashing by Crafty Sentiment Designs
• Colouring - Alcohol Markers
• Make and Create Victorian Roses paper pad
• Spellbinders Labels 18
• Glossy Accents
• Pink Brad
• Lace
• Ryman's Hole Punch
• Magnet for closure

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Gift

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Skating Along

I must admit that I was rather pleased with this card, and it's featured in the Papercraft Essentials issue 138 which was published earlier this week.  It features Skating Along from Lili of the Valley and I've used a die to cut the shape which is one of my favourites.

I hope you like it and I'll have a couple more of the cards from the magazine feature to share with you in the next few days too.

Here's a close up of the image, painted with DI reinkers.

Card Recipe:

• Image - Skating Along from Lili of the Valley
• Colouring - Distress Ink Reinkers
• Nitwits Woodland Wishes Papers
• Stazon Ink Pad
• The Langton Watercolour paper
• Wild Orchid Craft Flowers
• Viva Pearl Pen - Ice White
• Crystal Glamour Dust
• MFT Stitched Circles
• WOC & Mulberry Flowers
• 15mm Satin Ribbon
• Flat Backed Pearls
• Glossy Accents
• Go Kreate Labels nested die
• Magnolia DoHickey Merry Xmas tag die

I've been inspired by:

• That's Crafty - Xmas in September
• Country View Crafts - Travel (using DI reinkers)

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Mariposa

I am not sure what possessed me to think that the no-lines colouring would be a good idea, because it took me 4 times longer to paint this image than it does normally, but I was quite pleased with the outcome.

The papers are actually from a winter set, but I use them a fair bit for non-Christmas cards because they're so pretty and you can hardly see the snowflakes!  Plus the florals on the paper matched the blossom in the image so I thought it would be perfect.

Card Recipe:

• Image - Mariposa from Wee Stamps
• Colouring - Distress Ink Reinkers
• Nitwit Collections Snow Princess Papers
• Stazon Ink Pad
• The Langton Watercolour paper
• Lawn Fawn Stitched Scalloped Border die
• Wild Orchid Craft Flowers
• Viva Pearl Pen - Ice White
• Satin Ribbon
• Ribbed Ribbon
• Flat Backed Pearls

I've been inspired by:

• Fab n Funky - Ribbon and/or Lace
• Cupcake Inspiration - Colour combo
• The Ribbon Girl - Any Image

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Hello Friend

I'm sharing a card using my favourite colour combo today, pink and blue, on an image that I've had for a while but I don't think I've used her before.  I'm supporting the 'favourite colour combo' challenge at As You Like It Challenge and I've kept the design CAS (that seems to be the returning theme for me at the moment and I'm kinda liking it!).  The card was for a lovely friend who, when she's not keeping me sane, she at least keeps me company on the naughty step.

Card Recipe:

• Image - CC Designs Coffee Sue
• Colouring - Distress Ink Reinkers
• Maja Design papers
• Stazon Ink Pad
• The Langton Watercolour paper
• Viva Pearl Pen - Ice White
• Lawn Fawn Large Stitched Square Stackables

I've been inspired by:

• Crafting When We Can - Favourite colouring medium (watercolouring with DI reinkers)

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Jasmine Music

I'm back on the girlies after yesterday's boyish frenzy, but it's still a CAS design. I managed to find a musical note charm to match my musical image and papers!

Card Recipe:

• Image - Jasmine Music
• Sentiment - Sweet & Simple
• Colouring - Distress Ink Reinkers
• Papers - Nitwit Collections On a High Note
• Stazon Ink Pad
• The Langton Watercolour paper
• Lawn Fawn Stitched Scalloped Border die
• Button Twine
• Musical Note Charm

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Monday Challenge - Inspired by Music

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Oliver - Footie Fan and Born to Skate

There's not one, but two CAS quickies from me today and they're both cards for a guy (which is a topic I find difficult!).  I added some interest to the designs with some chalked clouds and some die cut stars and clouds.

There's also a new set of Halloween images coming out from Lili of the Valley, in digi format tomorrow and in rubber next week.  Take a sneaky peek at the images below and check the online shop out to grab yourself the new images. :0)

Card Recipe:

• Image - Oliver Kicking About
• Sentiment - Teenage Boy Sentiments
• Colouring - Distress Ink Reinkers
• Nitwits Papers - Time For Tea Cottage Collection
• Stazon Ink Pad
• The Langton Watercolour paper
• Memory Box Stitched Clouds from SSS
• Star nesting die
• Matt gems

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - CAS

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Splashing Around

This is the same image that I used on my clock a couple of days ago, but this time she's on a CAS card.   In contrast to yesterday's CAS layout, I've used a stitched speech die and 'hello' script die for the panel at the top.

