It's Beginning to Smell A Lot Like Christmas (in February)

I know it's March tomorrow, but it's never to early to start thinking about Christmas and I'm on a mission to avoid having a rush in December when I realise that I only have about a quarter of the cards I want to send.  Plus the weather is something that would have been more 'normal' at Christmas than a day shy of March!

This little guy is from Gerda Steiner and I hope he's masculine enough to be able to qualify for my tally of cards for the guys.  What do you think?

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

• Fur: Tattered Rose, Weathered Wood, Hickory Smoke, Black Soot
• Greens: Twisted Citron, Shabby Shutters, Mowed Lawn, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• Reds: Abandoned Coral, Aged Mahogany
• Ground: Hickory Smoke, Black Soot
• Drink/Boots: Brushed Corduroy, Ground Espresso

Card Recipe:

From Dies To Die For:

• Gerda Steiner Smell Like Christmas
• Versafine Ink Pad
• MFT Stitched Scalloped Basic Edges 2
• MFT Stitched Basic Edges 2
• MFT Plaid Patterns Merry & Bright Paper Pack
• Flat Backed Pearls

I've been inspired by:

• Gerda Steiner - Share Your Designs
• Cute Card Thursday - Cute Critters
• Noor! - Celebrations
• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

You Are Rawsome!

I've got a monster of a card to share today, with some help from Gerda Steiner!  This little fella is keen to scare you, but I've heard he's really just a big softie!  The sentiment is from a different Gerda Steiner monster set but it seemed to suit this guy so I've paired them up.

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

• Fur: Milled Lavender, Dusty Concord 
• Grass: Shabby Shutters, Mowed Lawn, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• Ground: Pumice Stone, Black Soot

Card Recipe:

From Dies To Die For:

• Gerda Steiner Coffee Monster
• Gerda Steiner Monster Fun
• Versafine Ink Pad
• MFT Stitched Scalloped Basic Edges 2
• MFT Stitched Basic Edges 2
• Flat Backed Pearls

Other:

• Nitwit Collections Papers

I've been inspired by:

• The Sketchy Challenge - Anything Goes
• Gerda Steiner - Share Your Designs

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Warm and Fuzzy

We're talking sentiments at As You Like It Challenge, more specifically how you like to add them. You might choose die cut, stamped, typed, label maker, tag, etc.  The list is endless!  

Quite often I get so engrossed in the image that I completely forget to include a sentiment, but I've been really trying hard to remember the pesky things!  In the past I stamped or printed my sentiments and added them like a tag or label to my finished card.  I'd certainly never dream of stamping them directly onto the face of my image panel through fear of messing up the stamped image and under no circumstances would I attempt that after I'd coloured the image (which is usually when I think of adding a sentiment).  

However, all that changed when I bought my Stamping Platform. It was a real game changer for me and given me a new found confidence in stamping sentiments after I've coloured the image.  As often happens with ink stamping, my sentiment didn't stamp perfectly the first time so I just inked it up and pressed it down again! The Stamping Platform has opened up a whole new world of sentiment stamping for me! I'd held off buying one for so long but now it's one of my most used tools, even on cards using a digi for the main image, like today's cute Gerda Steiner bunnies.

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

• Bunnies: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Gathered Twigs, Tattered Rose, 
• Paws: Worn Lipstick
• Tulip: Fossilized Amber, Spiced Marmalade, Rusty Hinge
• Grass: Twisted Citron, Lawn, Forest Moss
• Sky: Tumbled Glass

Card Recipe:

• Gerda Steiner Spring Bunny Friends
• MFT Friends Furever (sentiment)
• MFT Bundles of Blossoms Pastels Paper Pack
• Lawn Fawn Stitched Border Dies
• Flat Backed Pearls

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Die cut (stitched edger die)
• Deep Ocean - Love is all Around
• That's Crafty - I Heart You
• They Sketchy Challenge - Anything Goes
• Gerda Steiner - Progressive Challenge

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Wood You Be Mine?

