Dressed Up

I'm sharing a little sweetie from Lili of the Valley called 'Dressed Up' today for my As You Like It card sample.  The theme is to share your favourite flowers. I couldn't decide whether to opt for my favourite paper flowers (embellishments) or my favourite garden variety, so I played it safe and opted for both!  

For floral embellishments I love lilies and open roses which I often use, as well as the starburst ones which I can't seem to buy anymore.  I also sneaked in a two-tone pink rosehip which I think are beautiful.

However, the flowers that I love most in the garden are tulips, which I rarely use in paper form.  Tulips remind me of Spring with the end of the cold weather in sight. I also love the variety in colour and especially love the double variety which can resemble roses.  I love the pinks and plum colours, but my favourites are probably oranges and yellows, which remind me of little flames lighting up the garden in the Spring sunshine!

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

• Fur: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, Gathered Twigs, 
• Grass: Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• Sky: Tumbled Glass
• Pinks: Spun Sugar, Picked Raspberry

Card Recipe:

• Dressed Up from Lili of the Valley
• Nitwit Collections Papers
• CC Designs Cutters Mini Alpha and Numbers
• Wild Orchid Crafts Open Roses
• Wild Orchid Crafts Hip Rosebuds
• Wild Orchid Crafts Tulip Flowers
• Wild Orchid Crafts Lily Flowers
• Crealies Crea-Nest-Lies XXL41 Pierced Circles
• Crealies Crea-Nest-Lies Extreme Labels and Tags No.12
• 5mm Pink Crystals
• 15mm Satin ribbon (colour Beauty)

I've been inspired by:

• Dream Valley - Spring Colours
• Noor! - Spring
• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

You Make My Heart Happy

There's romance in the air with a Gerda Steiner stamp set called 'Fall in Love'. I've used the pair of squirrels with the tree, masking the little critters to make sure they appeared to 'sit' on the branch.  The sentiments in the 'Fall in Love' set are autumnal so I've added a sentiment from an MFT set called Friends Furever instead.

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

• Fur: Tea Dye, Vintage Photo, Gathered Twigs, Tattered Rose
• Greens: Twisted Citron, Shabby Shutters, Mowed Lawn, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• Tree: Frayed Burlap, Walnut Stain

Card Recipe:

From Dies To Die For:

• Gerda Steiner Fall In Love
• MFT Friends Furever
• MFT Bundles of Blossoms Pastels Paper Pack
• Versafine Ink Pad

I've been inspired by:

• Gerda Steiner - Share your designs

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Close Your Eyes

"Close Your Eyes" is the name of the image I've used today, but if you're not a fan of fussy cards, then you may want to take the advice yourself.  I admit that when it comes to wedding cards, I do tend to veer away from the CAS look and today's wedding card is no exception; there's barely a bit of base card that you can still see!

I've watercoloured an older image from Lili of the Valley and surrounded it in a frame of lace, flowers, mesh and pearls.  I've used a very old Whiff of Joy heart banner die which I've finally managed to suss out when it comes to adding a date to it in the right place to fit inside the heart.

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

• Hair: Vintage Photo, Gathered Twigs, Hickory Smoke, Black Soot
• Skin: Tattered Rose, Tea Dye, Worn Lipstick
• Greens: Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• Sky: Tumbled Glass
• Blue on outfits: Stormy Sky, Faded Jeans
• Reds: Abandoned Coral, Ripe Persimmon, Barn Door, Aged Mahogany
• Girl's socks: Spun Sugar, Worn Lipstick

Card Recipe:

• Close your Eyes from Lili of the Valley
• Glossy Accents
• Wild Orchid Crafts Cherry Blossom
• Wild Orchid Crafts Cosmos Daisy
• Wild Orchid Crafts Open Roses
• Wild Orchid Crafts Mini Rosebuds
• Go Kreate Labels nested die
• Whiff of Joy Heart Banner
• Crealies Crea-Nest-Lies XXL41 Pierced Circles
• White Pearl String
• Ivory Jute Mesh Ribbon
• Lace

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Floral Frenzy

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Take a Break!

Happy Friday!!!  

Today's 'Take a Break' card is extremely apt because it's my last day working in a company where I've been for over 20 years.  I've got some new adventures planned just around the corner which are going to keep me very busy, but for the final time, in my present role at least ... it's pens down and relax!  

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

• Fur: Hickory Smoke, Tattered Rose, Black Soot
• Greens: Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• Blues: Stormy Sky, Faded Jeans
• Reds: Festive Berries, Fired Brick, Aged Mahogany
• Shelf: Frayed Burlap, Walnut Stain

Card Recipe:

• Cat in Bookshelf from Gerda Steiner
• Sentiment from Gerda Steiner's Monster Fun clear stamp set

I've been inspired by:

• Gerda Steiner Monthly Challenge

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Good Luck on your New Adventure

I'm feeling 'lost in space' today with my astronaut themed scene using a set from Gerda Steiner.  I stamped the little guy, his martian buddy, the spaceship and masked them all along with the moon (a plain masked circle) before using my dauber to ink around the edge of the card with some DI Stormy Sky, Faded Jeans and Black Soot inks.  I then coloured my scene trying to give a little moon-glow to my spaceman's outfit and shaded the moon with some Scattered Straw ink.  I stamped the sentiment at the end to finish it off.

