Squirrel with Flower

I really love Lee Holland's woodland creatures like this Squirrel sheltering with his little chum under a flower.

As usual, I've watercoloured the image, and then I've embossed some chocolate brown card from Papermill Direct to top 'n' tail my large gift tag.  

The die cut flower is also embossed and I've added some golden yellow accents to highlight the flower within the image.

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, Rustic Wilderness, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• Sky: Tumbled Glass
• Flower: Scattered Straw, Squeezed Lemonade, Mustard Seed, Wild Honey, Rusty Hinge

Card Recipe:

• Squirrel with Snail by Lee Holland
• Mocha Brown Card from Papermill Direct
• Sunlight Yellow Card from Papermill Direct
• Satin Ribbon
• Pink Fresh Studio Classic Edger Dies
• Crealies Crea-Nest-Lies XXL Tag No.12 (with stitching)
• Creative Expression Sue Wilson Camellia Open & Closed petals
• Embossalicious Floral Frenzy Embossing Folder

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

A Waddle of Penguins

Did you know that a group of penguins is called a Waddle or a Huddle?  

I love that! 

Either would be appropriate for today's card which features another sneek peak of the soon-to-be-released polymer stamp sets from Lili of the Valley.  

I've masked together some penguins and presents to create a little scene, and I've also used one of the new sentiments too. 

The cardbase was cut using my Silhouette and I've added some sparkly Glamour dust (it would be a shame not to for Christmas!)

Water-coloured on Ecoline Watercolour Card with Ranger Distress Ink Reinkers:

• Penguins: Hickory Smoke, Black Soot, Tattered Rose, Wild Honey, Rusty Hinge
• Sky: Tumbled Glass
• Presents: Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Scattered Straw, Mustard Seed, Candied Apple, Aged Mahogany
• Snow: Black Soot, Speckled Egg

Card Recipe:

Lili of the Valley

• Penguin Polymer Stamp Set
• Presents Polymer Stamp Set
• Sentiments Polymer Stamp Set

Papermill Direct:

• Smooth White Card
• Ruby Red Plain Card

Other:

• Rectangle Scalloped by Loni Harris Silhouette Cut File

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Decorating the Tree

There are some new clear polymer stamp sets coming out next week from Lili of the Valley.  They will be launched on Create and Craft at 12 Noon on Tuesday 2nd August. You can watch in the UK on Sky 683, Freeview 85 or watch online anywhere at https://createandcraft.com/  (or watch it later online if you miss it!). The stamps will also be launched on the LOTV website a week later as polymer stamps only and they are ADORABLE. I've used the Polar Bear set to create this cute card which I've watercoloured and simply matted onto some red patterened paper.  I've framed the image and the patterned paper with red card, and used the same to die cut the sentiment.

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

• Fur: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Tattered Rose, Tea Dye
• Penguin: Hickory Smoke, Black Soot, Wild Honey, Rusty Hinge
• Tree: Bundled Sage, Mowed Lawn, Rustic Wilderness, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• Sky: Tumbled Glass
• Reds: Candied Apple, Fired Brick, Aged Mahogany
• Snow: Speckled Egg

Card Recipe:

• #004 Polar Bears Polymer from Lili of the Valley
• Honey Bee Christmas die
• Nitwit Collections Papers
• Glossy Accents
• Glamour Dust

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Reindeer Hugs

A sweet image from Stamping Bella which I've watercoloured with Ranger Distress Inks.

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

• Reindeer: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, Gathered Twigs 
• Skin: Tattered Rose, Tea Dye, Worn Lipstick
• Blues: Stormy Sky, Prize Ribbon
• Reds: Candied Apple, Fired Brick, Aged Mahogany
• Ground: Black Soot, Speckled Egg

Card Recipe:

From Dies To Die For:

• Bundle Girl with Reindeer from Stamping Bella
• Pretty Pink Posh Eyelet Borders

Papermill Direct:

• Red Glitter Card

Other:

• 15mm Satin Ribbon
• Nitwit Collections Papers
• Sue Wilson Filigree Poinsettia die
• Enamel dot

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Snow Bunnies

I'm continuting my mission to stock up for Christmas with these cute Snow Bunnies from Lili of the Valley.  I've flipped the image before printing and added a typed sentiment.

Card Recipe:

• Snow Bunnies from Lili of the Valley
• Crealies Crea-Nest-Lies XXL24 Rectangles with Stichline
• Tattered Lace Garden of Joy Ornate Square nesting dies
  
• Red card from Papermill Direct
• Smooth White card from Papermill Direct

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Chloe Pop Up Card

I made this fun Pop-Up card using Chloe and some patterned papers from Amanda Jayne Designs.  It folds flat for posting, but then pops up into a 3D square with lots of decorated flaps.  I added some die cut grass inside so that Chloe has something to sit on, and some cloud elements which I've fussy cut and popped on with 3D foam pads.   I used my Silhouette machine to fussy cut my watercoloured image, so the cutting turned out much neater than I could have done by hand.

