Feeling Festive

This project is to support the challenge at Without Words Challenge where we are "Feeling Festive". Unfortunately this is the last Without Words challenge, and although I've only been on the team for a little over a year, I'm sad it's closing as it's really made me focus on my colouring as well as challenging me to do more CAS designs.

But as they say, all good things must come to an end, and we're going out in style with a fabulously festive themed challenge for December. Thank you to Squirrel for putting up with me on her hugely talented design team, and managing the Word Birds so patiently.

Card Recipe:

• Image - Wild Rose Studio Owls on Branch
• Typed Sentiment (Wendy Medium font)
• Colouring - Distress Ink Reinkers
• Lili of the Valley Country Lady paper pad
• Stazon Ink Pad
• The Langton Watercolour paper
• Ribbon

I've been inspired by:

• Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes
• Cute Card Thursday - Festive Colours

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Mug of Tea

Today's card is one I made for a colleague at work who had a birthday recently. I used one of my favourite Odd Dog pups and tried to use the no-lines technique. Because it was for a guy, I tried to keep it masculine with the layout and colours. I also personalised the sentiment for him.

This project is to support the challenge at Without Words Challenge where the theme is Winter Birthday. I thought this Mug of Tea image would be perfect for a cold day!

Card Recipe:

• Image - Odd Dog Mug Of Tea from Lili of the Valley
• Typed Sentiment
• Colouring - Distress Ink Reinkers
• Maja Designs Papers
• Stazon Dove Grey Ink Pad
• The Langton Watercolour paper
• Die-Namics Stitched Speech Bubble Edges

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes
• Sweet Stampin' Challenge - Dies

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

I'm Pretty Awesome!

The new challenge at Without Words Challenge this month is purple and green (but no Halloween), and although I love purple, I'm not much of a fan of green (cabbage, bugs, stinging nettles, frogs, bogies, that kind of thing).  This colour duo was therefore a bit of a challenge for me.

I've used one of my new Stamping Bella images called Amanda is Awesome, and used the sentiment that comes with her.  Apart from the skin and hair colours, I've managed to only use the required colours.

I've used my Copics which I've not used in a while, and even created a gradient frame background blending the two colours together from dark to light on plain white card before layering the image panel on top.  It didn't work out too bad!

Card Recipe:

• Image & Sentiment - Stamping Bella Tiny Townies Amanda is Awesome
• Colouring - Alcohol Markers
• Momento Stamp Pad Ink 
• Cheery Lynn Designs LG Square Stitched Die

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes
• That's Crafty - Girls will be Girls
• Bunny Zoe - Tweens & Teens
• Simon's Monday Challenge - Ombre

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Pow! ... Bam! ... Kapow!

I find masculine cards really tough, but that wasn't the only reason that this card was difficult for me.

I bought this image thinking he'd be fun, and he is, but boy-oh-boy I found him difficult to colour.

My first mistake was to try to paint him with my re-inkers, but as usual I struggled with the hair and clothing (mainly the cape) but also the colours.  I only used blue and red, and all the areas sort of merged into each other.

So that went in the bin and I tried again, this time thinking I'd use my markers which I find easier on clothing and folds etc. But in a moment of optimistic madness I decided it would be a good idea to try the no-lines technique!

Why?????

And then to top it off, I decided to fussy-cut him for the layout I wanted!

Yup, if I can make things more complicated, then it seems that I will.

And did!

Anyway, after all the trials I'm quite pleased with the end result.

I cased the layout from here 'cos I thought it looked fab and I can't take the credit.  The sun rays were chalked on using a strip of scrap card as a mask/template.

This project is to support the challenge at Without Words Challenge where the theme is 'for the boys', a theme which has been freaking me out since I saw it on the list.  I hope you find the masculine theme easier than I do!

