Farewell 2021, Hello 2022

I'm not sure if 2021 was much of an improvement on 2020 (aka "The Year That Shall Not Be Named") or maybe we just all became accustomed to being constantly disapointed!  Each time it felt like things might be heading back to normal, we seemed to take another step backwards.  But it's the time of year when the little things can bring a smile. For me, those little things usually take the form of mince pies, and I'm in danger of eating my own weight in them.

Anyway, as has become my tradition on Dec 31st, I am sweeping out the dusty old year with some of my favourite creations from the past twelve months.

My sincere thanks to those who've continued to craft alongside me this year.  Yet again I've noticed falling comments, so for those of you who do leave a short message, I really am grateful that you take the time to do so. 

So, brace yourself for a photo-laden farewell to 2021.  

I wish you all a happy, healthy and creative 2022. 

January:

2021 was a year for experimenting with more shaped cards and I loved this Christmas cracker shaped card featuring James the Bear from Lili of the Valley

February:

Continuing my obsession with shaped cards, I made this concertina fold card using some XXL tags which can be removed and used separately afterwards.

March:

I enjoy making 'just because' cards to send a little 'thinking of you' message to friends and family.

April:

Tags were a common feature in my 2021 creations. This one incorporates my favourite colours and dies, as well as some adorable bunnies - right up my street!

May:

Another shaped creation, this time a tea-time themed card.

June:

A return to my stamping roots with a Penny Black image.

July:

I loved this simple layout and the adorable Panda from Lee Holland Designs

August:

I continued my additction to shaped cards with my new hexagon die.   Although the stitched edges didn't emboss particularly deeply, they are there if you squint!

September:

This fussy card was for a friend's special birthday, so a little extra effort was called for!

October:

I was sad to part with this Sunflower blankie that I crocheted for my MIL's birthday. 

November:

Another tag card from me, and another combo of my favourites; tag die, papers, colours, and another adorable Lee Holland Designer image.

December:

And my final favourite of the year, this simple but effective Stamping Bella image on a embossed panel with some die cut poinsettias.  It's difficult to photograph, but the white snowflakes are glittered too.

I hope you enjoyed my little trip down blog memory lane. 

I look forward to crafting with you in 2022.
Happy crafting.  I'm off to finish the mince pies.
Annette
xx

Santa's Train

Well, I hope you've all had a lovely Christmas. I think I may have eaten myself into a Mince Pie coma because I've been feeling a little tired this week.  We've pottered out for a few walks, but to be honest, the weather's been awful, so that's mostly ended up with damp boots and coats to dry out when we get home. I think it's forecast to rain again tomorrow, so I doubt we'll be going far. I've taken the opportunity to have a bit of a tidy up of my craft items and declutered a few things that I haven't used in years, like old peel-offs and things that I had optimistic visions of up-cycling.  It's not thinned it out much, but there's a bit more space for my newer things now!

For the card I'm sharing today, I watercoloured 3 different images from Whimsy's Santa's Train stamp set to create a concertina card.   I love these tags and they're perfect to create this kind of fancy-fold card.   I hope you like it.  

Card Recipe:

From Dies To Die For:

• Whimsy Stamps Santa's Train
• MFT Plaid Papers

Other:

• Gummiapan Tag die
• 15mm Blue Organza Ribbon
• Langton Watercolour paper 
• Memory Box Twilight Snowflake Dies
• Watercoloured using Ranger Distress Ink Reinkers:

I've been inspired by:

• Country View Crafts - Anything Christmas

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Polar Express

This little bear is actually from a Birthday stamp set, but he's versatile enough to be used on a Christmas tag.

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

• Fur: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, Tattered Rose
• Greens: Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Rustic Wilderness
• Purples: Milled Lavender, Villainous Potion
• Reds: Candied Apple, Fired Brick, Aged Mahogany
• Greys: Hickory Smoke, Black Soot, Speckled Egg

Card Recipe:

From Dies To Die For:

• MFT Birthday Bears
• Double Stitched Circle Nesting Dies
• Lawn Fawn Plaid papers

Other:

• MFT Pop Up Holiday Greeting Sentiment Die
• 6mm Satin Ribbon
• Cosmos Daisy
• Open Roses
• Crystal Glamour Dust
• Crealies Crea-Nest-Lies XXL Tag No.12 (with stitching)
• Flat Backed Pearls

I've been inspired by:

• Country View Crafts - Anything Christmas

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Dragon Holding Mistletoe

At As You Like It Challenge this fortnight we want to know your favourite Christmas sentiment.  I often 'forget' to add sentiments to many of my cards (festive or otherwise), but when it comes to Christmas a simple and traditional 'Merry Christmas' is my favourite option. I'm not a huge fan of the shortened 'Xmas' version, and 'Happy Holidays' is a little too modern for my taste.  

