Pingu Gift Tags

I've used a cut file by Sweet Afton to create these pingu gift tags from plain black and white card and have added a little white acrylic paint for light speckles on the eyes and beak.

Designed for:

Papermill Direct

Card Recipe:

• Penguin Earrings Silhouette Cut file by Sweet Afton
• Orange Twine
• White acrylic

Papermill Direct:

• Smooth White Card 160gsm
• Woodstock Giallo Card 285gsm
• Black Plain Card 240gsm

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Toucan Tango

I've watercoloured this sweet toucan image by Lee Holland and framed him using an orange colour palette. 

Designed for:
Lee Holland

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

• Leaves: Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Rustic Wilderness, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• Branch: Antique Linen, Frayed Burlap, Walnut Stain
• Sky: Tumbled Glass
• Toucan: Scattered Straw, Wild Honey, Rusty Hinge, Hickory Smoke, Black Soot

Card Recipe:

• Toucan by Lee Holland
• MFT Dienamics Stitched Circle Stax
• Smooth White Card 160gsm
• Nitwit Collections Papers
• Cherry Blossom
• Open Roses
• 15mm Golden Organza ribbon
• 6mm Satin ribbon
  

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Have a fin-tastic day

At As You Like It Challenge this week, we're asking if you prefer Clean & Simple or Fussy.  I personally enjoy making both styles, although I find the clean and simple theme far more challenging because mine seem to feel 'unfinished'. I've tasked myself to make a clean and simple card that I'm happy with. This one's for a dad who's keen on fishing, so the masculine theme tends to lend itself more to clean and simple.

Designed for:
As You Like It Challenge

Lili of the Valley

Water-coloured on Ecoline Watercolour Card 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
• Rod: Frayed Burlap, Walnut Stain, Rusty Hinge
• Sky: Tumbled Glass

Card Recipe:

• James Fishing
• Smooth White Card 160gsm
• Marine Blue Card 240gsm
• Nitwit Collections Papers
• Typed Sentiment (Fonts: 'KG Beneath Your Beautiful Chunk' and 'Outside')
  

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

It's a Bug's Life

I'm not usually a fan of bugs, in fact I'd normally be running in the opposite direction if I saw one, but I will make an exception for this sweet little fella.

Designed for:
Lee Holland

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

Card Recipe:

• Caterpillar with Butterfly by Lee Holland Digis
• Smooth White Card 160gsm
• Woodstock Giallo Card 285gsm
• Nitwit Collections Papers
• Cherry Blossom
• Open Roses
• Hip Rosebuds
• Crealies Crea-Nest-Lies XXL41 Pierced Circles
• 15mm Satin ribbon

I've been inspired by:

• Country View Crafts - Flower Power (using Distress Ink reinkers from CVC)

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Badger

Today's question at As You Like It Challenge is whether you like prefer floral or cute themes in your projects. I'm definitely a fan of anything cute and I'm not overkeen on purely floral images (the singel flower held by my cute critter is the closest I'll get to floral images!). I do like floral papers though, but in the main my image will usually include some kind of critter!

Designed for:
As You Like It Challenge
Lee Holland

Papermill Direct

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

• Badger: Hickory Smoke, Black Soot, Tattered Rose, Tea Dye
• Greens: Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Rustic Wilderness, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• Sky: Tumbled Glass
• Flower: Scattered Straw, Squeezed Lemonade, Wild Honey, Rusty Hinge

Card Recipe:

• Badger holding a flower by Lee Holland
• Nitwit Collections Papers
• Smooth White Card 160gsm

I've been inspired by:

• TBA

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Woodland Emma

I've been keen to use some of these adorable woodland alphabet letters by Lee Holland, and I've created this sweet personalised card for a friend using the ornate 'E' and leaf-sprouting lowercase and a couple of extra elements (the sunflower and a couple of extra leaves).  I've watercoloured the image, blending some greens and browns for the lettering and adding some yellow and orange for the flowers.

Designed for:
Lee Holland

Papermill Direct


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

• Lettering: Frayed Burlap, Walnut Stain, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, Shabby Shutters, Mowed Lawn, Rustic Wilderness, Peeled Paint
• Flowers: Squeezed Lemonade, Mustard Seed, Dried Marigold, Wild Honey, Rusty Hinge
• Greys: Pumice Stone

Card Recipe:

Image:

• Lee Holland Woodland Alphabet with Lowercase and Elements

Papermill Direct:

• Smooth White Card 160gsm
• Apple Green Card 240gsm

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Fresh Vegetables

I've used this Flower Cart cut file to create this fun pop-up card.  I've added the watercoloured bunny and vegetables which are fussy cut and layered onto the cart.