Card Recipe:

• Image - Super Hero Harry from CC Designs
• Typed Sentiment (Wendy Medium font)
• Colouring - Alcohol Markers
• Sun Beams - Pebbles chalks from SSS
• Momento Stamp Pad Ink

I've been inspired by:

• Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes
• Simon's Monday Challenge - Make it Colourful (primary colours red, blue, yellow)

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Life would be boring without you

Today's project is to support the new challenge at Without Words Challenge where the theme is Harvest (fruit or veg).

I've used Cherry from Scrapberry's and also used a berry paper from my Coffee in the Arbour pad.

The sentiment was from a set by The Greetings Farm, and was bought with a special someone in mind.  This is the first time I've used it, but it's oh-so appropriate for her!  I just hope she knows it cos she regularly has me in stitches. :0)

Card Recipe:

• Image - Cherry from Scrapberry's
• Sentiment - "Because of You" sentiment set from The Greetings Farm
• Colouring - Distress Ink Reinkers
• Maja Design Coffee in the Arbour Paper pad
• Stazon Ink Pad
• The Langton Watercolour paper
• Magnolia Doohickey Lacey Border die
• Flat Backed Pearls
• Glossy Accents

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Where are my [*insert expletive here*] keys?

In the past hubby has had an occasional habit of leaving his house keys on the outside of the front door after unlocking it to come inside. Sometimes our neighbours would see them and post them back through the letterbox for us.  It really scared me when we didn't notice they were hanging on the outside of the front door all night, glinting in the street-lights shouting "hello burglars, please visit us, we've made it REALLY easy for you" until we found them there the next morning.

So, I bought hubby a retracting cord which clipped his keyring to his trouser belt loops.  If he then left the key in the door and attempted to walk away he'd find himself attached to the door with the spring cord and his trousers would get a reminder tug.

Unfortunately the said he cord was bulky when the keys were in his pocket, so it got ditched. 

More recently his habit changed to bringing the keys in with him (some progress at least!), but instead he regularly puts them down somewhere he can't locate them.  There are often several minutes of expletives while he searches for them before we can leave the house. 

My second "bright idea" was buying him a novelty key-ring that beeped when you whistled. I picked one with good reviews, and the day it arrived he opened the package and started whistling. Each time the key finder would happily beep to identify its location. After 20 minutes the novelty of whistling every few minutes to 'find' his keys in various test locations around the house wore off and he disappeared off to the gym, without his keys as I was at home.

I was home alone, no radio, no TV, not talking to myself (honest!) and yet randomly every 2 to 4 minutes the damn thing would start beeping. I put a pillow over it. I put it in the room furthest from me. Random beeping continued. He was at the gym for 2 hours which was more than sufficient time for me to be drawn slowly mad by the constant beeping.

When he came home, I calmly made my feelings known and he laughed it off saying it couldn't have possibly beeped every 2 to 4 minutes (random not regular - trust me I checked) for 2 hours solidly. We sat down to eat the meal I had been cooking and heard a little beep from the hall table.  The battery was subsequently removed and I relished a ceremonial slam-dunk throw into the bin.

I'm having one last attempt at finding a way for him to locate his keys and as this month the challenge at Without Words Challenge is to use blue and brown, I've made a little key plaque using part of a stamp called No. 7 from Lili of the Valley.   If this doesn't work, then I'm lost for options.

Project Recipe:

• Image - Number 7 from Lili of the Valley
• Colouring - Distress Ink Reinkers
• First Edition Animal Antics Papers
• Stazon Ink Pad
• The Langton Watercolour paper
• Lawn Fawn Large Stitched Circles dies
• Spotty Ribbon

I've been inspired by:

• Papertake Weekly - Technique (chipboard)
• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Dotty
• Crafty Ribbons - Anything Goes
• Stamping Sensations - Feature a Creature

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

BBQ Bear

We're half way through our Summer Holiday challenge at Without Words and I've got a little mid-challenge reminder card to share using a sadly retired LOTV image. I have a bit of a history of matching winter images to summer birthdays, but this one was intended for my BIL, whose birthday is in June.

Unfortunately hubby still didn't think that it was sufficiently masculine for his brother.