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

• Greens: Bundled Sage, Mowed Lawn, Rustic Wilderness, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• 'Whites': Weathered Wood, Speckled Egg, Black Soot

Card Recipe:

• Dragon Holding Misteltoe by Lee Holland
• MFT Dienamics Stitched Circle Stax
• MFT Merry Christmas Circle Frame

Other:

• 15mm Organza Snowflake Ribbon
• Nitwit Collections Papers
• Cherry Blossom
• Open Roses
• Glossy Accents
• Crystal Glamour Dust
• Flat backed pearls

I've been inspired by:

• Country View Crafts - Anything Christmas

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

What's Black & White and Red all over?

It's definitely Penguining to feel a lot like Chrismas with this cutie from MFT and I've created a simple card with a pop of red for my rosy-cheeked pingu to sit on.  

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

• Penguin: Pumice Stone, Hickory Smoke, Black Soot, Tattered Rose, Worn Lipstick
• Reds: Candied Apple, Fired Brick, Aged Mahogany
• 'Whites': Weathered Wood, Speckled Egg, Hickory Smoke

Shading enhanced with Derwent Inktense Pencils

Card Recipe:

From Dies To Die For:

• It's Penguining to Look a Lot Like Christmas Stamp Set
• Double Stitch Nesting Circles
• MFT Merry Christmas Frame
• Stiched Square Nesting Dies

Other:

• Maja Design Papers
• Cherry Blossom
• Open Roses
• Mini Rosebuds
• Crystal Glamour Dust

I've been inspired by:

• Country View Crafts - Anything Christmas

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Puppy Love

Today's Polkadoodles / Digi Choosday project is a little gift card wallet featuring Puppy Love and some wonky stripes from the Winnie White Christmas paper set.  My image is watercoloured using Ranger Distress Ink Reinkers.  The tag die is from Studio Light (Stencil L274)

I've been inspired by:

• Country View Crafts - Anything Christmas

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

It's Pinguining to look a lot like Christmas

There's nothing I love more than a cute Pingu, and this cutie fits the bill perfectly!

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

• Pingu: Pumice Stone, Hickory Smoke, Black Soot, Dried Marigold, Rusty Hinge
• Greens: Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Rustic Wilderness
• Reds: Candied Apple, Fired Brick, Aged Mahogany
• White: Weathered Wood, Speckled Egg, Black Soot

Shading enhanced with Derwent Inktense Pencils

Card Recipe:

From Dies To Die For:

• MFT It's Penguining to Look a Lot Like Christmas
• MFT Dienamics Stitched Circle Stax

Other:

• Nitwit Collections Papers
• Sweet Dixie Snowflake Die
• Cherry Blossom
• Open Roses
• Tulip Flowers
• Mini Rosebuds
• Lily Flowers
• Crystal Glamour Dust
• Glossy Accents
• Flat Backed Pearls
  

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Cold as Ice

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Panda Sleeping on Blossom

I'm sharing the 4th in my set of 'thank you' cards, this one featuring Panda Sleeping on Blossom. 

He's watercoloured using Distress Ink reinkers with a cloud stencil background and typed sentiment.

As with the previous cards, I've doodled around the edge of the patterned papers to give it a frame.

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

• Panda:  Hickory Smoke, Black Soot, Tattered Rose
• Greens: Bundled Sage, Mowed Lawn, Rustic Wilderness, Forest Moss
• Branch: Frayed Burlap, Walnut Stain
• Sky: Tumbled Glass
• Blossoms: Scattered Straw, Candied Apple, Fired Brick, Aged Mahogany

Shading enhanced with Derwent Inktense Pencils

Card Recipe:

• Panda Sleeping on Blossom from Lee Holland Digis
• Nitwit Collections Papers
• Hello Font for 'Thank You' sentiments
• Tattered Lace Doily Edge Essential Dies
• MFT Cloud Stencil
• Narrow Red Ribbon (from a mixed Christmas bundle)

Happy crafting

Annette
xx

Cute Raccoon

I've added a third card to yesterday's 'thank you' set, using another of my recent purchases from Lee Holland's Etsy site.  I've watercoloured my image as usual, using Distress Ink reinkers, and added some background with a stencil.  There are some more details on how I created the layout on yesterday's post as the cards are essentially the same, so they create a matching set.

