Reindeer Games

I've had this stamp set for a while but this is its first inking. There are three reindeer in the set, and this one has such an adorable grin that I had to choose him first.  

I've teamed him with a 'let is snow' die and some snowflakes in the form of pearl dots falling around him.

Water-coloured on Langton Watercolour paper with Ranger Distress Ink Reinkers:

• Fur: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, Gathered Twigs, 
• Antlers: Frayed Burlap, Walnut Stain
• Holly: Shabby Shutters, Mowed Lawn, Peeled Paint
• Reds: Abandoned Coral, Fired Brick
• Ground: Hickory Smoke, Black Soot

Card Recipe:

From Dies To Die For:

• CCS Reindeer Games 
• Versafine Ink Pad
• Lawn Fawn Let It Snow Border Die
• Stitched Rectangle Die
• Nitwit Collections Papers
• Viva Pearl Pen - Ice White

I've been inspired by:

• Nordsalten Hobbyklubb - CAS

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Vintage Romance

At As You Like It this week we want to know what your favourite papers are.  I have fallen in love with Maja Design papers and this one from the Vintage Romance stack is one of my (current) favourites because of the pretty florals and pastel colours.  I love both sides of it, and hate to see papers stuck down on a card when the reverse is wasted, so I've made a little gift box which shows both sides (you can see the reverse on the inside of the side panel but also I've used some scraps to make two dinky little tags which I've stuck together at an angle and fixed on with a foam pad. 

Water-coloured on Langton Watercolour paper with Ranger Distress Ink Reinkers:

• Fur: Pumice Stone, Black Soot 
• Ears: Tattered Rose, Worn Lipstick
• Grass/Leaves: Shabby Shutters, Mowed Lawn, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• Blues: Stormy Sky, Faded Jeans
• Sky: Tumbled Glass

Project Recipe:

• Elliot Mouse with Leaf
• Maja Design Vintage Romance Papers
• Lawn Fawn Scalloped Treat Box Die
• MFT Stitched Tiny Tags
• Shimmery Blue Organza Ribbon
• Crealies XXL 41 Pierced Circles

I've been inspired by:

• SSS Monday Challenge - Shimmer and Shine (the shimmery organza ribbon)
• Inky Chicks - Favourite Colours (the pastel blue on this paper and ribbon)
• Creatalicious - Anything Goes with Leaves
• The Ribbon Girl - Any Image

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Hedgies

I've had another play with my favourite hedgehogs in a similar scene to my last card but far more clean & simple.  I love these little guys and they always make me smile when I colour them.  As usual I've watercoloured my image using DI reinkers and my dinkiest brush for some of those prickly details.  I've opted for 'no lines' by stamping the images in pale grey ink.  I masked each element of the scene, starting with the parts at the front (the hedgehogs) and working my way 'backwards' with the toadstool, tree stump and lastly the log.  Finally I drew some grass (with a very fine brush!) in a couple of different greens.

And here's their close up - say "cheese" guys! :0)

Water-coloured on Langton Watercolour paper with Ranger Distress Ink Reinkers:

• Hedgies: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, Gathered Twigs, Tattered Rose
• Grass: Shabby Shutters, Mowed Lawn, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• Acorn: Tea Dye, Frayed Burlap, Walnut Stain
• Tree: Frayed Burlap, Walnut Stain
• Sky: Tumbled Glass
• Reds: Barn Door, Fired Brick, Aged Mahogany

Card Recipe:

• MFT Happy Hedgehogs
• MFT Stencil Mini Cloud

I've been inspired by:

• MFT Colouring Virtuoso
• Nordsalten Hobbyklubb - CAS

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Stay Pawsitive

I've got an uber quick card to share tonight because I saw this card with its tutorial on backgrounds and (impatient as always) I decided to give it a try using my Distress Inks.  

It's safe to say that it didn't turn out quite as I'd expected and nowhere near as good as the inspiration I'd seen, but it's certainly taken me out of my comfort zone with trying something different.

I've used my favourite fur colours for my kitty to give him a golden ginger tabby coat.

