Balancing Act

I know it's still July but I'm still in festive mode with another James the Bear card, this time Balancing Act. The papers are actually an old LOTV Nitwits set called Always and Forever (now only available as digi papers from Nitwit Papers), so they're not meant to be Festive, but being green and red they seemed appropriate none-the-less!  The supersized double stitched square die is an XXL nesting set from Crealies (who do fabulously sized nesties).

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

• Fur: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, Gathered Twigs 
• Blues: Tumbled Glass, Broken China
• Reds: Abandoned Coral, Fired Brick, Aged Mahogany
• Ground: Speckled Egg, Hickory Smoke, Black Soot

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes
• Creative Knockouts - Christmas in July

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Kitty Hexagon

We're talking pets today at As You Like It Challenge, so for me that means kitties. My home isn't complete without a feline furball or two. 

Our current furbabies, Pickle and Jenson (aka JB) are both rescue kitties and have definitely got us wrapped around their tiny furry paws.

So firstly here's my card using an adorable kitty from one of my new Penny Black stamp sets...

And then some pics of ickle Pickle, our timid calico sweetheart; she is more hubby's than mine (her choice), and she tends to be more of a house cat:

and here is Jenson, giving his angelic 'please pick me, I'll be as good as gold' RSPCA mugshot which was 'purrfectly' designed to lure us in:

This was before we knew what a little monkey he was going to be, and he swiftly turned into a bread-stealing, carpet-shredding, bin-trashing, treat-begging, duvet-hogging, carb-addicted, furry house-wrecker very soon after we brought him home:

(of course, we wouldn't change a thing about him !!!)

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

• Fur: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, Gathered Twigs 
• Sky: Tumbled Glass
• Ground: Pumice Stone, Hickory Smoke, Black Soot

Card Recipe:

• Penny Black Fragrant Friends Stamp Set
• Nitwit Collections Petal Fresh Papers
• Polkadoodles Distressed Trellis Stencil

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes
• Country View Craft - Stencils
• Creatalicious - Anything Goes

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Santa's Train

I've coloured up 3 images from the lovely Santa's Train set to create this fun card using 4 die cut tags joined together to make a concertina fold card.

Card Recipe:

From Dies To Die For:

• Whimsy Stamps Santa's Train
• MFT Plaid Patterns Papers

Other:

• Gummiapan Tag die
• Purple Twine
• Langton Watercolour paper 
• Watercoloured using Ranger Distress Ink Reinkers:

I've been inspired by:

• Nordsalten Hobbyklubb - 1 or more tags
• Creatalicious - Anything Goes (optional transport)

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Bella Cracker

For my Polkadoodles Digi Choosday card this week I'm still building my stash of festive cards with this Chrismas Cracker shaped card featuring Bella Delivering Gifts. The papers are from Eden Paper Heaven 2 and Lily Bug Love Paper Heaven 3, both coloured blue in MSWord.  As usual, my image is watercoloured using Ranger Distress Ink Reinkers.  The cracker shape is a standard A6 cardbase, with 'V' cutouts either side of the top and bottom, and die cut edges at both ends.

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

• Fur: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, Gathered Twigs 
• Present: Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn
• Sky: Tumbled Glass
• Ourfit: Stormy Sky, Faded Jeans, Chipped Sapphire
• Reds: Candied Apple, Barn Door, Aged Mahogany

I've been inspired by:

• Creatalicious - Anything Goes

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Gone Fishin'

Yup, I'm still in Christmas mode - I hope you're not bored yet!  I've started a tally of how many cards I still need to make and it is nice to see the remainder reducing each time I add another. Mind you, it's not a hardship making Christmas cards as they're my favourite theme. 

Today's card has been made with postage in mind, so it's (almost) a single layer card which should easily fit into a flat envelope.  I had to stop myself adding some die cuts to the top right, but really need to make at least some mail-friendly cards!

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

• Fur: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, Gathered Twigs, Tattered Rose
• Fish: Twisted Citron, Crushed Olive, Cracked Pistachio
• Stick: Frayed Burlap, Walnut Stain
• Blues: Prize Ribbon, Blueprint Sketch
• Reds: Abandoned Coral, Fired Brick, Aged Mahogany
• Snow: Speckled Egg, Hickory Smoke

Card Recipe:

• Arthur Ice Fishing Polar Bear from Purple Onion Designs (I had a little splurge at SSS who now stock these adorable Stacey Yacula images!)
• MFT Stitched Basic Edges 2
• Crealies Crea-Nest-Lies XXL34 Double Stitched Squares
• Happy Christmas Ribbon (discontinued but similar to this)

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Out with the Old, In with the New

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Don't get your Tinsel in a Tangle

I'm continuing on my mission to get ahead on my Christmas Cards and have used my favourite bear, James, to create this Deck the Halls card.

