Lamp Light

I know it's the middle of June, but I'm a firm believer that you can never start your Christmas cards off too early, so I've got a frosty festive creation to share today.

I used the papers as inspiration by trying to keep the colours really soft.  I also used a lamp die to form part of the scene, and I fussy-cut the image to layer on the papers with foam pads.

Card Recipe:

• Image - Elf Maya and Kitty Writing Santa's List by Whiff of Joy
• Colouring - Copics
• Cardworks Card base
• First Edition Silent Night Papers
• Neenah Classic Crest White Stamping Card
• Momento Stamp Pad Ink
• Memory Box Antique Lamp Post
• Snowflake Pendant Dies
• Sheer ribbon
• Rhinestones
• Crystal Glamour Dust
• Glossy Accents

I've been inspired by:

• Charisma Cardz - Sparkle & Shine (Glitter)
• Southern Girls - Dyeing to see those punches
• Winter Wonderland - A Christmas Scene (I combined a stamped image and a lamp die)

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Sledging

It's May, so it seems the perfect time to share, erm, another Christmas card   :0)   This one's Maya with Kitty sledging, and this sure is one cute kitty!!!  I love his little face and with the antlers he's a real sweetie.  I'm not sure my Arnie would let me put antlers on his head though :0).

Card Recipe, featuring items from The Stamp Basket:

• Image - Maya and Kitty Sledging by Whiff of Joy
• Colouring - Copics
• Clouds - Dovecraft Shimmer chalks
• Cardworks Card base
• First Edition Silent Night Papers
• Neenah Classic Crest White Stamping Card
• Momento Stamp Pad Ink
• Pearls
• Vintage Style Ribbon
• Snowflake Dies
• Crystal Glamour Dust
• Glossy Accents
• Liquid Pearls
• Stickles

I've been inspired by:

• The Sketchy Challenge - Sketch
• Deep Ocean Challenge - Distressing
• Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Happy Holidays

Well, it's the last day of March, and the first day of British Summer Time yesterday, so naturally I've got a Christmas card to share with you today !!!   :0)

The papers are actually from the gorgeous new Wild Rose Studio Antique Library pad, and along with being really versatile for any occasion, this script one also seemed appropriate for the image of Maya the Elf, checking the list of who's been naughty or nice for Santa.

All the items on today's card are from The Stamp Basket, who incidently have just added added further reductions in the spring sale - there's now 25% off 125 products including ALL Memory Box and La La Land Craft dies.   Check out all the sale details here.

• Image - Elf Maya and Kitty Writing Santa's List
• Sentiment from Purple Onion Designs
• Colouring - Copics
• Cardworks Shaped Card base
• Wild Rose Studio - Antique Library Paper pad
• Neenah Classic Crest White Stamping Card
• Momento Stamp Pad Ink
• Cottage Cutz - Elegant Holly Corner die
• Whimsy - Ornament Border Die
• Pearls
• Liquid Pearls

I've been inspired by:

• That's Crafty Challenge - Use Ink (stamped in ink, coloured in copic ink, and the character in my image is writing with quill and ink!)
• Cut it Up - Use a die cut
• Crimbo Crackers - Anything Christmas
• Fab n Funky - Christmas

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Maya and Mascara

I hope you all had a good weekend.  I had quite a busy one, and for once it didn't involve any crafting.  Actually none at all, to the point where I started twitching with withdrawal symptoms!  :0)

Anyway, I know it's only mid February but I'm continuing my mission to get my Christmas cards made throughout the year.  So I've got another one to share today.

This one features one of my favourite Whiff of Joy images of Maya and Kitty sledging.  I've used mainly browns (to match the papers and embellishments) but added a sprinkling of pink to give it a bit of a pop.

The Village Lamp is a lovely die that I've used for the first time today, and I've coloured it in gold, but perhaps not using something that you might expect!  That's where the make-up hint lies in the title of this post.

The gold is actually an eye-liner that I bought in a Body Shop sale a looooong time ago, and found in an old make-up bag completely unused a couple of years ago.  At that time, I decided that I had no idea what on earth I was thinking when I bought it, but I certainly don't think I would ever wear gold make-up.  So it became a crafting item instead (which might have been the original intention anyway!).  And it's laid unused until today!  To be honest I thought it would have dried up by now.  But nope!!  Still good, and the little brush applicator was perfect to paint the die cut.