Water-coloured on Langton Watercolour paper with Ranger Distress Ink Reinkers:

• Fur: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Gathered Twigs, Tattered Rose
• Greens: Bundled Sage, Shabby Shutters, Mowed Lawn, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• Ground: Hickory Smoke

Card Recipe:

• Gerda Steiner All Cats (image and sentiment)
• Seam binding
• Kraft card
• Black gel pen

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - CAS
• The Sketchy Challenge - Sketch and use a new background meduim/technique
• Nordsalten HobbyKlubb - CAS
• Gerda Steiner - Share Your Designs

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Otterly CAS

I saw a lovely card a couple of years ago by Marika which has inspired me to create this little scene. The rocks are a combination from two stamp sets Otterly Love You and Mermazing and I've hand drawn the little stream and grassy bank.  The clouds are chalked in using a stencil and I've raised the central panel (featuring my otterly cute critter) on foam pads.  Unfortunately I didn't have some foam tape (which I thought was tucked at the back of my drawer) so I had to use strips of foam pads instead.

And here's my little guy's close-up.  I tried to get some ripples around the rocks and beads of water on the rocks using a white gel pen.  You can see it if you look really closely (make sure you have your specs on!).

Water-coloured on Langton Watercolour paper with Ranger Distress Ink Reinkers:

• Otter: Frayed Burlap, Walnut Stain, Gathered Twigs, 
• Grass: Shabby Shutters, Mowed Lawn, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• Blues: Tumbled Glass, Stormy Sky
• Rocks: Hickory Smoke, Black Soot

Card Recipe:

• MFT Otterly Love You (otter, rocks, sentiment)
• MFT Mermazing (rocks)
• MFT Stencil Mini Clouds

I've been inspired by:

• MFT Clean & Simple
• SSS Wednesday Challenge - CAS
• Nordsalten Hobbyklubb - CAS

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Pop-Up Elephants Box Card

I've tried my hand at making another of the pop up boxes.  I'm sure I could have made this easier by not trying to reinvent the wheel with my own template, but now I've made it I thought it was worthwhile giving it a second outing!

My card uses the aptly named Adorable Elephants which are the perfect size for my box and its sleeve.  I also used the MFT Peek-a-Boo Window die to make a little frame for the heffalumps. It turned out to be the perfect size for fitting both the box that I'd made and framing the elephants without covering up any of the image. I layered it over the top of my image to frame it and trimmed the excess along the outer stitch line.

Here's the box folded flat being slid into its sleeve.  It automatically pops into a small box when it's pulled out of its sleeve because of an elastic band inside which pulls the opposite edges of the box inwards.

... and another of it popped open with the heffalumps on show:

Water-coloured on Langton Watercolour paper with Ranger Distress Ink Reinkers:

• Pinks: Tattered Rose, Worn Lipstick
• Grass: Shabby Shutters, Mowed Lawn, Peeled Paint
• Purples: Milled Lavender, Dusty Concord

Card Recipe:

• MFT Adorable Elephants
• MFT Square Peek-a-Boo Window
• MFT Circle Stax
• Purple & turquoise cardstock

I've been inspired by:

• MFT Innovation Challenge
• Inky Chicks - Favourite Colours (pink, aqua & purple)

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Reindeer #3

I've been playing with these cute reindeer again from Lili of the Valley. It's a very CAS style card with a pink and green colour scheme for a fun festive theme.

Water-coloured on Langton Watercolour paper with Ranger Distress Ink Reinkers:

• Reindeer: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, Gathered Twigs, Tattered Rose, Worn Lipstick, Frayed Burlap, Walnut Stain
• Greens: Shabby Shutters, Mowed Lawn, Peeled Paint
• Reds: Abandoned Coral, Fired Brick
• Snow: Weathered Wood

Card Recipe:

• Reindeer Collection from LOTV
• Merry Christmas Greetings Sentiment Set from LOTV
• MFT Stitched Scalloped Basic Edges 2
• MFT Stitched Basic Edges 2
• Glossy Accents
• Nitwit Collections Papers
• Crystal Glamour Dust

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - CAS using Ranger Distress Ink Reinkers

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Sleeping Cutie

It's all about Flower Power at In The Pink Challenge this month and I've opted for flowers in my image, papers and embellishments.  This little critter is aptly named 'Sleeping Cutie' and I've coloured him with reinkers with a splash of pencil for the detail on the flowers.