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

• Fur: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, Gathered Twigs, Tattered Rose
• Greens: Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• Sky: Tumbled Glass
• Yellows: Scattered Straw, Squeezed Lemonade, Mustard Seed
• Reds: Candied Apple, Fired Brick, Aged Mahogany
• Ground: Speckled Egg, Hickory Smoke, Black Soot

Card Recipe:

• James Deck the Halls from Lili of the Valley
• Nitwit Collections Romance & Roses Papers
• 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 XXL67 Double Stitched Ovals
• MFT Merry Christmas Circle Frame Die

I've been inspired by:

• Creatalicious - Anything Goes

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Polar Cupcake

I'm still on a mission to stock up my Christmas cards early this year and have used another Stamping 

Bella image on a lovely shaped cardbase.

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

• Polar: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Tattered Rose, Tea Dye
• Greens: Bundled Sage, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• Bricks: Tumbled Glass
• Blue: Tumbled Glass, Broken China
• Purples: Milled Lavender, Dusty Concord
• Reds: Candied Apple, Fired Brick, Aged Mahogany
• Ground/Mouse: Pumice Stone, Black Soot

Card Recipe:

From Dies To Die For:

• Polar Bear on a Cupcake Stuffie
• Taylored Expression Brick by Brick stencil
• Stitched Hexagon dies

Other

• Nitwit Snow Princess Papers
• Memory Box Twilight Snowflakes
• Gems
• Glossy Accents
• Glamour Dust

I've been inspired by:

• Country View Crafts - Use a Stencil
• Creatalicious - Anything Goes
• Simon's Monday Challenge - Food/Drink

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Red, red robin goes bob, bob bobbin' along

I've been playing with one of my older Lili of the Valley stamps today and have framed these cute Snowy Robins with one of my favourite colours for Christmas cards, pink!  I've added a sentiment from the Christmas Greetings stamp set.  The papers are from an discontinued LOTV paper pad.

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

• Robins: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, Tattered Rose
• Tree: Bundled Sage, Mowed Lawn, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss, Frayed Burlap, Walnut Stain
• Sky: Tumbled Glass
• Ground: Speckled Egg

I've been inspired by:

• Creatalicious - Anything Goes
• Allsorts - Feminine

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Baby Gro Card is Bang on the Mark

At As You Like It Challenge today we're asking to see your favourite non-standard shaped cardbase. Recently I've tried to use my Silhouette more and have tried making some cardbase shapes to match my image themes. I've used this babygro shape before and it's one of my favourites because it works so well for any baby themed image.  I think shaped cards really make it look like you've made more of an effort for a special occasion and hopefully make a memorable keep-sake for the recipient.

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

• Skin: Tattered Rose, Tea Dye, Worn Lipstick
• Green: Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Peeled Paint
• Blues: Stormy Sky, Faded Jeans
• Reds: Candied Apple, Barn Door, Aged Mahogany

Card Recipe:

• Bang the Drum from LOTV
• MFT Dienamics Stitched Circle Stax
• Nitwit Collections Papers

I've been inspired by:

• Cute Card Thursday - Anything Goes

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Polar, Walrus and Penguin

I've used one of my alltime favourite Christmas images from Stamping Bella to create this fun hexagon shaped Christmas card.  

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

• Polar Bear: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Tea Dye, Tattered Rose
• Walrus: Antique Linen, Frayed Burlap, Walnut Stain
• Penguin: Hickory Smoke, Black Soot, Weathered Wood
• Bricks: Tumbled Glass
• Ground: Pumice Stone, Black Soot

Card Recipe:

From Dies To Die For:

• The Walrus, The Polar Bear and The Penguin Stuffies
• Taylored Expression Brick by Brick stencil
• Stitched Hexagon dies

Other

• Nitwit Snow Princess Papers
• Memory Box Twilight Snowflakes
• Gems
• Glossy Accents
• Glamour Dust

I've been inspired by:

• Cute Card Thursday - Anything Goes

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Kitty Boo

For my Polkadoodles Digi Choosday today I'm sharing my Father's Day card featuring Boo the kitty (which I've mirrored, so he's facing to the right) and some softly spotty papers from Winnie Sugar Sprinkles 2 collection. My image is watercoloured using Ranger Distress Ink Reinkers.

