Recycle, recycle, recycle

Today is all about recycling on As You Like It Challenge.  I do try to recycle things as much as I can so on this card there are a few things that I've reclaimed and re-used.

Firstly, I reused some watercolour card that had another image on the reverse.

Secondly, I have to encourage my printer to pull the thick watercolour paper through, by firstly printing my image on the bottom half of some plain white copy paper, covering it with my thick card, and running it through again. Rather than throw the copy-paper away, I fussy-cut its image out to use as a stenciling mask.  

I then line up the paper mask on top of my watercolour card, and place my stencil over the top so that I can ink a background.

Even the plant pot cardbase was left over from another project.

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

• Skin: Tattered Rose, Tea Dye
• Greens: Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Rustic Wilderness, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• Plant Pot: Tea Dye, Vintage Photo 
• Sky: Tumbled Glass
• Flowers: Scattered Straw, Squeezed Lemonade, Mustard Seed, Wild Honey, Rusty Hinge
• Pinks: Spun Sugar, Picked Raspberry, Kitsch Flamingo
• Greys: Weathered Wood, Speckled Egg, Black Soot, Pumice Stone, Hickory Smoke

Shading enhanced with Derwent Inktense Pencils

Card Recipe:

• Spring Plants Gnome from Polkadoodles
• Memory Box Flower Stencil
• Nitwit Collections Papers
• Crealies Crea-Nest-Lies XXL41 Pierced Circles
• Gummiapan Tag die
• Elizabeth Craft Crystal Flower Overlay 2

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Monday Challenge - Recycle
• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Colorado Mice

I've made a set of sweet cards using a stamp set from Colorado Craft called Tea Time Fun. I've stamped and watercoloured the image, and then matted it onto alternating layers of nude pink, white and fuschia pink coloured card.

The sentiment is die cut, but I've used my Silhouette cutting machine to create a double shadow using the same card colours around the text.

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

• Fur: Pumice Stone, Hickory Smoke, Black Soot, Tattered Rose
• Browns: Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo
• Pinks: Spun Sugar, Kitsch Flamingo
• Ground: Speckled Egg, Old Paper

Card Recipe:

From Dies To Die For:

• Tea Time Fun by Colorado Craft
• Mama Elephant Friend Script Die
• Mama Elephant Thanks Script Die
• MFT Dienamics Stitched Rectangles Stax

Papermill Direct:

• Polka Dots Card 250gsm
• White Hammered Card 255gsm
• Nude Sirio Card 290gsm
• Woodstock Malva 285gsm

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Thank You Kitten

I love this adorable kitty from Lee Holland.  I've given him full focus and framed him on a simple card with a stencilled background and die cut sentiment.  I've die cut the image with a double stitched square die for some texture and colour-coordinated everything in tones of purples and blues.

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, Rustic Wilderness, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• Background: Weathered Wood
• Flowers: Milled Lavender, Dusty Concord, Wilted Violet, Villainous Potion, Victorian Velvet, Seedless Preserves
• Wrapper: Speckled Egg

Shading enhanced with Derwent Inktense Pencils

Card Recipe:

From Dies To Die For:

• Kitten Flowers by Lee Holland
• Tayloered Expression Brick by Brick stencil
• Mama Elephant Thanks Script Die
• Double Stitched Nesting Dies
  
• Gumdrop Enamel Dots

Papermill Direct:

• Ivory Hemp Card 255gsm
• Dark Violet Plain Card 240gsm
• Marine Blue Plain 240gsm

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Easter Egg - Bunny

For today's Polkadoodles Digi Choosday project I've used the Sweet as Candy image for an Easter themed card.  I've watercoloured the image using Ranger Distress Ink Reinkers and used Heavenly Circles stencil to create a background for my little bunny.  The papers are from Let's Hang Out paper bundle and I've created an Easter Egg shaped cardbase using my Silhouette cutting machine.

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, Rustic Wilderness, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• Sky: Tumbled Glass
• Outfit: Scattered Straw, Wild Honey, Rusty Hinge
• Pinks: Spun Sugar, Kitsch Flamingo
• 'Whites': Hickory Smoke

Card Recipe:

• Pompelmo Nettuno Linen Effect Card
• 6mm Gold Satin Ribbon
• Crealies Crea-Nest-Lies XXL65 Double Stitched Circles
• Creative Expression Sue Wilson Camillia Flowers (open and closed) petals
• White Enamel Dots

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Monday Challenge - Bright & Cheerful

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Chick-a-licious

No watercolouring today, but instead there's a trio of cute Easter chickies!  I've used some bright yellow card and my Silhouette to make these pouches which I've filled with mini chocolate treats for Easter.

They were really easy to cut and create, and I've added some eyelashes to give them more character.  I love how their tails pop up and I've used a 3D foam pad to lift them up so they don't squash flat!

