Spring Bee

Well, the days are getting longer as Spring is in the air, and that's the challenge theme this week at A Gem of a Challenge.  I've used a cute little Bee with Daffodil image from Pink Gem Designs, and combined it with a Heart Fence background.  The yellow and orange colour scheme keeps the theme spring-like and I've used a simple layout as the image is quite large.

Card Recipe:

• Image - Bee with Daffodil and Heart Fence
• Colouring - Copics
• Clouds - Dovecraft Shimmer chalks
• Cardworks Shaped Card base
• K & Company Daisy Pad Papers
• Neenah Classic Crest White Stamping Card
• Pearls
• Glossy Accents
• Button (it was originally pale pink, but I coloured it with a Yellow copic!)
• Natural Burlap Twine
• Embroidery thread
• Paper flower

I've been inspired by:

• Ribbon Girls - Spring
• Allsorts - Spring Blossoms
• Sweet Stampin' - Flowers

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Daisy

If you don't like purple then I suggest that you read no further, as there might possibly be a small glimpse of purple in today's card.  And after yesterday's card, you may feel a bit "purpled out"   :0)

I've used a new La La Land heart ribbon corner which is really pretty, (even if it is a lot smaller than I thought it would be when I ordered it!) but it's also barely visible in the photo as I used shimmer papers to cut it out, and only the top right hand corner one actually shows up, and even then only slightly, so you have to look closely!  There is also one in the top left corner. Honest!  :0)

While on the subject of dies, there is also a sale on all the new Wild Rose Studio dies at The Stamp Basket.  But the sale is only for this weekend, and ends on until Sunday, so get your skates on and grab a bargain.

Well, as I said above, there's a small sprinkling of purple in today's card, mainly inspired by the pretty Wild Rose Studio papers.  This project is to support the Mother's Day challenge at A Gem of a Challenge which starts today.

I'd planned for this card to be fairly flat (ie, suitable for cheapskate-posting).

But then I forgot, and added the flowers.

D'oh!!!

Card Recipe

• Image - Chloe with Daisy
• One of my own Freebie Sentiments
• Colouring - Promarkers, Copics, Sakura Stardust Gel pens
• Cardworks Shaped Card base
• Wild Rose Studio Butterfly Glade papers
• Neenah Classic Crest White Stamping Card
• Momento Stamp Pad Ink
• Spellbinder Nesties Lacey Circle Die
• Wild Orchid Craft Flowers
• Ribbon - Fantastic Ribbons
• Pearls
• La La Land Heart Corner Die
• Lilac shimmer paper
• White Gel pen
• Glossy Accents

I've been inspired by:

• Inky Chicks - Monochromatic
• Cute Card Thursday - Girls

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Thank You Owl

Today's card is a sweet little thank you card made with a cute little owl.    I actually copied a layout that I'd used quite recently, here, but this time used a tag die rather than a freehand tag.

This project is to support the spots and stripes challenge at A Gem of a Challenge.  There are spots and stripes on the little peekaboo banner under the owl, and more spots are on the green backing paper.

Card Recipe, featuring items from The Stamp Basket:

• Image - Owl In Hat by Pink Gem Designs
• Typed Sentiment
• Cardworks Card base
• Vintage Rose Wild Rose Studio Papers
• Neenah Classic Crest White Stamping Card
• Momento Stamp Pad Ink
• Pearls
• Dohickey Magnolia Tag
• Embroidery Thread

I've been inspired by:

• MMCS - Spots and Stripes
• Stamping Sensations - Wings, Fantasy, Fiction (wings)

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Beer Monster

I'm back in C&S mode today with a masculine(ish) card which I've made for a colleague's birthday at the end of this month.  I'm sure that hubster would point out that despite the monster image, this is still "cutsie", but it's as masculine as I get, and he's lucky it's not pink and glittery.

