Bear in the Snow

This Go Kreate die may be one of my oldest but it's also still my favourite shape for creating cardbases which is what we want to see at As You Like It Challenge this week.  I love the fancy corners and also that it perfectly fits my usual 6" square cardbase.

The image is a James the Bear digi from Lili of the Valley's etsy shop which I've switched to face the other direction. I've also put him in touch with his feminine side with some pink accessories and embellishments.

The dusky pink ribbon is one of my favourite colours, and is called 'mauve' from Fantastic Ribbons.

I know it's a Christmas card and we're not even through January yet, but I am on a mission to have enough Christmas cards before December comes around this year, and this is the first one for 2019 so technically I'm already behind!  It also helps that it's cold and frosty outside, so it's actually quite topical!

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

• Fur: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, Scattered Straw
• Sky: Tumbled Glass
• Pinks: Worn Lipstick, Abandoned Coral
• Snow: Weathered Wood

Card Recipe:

• James in the Snow from Lili of the Valley
• Crealies Crea-Nest-Lies XXL65 Double Stitched Circles
• Mauve 15mm satin ribbon from Fantastic Ribbons
• Wild Orchid Crafts Open Roses
• Wild Orchid Crafts Hip Rosebuds
• Wild Orchid Crafts Mini Rosebuds
• Wild Orchid Crafts Lily Flowers
• Pearl string

I've been inspired by:

• Cupcake Inspirations - Pink & White
• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes using Ranger Distress Ink Reinkers

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Make Some Noise

I've used a couple of Mama Elephant sets for today's card which was made to celebrate some friends moving into their first home together.

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

• Bear/Fox/Bunny: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, Gathered Twigs
• Penguin: Tattered Rose, Hickory Smoke
• Mouse: Pumice Stone
• Grass: Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• Sky: Tumbled Glass, Broken China
• Reds: Abandoned Coral, Festive Berries, Fired Brick

Card Recipe:

From Dies To Die For:

• Mama Elephant Animal Parade
• Mama Elephant Hippity Hop
• Versafine Ink Pad

I've been inspired by:

• Creative Inspirations - Anything Goes
• NordSalten Hobbyclub - For a Friend

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Polar Opposites

In complete contrast to the embellished card that I last blogged, today's card could barely be more clean and simple.  I've used an adorable polar bear image from Lili of the Valley with a simple design.  The boarder has been embossed with a stitched die and it's been layered onto pale and dark blue matts.

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

• Fur: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Tattered Rose, Worn Lipstick
• Sky: Tumbled Glass
• Ground: Weathered Wood, Black Soot

Card Recipe:

• Polar from Lili of the Valley

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Clean & Simple using Ranger Distress Ink Reinkers

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Hello Cupcake

It's pearls or buttons at As You Like It Challenge this week and for me it's an easy choice. I have a bit of an aversion to using buttons on cards so it's always going to be pearls for me!  Not that pearls are a hardship because I love the shiny little flat backed pearls and have them in lots of colours so they can coordinate with my colour schemes. They usually make an appearance on my cards!

I've got a new Spectrum Noir Sparkle pen and I've used it on my fairy's wings and skirt. It is difficult to photograph but I've added a little close up below which is the best I can get.

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

• Hair/Cake: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, Gathered Twigs 
• Icing: Milled Lavender
• Skin: Tattered Rose, Tea Dye, Worn Lipstick
• Greens: Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn
• Outfit: Wilted Violet
• Ground: Pumice Stone, Black Soot
• Candlelight: Squeezed Lemonade

Card Recipe:

• Cake Glorious Cake from Lili of the Valley
• MFT Dienamics Stitched Oval Stax
• Flat Backed Pearls
• Nitwit Collections Papers Promises
• Wild Orchid Crafts Cosmos Daisy
• Wild Orchid Crafts Open Roses
• Wild Orchid Crafts Hip Rosebuds
• Wild Orchid Crafts Mini Rosebuds
• Purple gingham ribbon

I've been inspired by:

• Creative Inspirations - Anything Goes

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Whooo is having a Birthday?

This is the third of my moonscape cards using my Gerda Steiner owls.  The sentiment is from the same stamp set.  The image and background are all coloured with DI inks (pads for the background and reinkers for the stamped image).

My little owl, with the moonscape tutorial, is included in this month's copy of Making Cards magazine so please go and buy your copy if you've not already!