Card Recipe:

• Image - Splashing Around from Crafty Sentiment Designs
• Colouring - Alcohol Markers
• Maja Design Paper Pad
• Mama Elephant Hello Script Die
• Stitched Speech Bubbles

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - CAS
• Copic Marker Europe - Skin

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Jasmine Laptop

A simple card from me today as I've forgotten to do the write up for this one and it's now a bit later than I'd hoped to get around to posting it!  I'm quite fond of this simple layout, and instead of using ribbon, I've used twine for the accent on the strip at the top.  I must admit I get a bit obsessive about the tails on the bow though, because they have to curl inwards, not up or out, which can be very tricky as the twine seems to have a mind of its own when it comes to curling! :0)

Card Recipe:

• Image - Jasmine Laptop
• Sentiment - Sweet & Simple
• Colouring - Distress Ink Reinkers
• Nitwit Collections Papers
• Stazon Ink Pad
• The Langton Watercolour paper
• Frantic Stamper Stitched Scene Builder Die
• Button Twine

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - CAS
• Crafting When We Can - Favourite Colouring Medium (watercolouring with DI reinkers)

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Believe in You

This is a card that I made for one of my colleagues who had just had a promotion to take charge of our company's IT function.  It was previously something that had officially fallen under my remit (along with my normal day-job), but despite dabbling in programming when I was in my early 20s and having an active interest in technology since then, I have no formal training in IT.  My IT role was really a liaison between the technical IT team, which he managed, and the company's managing board.  I was therefore more than happy to relinquish that responsibility to someone who could actually push the right buttons (so to speak!) when needed. Since IT underpins almost everything that we do, I appreciated it was a daunting responsibility for him to take on, so the sentiment I used made us both smile!

Card Recipe:

• Image - Oliver Game Boy from LOTV
• Sentiment - Sweet & Simple from LOTV
• Colouring - Distress Ink Reinkers
• Stazon Ink Pad
• The Langton Watercolour paper

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - CAS

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Splashing Clock

It's been a while since I shared one of my clocks and today's creation features a cute digi from Crafty Sentiment Designs.  I used my trusty clock template (see my freebies page if you want to grab it) and mountboard for the base.  I think this is the last of my clock mechanisms too so it may be my last clock for a while :0(

Card Recipe:

• Image - Splashing by Crafty Sentiment Designs
• Colouring - Copics
• Wild Orchid Craft Flowers
• WOC & Mulberry Flowers
• 15mm Ribbon
• Flat Backed Pearls
• Glossy Accents
• Card-io Majestix mini stamps
• Mount Board for clock base
• Card Template
• Clock mechanism
• Pearl star
• Butterfly Embellishment

I've been inspired by:

• Creatalicious - Anything Goes / Song Inspiration (Splish Splash)

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Ombre

Today is the start of a new challenge at In The Pink and it's a photo inspiration with lots of lovely ribbon, pearls, flowers and lace.  I've included all of these on my card as well as a pretty pink fairy. I've attempted some ombre colouring on the fairy's skirt and wings, but I'm not sure I've quite got the hang of it yet!

Here's the photo to give you some inspiration:

Card Recipe:

• Image - Dandelion Clock from Lili of the Valley (retired)
• Colouring - Distress Ink Reinkers
• Nitwit Collections Papers
• Stazon Ink Pad
• The Langton Watercolour paper
• Viva Pearl Pen - Ice White
• WOC & Mulberry Flowers
• Flat Backed Pearls
• Marianne Design Die
• Lace
• Velvet ribbon
• Pearl string
• Button Twine

Created for:

Sponsored by:

I've been inspired by:

• The Ribbon Girl - Card Challenge (using lots of Ribbon Girl goodies)
• Creative Inspiration - Anything Goes

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Robins on Branch

I've been playing with another one of the new WRS images, this time it's robins.  I'm pleased with how this one turned out so decided to make the image the center of attention with a stitched border and a pop of designer paper which complemented the colours used on the image.  I hope you like these little guys.

Card Recipe:

• Image - WRS Robins on Branch
• Colouring - Distress Ink Reinkers
• Stazon Ink Pad
• The Langton Watercolour paper

I've been inspired by:

• That's Crafty - All Square
• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - CAS

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

At the Movies

I've used Oliver Film Night again for my Movie inspired card today.  The image has been coloured with DI reinkers and I've used a stitched wave border die on the DP at the top.  The twine has been bunched with a tiny bronze brad to keep it as masculine as I can muster!