I'll admit that on the make-up front, I'm a simple mascara kind of girl.  I wouldn't want to be seen dead without that.  And I do also wear a spot of eye-shadow in the week for work.  But that's it.  The whole foundation-concealer-lipstick-blusher-bronzer stuff escapes me.  I'd rather have an extra 10 minutes in bed than be under the false impression that anything I do with various pots, sticks, brushes and lotions can make much improvement!!  Plus any lippy seems to have blotted off within an hour if I do wear it for a special occasion / wedding etc.

Lip-balms on the other hand, well ... I have dozens of those little suckers!!   And I think that lip-balm is much more suited for little Maya as she goes sledging with her kitty on a cold winter's day!  :0)

And don't forget it's the final few days of The Stamp Basket sale, so pop over to grab your bargains before it ends.

Card Recipe, featuring items from The Stamp Basket:

• Image - Whiff of Joy - Maya and Kitty Sledging
• Colouring - Promarkers, Copics, Sakura Stardust Gel pens
• Cardworks Card base
• First Edition Silent Night Papers
• Neenah Classic Crest White Stamping Card
• Momento Stamp Pad Ink
• Pearls
• Memory Box Village Lamp
• Joy! Crafts Winter Wishes Ice Crystals 2
• La La Land Heart Fence
• Vintage ribbon walnut
• Crystal Glamour Dust
• Glossy Accents
• Liquid Pearls

I've been inspired by:

• Cute Card Thursday - Clever Cutting (mascara painted die cut!)
• Penny Black and More - Make it Sparkle

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Chocolate and Cream

Today's project is to support the C for Chocolate and Cream challenge at ABC Christmas Challenge.  The chocolate part is the drinking chocolate that Henry the mouse is warming his paws on, and the creams are the papers (yup, I've got my Silent Night pad out again - sorry!)

Card Recipe:

• Image - Whiff of Joy Henry
• Clouds - Dovecraft Shimmer chalks
• Cardworks Shaped Card base
• First Edition Silent Night Papers
• Neenah Classic Crest White Stamping Card
• Momento Stamp Pad Ink
• Lilac seam binding
• Memory Box Night Sky border die
• Pearls
• Crystal Glamour Dust
• Glossy Accents

I've been inspired by:

• Graph'it Challenge
• Papertake Weekly

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Rudolf the Red-nosed Kitty (& details of a winter SALE)

My Silent Night paper pad is back on my desk again, although I'm still not actually through my first pad and have a couple more pads yet for 'emergency backup' because I love it so much!  This time I've teamed it with some gold mirri card, gems, a spot of forest green satin ribbon in a double bow and a gorgeous holly corner die from Cottagecutz.  This die is really elegant and cuts and embosses beautifully.

There's also a HUGE winter sale on at The Stamp Basket, so pop over there to grab a bargain.  All the details are over on the blog as well as in the store itself.

See my cards available to buy on eBay



Card Recipe featuring items from The Stamp Basket:

• Image - Whiff of Joy Maya and Kitty Sledging
• Cardworks Shaped Card base
• First Edition Silent Night Papers
• CottageCutz Elegant Holly Corner Die
• Neenah Classic Crest White Stamping Card
• Momento Stamp Pad Ink
• Berisfords Satin Ribbon Forest Green
• Gems
• Crystal Glamour Dust
• Glossy Accents

I've been inspired by:

• Crafty Cardmakers - Winter Fun
• Simon's Monday Challenge - Use a Stamp
• Dream Valley - Christmas
• Charisma Cardz - Anything Goes
• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Bling / Sparkly

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

   

He's making a list, And checking it twice ...

I've got a C&S card again today, this time featuring Maya and kitty from Whiff of Joy, this one is Maya dressed as an elf checking Santa's list.