I really enjoy making pop-up cards. They seem a little more special than the standard square fold which I normally make.

Designed for:
Dies to Die For

Papermill Direct

Water-coloured on Ecoline Watercolour Card 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
• Oranges: Dried Marigold, Fossilised Amber, Wild Honey, Rusty Hinge

Card Recipe:

From Dies To Die For:

• Colorado Craft Company Summer Garden

Papermill Direct:

• Smooth White Card 160gsm
• Mocha Brown Card 240gsm
• Black Plain Card 240gsm
• Smooth Orange Card 200gsm

Other:

• Typed Sentiment
• Silhouette Flower Cart Cut File

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Squirrel and leaf

I love these little woodland critters by Lee Holland so I've created a clean and simple notelet card where this adorable squrrel is the focus.

Designed for:
Lee Holland

Papermill Direct

Card Recipe:

Image:

• Squirrel with Leaf Umbrella by Lee Holland

Cardstock:

• Smooth White Card 160gsm
• Apple Green Card 240gsm

Other:

• Nitwit Collections Papers

Watercolouring:

• Ecoline Watercolour Card 
• Ranger Distress Ink Reinkers:
• Fur: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, Gathered Twigs, Tattered Rose, Tea Dye
• Leaf: Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Rustic Wilderness, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• Sky: Tumbled Glass
• Ground: Hickory Smoke, Black Soot, Speckled Egg
  

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Easter Bunny

This cute little bunny gift pouch has some of my favourite treats in his tummy!  I hope he's willing to share!

Designed for:

Papermill Direct

Card Recipe:

• Bunny Candy Box Silhouette Cut File
  
  

Papermill Direct:

• Smooth White Card 160gsm
• Black Plain Card 240gsm
• Pompelmo Nettuo Linen (yellow)
• Pink Pearl Card

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

James Gardening

This adorable James the Bear image is coming out at Lili of the Valley this week, and as usual I can't resist this sweet little bear.  I've watercoloured him with my Distress Inks, and added a simple typed sentiment and pretty Nitwit papers.

Designed for:

Lili of the Valley

Water-coloured on Ecoline Watercolour Card 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
• Spade: Frayed Burlap, Walnut Stain, Hickory Smoke, Black Soot
• Sky: Tumbled Glass

Card Recipe:

• James Gardening by Lili of the Valley
  
• Marine Blue Card 240gsm
• Nitwit Collections Papers
• Typed sentiment

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Pastel Rose

I've converted this Stained Glass box file into a cardbase using lots of pearl card.  It was a little fiddly with the very narrow black 'lead' but I've used a couple of layers to give it some thickness.  I cut the corners off the cardbase to make the card into the same shape as the panel.  

Designed for:

Papermill Direct

Card Recipe:

Papermill Direct:

• Smooth White Card 160gsm
• Black Plain Card 240gsm
• Lots of scraps of Pearl Card in red, green and pastels

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Cute Chickie

This Cute Chickie is from the Silhouette Store but I've added some white accents to his eyes, an extra layer to his feet and convered it into a cardbase using a mirror image to create a tent-fold.

Designed for:

Papermill Direct

Card Recipe:

Papermill Direct:

• Smooth White Card 160gsm
• Sunlight Yellow Plain Card
• Daffodil Yellow Plain Card
• Terra Rossa Materica Card
• Woodstock Arancio Card  285gsm
• Black Plain Card 240gsm

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Easer / Spring

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Little Lamb

My (current) favourite fancy fold is technically a fold-flat pop-up cardbase which is really versatile in terms of how you can decorate it.  I've used a Cute Lamb image and embossed a basket of Easter eggs for a seasonal theme, with a lovely Sprintime green for the base.  It all slots together and folds flat for easy mailing.

Designed for:
As You Like It Challenge
Lee Holland

Papermill Direct

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

• Fur: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Tattered Rose, Tea Dye

Card Recipe:

• Cute Sheep by Lee Holland
• Apple Green Card 240gsm
• Rustic Fleck Kraft Card (embossed)
• Pop Up Easter Lamb Silhouette Cut File by Lori Whitlock (adapted to swap image)
• Whimsy Thatched Embossing Folder

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Spring / Easter

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Dance to your own Beet!

Another cute critter scene using my Colorado Craft Summer Garden Stamp (and a lot of fussy cutting!)