Designed for:
Amanda Jayne Designs

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

• Chloe: Hickory Smoke, Black Soot, Tattered Rose, Tea Dye
• Green: Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn
• Blue: Salvaged Patina, Uncharted Mariner
• Reds: Abandoned Coral, Fired Brick, Aged Mahogany

Card Recipe:

• Chloe Bundle from Amanda Jayne Designs (image, papers, clouds, sentiment)
• Tattered Lace Ornate Square Card Shapes (used to die cut the sentiment frame)
• Whiff of Joy Grass die
• Creative Expression Sue Wilson Camellia Open & Closed petals
• Tuxedo Box Card cutting file by Lori Whitlock
  

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Birthday Tweetings

A simple clean and simple card using Bird on Branch by Lee Holland Digis, which as usual, has been watercoloured uisng Distress Ink Reinkers.  The lovely Janine sent me some Ecoline watercolour paper to try, and it actually blends far better than most watercolour papers I've tried, but it was a lot thinner than I'm used to and I found it rippled quite a lot and there was some pilling of the paper fibres.  I'm going to try the Ecoline card which is the thicker version as a possible alternative to Langton which is the only watercolour paper so far that I've found I can use. Fingers crossed. 

Water-coloured on Ecoline paper with Ranger Distress Ink Reinkers:

• Robin: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, Gathered Twigs, Tattered Rose
• Greens: Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Rustic Wilderness, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• Branch: Antique Linen, Frayed Burlap, Walnut Stain
• Flowers: Scattered Straw, Squeezed Lemonade, Mustard Seed, Wild Honey, Rusty Hinge
  

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Squirrel !!!

At As You Like It Challenge today we are talking critters, and we want to know if you prefer fur, feathers or scales.  Although I did enjoy the chickens we had, and I like watching the garden birds, I'm generally not fond of things that flutter around me, and since I'm scared of most things with scales there's really no surprise that my choice is fur!

I've chosen this adorable Squirrel with Ladybird from Lee Holland which I've kept very simple with a few layers of matting, a stitched square die for the panel, and a birthday die cut.

I really liked the simplicity of this cute card once I'd finished it, and I debated keeping it, but it was actually made for my bestie's birthday, so I decided I would let him go, and since he's now been sent and opened, he's safe to share here.

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

• Fur: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, Tattered Rose, Tea Dye
• Grass: Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Rustic Wilderness, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• Sky: Tumbled Glass
• Flower: Squeezed Lemonade, Mustard Seed, Wild Honey, Rusty Hinge

Card Recipe:

• Squirrel with Ladybird from Lee Holland
• Crealies Double Stitched Square Nesting dies
• Whimsy Birthday word and shadow
  

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Christmas Holly Layers

This might look like a quick design, but it actually took quite a while to prick out all those fiddly bits from the die!  Most around the edge came out easily, but the ones nearer the middle needed a bit of encouragement.  

I've layered the die cut darker turquoise pearlescent card over some iridescent light blue glitter card which I've layered onto a white base card.  I've added a die cut snowflake and Christmas sentiment in the same card combo.

Card Recipe:

Papermill Direct:

• Turquoise Pearlescent Card
• Iridescent Light Blue Glitter card

Other:

• Honey Bee Christmas die from Dies to Die For
• Die'sire Holly Square die

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Christmas Snowflakes

Still in Christmas mode, I've made this simple navy and white card to share with you today.  The navy snowflake border is cut using a Whimsy Elegant Snowflake border and I've used three of the mini cut out circles to frame my sparkly white gems.  The Chrismtas sentiment is a Honey Bee die layered in the same colour theme.  I've embossed the base card with a Whimsy Holly embossing folder for added texture.

Card Recipe:

From Dies to Die For:

• Whimsy Elegant Snowflake Die
• Whimsy Holly Slimline Embossing Folder
• Honey Bee Christmas die

From Papermill Direct:

• Navy Plain Card 240gsm
• Smooth White 160gsm

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Reindeer with a Present on Top

Every time I get my embossing folders out I remember how much I love the effect and decorative texture they create, and I've been playing with a new Holly design that I bought recently.  I've cut the cardbase design with my Silhouette machine and layered the smooth white embossed card onto my favourite Marine Blue card and then onto another white layer to frame the scalloped shape.

I've decorated the card with a watercoloured Reindeer which I've cut out using the matching die, and a layered sentiment. 

Although it's not a perfect match to the card, I've used my new Uncharted Mariner distress ink which is the newly released colour and I'm totally in love with it.  It's more teal than blue, just as Tim Holtz was saying on his live release video, but I think it still works with the blue card.  I think I shall be using this colour a lot!