To keep the design quite simple, and as masculine as possible, I've matted each layer onto kraft coloured card, including the sentiment.  The lettering itself is die cut using a CC Designs alphabet on some scraps of the same papers.

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

• Fur: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, Gathered Twigs, Tattered Rose, Tea Dye
• Grass: Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• Sky: Tumbled Glass
• Reds: Candied Apple, Barn Door, Aged Mahogany

I've been inspired by:

• Creatalicious - Anything Goes

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Pandas Galore

I saw that Lee Holland had released some new Panda images and three of them fell into my basket when I went to visit them.  I've made a trio of matching notelet cards using them. I wanted to keep the design really clean, with a simple sentiment and only a stitched die for detail. They're all matted onto grey card and I made some matching pale grey envelopes to complete the set.  The sentiment is from Polkadoodles Winnie Sunshine Delights, and the Stencil is Taylored Expressions Brick by Brick.

This card features Panda with Baby Crane:

This one's Panda Sleeping:

And finally, Panda Sitting with Butterfly

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

• Pandas: Black Soot, Weathered Wood, Tattered Rose
• Grass: Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• Bamboo: Bundled Sage, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• Sky: Tumbled Glass

I've been inspired by:

• Country View Crafts - Use a Stencil

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Something smells fishy

Another cracker shaped pingu card!

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

• Penguin: Hickory Smoke, Black Soot
• Hat: Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• Fish: Crushed Olive, Twisted Citron, Squeezed Lemonade
• Sky: Tumbled Glass
• Reds: Candied Apple, Barn Door, Aged Mahogany
• Snow: Weathered Wood

Card Recipe:

From Dies To Die For:

• Stamping Bella Penguins Bearing Gifts
  
• MFT Merry Christmas Circle Frame
• MFT Dienamics Stitched Circle Stax
• Your Next Stamp Summer Plaid Papers
• Pretty Pink Posh Eyelet Border

I've been inspired by:

• Creatalicious - Anything Goes - Fancy Fold

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Hello Cupcake

I've been playing with a couple of the new cupcake images from Lili of the Valley.  They're available as both clear stamps and digis, and they're super sweet (pun intended!).  I've made a cupcake shaped tent-fold cardbase using my Silhouette with some pretty papers and doodled stitching.  The decorations are very simple with just a little sparkly gel pen accents on the sugary sprinkles.

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

• Monkey: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo
• Puppy: Antique Linen, Frayed Burlap, Walnut Stain
• Cupcakes: Scattered Straw, Spun Sugar, Worn Lipstick, Picked Raspberry, Kitsch Flamingo
• Greens: Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Bundled Sage, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• Sky: Tumbled Glass
• Ground: Speckled Egg, Weathered Wood, Hickory Smoke, Black Soot

Card Recipe:

• LOTV Puppy Cupcake
• LOTV Monkey Cupcake
• MFT Dienamics Stitched Circle Stax
• Crealies Crea-Nest-Lies XXL65 Double Stitched Circles
• Nitwits Country Meadow Papers
• Cupcake Cardbase Template is on my Freebies page

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes
• Creatalicious - Anything Goes with Optional Fancy Fold

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

A nice cuppa will make you feel better

At As You Like It Challenge today we're asking what kind of stitching you like to add to your cards, faux or real, doodled or embossed.  I really love stitching as a detail and I used to use my sewing machine to stitch around the edges of my images, but that was before the beautiful stitched nesting dies were common. Nowadays my sewing machine has been tucked out of sight and I use stitched dies a lot.  However, there's always room for more stitching and for today's creation I've also doodled some stitching around the edge of my cardbase. This wouldn't be possible with a die becuase it's a bespoke shape, and stitching with thread would need a lot of patience because of all those curves, but doodle stitches were easy to add all the way around and give it a more finished look.  The cardbase was a teapot shape that I elongated to make it much taller and then cut using my Silhouette into a tent-fold card.

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

• Fur: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, Gathered Twigs, Tattered Rose, Tea Dye
• Greens: Bundled Sage, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• Purples: Milled Lavender, Dusty Concord
• Background: Antique Linen

Card Recipe:

• Get Well Bunny from LOTV
• Nitwit Collections Promises Papers
• MFT Stitched Oval Stax dies
• Button Twine
• Flat Backed Pearls

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes

Happy crafting
Annette
xx