Card Recipe:

• Image - Just One More from Lili of the Valley (retired)
• Colouring - Distress Ink Reinkers
• First Edition papers
• Stazon Ink Pad
• The Langton Watercolour paper
• Memory Box Grand Happy Birthday Die

I've been inspired by:

• Stamp & Create - Summer Fun
• Bunny Zoe - Furry Friends

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Packed Light

Being the first of June, it's meant to be Summer.  And Summer means holidays!  The new challenge at Without Words is that very subject so I've made a little holiday planner using an image from Stamping Bella which seemed quite appropriate!  I hope you like her.

Card Recipe:

• Image - Stamping Bella Molly Makes a Detour
• Colouring - Alcohol Markers
• Lili of the Valley paper pad
• Momento Stamp Pad Ink / Stazon Ink Pad
• Viva Pearl Pen - Ice White
• Magnolia Doohickey Lacey Border die
• Zutter binding machine and wires

I've been inspired by:

• Creative Inspirations - Pastel Colours
• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes
• Stamp & Create - Summer Fun (holidays!)

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Flower Girl

My favourite new Uptown Girlie is having another outing, this time in more traditional colours of pink, purple and red.  I don't know why she daunted me at first, because I really love her now.  :0)

She is promoting the new challenge at Without Words Challenge where the theme is to use the colours pink, blue and yellow, with an option of floral if that tickles your fancy.

I hope that you can join in.

Card Recipe:

• Image - Fiona Loves Flowers from Stamping Bella
• Colouring - Distress Ink Reinkers
• Cardworks Card base
• Maja Design Summer Basics Papers
• The Langton watercolour paper
• Stazon Ink Pad
• Flat Backed Pearls

I've been inspired by:

• That's Crafty - Keep it Simple
• Handmade Bliss - Anything Goes
• Stamping Sensations - Flower Power

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

You're the Rainbow after the Storm

Welcome to April, and with it, no doubt, April Showers, which brings us onto the subject of the new challenge at Without Words Challenge this month is 'umbrellas', so fairly apt then!

I've printed my Saturated Canary image quite large (this is a 6x6 size card) and the layouts don't come more CAS than this!

I've stitched the image panel onto purple card and popped it onto a square card blank.

And that's it!

I have used a bit (ok, quite a lot) of Wink of Stella on my girlie's umbrella and the water puddle to give them a smidgen of sparkle.

Card Recipe:

• Image - Sweet Oklahoma from Saturated Canary
• The Greetings Farm Because of You sentiment stamp
• Colouring - Promarkers, Copics
• Wink of Stella

I've been inspired by:

• The Copic Challenge - Spring (April Showers)

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

The Bunny is Coming

A new challenge starts today at Without Words Challenge where the theme is Easter and/or Bunnies, so I've used both!  I've also dusted off my beloved Nottingham border die which I think is perfectly Spring/Summery to match the theme and still keeps the layout clean and simple.

I'm afraid I can't remember where the papers are from, they were sat in my stash for a while.  I'm not usually a fan of yellow, but again, I thought that they matched the seasonal theme, so on they went.

Card Recipe:

• Image - Hoppy Easter from LOTV
• Colouring - Watercoloured with Distress Ink Reinkers
• Cardworks Card base
• The Langton watercolour paper
• Stazon Ink Pad
• Ribbon scrap
• Memory Box Nottingham Border die
• Viva Pearl Pen - Ice White

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes
• Deep Ocean Challenge - Our Furry Friends
• Stamp & Create - Is it Spring Yet?

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Je t'aime

It's a clean and simple card to share today, which really focuses on the romantic image.  I've used this image a couple of times lately (I'll share another version later this week) and it's so sweet.

The card is supporting the new challenge at Without Words Challenge where the theme is Je t'aime. I hope you can get romantic with us this month.