I used a paw print border die for the top to mimic the monster's footprints, but instead of cutting it, I used some tan embossing mats to emboss the paw print.  It was still a bit feint, so I lightly rubbed some green shimmer chalk over it.  Then it looked too dark, so I rubbed most of it off again with an eraser!  Some of the chalk seemed to stick to the twine though, so the top line of twine looks more green than the lower strip!

After all that, I thought that it still looked a bit 'unfinished' so I popped on a few pearls.

My masculine card supports the new 'For the Boys' challenge at A Gem of a Challenge which starts today.  Hope to see you join in with us.

Card Recipe.

• Image and sentiment - Beer Monster from Pink Gem Designs
• Cardworks Card base
• Neenah Classic Crest White Stamping Card
• Cottage Cutz Paw Edger die
• Pearls
• Bakers Twine
• Shimmer chalks

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Monday Challenge
• Without Words (spots on the monster, stripes on the twine)
• Simon's Wednesday Embossing Challenge

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Charlotte Elsie

We've got a month long "Anything Goes" challenge at A Gem of a Challenge to take us through to the new year, and I've got a special card to share for the occasion.

Following on from yesterday's post, this card was actually one of the cards commissioned by the lovely Lorna.  She had seen my recent Jungle Clock and wanted a personalised baby card for a friend using the jungle images, because her friend has decorated the nursery in a similar theme.

I arranged my images again in the same order, resizing them to fit the area, and typed the babe's name, DOB and weight in fancy font - her name is so sweet; Charlotte Elsie.

I used my favourite Papermania papers for the occasion, in various pinks, and stitched around all the panels, layering them up on 3D foam pads.  Finally I decorated with pearls and flowers, and a strip of soft pink pompoms.

See my cards available to buy on eBay



Card Recipe:

• Image - Giraffe, Marvin the Monkey, Tyson the Tiger
• Typed Sentiment (font = Wendy)
• Colouring - Promarkers
• Clouds - Dovecraft Shimmer chalks
• Cardworks Shaped Card base
• Papermania Lucy Cromwell Papers
• Wild Orchid Craft Flowers
• Pearls
• Pink pom pom trim
• Sewing machine

I've been inspired by:

• Papertake - Anything Goes
• I Love Promarkers - For a Child

Happy crafting.
Annette
xx

Chloe with Reindeer

The challenge this week at A Gem of a Challenge is Purple and Turquoise, and when I heard those colours, I just knew I wanted to create a winter themed card.  I don't know why, but it just seemed to fit.  But of course purple and turquoise are two of my favourite colours too, so it wasn't hard to get motivated.

I decided to make a shaped card again, using my new(ish) Go Kreate Frilly dies.  I really love this shape.

See my cards available to buy on eBay



Card Recipe:

• Image - Chloe with Reindeer from Pink Gem
• Typed Sentiment over written with Sakura Stardust Gel pens
• Colouring - Sakura Stardust Gel pens, Distress Inks
• Clouds - Dovecraft Shimmer chalks
• Go Kreate Frilly Frames #10 for cardbase shape
• Nitwits Digi Papers
• Wild Orchid Craft Flowers
• Fantastic Ribbons 10mm Satin aqua ribbon
• Pearls
• Glossy Accents
• Stickles

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Monday Challenge - Use Ink (Image is painted with re-inkers)
• Creative Creations - Sparkle and Shine
• Creative Knockouts - Make it Sparkle

Happy crafting.
Annette
xx

Time for some Jungle Antics

I've got another clock to share today.  I had such fun making the first one that I've had a second go!!

Plus, after spending the time to create the template for my last one, I am making sure that I'm getting good use from it!

This one is for a friend who recently had a baby girl, called Daisy Mae, so it's another pink one.  :0)

I've used 3 little critters from Pink Gem Designs Funky Animals collection to create a jungle theme.  I think these little guys look like stuffed cuddly toy animals too, so they're perfect for a baby project.

Hope you like my project.