Water-coloured on Langton Watercolour paper with Ranger Distress Ink Reinkers:

• Fur: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, Gathered Twigs, 
• Greens: Bundled Sage, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• Wings: Tumbled Glass, Bundled Sage
• Flowers: Seedless Preserves
• Oranges: Wild Honey, Carved Pumpkin

Card Recipe:

• Sleeping Cutie
• Versafine Ink Pad
• Lawn Fawn Stitched Scalloped Border Dies
• MFT Dienamics Stitched Oval Stax
• Flat Backed Pearls
• Derwent Inktense Pencils
• Maja Design Paper Pad
• Wild Orchid Crafts Open Roses
• Wild Orchid Crafts Mini Rosebuds
• Wild Orchid Crafts Carnations
• 15mm Grape Satin Ribbon

I've been inspired by:

• Inky Chicks - Favourite Colour(s) [pink & purple]
• Crafty Calendar - Kids/Babies
• The Ribbon Girl - Card Challenge

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Toasty Greetings

If you follow my blog then you will know that I have a real soft spot for little pingus and this one is one I would love to just scoop up and snuggle.  Isn't he ADORABLE!  He's from the Toasty Greetings set from Dies to Die For and I've used a sentiment from the same set.

Water-coloured on Langton Watercolour paper with Ranger Distress Ink Reinkers:

• Penguin: Tattered Rose, Hickory Smoke, Black Soot, Wild Honey, Carved Pumpkin
• Hat: Tumbled Glass, Mermaid Lagoon
• Snow: Weathered Wood
• Marshmallows: Victorian Velvet, Aged Mahogany

Card Recipe:

• MFT Toasty Greetings
• Versafine Ink Pad
• Dotty Paper
• Nitwit Collections Papers

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Clean & Simple

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Hedge Hugs

Recently I seem to have grown a fondness for hedgehogs and this is my favourite stamp set featuring these prickly little critters. I've used 7 stamps from this set to create my scene, watercoloured with DI reinkers and a chalked cloudy background, although I went a bit overboard with the shading behind the hedgies so it's a bit darker than I'd intended. 

Water-coloured on Langton Watercolour paper with Ranger Distress Ink Reinkers:

• Hedgehogs: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, Gathered Twigs, 
• Blush: Tattered Rose, Worn Lipstick
• Grass: Shabby Shutters, Mowed Lawn, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• Reds: Abandoned Coral, Fired Brick, Aged Mahogany
• Background: Tumbled Grass, Weathered Wood, Old Paper

Card Recipe:

• MFT Happy Hedgehogs
• MFT Stitched Scalloped Basic Edges 2
• MFT Stitched Basic Edges 2
• MFT Mini Cloud Edges Stencil using chalks
• Maja Design Summertime Papers

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Woodland Creatures

I'm still in Christmas mood at the moment (yes I know it's only just September!).  Today's card features a sweet fox and squirrel getting ready to delivery their presents.  The images are both from Lili of the Valley and a new set called Woodland Scenes.

Water-coloured on Langton Watercolour paper with Ranger Distress Ink Reinkers:

• Fur: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, Gathered Twigs, 
• Grass: Shabby Shutters, Mowed Lawn, Peeled Paint
• Reds: Festive Berries, Fired Brick
• Snow: Weathered Wood
• White: Hickory Smoke, Black Soot

Card Recipe:

• Woodland Scenes from Lili of the Valley
• MFT Stitched Basic Edges 2
• Glossy Accents
• Crystal Glamour Dust
• Button Twine

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Stamp It
• The Ribbon Girl - Card Challenge
• Simon's Monday Challenge - Stamp It

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Pugsy Malone?

I've been playing with the cute little pugs again, this time in red and blue which isn't a traditional festive colour combo, but seemed quite fun which suited these little guys. They're available as rubber and digi from Lili of the Valley.

Water-coloured on Langton Watercolour paper with Ranger Distress Ink Reinkers:

• Fur: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, Gathered Twigs, 
• Blues: Stormy Sky, Faded Jeans
• Reds: Abandoned Coral, Fired Brick, Aged Mahogany
• Snow: Weathered Wood
• Yellow: Squeezed Lemonade
• Bone: Tea Dye

Card Recipe:

• Christmas Pugs from Lili of the Valley
• MFT Stitched Scalloped Basic Edges 2
• Glossy Accents
• Flat Backed Pearls
• Nitwit Collections Papers
• Viva Pearl Pen - Ice White
• Crystal Glamour Dust
• Simon Says Stamp "Merry Christmas" Die

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Monday Challenge - Stamp It
• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Stamp It

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Sweet Tooth Mouse

We're looking for flora or fauna today at As You Like It Challenge and as usual, we want to know which is your favourite.  There's no question it's fauna for me. I love animals and my house would not be a home without my furbabies.  I'm not suggesting I'd be overly happy if my house had mice though, which is the critter I've chosen to feature on my card today, but he is a cute little chappie, so he has made centre stage.