Card Recipe:

• Image - Oliver Film Night
• Sentiment - Teenage Boy Sentiments
• Colouring - Distress Ink Reinkers
• Stazon Ink Pad
• The Langton Watercolour paper
• Frantic Stamper Stitched Scene Builder Die
• Button Twine
• Metal Brad

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Monday Challenge - At the Movies

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Willow the Witch

As a certain observant pal reminded me yesterday, for someone who doesn't 'do' Halloween, I'm spending a fair amount of effort on it!

Today's card is a 'challenging' image (for me) of Willow the Witch. She was challenging because I usually manage to freak out at this amount of fuss on an image (both the hat and the dress made me twitch) but I persevered and this is the result!  I even added a bit of sparkle to the frilly bits.

I used a Simon Says Stamp Die (Stars Parade) as a stencil and used various shades of purple chalk to create the starry backdrop.  I then stitched around the image before mounting it onto a simple black base card.

Here is the die cut with my chalky outlines!  I kept the outside of the die intact as much as possible to stop excess chalk getting on my base card, but it was easy to remove any little smudges with a tiny pencil eraser.

Card Recipe:

• Image - Tiny Townie Willow the Witch from Stamping Bella
• Colouring - Distress Ink Reinkers
• Stars - Dovecraft chalks
• Stazon Ink Pad
• The Langton Watercolour paper
• Simon Says Stamp Stars Parade

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Stamp It (using SSS Products)
• Bellarific Fridays - Create your own background (stencil and chalk)
• Creatalicious - Anything Goes
• Simon's Monday Challenge - Stamp It (using SSS products)

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Winter Wishes

I've been in Christmas mode recently and have another cute winter themed card to share with you today.  It features some cute squirrels playing in a pine tree and I've kept the design really clean and simple so they take center stage.

Card Recipe:

• Image - Red Squirrels Pine Tree (Retired image)
• Colouring - Distress Ink Reinkers
• Stazon Ink Pad
• The Langton Watercolour paper
• Docraft papers

I've been inspired by:

• Simon Says Stamp Challenge - Stamp It
• ABC Challenge - O for Open
• Creatalicious - Anything Goes

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Jasmine Phone

There's a new challenge over at As You Like It Challenge today and the theme is to create something that represents your favourite song or film.

I've had a teeny tiny (ok pretty major) crush on Keanu Reeves for as long as I can remember (apart from being pretty easy on the eye he also seems a really down to earth and genuinely 'nice guy' untainted by celebrity status and a few hundred million dollars in the bank).  One of his most well known films is The Matrix trilogy and if you've not watched the films, the concept they suggest is that our minds are all hard wired into a machine 'Matrix' which simulates the world as we know it.

Sometimes when I see people unable to take their eyes off their mobile phones as they're walking along the street or sitting in cafes it makes me wonder how far off we actually are from a closer connection with technology that we already have (and I'm not sure it's made life any less stressful as it is with email and the internet making everything (including expectations) instantaneous).

The films also use phone lines to drag people back from the simulated world of The Matrix into reality and therefore it seemed logical for me to use Jasmine Phone for my image, which pretty much sums up every other person you now see on the street, addicted to their mobiles and hooked up to the Web!

Card Recipe:

• Image - Jasmine Phone
• Colouring - Distress Ink Reinkers
• Papers - Nitwit Collections On  A High Note
• Stazon Ink Pad
• The Langton Watercolour paper
• Flat Backed Pearls

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Wednesday Challnege - Stamp It
• Creatalicious - Anything Goes
• Simon's Monday Challnege - Stamp It

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Bunny snuggles

I think my favourite critters from the Lili of the Valley family are the bunnies and today I've made a card for the September "Animals" challenge featuring a couple of my favourite bunnies snuggled under a Christmas tree.

The card design is really simple, with some snowflake papers on the card base, and some stitching around the image panel.

Card Recipe:

• Image - Christmas Bunnies Tree (retired)
• Colouring - Distress Ink Reinkers
• Stazon Ink Pad
• The Langton Watercolour paper

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Monday Challenge - Stitching
• Creative Inspirations - Christmas in August
• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes
• Live & Love Craft Challenge - Photo Inspiration (tree, red stockings, snow)

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

"Hello"

This card looked completely different in my head, and it's certainly different from my usual 'cuties'. I followed a sketch and used a script die as the focal point.  I created the circles by die cutting a circle in a post-it sticky note and using that as a mask to ink circles onto my base card.  After letting the ink dry I embossed the complete panel before adding my 'hello' die cut.

Card Recipe:

• Hello Script die
• MFT Stitched Circle Stax
• Embossalicious Floral Frenzy Embossing Folder
• Versa colour ink pads (Misty Mauve, Ash Rose & Boysenberry)

I've been inspired by:

• Seven Hills Craft - Sketch (Hello die and circle die from store)
• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes

Happy crafting
Annette
xx