Card Recipe:

From Dies To Die For:

• Gerda Steiner Owl Rather Be With You
• Versafine Ink Pad
• MFT Stitched Basic Edges 2
• MFT Stitched Scalloped Basic Edges 2
• MFT Plaid Papers

I've been inspired by:

• Creative Inspirations - Anything Goes
• Gerda Steiner Share Your Design
• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Clean & Simple using DI ink pads & Reinkers

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Moonscapes

I'm sharing another of the cards that are included in the January edition of Making Cards magazine. This time the little scene is quite masculine too (a rarity for me!). I hope you like it and take a peek at the tutorial in the magazine for some inspiration. 

Don't forget to pick up your copy of the magazine!  Oh, and despite what the article says, all the stamped images are watercoloured with DI reinkers, not markers!  :0)

Card Recipe:

From Dies To Die For:

• Gerda Steiner Blast Off
• Versafine Ink Pad
• MFT Stitched Basic Edges 2
• MFT Stitched Scalloped Basic Edges 2
• MFT Plaid Papers

I've been inspired by:

• Creatalicious - Anything Goes
• Country View Challenges - Landscapes using DI ink pads and reinkers
• Creatalicious - Anything Goes
• Gerda Steiner Share Your Designs

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Strike up the Band

I've chosen to ink up an MFT set that was given to me by a lovely friend. The layout is clean and simple but there's some added sparkle with a glitter frame. The glitter card was originally white, but I coloured it blue with an ink pad (probably a mistake because my ink pad is now sparkly!).  I added a further dark blue frame and mounted onto a white card base.

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

• Fur: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, Tattered Rose
• Grass: Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Peeled Paint
• Sky: Tumbled Glass
• Blues: Stormy Sky, Chipped Sapphire
• Reds: Abandoned Coral, Aged Mahogany
• Instruments: Fossilised Amber, Rusty Hinge

Card Recipe:

• MFT Strike up the Band
• Versafine Ink Pad
• Glitter card

I've been inspired by:

• MFT Birthday Challenge - Sparkly
• Simon's Monday Challenge - Let's Party

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Sunset made Simples!

I'm really excited to have 3 cards included the January Making Cards magazine with a tutorial on sunsets and 'moonscapes'.  I'm sharing one of those cards today with a Simples theme! The sunset was simple to create with some masking, sponging and inking. I hope you like it and take a peek at the tutorial in the magazine for some inspiration.

Here's a sneaky peek of the magazine.

Card Recipe:

• Clearly Besotted Got Your Back
• Versafine Ink Pad
• MFT Stitched Basic Edges 2
• MFT Stitched Scalloped Basic Edges 2
• MFT Plaid patterns papers

I've been inspired by:

• Creative Inspirations - Anything Goes
• Cute Card Thursday - Anything Goes
• Country View - Landscapes using DI pads & reinkers
• Creatalicious - Anything Goes

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Lily Hugs

There is an easy 'Anything Goes' at As You Like It Challenge this week to ease us gently into the new year. I've used one of the fairy images which were released this week from Lili of the Valley.

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

• Hair: Antique Linen, Scattered Straw, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo
• Bunny: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo
• Skin: Tattered Rose, Tea Dye, Worn Lipstick
• Grass: Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• Sky: Milled Lavender
• Dress: Shaded Lilac, Dusty Concord

Card Recipe:

• Lily Fairy from Lili of the Valley
• MFT Stitched Basic Edges 2
• MFT Stitched Scalloped Basic Edges 2
• 5mm Aqua Crystals
• MFT Roses All Over Pastels paper pad
• Simon Says Stamp Scripty Big Hugs die

I've been inspired by:

• Creative Inspirations - Anything Goes
• Creatalicious - Anything Goes
• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Something New using SSS Scripty Big Hugs die

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Feeling Chirpy

Well it's a new year, but I have been feeling a little lacking in crafting mojo after the Christmas break so I've picked up my Tweet Friends stamp which I have really enjoyed using.  It's similar in design to the pastel pink and blue I made just before Christmas but this time using a more wintry blue.

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

• Bird: Chipped Sapphire, Weathered Wood 
• Sky: Tumbled Glass
• Flower: Mermaid Lagoon
• Ground: Hickory Smoke, Black Soot

Card Recipe:

From Dies To Die For:

• MFT Tweet Friends
• Versafine Ink Pad
• Frantic Stamper Large Scalloped Scallop edger die
• MFT Stitched Basic Edges 2
• MFT Bundles of Blossom Paper pad
• Flat Backed Pearls

I've been inspired by:

• MFT Colour Challenge

Happy crafting
Annette
xx