Card Recipe:

Papermill Direct:

• Daffodil Plain Card
• Mandarin Orange Plain Card
• Black Plain Card

Other:

• Silhouette Cutting File by Amy Robison
  

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Daphne the Donkey

There's a Donkey Derby on my blog this week because my favourite aminals are now making an appearance two days in a row!  Today's guest is Daphne the Donkey, one of the new images from Amanda Jayne Designs.  

I've printed her out in pale grey a "no-lines" colouring effect and watercoloured my image with Distress Ink reinkers.  I've die cut her with a stitched oval die and layered her onto purple cardstock surrounded by flowers and ribbon.  The papers are also from Amanda Jayne Designs and I've used two sheets from the Lilac and Teal collection with a strip of Cadbury Purple coloured ribbon to cover the join.

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

• Daphne the Donkey: Tattered Rose, Milled Lavender, Villainous Potion
• Grass: Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Rustic Wilderness, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• Flower: Scattered Straw, Squeezed Lemonade, Mustard Seed, Wild Honey

Card Recipe:

• Daphne the Donkey from Amanda Jayne Designs
• Lilac and Teal Papers from Amanda Jayne Designs
• MFT Dienamics Stitched Oval Stax
• 6mm Satin Ribbon
• 15mm Satin Ribbon
• Cherry Blossom
• Open Roses
• Hip Rosebuds
• Mini Rosebuds
• 40mm Spiders Web ribbon White
• Flat backed pearls

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Favourite Things

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Triple Donkey Easter Card

Despite not being traditional Easter critters, one of my favourite animals is featured on today's Easter Blessings slimline card.  

I love visiting the donkeys at our local donkey sanctuary in Sidmouth and would love to foster a rescue donkey (or three) if I had the land.  So why not have them featured on an Easter card!

I've created a shaped cardbase using my Silhouette machine with a shadow outline to frame the yellow scallops.  The trio of donks have been fussy cut and layered onto a die cut cloudy backdrop with some gingham papers.  The sentiment is from an MFT Stacey Yacula Easter Bunny stamp set.

Just like Eeyore in Winnie the Pooh, one of my donks nearly lost his tail when I was fussy cutting!!!

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

• Donkeys: Pumice Stone, Hickory Smoke, Black Soot, Tattered Rose, Tea Dye

Card Recipe:

From Dies To Die For:

• Stamping Bella Donkey Trio
• Lawn Fawn Puffy Cloud Border Dies
• MFT Stacey Yacula Easter Bunnies (sentiment only)

Papermill Direct:

• Pompelmo Nettuno Linen Effect Card 280gsm
• Rich Cream Hammered Card 255gsm

Other:

• Nitwit Collections Papers
• Rectangle Scalloped Silhouette Cutting file

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Favourite Things (Donkeys!!!)

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Sweet Pea

Continuing on my mission to use some of my older images, I've created a simple layout featuring Sweet Pea Garden Girlie from Stamping Bella.  

She's framed with multiple layers of yellow and orange card, with some die cut flowers and a layered birthday sentiment added in bright Spring colours.  The wired ribbon and resin gems give some texture (and increase the postage costs ... D'oh!!!).

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: Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Rustic Wilderness, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• Dress: Scattered Straw, Mustard Seed, Dried Marigold, Rusty Hinge

Shading enhanced with Derwent Inktense Pencils

Card Recipe:

From Dies To Die For:

• Tiny Townie Garden Girl Sweet Pea by Stamping Bella
• Tiny Townie Garden Girl Sweet Pea by Stamping Bella matching Die
• Stitched Square Nesting dies
• MFT Dienamics Stitched Oval Stax
• Whimsy Birthday Word and Shadow Die Set

Papermill Direct:

• Pompelmo Nettuno Linen Effect Card 280gsm
• Intensive Orange Plain Card 210gsm
• Ivory Hemp Card 255gsm

Other:

• Nitwit Collections Papers
• Sue Wilson Camellia Open and Closed Petal flower dies

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Monday Challenge - Feminine

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Millie Mouse Topper Card #2

I've made another simple card using a pre-coloured topper from Amanda Jayne Designs. 

I've die cut and layered the printed image onto alternate lime green and white card to create a frame of added interest.

Card Recipe:

• Millie Mouse Topper from Amanda Jayne Designs
• Woodstock Pistacchio Green Card from Papermill Direct
• Tattered Lace Doily Edge Essential Square Dies
  

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Bunny Tag

This adorable little bunny is a new image from Amanda Jayne Designs and I've used her to make a sweet Springtime gift tag.  I've printed the image in pale grey for a no-lines effect, and watercoloured it using my DI reinkers.  

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

• Fur: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo
• Grass: Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Rustic Wilderness, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• Pinks: Spun Sugar, Kitsch Flamingo, Picked Raspberry

Shading enhanced with Derwent Inktense Pencils

Card Recipe:

• Balle Bunny Holding Magnolia from Amanda Jayne Designs
• Sweet Dixie Decorative Tags Set
• 6mm Satin Ribbon

Papermill Direct:

• Pompelmo Nettuni Linen Effect Card
• Raspberry Pink Plain Card

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

You Are Amazing

I loved colouring this Daisy Squidgy image again in these Springtime colours. I just need the warmer weather now to go with it! 