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

• Raccoon: Tattered Rose, Hickory Smoke, Black Soot
• Grass: Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Rustic Wilderness, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• Sky: Tumbled Glass

Card Recipe:

• Cute Raccoon from Lee Holland Digis
• Nitwit Collections Papers
• Hello Font for 'Thank You' sentiments
• Tattered Lace Doily Edge Essential Dies
• Polkadoodles Distressed Trellis Stencil
• Narrow Red Ribbon (from a mixed Christmas bundle)

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Badger-tastic

There are some new images over at Lee Holland's Etsy site and I couldn't resist a couple of these cute woodland badgers for a matching pair of 'thank you' cards.

I watercoloured the images using Distress Ink reinkers, and added some background with a stencil and my blender brushes.  I added a typed sentiment using my new favourite font called 'hello' and die cut the images with a scalloped die. The die was actually a square, but I chopped away a segment to make it a rectangle, and covered the join with the ribbon!  

I used my Silhouette to create a burgundy frame for the image panel which was a couple of millimetres bigger, before matting it onto soft blue patterned paper.  Finally I doodled a stitched and solid line around the edge to finish it off.  I resisted from adding some 3D elements to ensure they wouldn't cost too much to mail because I intend to gift them to someone as a mini-notelet set.

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

• Badgers: Tattered Rose, Hickory Smoke, Black Soot
• Grass: Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Rustic Wilderness, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• Sky: Tumbled Glass

Card Recipe:

• Cute Badger and Badger with Sign both from Lee Holland Digis
• Nitwit Collections Papers
• Hello Font for 'Thank You' sentiments
• Tattered Lace Doily Edge Essential Dies
• Memory Box Flower Power Stencil
• Narrow Red Ribbon (from a mixed Christmas bundle)

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Mamma Dragon

At As You Like It Challenge this fortnight we're asking what's your favourite Christmas embelishment.  I love any excuse to add a little sparkle to my cards so for me it's a little Glamour Dust which I sprinkle on some Glossy Accents underneath my Christmas critter.  

I've used a sweet Christmas Dragon from Lee Holland for a supersized gifttag made for my Mother-in-Law.  The sentiment is made using my Silhouette and font 'hello' which I've shadow-layered twice for a bit more pop!

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

• Dragon: Milled Lavender, Wilted Violet, Villainous Potion
• Present: Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Rustic Wilderness, Squeezed Lemonade, Rusty Hinge
• Snow: Weathered Wood, Speckled Egg, Black Soot

Project Recipe:

• Dragon with Christmas Present from Lee Holland
• Glossy Accents
• Flat Backed Pearls

Papermill Direct:

• Iridescent Light Blue Glitter Card 220gsm
• Intensive Lilac Plain Card 210gsm

Other:

• Nitwit Collections Papers
• Crealies Crea-Nest-Lies XXL41 Pierced Circles
• Crealies Crea-Nest-Lies XXL Tag No. 08 (with dots)
• Stamperia Christmas Rose Stencil
• Sue Wilson Poinsettia dies
• Sentiment cut using Silhouette with fong 'Hello' with 2 offset layers

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Monday Challenge - Sparkle Mode (glittered poinsettias and glamour dust glitter)
• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Happy Holidays/Christmas

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Bundle Girl with Winter Branch

What, no patterned papers in sight?!!!  Well I thought a little shine from the pearlescent green and some sparkle of red and white glitter card is plenty of action for one card.

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

• Robin: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo
• Skin: Tattered Rose, Tea Dye, Worn Lipstick
• Green: Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• Reds: Festive Berries, Barn Door, Aged Mahogany
• Ground: Weathered Wood, Speckled Egg, Black Soot

Shading enhanced using Derwent Inktense Pencils

Card Recipe:

From Dies To Die For:

• Stamping Bella Bundle Girl with a Winter Branch
• MFT Dienamcis Stitched Square Stax

Papermill Direct:

• Mojito Cocktail Double Sided Pearl Card 290gsm
• Red Smooth Card 240gsm
• Red Glitter Card 220gsm
• Irredescent White Glitter Card

Other:

• Embossalicious Let It Snow Embossing Folder
• Sue Wilson Poinsettia Dies
• Silhouette Cutting File Lori Whitlock Snowflake Frame

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Monday Challenge - Sparkle Mode
• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Happy Holidays/Christmas

Happy crafting
Annette
xx