I think I got a stray speck of glitter just to the right of Maya's hat.  I spend ages faffing with the angle of my lamp in order to get the light hitting the glitter on the hat and ground for the camera, and then it's Sod's law that the bit that sparkles the most is the bit that's not meant to be there at all  :0(

See my cards available to buy on eBay



Card Recipe featuring items from The Stamp Basket:

• Image - Elf Maya Writing Santa's List from Whiff of Joy
• Cardworks Shaped Card base
• Bo Bunny Silver and Gold papers
• Neenah Classic Crest White Stamping Card
• Momento Stamp Pad Ink
• Vintage Style Ribbon
• Crystal Glamour Dust
• Glossy Accents
• Pearls

I've been inspired by:

• The Ribbon Girl - Christmas
• Cute Card Thursday - Christmas Catch Up (the Elf is catching up on Santa's list, and I'm catching up on some late Xmas makes!!)

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

   

Maya drinking hot tea

OMW Sunday already. Where's the week gone?  My card for The Stamp Basket today features one of my favourite Whiff of Joy images and of course as it's a festive card, my (current) favourite frosty First Edition Silent Night paper pad.  It looks great backed with some shiny silver card and distressed edges.  I hope my cards are not getting too 'samey' but I'm just loving this pad right now.

See my cards available to buy on eBay



Card Recipe featuring items from The Stamp Basket:

• Image - Whiff of Joy Maya drinking hot tea
• Cardworks Shaped Card base
• Coloured with Distress reinkers
• First Edition Silent Night Papers
• Whimsy Ornaments border die
• White pom pom trim
• Wide lace
• Crystal Glamour Dust
• Glossy Accents
• Snow White pearls
• Berisfords Super Sheer White ribbon
• Hobby House 8mm Pearl Brad

I've been inspired by:

• Bunny Zoe - Bingo (dies, sparkle, stitching)
• Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Jingle Bells

The theme today at ABC Christmas Challenge is J for Jingle Bells.

I've used an adorable image from Wiff of Joy of Maya with Kitty drinking Hot Chocolate (with cream and marsh mallows of course!).  The little kitty had a teeny bell on his collar, but in case that is not enough jingle to qualify, I've also used a jingle bell die cut in sparkly blue at the top.

Whilst I've got your attention, I'd like to let you know that there's a Special Promotion on at the Stamp Basket for the next week, ending on Tuesday 21 May so get your skates on and pop over to see the bargains.

See my cards available to buy on eBay


Card Recipe:

• Image - Maya and Kitty from Wiff of Joy
• Colouring - Promarkers, Copics, Sakura Stardust Gel pens
• Clouds - Dovecraft Shimmer chalks
• Papers - Far Far Hill
• Cardworks Shaped Card base
• Bo Bunny Small Doilies
• Fiskars Snowflake Border Punch
• Wild Orchid Craft Flowers
• Pearls
• Glossy Accents
• Liquid Pearls 
• Sewing Machine

I've been inspired by:

• Wild Orchid Crafts - 3 Different Flowers (Cherry Blossom, 15mm & 10mm roses)
• Cute Card Thursday - Something Blue
• Penny Black & More - Sew Special

Happy crafting.

Santa's Little Helpers

We're half way through the 'H for Holiday Helpers' at ABC Christmas Challenge so I've got a card to share with you.  Reindeer are Santa's holiday helpers, right?

I've stamped my image onto stamping linen and coloured with alcohol markers.  I've opted for a traditional red and green colour theme.  The sentiment was typed and printed, but I wrote over it with a Sakura Stardust gel pen for added sparkle.

See my cards available to buy on eBay



Card Recipe:

• Image - Santa Riding through a Winter night
• Typed Sentiment
• Joy Crafts Stamping Linen
• Colouring - Promarkers, Copics, Sakura Stardust Gel pens
• Cardworks Shaped Card base
• Nitwits Digi Papers
• Ribbon
• Pearls
• Hobby House 8mm Pearl Brad
• Liquid Pearls
• Stickles

I've been inspired by:

• Simon Says Stamp & Show - Colouring Medium (ink on canvas)
• Creative Inspirations - Ribbons & Pearls

Happy crafting.