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
• Martian: Twisted Citron, Shabby Shutters, Mowed Lawn, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• Sky: Stormy Sky, Faded Jeans, Black Soot
• Reds: Abandoned Coral, Fired Brick, Aged Mahogany
• "Whites": Weathered Wood
• Spaceship: Weathered Wood, Hickory Smoke, Black Soot, Tumbled Glass
• Flame: Fossilized Amber, Spiced Marmalade, Carved Pumpkin, Rusty Hinge
• Moon: Scattered Straw

Card Recipe:

From Dies To Die For:

• Gerda Steiner Blast Off
• Versafine Ink Pad

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Monday Challenge - Road Trip
• Gerda Steiner - Share Your Designs

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Easter Bunny

I love cute and fuzzy bunnies so there's no better excuse to feature these little critters on my card than at Easter ... and there's nothing better to accompany the Easter Bunny than some yummy chocolate!  Two of my favourite things on one card! :0)  It's perfect for our Easter Critter themed challenge at As You Like It so pop over to join in.

Card Recipe:

• Hoppy Easter from Lili of the Valley
• MFT Stitched Scalloped Basic Edges 2
• MFT Stitched Basic Edges 2
• Nitwit Collections Papers (Petal Fresh)
• Watercoloured with Zig Real Brush Waterbased Markers
• Button Twine
• Blue Crystal Drop

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Easter Inspired
• That's Crafty! - Spring into Action
• Cupcake Inspirations - Pets
• Noor! - Spring
• Simon's Monday Challenge - Spring/Easter

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Lumberjack Birthday

For my mid-week post I'm using Lumberjack Guys again from CC Designs, this time for a birthday card.  I've teamed him with some green papers and a natural colour scheme so hopefully he's neutral enough to qualify on my masculine card tally.  I love his cheeky grin and pose!

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
• Greens: Shabby Shutters, Mowed Lawn, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• Trousers: 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
• Flat Backed Pearls

Other:

• Maja Design paper pad

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Howdy From The Herd

For my mid-week post this week I'm sharing a pop up box card featuring a whole herd of cuteness from My Favorite Things.  I made this little card for a lovely blogfriend who loves animals so I thought it was perfect for her.  Unfortunately it's almost impossible to photograph because the little piggy was determined to hide behind the cow, so this was the best I could get.  There's also a tractor and cart at the back (but the piggy in the cart was also hiding from view!).  I think he's shy!

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

• Browns: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, Gathered Twigs, 
• Pig: Tattered Rose, Worn Lipstick
• Tractor: Abandoned Coral, Aged Mahogany
• Wood: Frayed Burlap, Walnut Stain
• Sheep: Hickory Smoke

Card Recipe:

From Dies To Die For:

• MFT Farm Friends
• MFT Dienamics Farm Friends
• Versafine Ink Pad
• Memory Box Stitched Clouds
• Memory Box Wrought Iron Fence

Other:

• Nitwit Collections Papers

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Fairies in the Wood

Lili of the Valley have some new fairy images coming out soon, and I've used one on today's card. She's called Fairies in the Woods and I've repeated the lefthand tree an extra three times to create a little woodland filling up the right hand side of my card.  I've used papers from LOTV that are now available (I think) as digis from Nitwits.

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

• Hair: Scattered Straw, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, Gathered Twigs, 
• Skin: Tattered Rose, Tea Dye, Worn Lipstick
• Grass: Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• Sky: Tumbled Glass
• Pinks: Spun Sugar, Worn Lipstick, Picked Raspberry
• Star: Mustard Seed & gold gel pen.

Card Recipe:

• Fairies in the Wood from LOTV
• MFT Stitched Basic Edges
• Nitwit Collections Papers
• Pink gingham ribbon
• Pink paper flower, punched 'inner' and large flat backed pearl center.

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Monday Challenge - In My Garden
• Noor! - Spring
• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Easter Chicks

Despite the snow and ice, we're heading into Spring over at Squirrel's Random Challenge so we're looking for your take on this season's 'traditional' colours and themes in your creations. 

Instead of my usual DI reinkers I optimistically thought it would be a good idea to use my neglected Zig Brush watercolour pens which are much brighter, but I found that I didn't have the depth of colour that I wanted, so I had to 'enhance' the colours with some DoCraft Artiste Watercolour pens that I've had for years (also neglected).  They were both really easy to blend with and between the two sets I found that I had a much better variety of colours and shades.  They do look much brighter than my usual cards, but I think I probably could have achieved similar with the DIs by choosing the right colours!  The watercolour markers are definitely more mobile though, so maybe an option for holidays!

At As You Like It we're asking if you prefer layers or flat cards, and I must admit that I'm a bit of a fan of both (depending on my mood or the theme).  However, even though this was intended to be a fairly flat card, I can't resist adding layers of papers using dies and ribbons.  Even the tag that I added was raised up on foam pads, so I guess I like layers!  I do think a bit of texture makes a hand crafted card differ from something that's shop-bought.

Card Recipe:

• Water-coloured on Langton Watercolour paper with Zig Brush Markers and DoCraft Artiste Watercolour Pens
• Gardening Chicks from Stamping Bella
• Versafine Ink Pad
• Lawn Fawn Puffy Cloud Border Dies
• MFT Dienamics Stitched Tiny Tags
• Narrow satin ribbon
• Sentiment printed in "KG Beneath Your Beautiful Chunk" font
• Nitwit Papers Perfect Pair

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Monday 'In My Garden' Challenge
• Noor! - Spring
• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes

Happy crafting
Annette
xx