It wasn't until I'd finished colouring my image and composing all the card layers that I decided I wanted to add a die-cut sentiment, and I wanted a 'You Are' portion to go with the 'Amazing' text. After hunting through my images, I found this 'You Are' from a recent MFT Sweetest Safari set, and I set about masking it in order to extract the two words I wanted. 

This is what I ended up with, before adding the die cut 'Amazing', which I cut and layered 3 times in the lime green card:

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
• Grass: Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Rustic Wilderness, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• Oranges: Dried Marigold, Wild Honey, Rusty Hinge

Shading enhanced with Derwent Inktense Pencils

Card Recipe:

From Dies To Die For:

• Daisy Squidgy by Stamping Bella
• Sweetest Safari Set 2 by MFT (part only)
• Double Stitch Nesting Die
• Avery Elle Amazing text die

Papermill Direct:

• Woodstock Pistacchio Green Card 285gsm
• Intensive Orange Plain Card 210gsm
• Ivory Hemp Card 255gsm

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Monday Challenge - Add some green
• Crafty Catz - Anything Goes
• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - A Bit of Green

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Be My Valentine Bunny

For my Polkadoodles Digi Choosday card today I've used the adorably cute Love You This Much bunny image to create a cute card in Springtime colours. 

The sentiment is cut using my Silhouette machine and a fancy font, and the pretty papers are from Winnie Fruit Punch Paper Heaven set. The image has been watercoloured using Distress Ink Reinkers and the background blended with some DI inkpads and Heavenly Circles Stencil.

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, Rustic Wilderness, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• Sky: Scattered Straw
• Yellows: Scattered Straw, Squeezed Lemonade, Mustard Seed

Shading enhanced with Derwent Inktense Pencils

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Add a Die Cut
• Crafty Catz - Anything Goes

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Millie Mouse Topper Card

In a break from my usual tradition of watercolouring my images, today I'm sharing a card made using a beautiful new pre-coloured topper available from Amanda Jayne Designs featuring the adorable little mouse, called Millie Mouse.  

Most of my cards take several hours to watercolour, but this one was much quicker using the topper.  It couldn't have been easier to make, and the hardest part was sticking the delicate frame onto the card without getting glue on my fingers!  

This sweet mouse is very seasonal, with her Spring bulbs, so would be perfect for an Easter or even a cheery 'get well' theme.  

Card Recipe:

• Millie Mouse Mother's Day by Amanda Jayne Designs
• Woodstock Pistacchio Card from Papermill Direct
• Tonic Studio Deco Frame Nesting die set

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Add a Die Cut

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

In the Dog House

We're asking if you prefer interactive cards or not at As You Like It Challenge this fortnight, and I've been racking my brain to consider what kind of interactive card I would prefer. I thought about the fancy fold cardbases that I've loved making in the past, including some with removable tags, but in the end I decided that my difficulty in finding something that I'd love to make must really mean that I actually prefer straightforward cards!  So I've opted for the complete opposite of interactive in an almost flat and fuss-free card instead!  

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

• Fur: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, Gathered Twigs 
• Greens: Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Rustic Wilderness, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• Kennel: Antique Linen, Frayed Burlap, Walnut Stain
• Sky: Tumbled Glass
• Reds: Festive Berries, Barn Door, Aged Mahogany
• Greys: Pumice Stone, Hickory Smoke, Black Soot, Speckled Egg

Card Recipe:

• Lola Dog with Pompom Hat
• Fido's Dog House
• MFT Dienamics Stitched Rounded Rectangle Stax
• Nitwit Collections Papers
• Polkadoodles Distressed Trellis Stencil

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Monday Challenge - Use at least 1 Stencil

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

My Greatest Joy

I've watercoloured the adorable Happy Day bunny image from Colorado Craft Company.  The image has been die cut using a stitched rectangle die before being matted onto multiple layers of red and cream to frame it.

The wide layer of red has been embossed, but my embossing folder wasn't wide enough to cover the whole width of 7" card, so I've only embossed part of the card, then scored a line down to 'edge' the embossed area rather than try to line it up and emboss the remaining strip.

I fussy cut the image and used a blending brush to create a bit of blue sky behind the bunnies.

The sentiment is from the same stamp set.

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, Rustic Wilderness, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• Sky: Tumbled Glass

Card Recipe:

From Dies To Die For:

• Colorado Craft Company Happy Day!
• Rectangle Stitched Nesting Die Stax

Papermill Direct:

• Post Box Red Card
• Ivory Hammered Card

Other:

• Embossalicious Floral Frenzy Embossing Folder
  

Happy crafting
Annette
xx