Elf Maya and Kitty Writing Santa's List

Well, I finally got all my international Christmas mail (and half of the UK stuff) packaged up yesterday morning, and struggled to the post office with a carrier bag full of parcels.  Luckily (for me) there was absolutely no queue (yippee).  I apologised to the cashier in advance, and then emptied out my haul of parcels onto her counter.  15 minutes later there was a 'small' queue gathering behind me, but she got them all weighed and stamped, and so I handed over a small fortune and thanked her (again) for her patience with all my items.  Thankfully (although I'd not checked beforehand) the last posting day for international mail is Monday, so I'd just got it done in time.  Phew!  So, I'm sorry to anyone who was behind me in the queue at the Post Office yesterday, although the only person who actually looked fed up was my hubby, who was huffing and puffing and looking at his watch constantly (until he found the magazine shelf which then kept him occupied until I'd finished).

Ok, for those of you who visited my blog yesterday, I promised a real cutie today, and I hope you won't be disappointed.   I think I have to say that this card is one of my favourites this year.  The image is Elf Maya & Kitty writing Santa's List from The Stamp Basket.  I'm not sure whether it is the pretty papers, cute image, rich chocolatey colours (they are chocolate brown not black by the way), simple layout, fab dies or just that the whole card seems to encompass everything that is my style.

Oh dear, I really sound like I'm blowing my own trumpet here, but this was just one of those cards that I looked at when I'd finished and I thought "I'd like to keep this one"!  Instead I'm going to give this one to one of my blogging friends in the hope she'll like it too.

Hopefully you all know what I'm trying to say, and I hope you have had more of those types of cards than I seem to have had, as opposed to my mojo going AWOL whenever I sit down to craft.

Anyhoo, before I drivel on and bore you silly (too late, huh!) here's my card ...

See my cards available to buy on eBay



All items are from The Stamp Basket as follows:

• Image - Whiff of Joy Elf Maya & Kitty writing Santa's List
• Card base - Scalloped Edge
• Papers - Marianne Design Eline's Merry Little Christmas
• Sentiment - Whimsey Notables 2 and matching Notables 2 Dies
• Corner Bow Die - Memory Box
• Corner die - Memory Box Macarena Corner
• Punch - Martha Stewart Edger Doily Lace
• Ribbon - Vintage Style Ribbon in Walnut (looks paler in real life than in the pic)
• Card - Bazzill Cardstock
• Pearls - 5mm, 4mm & 3mm Snow White pearls
• Brad - Hobby House 8mm Pearl Brad
• Glitter - Glamour Dust Crystal
• Liquid Pearls - White Opal
• From my stash - Flowers from Wild Orchid Crafts, Glossy accents

Pop over to The Stamp Basket to see the lovely array of products on offer.

I've been inspired by:

• Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes
• I Love Promakers - Anything Goes
• Whiff of Joy - Snow (the liquid pearls are the snowflakes)
• CRAFT - Christmas
• One Stop Craft - Christmas Friends (I'm giving this to one of my blogging friends)
• Sweet Stampin' - Dies and Punches (Corner bow die, and Doily lace punch)
• The Ribbon Girl - Christmas

Happy crafting.

Maya and Kitty Sledging

I've got some gorgeous new cutie-pies to share with you today from the The Stamp Basket.  This is one of the new Whiff of Joy images called Maya and Kitty Sledging.  I've got a couple of these to show you over the next couple of weeks, (but I would secretly urge you to pop back here tomorrow as I think it's my favourite of the lot - so far at least!).

Anyhoo, this is just a quick post as I'm running late today.  I usually get my posts written the night before, but I didn't manage last night.  I was trying to write out all my overseas cards as I think I should probably have posted them already by now, so I wanted to get them posted today.  I hope I'm not too late!

Hope you like my card. Have a fab Saturday and I'll see you all tomorrow for some more Whiff of Joy cuteness.