Card Recipe:

• Image - Wedding Couple from LOTV
• Colouring - Distress Ink Reinkers
• Cardworks Card base
• Lili of the Valley Country Lady paper pad
• The Langton watercolour paper
• Stazon Ink Pad
• Flat Backed Pearls

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes
• Sweet Stampin' - Love

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Dreaming of Spring (and a confession)

Spring may still be a little way off, but today marks the start of a new challenge at Without Words Challenge where the theme is Dreaming of Spring.

I've used my favourite Nottingham Border floral die and a pretty girlie image aptly called Blossom from LOTV, both of which are quite Spring-like.

I've water coloured the image, but this time with my Derwent Inktense pencils which give a softer effect than the DI reinkers (or at least that's how this one has turned out anyway!)

And here's a quick close up of the image.  I outlined her in blue Copic B000;

Oh, and I have a small confession; I've blown my New Year's Resolution with a little splurge at Lili of the Valley.

It was only a small moment of weakness (3 stamps are hardly worthy of corporal punishment, right?) but a weakness nevertheless.

I lasted just 3 days.  3 measly days.

Just like the exercise regime, can I start again tomorrow?


Card Recipe:

• Image - Blossom from Lili of the Valley
• Colouring - Derwent Inktense Pencils, Copic B000 for outline only
• Cardworks Card base
• The Langton watercolour paper
• Stazon Ink Pad
• Memory Box Nottingham Border die
• Pink button twine
• Viva Pearl Pen

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes
• Papertake Weekly - Pick a fave (Oh So Cute)
• Totally Tilda and Friends - Anything Goes

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Christmas Presents

I'm really trying hard to focus on improving my colouring at the moment.  To help my attempts I may have possibly ordered a few more markers.

OK, OK.  Maybe more than few!

It's actually hubby's b'day today, and I've been happy to let him assume all the packages that have been arriving lately might be for him as I've squirrelled  them away to the safety of my craft desk.

Luckily I'm fairly sure he'd not be as interested in some alcohol markers and a few Sugar Nellies as I am!

Anyway, back to my card ... I'm actually quite pleased with this one.  Firstly I love the cute teddy image, but also don't think I did too bad with the colouring either.

I really love this colour scheme; aqua and purple, and think it all comes together nicely with the simple layout and huge die cut sentiment.

I made this card to support the new challenge at Without Words Challenge where the theme is Christmas Present.  It's actually implying a modern Christmas, rather than the gift variety of the word, although I have covered both!

Card Recipe:

• Image - Jenny All Shopped Out (retired) by Lili of the Valley
• Sentiment - Simon Says Stamp Merry Christmas Die
• Colouring - Promarkers, Copics, Sakura Stardust Gel pens
• Cardworks Card base
• Lili of the Valley Snow Princess paper pad
• Momento Stamp Pad Ink
• Viva Pearl Pen - Ice White

I've been inspired by:

• Kit & Clowder - Christmas
• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes
• Copic Europe - Anything Goes
• Crafting When We Can - CAS
• Simon's Monday Challenge - Holiday Cards

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Preparing for Christmas

If you visit me often, you'll know that the whole concept of CAS freaks me out.

I feel outside my comfort zone.

Exposed in an unfamiliar land.

My projects feel unfinished.

However, I'm really trying harder to concentrate on the quality of my colouring.  So, in an attempt to improve my skills and focus on the image, this is my card for the new challenge at Without Words Challenge where the theme is Preparing for Christmas.  My little guy is doing just that, preparing his Christmas tree with the help of his furry friend.

Card Recipe:

• Image - The Perfect Tree from Lili of the Valley
• Typed Sentiment
• Colouring - Promarkers, Copics
• Cardworks Card base
• Dovecraft T'is the Season papers
• Momento Stamp Pad Ink
• Pearls

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes
• Sister Act - Anything Goes
• Allsorts - Masculine
• A Little Bit Crafty - CAS
• Stamping Sensations - Christmas
• LOTV - Christmas
• A Random Fan - Red, White, Green
• Kit & Clowder - Christmas

Happy crafting
Annette
xx