Happy Valentines Day!  

Today I'm sharing a little fella from CC Designs who I've used on a Valentine card.  

Whilst the image is a real cutie, I'm still counting him as a contribution to my tally of masculine cards!

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

• Hair: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, Gathered Twigs, 
• Skin: Tattered Rose, Tea Dye, Worn Lipstick
• Grass: Twisted Citron, Shabby Shutters, Mowed Lawn, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• Trousers/Gillet: Bundled Sage, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• Shirt: Abandoned Coral, Festive Berries, Fired Brick, Aged Mahogany
• Boots: Frayed Burlap, Walnut Stain, Black Soot
• Axe: Weathered Wood, Hickory Smoke, Black Soot, Frayed Burlap, Walnut Stain

Card Recipe:

From Dies To Die For:

• CC Designs Lumberjack Guys
• CC Designs Lumberjack Sentiments
• Versafine Ink Pad
• MFT Stitched Scalloped Basic Edges 2
• MFT Stitched Basic Edges 2

Other:

• Maja Design Coffee in the Arbour paper pad

I've been inspired by:

• Deep Ocean - Love is all Around
• That's Crafty - I Heart You
• The Sketchy Challenge - Anything Goes
• Penny Black & More - Love
• Creatalicious - Love

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Kokeshi Dolls

Lili of the Valley are bringing out a new range of stamps called 'Simply Sweet' so today I'm sharing an image from the new brand called Kokeshi Dolls.  I've kept the design very simple and masked the 3 dolls together to make a larger image.

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

• Hair/Ground: Hickory Smoke, Black Soot 
• Skin: Tattered Rose, Tea Dye, Worn Lipstick
• Green: Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• Reds: Abandoned Coral, Fired Brick, Aged Mahogany

Card Recipe:

• Kokeshi Dolls from Simply Sweet Stamps
• Lawn Fawn Puffy Cloud Border Dies
• Papermania Paper pack

I've been inspired by:

• Creatalicious - Anything Goes

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Pop Up Monster Birthday

I coloured up these little monsters before pondering what to make with them but since there were a few of them I decided to make a pop up box card (at least I think that's what this fold is called!) where they could all feature together.  

I think they work well, plus it all folds up to fit in an envelope and mail flat!  Ideal :0)  

I used a sentiment from the same stamp set, but I masked off part of it because it wouldn't all fit in. 

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

• Greens: Twisted Citron, Shabby Shutters, Mowed Lawn, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• Reds: Victorian Velvet, Aged Mahogany

Card Recipe:

From Dies To Die For:

• MFT Monster Sized
• MFT Dienamics Monster Sized
• Versafine Ink Pad

Other:

• Nitwit Collections Papers

I've been inspired by:

• Cute Card Thursday - Anything Goes
• Noor Design - Celebrations
• Creatalicious - Anything Goes

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

No Peeking

I always like stitching on cards, both faux and real. I have accumulated a lot of stitched dies over the past couple of years since they first became popular, but I still really love making the effort to do the real thing because it seems to be the exception to the norm (a bit like me!).  After getting a bit wobbly with my stitches though, I am thinking I should've opted for the stitched dies instead!

I've used an adorable new image called Reindeer with a Present by Kinda Cute by Patricia and watercoloured him using the no-lines technique. 

Unfortunately the papers were loose in my stash, and although I'm pretty sure they're Maya Design, I'm willing to be told otherwise if you know.

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

• Fur: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, Gathered Twigs, 
• Antlers/hooves: Frayed Burlap, Walnut Stain
• Greens: Twisted Citron, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• Sky: Tumbled Glass
• Reds: Abandoned Coral, Festive Berries, Fired Brick
• Ground: Pumice Stone, Black Soot

Card Recipe:

• Reindeer with a Present by Kinda Cute by Patricia
• Maya Design Papers (I think!)

I've been inspired by:

• Creative Inspiration - Something New (image)
• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes

Happy crafting
Annette
xx