Moonlit Snowy Chums

I have two weaknesses when it comes to Christmas images: cute and pingus!  Brace yourselves for some new images due to be released on 10 September from Lili of the Valley.  I've got 3 in a matching set to share, the first of which is an adorable seal and pingu snuggling in the moonlight.  I hope you like it, because I have a couple more to share over the coming days!  The moon landscape was surprisingly easy to create using a circle of post-it paper mask and some blending of Weathered Wood, Stormy Sky, Chipped Sapphire and a little Black Soot in the corners. The moon itself was coloured with some Scattered Straw and then finally the critters coloured as normal.

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

• Seal: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy
• Penguin: Hickory Smoke, Black Soot, Wild Honey, Rusty Hinge
• Mistletoe: Bundled Sage, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• Sky: Weathered Wood, Stormy Sky, Chipped Sapphire, Black Soot
• Reds: Abandoned Coral, Festive Berries, Barn Door, Aged Mahogany
• Moon: Scattered Straw
• Ground: Weathered Wood, Scattered Straw

Card Recipe:

• LOTV Snowy Chums
• Nitwit Collections Papers (Petal Fresh)
• White Gel pen
• Black pen (doodled stitching)

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes (using DI Inks)

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Jasper Kitty

At the As You Like It Challenge challenge this week we want to see how you prefer to add text to your cards.  I'm not usually very good at adding sentiments, either stamped or die cut, but I guess my most common way is to use a typed sentiment which I can write myself.  I have quite a collection of different fonts but I really like this one which is called "KG Beneath Your Beautiful Chunk".  

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

• Fur: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, Gathered Twigs 
• Presents: Wilted Violet, Milled Lavender, Wild Honey, Candied Apple, Aged Mahogany, Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn
• Sky: Shaded Lilac
• Ground: Hickory Smoke, Black Soot

Card Recipe:

• Jasper Kitty from Polkadoodles
• Nitwit Collections Papers
• Crealies Crea-Nest-Lies Stitched Squares
• Purple gems

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes
• Creative Knockouts - Something to Say

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Sweet Wishes, Sweet Friend

Bunnies are some of my favourite critters but I've not used this cute stamp set for a while.  I thought they deserved an outing so have made a little card for a sweet friend. The design is clean and simple to focus on the fur-balls.

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, Forest Moss
• Reds: Candied Apple, Barn Door, Aged Mahogany

Card Recipe:

From Dies To Die For:

• MFT Snuggle Bunnies
• MFT Sending Sweet Celebrations Wishes (Sentiment)
• MFT Plaid Patterns Papers
• MFT Watercolor Wash Papers

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Monday Challenge - S is for Snuggle bunnies, Sweet Wishes, Sweet Friend, Stripes
• Allsorts - Feminine
• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Celebrating your special day

I've been playing with my new Sweet Celebration Wishes stamps from MFT this week. I've used the 'pale-lines' technique and used a sentiment from the same set.

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

• Fox: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, Gathered Twigs 
• Bunny: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy
• Tortoise: Bundled Sage, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss, Tea Dye, Vintage Photo
• Grass/Fox's Hat: Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• Sky: Tumbled Glass
• Cupcake: Milled Lavender, Wilted Violet, Spun Sugar
• Bow/Bunny's Hat: Candied Apple, Barn Door, Aged Mahogany

Card Recipe:

From Dies To Die For:

• MFT Sending Sweet Celebration Wishes
• Ink On 3 Fadeout Stamp Pad
• MFT Plaid Patterns Paper
• MFT Dienamcis Stitched Square Stax

I've been inspired by:

• Crafty Creations - Anything Goes
• Penny Black at Alsorts - Boys/Men

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Special Friend

The new challenge at As You Like It Challenge is to decide whether you prefer the colour combination of pink and green or blue and orange.  Ideally I'd prefer pink and blue because I'm not a huge fan of orange, but neither do I like a lot of green.  I think my fondness for pink outweighs my dislike of green so I've opted for that combo (with a touch of blue).  The image and sentiment are from our sponsor this week, Lili of the Valley

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

• Fur: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, Tattered Rose, Worn Lipstick
• Grass: Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• Sky: Tumbled Glass
• Flower: Spun Sugar, Worn Lipstick
• Envelope: Old Paper

Card Recipe:

• Spring Rabbit Mail from Lili of the Valley
• Everyday Greetings Sentiment from Lili of the Valley
• MFT Dienamcis Stitched Square Stax
• Nitwit Collections Papers
• Nottingham Border Die (the flower is the 'negative' cut from the die)

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Midsummer Blues
• Crafty Creations - Anything Goes

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Eeyore

I was in love with these donkeys when I saw the new release at Stamping Bella.  I've always been fond of Donkeys since a child, having one as a soft toy as a baby.  I also love Eeyore from Winnie the Pooh so this set was a must-have as far as I'm concerned!

The sentiment is from another Stamping Bella set, and it seemed perfect for this little fella.