Water-coloured on Langton Watercolour paper with Ranger Distress Ink Reinkers:

• Fur: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, Gathered Twigs, 
• Skin: Tattered Rose, Worn Lipstick, Tea Dye
• Reds: Abandoned Coral, Barn Door, Aged Mahogany
• Ground: Pumice Stone, Black Soot

Card Recipe:

• Gerda Steiner Sweet Tooth Mouse
• Crealies XXL Double Stitched Ovals
• Flat Backed Pearls
• Maya Design Summertime Paper Pack
• Wild Orchid Crafts Cherry Blossom
• Wild Orchid Crafts Open Roses
• Wild Orchid Crafts Mini Rosebuds
• 15mm Organza Red Ribbon
• 3mm Red Satin Ribbon

I've been inspired by:

• The Ribbon Girl - Card Challenge
• Creatalicious - Anything Goes
• Noor! - Layers
• Gerda's September Challenge - Sweet Tooth Mouse

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Birthday Hat

I'm not usually one for lots of different colours on my images, preferring to stick with one or two main colours, but this cute chap asked for a rainbow hat. 

Who was I to deny him?!  :0)

Water-coloured on Langton Watercolour paper with Ranger Distress Ink Reinkers:

• Fur: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, Gathered Twigs, 
• Hat: Festive Berries, Carved Pumpkin, Mustard Seed, Shabby Shutters, Broken China, Dusty Concord, Seedless Preserves, Picked Raspberry.
• Ground: Hickory Smoke, Black Soot

Card Recipe:

• Whimsy Lee Holland Teddy Birthday Hat
• Versafine Ink Pad
• Lawn Fawn Stitched Border Dies
• Lawn Fawn Stitched Scalloped Border Dies
• Nitwit Collections Papers
• Flat backed pearls

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Monday Challenge - Stamp It
• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Stamp It

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Fluffy Flamingos

I'd been drooling over these fluffy flamingos since I saw them at Clearly Besotted but they'd been out of stock, so I was such a lucky girlie to find that a VERY special blogpal snatched them up and sent them to me when they briefly came back into stock.  (Love you hunny! xx).  I didn't waste much time in inking them up and I adore how they turned out.  I hope you like what I did with them.

Water-coloured on Langton Watercolour paper with Ranger Distress Ink Reinkers:

• Flamingos: Tattered Rose, Worn Lipstick
• Grass: Bundled Sage, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss, 
• Oranges (plants and beaks/feet): Wild Honey, Carved Pumpkin, Rusty Hinge
• Blues: Tumbled Glass, Broken China

Card Recipe:

• Fluffy Flamingos from Clearly Besotted
• MFT Stitched Scalloped Basic Edges 2
• MFT Stitched Basic Edges 2
• Flat Backed Pearls
• Nitwit Collections Papers
• Sentiment from MFT Adorable Elephants set

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes using Fluffy Flamingos & Reinkers
• Simon's Monday Challenge - Stamp It using Fluffy Flamingos & Reinkers

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Robin Line Up

It's release day at Lili of the Valley and there are a whole host of festive critters to drool over including these cute little robins.  I've combined mine in a line-up getting ready for Christmas.

Water-coloured on Langton Watercolour paper with Ranger Distress Ink Reinkers:

• Robins: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, Gathered Twigs, 
• Greens: Shabby Shutters, Mowed Lawn, Peeled Paint
• Reds: Festive Berries, Fired Brick
• Snow: Weathered Wood

Card Recipe:

• Robins Collection from Lili of the Valley
• Merry Christmas Greetings from Lili of the Valley
• Glossy Accents
• Viva Pearl Pen - Ice White
• Crystal Glamour Dust
• Maja Design Summertime paper pad

I've been inspired by:

• Creatalicious - Anything Goes

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Snow Pingu

Today's card features one of my favourite winter critters and this cute little pingu is one of many festive images due to be released tomorrow from Lili of the Valley.

Water-coloured on Langton Watercolour paper with Ranger Distress Ink Reinkers:

• Hat: Broken China, Peacock Feathers, Hickory Smoke
• Penguin: Black Soot, Hickory Smoke, Wild Honey, Carved Pumpkin, Rusty Hinge
• Snow: Weathered Wood

Card Recipe:

• Penguin Collection from Lili of the Valley
• MFT Stitched Scalloped Basic Edges 2
• MFT Stitched Basic Edges 2
• Glossy Accents
• Crystal Glamour Dust
• Flat Backed Pearls
• Viva Pearl Pen - Ice White
• Crealies on the Edge die
• Simon Says Stamp Winter Snow Die

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes
• Creatalicious - Anything Goes

Happy crafting
Annette
xx