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

• Fur: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, Gathered Twigs, Tattered Rose, Tea Dye
• Antlers/Hooves: Frayed Burlap, Walnut Stain
• Blues: Uncharted Mariner, Tumbled Glass

Card Recipe:

From Dies To Die For:

• Stamping Bella Reindeer with a Present on Top Stamp
• Stamping Bella Reindeer with a Present on Top Cut It Out Dies
• Honey Bee Cuts Christmas
• Whimsy Stamps Holly Slimline Embossing Folder

Papermill Direct:

• Smooth White Card
• Marine Blue Plain Card

Other:

• Rectangle Scalloped by Loni Harris Silhouette Cut File 

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Have a Lovely Day

This adorable cow character from Lili of the Valley really makes me smile. I've watercoloured her and used some blending brushes to ink a background with my Polkadoodles distressed trellis background. The card is quite simple, with a frame of coloured paper and some corner dies which I've cut 4 times and placed around each corner to create some detail.

Water-coloured on Langton Watercolour paper with Derwent Inktense Pencils

Card Recipe:

• Spring Farmyard Cows by Lili of the Valley
• Sentiment from Happy Birthday Pots digi stamp set
• Distress Trellis Stencil from Polkadoodles
• Hunkydory Moonshine Fabulous Flower Dies
  
• Die-Namites Butterfly Corner
• Crealies Double Stitched Rectangle Nesting Dies

Papermill Direct:

• Dark Green Plain Card

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

James Christmas

At As You Like It Challenge we want to know if you prefer warm or cool colours, and although I am currently on a Christmas Card mission, even when making wintry cards I seem to have a tendency toward warm pinks, being my favourite colour!  I do like frosty blues but definitely prefer warmth as I seem to always feel the cold. Even in summer I'm wearing something warm and woolly when hubby is walking around in shorts and t-shirts!

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

• Fur: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, Gathered Twigs, Tattered Rose
• Reds: Candied Apple, Fired Brick, Aged Mahogany
• 'Whites': Hickory Smoke

Card Recipe:

• James in the Snow by Lili of the Valley
• Tattered Lace Garden of Joy Ornate Square Card Shapes dies
• Ruby Red Plain Card from Papermill Direct
• Crealies Crea-Nest-Lies XXL24 Rectangles with Stichline
• 3mm flat backed pearls
• Typed Sentiment
  

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Embossed Reindeer

I've not really got into slimline cards until recently (I know they've been popular for a while but I'm never one to follow trends!) but this week I've been using my new Whimsy Holly embossing folder to create a slimline card with two little watercoloured reindeer and some bright red accents.

The 3 layered cardbase has been cut using my Silhouette machine and then embossed after it was cut.  I've added a die cut sentiment in the same coloured 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
• Antlers/Hooves: Frayed Burlap, Walnut Stain
• Reds: Candied Apple, Fired Brick, Aged Mahogany

Card Recipe:

From Dies To Die For:

• Stamping Bella Reindeer Family Stamps
• Stamping Bella Reindeer Family Cut It Out Dies
• Honey Bee Cuts Christmas
• Whimsy Stamps Holly Slimline Embossing Folder

Papermill Direct:

• Smooth White Card
• Ruby Red Plain Card

Other:

• Rectangle Scalloped by Loni Harris Silhouette Cut File
  

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Puppy Christmas

I shared my Teddy Santa last week, and today it's the turn of Puppy Santa!!!

I've watercoloured the cute image from Lee Holland and framed him with a pop of red snowflake on a shaped white cardbase with a small sprinkling of glitter (it's allowed on Christmas cards!)

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: Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Rustic Wilderness, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• Sky: Tumbled Glass
• Reds: Candied Apple, Fired Brick, Aged Mahogany
• 'Whites': Hickory Smoke

Card Recipe:

• Puppy Christmas from Lee Holland
• The Paper Boutique Christmas Doily Die
• Glossy Accents
• Glamour Dust

Papermill Direct:

• Plain Red Card
• Iridescent White Glitter Card
  

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Birthday Baggie

No card today, but a cute little gift bag that I've made using my Silhouette.  I've cut the main bag in a lovely thick navy blue card which has given it a lot of strength (especially the thin handle), and then decorated it with some pretty papers from Amanda Jayne Designs.

Card Recipe:

• It's a Boy Paper pad set from Amanda Jayne Designs
• Navy Blue Plain card from Papermill Direct
• Simple Purse by Lori Whitlock
• Gummiapan Happy Birthday Die
• Creative Expression Sue Wilson Camellia Open & Closed petals
• Hobbycraft Enamel Dot

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes

Happy crafting
Annette
xx