Designed for:
Dies to Die For

Papermill Direct

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

• Fur: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, Gathered Twigs, Tattered Rose, Tea Dye
• Greens: Shabby Shutters, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• Reds: Festive Berries, Barn Door, Aged Mahogany
• Oranges: Dried Marigold, Fossilised Amber, Wild Honey, Rusty Hinge

Card Recipe:

From Dies To Die For:

• Colorado Craft - Summer Garden
• Colorado Craft - Rooting for You (Sentiment)

Papermill Direct:

• Smooth White Card 160gsm

Other:

• Crealies Crea-Nest-Lies XXL41 Pierced Circles
• Nellie Snellen Embossing Folder

Happy crafting
Annette

Veg-tastic

A simple embossed background with some fussy cut bunnies and vegetables for a clean but textured card.

Designed for:
Dies to Die For

Papermill Direct

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

• Fur: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, Gathered Twigs, Tattered Rose, Tea Dye
• Greens: Shabby Shutters, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• Purples: Milled Lavender, Dusty Concord, Villainous Potion
• Oranges: Dried Marigold, Fossilised Amber, Wild Honey, Rusty Hinge

Card Recipe:

From Dies To Die For:

• Colorado Craft - Summer Garden
• Colorado Craft - Rooting for You (Sentiment)

Papermill Direct:

• Smooth White Card 160gsm

Other:

• Crealies Crea-Nest-Lies XXL41 Pierced Circles
• Nellie Snellen Embossing Folder

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Yeti

I've converted this Yeti cut file into a tent-fold card using my Silhouette. I've mirrored the main shape and created a foldline for the cardbase, and added the elements to decorate the front.

Designed for:

Papermill Direct

Card Recipe:

Papermill Direct:

• White Card Hammered 255gsm
• Celestial Blue Plain Card 290gsm
• Smooth White Card 160gsm
• Black Plain Card 240gsm

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Beary Happy Birthday

I've masked a couple of stamps to create this Beary Happy Birthday card in Springtime colours for a cheerful card.  The organza ribbon has been accented with some cream satin ribbon to give some texture to an otherwise clean and simple layout. I've used some sparkle gel pens on the balloons, candles and cake icing.

Designed for:
Dies to Die For

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

• Fur: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, Gathered Twigs, Tattered Rose, Tea Dye
• Cake: Frayed Burlap, Walnut Stain
• Balloons: Milled Lavender, Dusty Concord, Seedless Preserves, Spun Sugar, Worn Lipstick, Picked Raspberry, Kitsch Flamingo
• Candlelight: Squeezed Lemonade, Mustard Seed

Card Recipe:

From Dies To Die For:

• MFT Beary Special Birthday
• MFT BB Cool Day (Sentiment)
• MFT Watercolour Paper Pad
• MFT Stitched Basic Edges 2
• Intensive Pink Card
• 6mm Cream Satin Ribbon
• 15mm Organza Ribbon

I've been inspired by:

• Sketch Challenge 688
• Colour Challenge 231  
  
  
  

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Easter Bunny

I've made this Cute Bunny from the Silhouette Store into an Easter cardbase by creating a mirror image and scoreline and then cuting the elements in various shades of pink.  I've raised his paws on 3D foam pads and added some white higlights to his eyes and nose.

Designed for:

Papermill Direct

Card Recipe:

Papermill Direct:

• Smooth White Card 160gsm
• Plain Pink Card
• Baby Pink Card
• Soft Berry Pink Card
• Black Plain Card 240gsm
• Pietra Sirio Card 290gsm

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Happy Mother's Day

I love the bear images from Lili of the Valley so I've used this pretty image which is ideal for a Mother's Day card.  At As You Like It Challenge this week, we want to know if you prefer monochrome or colours on your crafting creations. I do prefer to restrict myself to a small number of colours on my images, rather than a whole rainbow, and I carry those colour themes through as accents on my papers, matting layers and any embelishments.  

For this card, I've concentrated on Spring lemons with some accents in orange and green. I've added a small hint of bronze (to match the bear's fur) in the form of a narrow strip of satin ribbon on the base matt (mainly to cover where I'd joined two smaller pieces of yellow card together beneath the image panel).

To finish off my card, I've foiled the typed sentiment using my Minc machine.  It's challenging to photograph the effect of the foil, but it does show fairly well in this photo.

Designed for:
As You Like It Challenge
Lili of the Valley

Papermill Direct

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

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

Card Recipe:

• James with Heart Bouquet from Lili of the Valley
• 6mm Satin Ribbon

Papermill Direct:

• Smooth White Card 160gsm
• Woodstock Giallo Card 285gsm

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Monster Munch

I've made this cute Monster Popcorn Box with my Silhouette machine. It's ideal for small snacks and can be made in any colour. I've used some monster-green with scraps of orange, white and black for his face.

Designed for:

Papermill Direct

Card Recipe:

Papermill Direct:

• Emerald Green Plain Card
• Smooth White Card 160gsm
• Black Plain Card 240gsm
• Orange Plain Card

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Christmas already?