See my cards available to buy on eBay



Project Recipe:

• Images - Giraffe, Peekaboo Marvin and Tyson the Tiger from Pink Gem Designs
• Clock Template - My own freebie
• Mount board
• Clouds - Dovecraft Shimmer chalks
• Pink Button Twine
• Flower button
• Cardio Majestix Emily's Garden mini stamps
• Wild Orchid Craft Flowers
• Pearls
• Crystal Glamour Dust
• Glossy Accents
• Liquid Pearls
• Stickles
• Clock Mechanism

I've been inspired by:

• The Ribbon Girl - Stripes (the tiger's stripes) using button twine from TRG
• Papertake - Anything Goes
• Graph-it Challenges - Tic Tac Toe (Texture = flowers, twine, button, glitter, pearls, ribbon, Fluffy stuff = the fluffy button twine, Fur = on the animals)
• Tando Challenge - Green, Orange and Pink

Happy crafting.
Annette
xx

A Gem of a Cracker

The theme today at A Gem of a Challenge is more than one fold.

Hmmm, I think I overdosed on folds with this project, but at least it's safe to say I've got more than one.

And yes, it is another festive theme!

I think I have an addiction to Christmas themed projects.  Hubby's stock phrase every time I show him my latest creation is now 'is that another ruddy Christmas card?'.

You'd have thought he would've learnt by now that you can never have too many Christmas cards.  Nor can you start making them too early!  Especially as I've been making them since January.

Anyway, it's not a card today, but a cracker.  Hope you like it.  If you want to try my freebie cracker template, then hop over here to grab it.

See my cards available to buy on eBay



Card Recipe:

• Image - Baby Polar Bear from Pink Gem Designs
• Sentiment - Magical Christmas from Pink Gem Designs
• Bazzill Card (brown)
• Fiskars Snowflake Border Punch
• Lacey Circle Spellbinder Nesties
• Spellbinders Labels 18
• Spotty Sheer Ribbon
• Liquid Pearls

I've been inspired by:

• Passion for Promarkers - P for Polar bear
• Crafty Little Fairies - Anything Goes
• MAWTT - Shape up
• Here Come the Boys - Christmas in Brown and Cream (this is the male version, the girlie ones are here!!!)
• The Ribbon Girl - Brown
• Graphit Challenge - Alternative Christmas Colours

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Spooky treat bags

The theme at A Gem of a Challenge this week is Spooky and each year I make some little trick or treat bags or boxes for the local ghosts and ghouls who visit on Halloween.  Last year I made pillow boxes, but this year I've made some little gift pouches to fill with treats.  After all, I wouldn't want a 'trick', right!  We have to keep these spooky visitors happy, you know!

The template for the pouch was actually a 'tea pigs' packet that I opened up, and scanned into my computer, then resized it to fit an A4 page.  I then converted it into a transparent png file so that I could insert digi papers, and some text into the various sections.  I then could print it out as a whole flat template, pre-coloured, and ready to cut, score and fold.

I then glued it together and popped on a couple of colour-coordinated embellishments; a small bow and some liquid pearls in the corner.

The image, a spooky little girlie with her trick or treat lantern, was printed separately, layered onto purple card, and stuck onto the front of the box.  Finally I've Stickled up the image panel and box edges to the max to glam it up a bit!

See my cards available to buy on eBay



Card Recipe:

• Image - Devilina Jodie from Pink Gem Designs
• Typed Sentiment
• Colouring - Promarkers, Copics
• Summertime Design Digi Papers
• Ribbon - Fantastic Ribbons
• Liquid Pearls
• Stickles

I've been inspired by:

• Papertake - Halloween Hues
• Cute Card Thursday - Candy

Happy crafting.
Annette
xx

Happy Birthday to Ewe

The theme today at A Gem of a Challenge is a recipe of 3 papers, 2 embellies, and 1 image.  I've used a cute little sheep image and matching sentiment!!