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

• Fur: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, Frayed Burlap, Walnut Stain
• Grass: Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• Sky: Tumbled Glass

Card Recipe:

• Stamping Bella Donkey Trio Stuffies
• Stamping Bella Bunny Pile Stuffies (Sentiment)
• Ink On 3 Fadeout Stamp Pad
• Memory Box Notingham Border
• MFT Stitched Basic Edges 2
• MFT Paper Pad
• Flat Backed Pearls
• 6mm Satin Ribbon

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Monday Challenge - Midsummer Blues

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Gnomie Merry Christmas

I hope you're not bored of these already because I've got another sneak peek of the gnomes from Lili of the Valley.  This one's in less traditional purples, but it's a colour I love at Christmas (or any other time of the year!)

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

• Skin: Tattered Rose, Tea Dye
• Beard: Pumice Stone
• Boxes: Frayed Burlap, Walnut Stain
• Purples: Milled Lavender, Dusty Concord
• Greens: Old Paper, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• Boots: Hickory Smoke, Black Soot
• Sky: Tumbled Glass
• Ground: Weathered Wood

Card Recipe:

• LOTV Gnome
• LOTV Handdrawn Sentiment set
• Nitwit Collections Papers
• Crealies Crea-Nest-Lies Stitched Rectangles
• Purple gems

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Gnomie Seasons Greetings

This is my second sneak peek using the new gnome release at Lili of the Valley.  I've used one of the tag sentiments as a signpost by adding a wooden post again. I'm usually really forgetful at adding sentiments so this is a nice way to incorporate it into the image.

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

• Bunny: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy
• Skin: Tattered Rose, Tea Dye
• Beard: Pumice Stone
• Greens: Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• Reds: Candied Apple, Barn Door, Aged Mahogany
• Sky: Tumbled Glass
• Snow: Weathered Wood

Card Recipe:

• LOTV Gnome
• LOTV Tags Sentiment set
• MFT Stitched Basic Edges 2
• MFT Merry & Bright Paper pad

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Gnomie Christmas Wishes

Lili of the Valley have a new release due out later this month featuring gnomes and snowmen and I've got some sneak peeks of the new images over the next few days.  There are some sentiments and I've used one of them as a signpost by adding a wooden post and some snow at its base.

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

• Bears: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo
• Skin: Tattered Rose, Tea Dye
• Beard: Pumice Stone
• Greens: Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• Sky: Tumbled Glass
• Reds: Candied Apple, Barn Door, Aged Mahogany
• Snow: Weathered Wood

Card Recipe:

• LOTV Gnome
• LOTV Handdrawn Sentiment set
• MFT Stitched Basic Edges 2
• MFT Merry & Bright Paper pad

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Curvy Baker

I haven't made an apron shaped card for a while and decided the Curvy Girl Baker image was just the ticket to try it again. The shape is actually just a rectangle with the armholes cut out using an oval die.  I attached the ribbon 'ties' before adding the patterned paper and popped my image on the front. She's a 'big girl' so it's quite a big card because I decided against cropping her (I'd already coloured her and couldn't face chopping her legs off to make her fit a smaller card base!).

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
• Green: Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Peeled Paint
• Sky: Tumbled Glass
• Outfit: Shaded Lilac, Hickory Smoke, Candied Apple, Barn Door
• Poppy: Candied Apple, Barn Door, Aged Mahogany
• Cake: Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, Spun Sugar, Candied Apple, Aged Mahogany
• Ground: Hickory Smoke

Card Recipe:

From Dies To Die For:

• Stamping Bella Curvy Girl Baker
• Ink On 3 Fadeout No Line Stamp Pad
• Stitched Rectangle Die
• Oval nesting Die
• MFT Block Happy Birthday
• Organza Ribbon, Flower Ribbon, Flat Backed Pearls

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Monday Challenge - Happy Birthday
• Cute Card Thursday - Anything Goes
• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Add a Die Cut using MFT Birthday

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Birthday Piggies

We want to see your favourite flowers at As You Like It Challenge this week.  I have lots of favourite flowers, but I really love roses and lilies. I've used both on my card today as well as some cherry blossom and floral papers too!

The sentiment is a circular die that I've snipped so that I can stretch it out to fit the larger circle I'd used to frame my piggies. It's worked really well so I might do it again.

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

• Piggies: Tattered Rose, Tea Dye
• Pot: Ripe Persimmon, Tea Dye
• Flower: Dusty Concord, Wilted Violet
• Grass: Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• Sky: Tumbled Glass

Card Recipe:

• MFT Piggy Pebbles
• MFT Happy Birthday Circle
• Versafine Ink Pad
• Flat Backed Pearls
• 15mm Orchid Satin Ribbon
• Wild Orchid Crafts Cherry Blossom
• Wild Orchid Crafts Open Roses
• Wild Orchid Crafts Hip Rosebuds
• Wild Orchid Crafts Mini Rosebuds
• Wild Orchid Crafts Lily Flowers
• Crealies Crea-Nest-Lies XXL65 Double Stitched Circles

I've been inspired by:

• MFT Birthday Challenge - Flowers
• MFT Colour Challenge - Lilac, Coral (piggies/papers), Persimmon (pot/flowers), Grey (pearls)
• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes
• Cute Card Thursday - Anything Goes

Happy crafting
Annette
xx