This fortnight at As You Like It Challenge we are asking if you prefer crafting feminine or masculine style of creations.  I very much favour the cute, fussy, floral style and I find the more traditionally masculine / minimalist cards much more of a challenge!

I'm also making a start on my Christmas cards too (yes, I know it's only February!) with this cute polar bear and some of my favourite festive papers from Nitwit Creations.

Designed for:
As You Like It Challenge

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

• Fur: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Tattered Rose, Tea Dye
• Sky: Tumbled Glass
• Purples: Milled Lavender, Dusty Concord
• Pinks: Spun Sugar, Kitsch Flamingo
• 'Whites': Weathered Wood

Card Recipe:

• Polar Bear Image by Amanda Jayne Designs
• Marine Blue Card 240gsm
• Nitwit Collections Papers
• Cherry Blossom
• Open Roses
• Hip Rosebuds
• Crystal Glamour Dust
• Crealies Crea-Nest-Lies XXL41 Pierced Circles

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

I'm Yours. No Refunds.

Happy Valentines Day!!!

I've created this fun pop-up card using a Silhouette cut file which I've edited to include a custom sentiment made into a banner. Most of the hearts are embossed for some texture and it folds flat (not that I'm mailing it!). 

Designed for:

Papermill Direct

Card Recipe:

Papermill Direct:

• Various Red and Pink card (at least 5 or 6 different shades)

Other:

• Silhouette Cut File Grid Pop Up Heart (replaced the cat with a banner)
• Various Embossing Folders
  

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Summer Garden

This week at As You Like It Challenge we want to know if you prefer using digi or physcial stamps. I confess that I do love the benefits of a digital stamp, including storage, re-sizing, masking and merging and the confidence that there's a reduced chance of wasting watercolour card on a mis-print, but I also still love my physical stamps. There's something special about peeling back the rubber and seeing a perfectly inked image on the card!  I must admit this image was a particular challenge in that respect, and I had several increasingly frustating attempts before I got a fully stamped image becuase it's such a big stamp. But I ended up fussy cutting some of the misprints and using them on some other cards which I'll share later in the month.

Designed for:
As You Like It Challenge
Dies to Die For

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

Card Recipe:

From Dies To Die For:

• Colorado Craft Company Summer Garden
• Typed Sentiment (fonts: KG Beneath Your Beautiful Chunk & Outside)

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Tilda with Foxy

I don't often use my Tilda images and I happen to know the recipient of this card likes them, so it's given me a good excuse to brush the dust from one and get inky with it. I also know she is rather fond of foxes, so this image was ideal on both counts.

The theme at As You Like It Challenge this week is pearls or gems, and I am definitely a fan of the more subtle sheen of a pearl than the bling impact of a gem.  I have pearl embelishments in almost every colour, and my gem stash barely gets used, so it's not difficult to see where my preferences lie!  I've also added some speckles of liquid pearls around the image for some texture.

Designed for:
As You Like It Challenge

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

• Fox/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
• Outfit: Stormy Sky, Faded Jeans, Chipped Sapphire, Weathered Wood, Speckled Egg

Card Recipe:

• Magnolia Tilda with Foxy
• Smooth White Card 160gsm
• Marine Blue Card 240gsm
• Nitwit Collections Papers Petal Fresh
• Cherry Blossom
• Cosmos Daisy
• Open Roses
• Hip Rosebuds

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Mouse Birthday

My first card of 2024 is a cute birthday card that I've made for a Dutch friend.  I've been drooling over these German stamps from The Stamp Corner for months, and I finally caved in just before Christmas and ordered 4 sets. This little meecie is one of the cuties that tempted me.  I've created a personalised card using my Silhouette to make the card more special.

I've used some of my favourite brand of papers on this card.  I've loved Nitwit Collections papers for years and they're my largest collection by a long way!  I used to love the printed paper pads but now they're only available as digis.

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

• Fur: Hickory Smoke, Black Soot, Tattered Rose, Tea Dye
• Shirt: Uncharted Mariner
• Toy: Dusty Concord, Villainous Potion, Seedless Preserves, Squeezed Lemonade, Wild Honey, Rusty Hinge, Candied Apple, Aged Mahogany
• Ground: Black Soot, Speckled Egg, Weathered Wood

Card Recipe:

• Stamp Corner Online Luis, Mümmel & Pippa
• Smooth White Card 160gsm
• Violet Plain Card 290gsm
• Nitwit Collections Papers
• Crealies Crea-Nest-Lies XXL41 Pierced Circles

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Cute Critters

Happy crafting
Annette
xx