My two embellies are ribbon and pearls, both in a contrasting colour to my papers to make them stand out a bit.  I felt the card needed a bit more, but I managed to resist once I'd used some contrasting colours to add some interest.

This card's for my MIL's birthday.  I know that she likes turquoise, so I used that colour theme for the backing papers.  Hope she likes it!

See my cards available to buy on eBay



Card Recipe:

• Image and Sentiment - Ewe make me smile set from Pink Gem Designs
• Colouring - Promarkers, Copics, Sakura Stardust Gel pens
• Clouds - Dovecraft Shimmer chalks
• Cardworks Shaped Card base
• Bazzill Basics Paper Pad
• Ribbon - Fantastic Ribbons
• Pearls
• Glossy Accents

I've been inspired by:

• Papertake Weekly - 2 Of Something (2 diff width ribbons, 2 diff embellies)

Happy crafting.
Annette
xx

Owl Wall Hanging

I've got a bit of a fun project to share with you today.  It's actually meant for small photos, but I inserted little pre-coloured digis of these cute Christmas Owls.

The frames are painted with Crackle paint, and then covered in glossy accents and a small sprinkling of crystal glamour dust to give them a lovely sparkle.

I then emptied out my 'blue stuff' embellishment box, and added a few bits and bobs around each frame.

See my cards available to buy on eBay



Card Recipe:

• Images - Christmas Owls Precoloured Digis from Pink Gem Designs
• Clouds - Dovecraft Shimmer chalks
• Wild Orchid Craft Flowers
• Pearls
• Crackle Paint
• Crystal Glamour Dust
• Glossy Accents
• Make a Wish metal brad (I cut the back bits off and stuck it on flat)
• Ribbon scraps for little bows
• Cardboard mini photo hanger

I've been inspired by:

• Crafty Little Fairies - Brads and Bows (the 'make a wish' is a brad)
• Bunny Zoe crafts - Something Blue
• The Ribbon Girl - Make it Sparkly

Happy crafting.
Annette
xx

Men are most definitely from Mars

Today's my first official challenge at A Gem of a Challenge, and the theme is :

 .....

wait for it

.....

"Let's hear it for the boys".

Oh my word.  This is a challenge indeed for me because I'm officially the world's worst at designing masculine cards of any kind.

For male challenge themes I will often cheat and make a "baby boy" card, because I can still make it cute with flowers and ribbons (cos really it's for the mum rather than the baby, isn't it!!!).

But this time I decided to use a proper boy image.  However, I opted for my favourite occasion (Christmas) to motivate me a little bit more!!!

So :

• no pretty satin ribbon, 
• no flowers, 
• no pink (ok, just a little hint of pink on the papers, but we'll gloss over that)
• no bows 
• no lace
• nothing remotely girlie

(Ok, I admit, the image is still cute, but hey, you'll cut me some slack, right?)

To compensate for the lack of anything remotely feminine, I overdosed on die cuts !!!

Anyway, I hope you like my first card for the team.

And don't forget to pop by to see the other creations by my fab teamies and join in the challenge.

See my cards available to buy on eBay



Card Recipe:

• Image - Andy with Snowman and Winter Fence by Pink Gem Designs
• Sentiment - Christmas Circle Sentiment by Pink Gem Designs
• Colouring - Promarkers, Copics, Sakura Stardust Gel pens
• Clouds - Dovecraft Shimmer chalks
• Cardworks Card base
• Pretty Snowflake Papers by Pink Gem Designs
• Lacey Circle Spellbinder Nesties
• Cheery Lynn Snowflake Die
• Magnolia Doohicky Slender Fir dies
• Memory Box Frostyville Border Die
• Pearls
• Liquid Pearls
• Stickles

I've been inspired by:

• Inky Chicks - 2 different die cuts (I used snowflakes and trees)

Happy crafting.
Annette
xx