See my cards available to buy on eBay



All items are from The Stamp Basket as follows:

• Image - Whiff of Joy Maya and Kitty Sledging
• Card base - Elegant Square
• Papers - Marianne Design Eline's Merry Little Christmas
• Sentiment - Whimsy Holiday Notables 2 and co-ordinating Notables 2 Die
• Flourish die - Memory Box Whimsical Flourish
• Bunting die - Memory Box Poppystamps Simple Banner
• Ribbon - Berisfords Satin Ribbon Red
• Twine - Burlap Swine in Red
• Card - Cardinal Red
• Pearls - 5mm, 4mm & 3mm Snow White pearls
• Brad - Hobby House 8mm Pearl Brad
• Glitter - Glamour Dust Crystal
• Liquid Pearls - White Opal
• Button - Mixed Christmas Buttons
• From my stash - Glossy accents, Flower

Pop over to The Stamp Basket to see the lovely array of products on offer.  There are loads of deals on at the moment while out old stock is cleared out to make way for these gorgeous new items, so grab a bargain while the promotions are running.

I've been inspired by:

• Craft Your Passion - Snow
• Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes
• I Love Promarkers - Anything Goes
• Simon Says Stamp - Snowflakes
• Whiff of Joy - Snow
• CRAFT - Christmas
• Stampin' for the Weekend - Let it Snow
• The Ribbon Girl - Christmas

Happy crafting.

Milestone

Wow, not only did I reach 600 lovely followers last week, but today is my 500th post.  What a milestone, and I've met so many lovely fellow crafters and bloggers during that time.   Thank you to all my new followers, and also those who have been with me longer, who trawl through my regular ramblings and comment on my creative efforts !!

I've used a new image today, this is Willow and I think she is adorable.  I've used a lovely purple colour scheme and done some stitching too although it is hard to see it around the panels.

See my cards available to buy on eBay


Card Recipe:

• Image - Willow with Flower Basket from Whiff of Joy
• Sentiment - One of my own Freebies
• Papers - Nitwits
• Colouring - Promarkers, Copics, Sakura Stardust Gel pens, Dovecraft Shimmer chalks
• Nesties - Lacey circles
• All flowers - Wild Orchid Crafts
• From my stash -  Felt ribbon, pearls, glossy accents

I've been inspired by:

• Wild Orchid Challenge - Anything Goes
• Simon Says Stamp & Show - Anything Goes
• Bunny Zoe - Girls Girls Girls

Happy crafting.

A Hugs Card (and my first Tutorial at TTT)

It is meant to be the longest day today (UK) which is great (unless it rains all day like it did yesterday).  However, the down side is that the days will start getting shorter from now onwards.  I always dislike this day for that very reason.  We've not even had our summer and already the days are getting shorter !!!

Anyway, to cheer me up, there is a new challenge today at Top Tip Tuesday, and the theme to play along with this week is "Cross It" - either a criss cross card, or use ribbon / twine / paper weaving in a "criss cross" way.

Not only was this my first week of actually following a tutorial on the challenge (last week was a "free for all" tipper week), I actually offered to write the tutorial (there is nothing like jumping in at the deep end !!!).  But to be honest, I had wanted to make a criss cross card (or a 'hugs' card) for a while, so when the opportunity arose to make one as a tutorial for TTT, how could I turn it down!!!
I do hope that you can follow it, and I really look forward to seeing your creations this week.

Click here to see my tutorial.  It is a great type of card for putting gifts in for friends, like gift certificates, theatre tickets, holiday vouchers etc.

Our featured Tipper will receive a prize from Stash Books, and our random entry winner will receive 5 digis from Di's Digi Download.

For my card, I've used an adorable image from Wiff of Joy, that was given to me by my lovely Incy Wincy & StampFairy teamie, Chris - Thanks so much Chris, I really love it.

Card Recipe:

• Image - Wiff of Joy Kneeling Willow
• Papers - Summertime Designs
• Colouring mediums - Promarkers and Dovecraft Shimmer chalks for shadow.
• Nesties - Beaded Ovals
• 15mm roses - Wild Orchid Crafts
• Flat backed pearls - The Works
• From my stash - ribbons

Please pop on over to the Top Tip Tuesday Challenge Blog to see the other creations by the talented design team, and to enter our "Cross It" challenge.  I really look forward to seeing your tips and creations this week. I'd also love to hear your comments on my first tutorial for TTT.

I've been inspired by:

• Crafty Catz - Fancy Folds
• Stamp Something - Pretty Papers
• Wild Orchid Crafts - Shabby Chic Friendship

Happy crafting.