Golf Cart

I've made this hexagon pop-up card for a golf loving colleague. It was quite fiddly to cut all the parts out, but I've layered most of it to reinforce the narrow parts, particularly the clubs and cart.  

I personalised it by editing the Silhouette cutting file to add his name (the original was a father's day card theme).  

Card Recipe:

• Lori Whitlock Cut File
• Nitwit Collection Papers

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Happy Mouse Day

At As You Like It Challenge this week we want to see your favourite fancy folds.  I love this easel card prop because I can decorate it to co-ordinate with the card and it all still folds flat for posting, almost like a pop-up card.  This card is for a sweet crafting friend's special birthday last month, so it's safe to share! I used bright springtime colours for the happy occasion!

Designed for:
As You Like It Challenge

Card Recipe:

• Birthday Mouse by Rachelle Anne Miller Digi Stamps
• MFT Dienamics Stitched Circle Stax
• Smooth White Card 160gsm
• 15mm Satin Ribbon
• Nitwit Collections Papers
• Cherry Blossom
• Open Roses
• Hip Rosebuds
• CC Designs Mini Number dies
• Card Making Magic Easel Stand

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Penguin Birthday

Today's card is along the same theme as the Monkey card I posted earlier this week, but this time features a pingu in a spotty jumper!  I'm not sure he needs the jumper this week though, more like an ice cream!

Designed for:
Amanda Jayne Designs

Papermill Direct

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

• Blues: Tumbled Glass, Prize Ribbon
• Pinks: Spun Sugar, Kitsch Flamingo

Card Recipe:

• Polka Dot Jumper Penguin by Amanda Jayne Designs
• MFT Dienamics Slimline Grassy Hills
• Memory Box Stitched Clouds
• Gummiapan Happy Birthday Die
• Creative Expression Sue Wilson Orange Blossom Open & Closed petals

Papermill Direct:

• Smooth White Card 160gsm
• Spring Green Card 240gsm
• Pale Turquoise Card 240gsm

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Lots of Layers

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Cheeky Monkey

Today's card is a fun pop-up creation with a cheeky monkey!!!

I've created the pop-up card using a half oval which is scored down the sides to create the box shape, and some strips across the layers with some die cut grass and flowers added. 

The edges are all inked for depth and I've added some clouds and enamel dots.

Designed for:
Amanda Jayne Designs

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
• Grass: Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Rustic Wilderness, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• Blues: Tumbled Glass, Broken China
• Reds: Candied Apple, Fired Brick, Aged Mahogany

Card Recipe:

• Monkey Image by Amanda Jayne Designs
• MFT Dienamics Slimline Grassy Hills
• Memory Box Stitched Clouds
• Gummiapan Happy Birthday Die
• Creative Expression Sue Wilson Camellia Open & Closed petals

Papermill Direct:

• Smooth White Card 160gsm
• Spring Green Card 240gsm
• Pale Turquoise Card 240gsm

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Foxies

These adorable foxies are part of the soon-to-be-released polymer stamp set from Lili of the Valley, and I've been lucky enough to play with them. 

I've watercoloured 4 of them and fussy cut them out. Today's project has used 2 of them on a special birthday card for my mother-in-law and you'll see where I've used the others over the next week or so.

I've created an arched box card in bright autumnal coloured card, which I've embossed for some additional texture.

My little foxies are peeking out from the long grass and I've finished it off with some die cut flowers and a huge die cut "80" (just in case she forgets how old she is!).

Designed for:
Lili of the Valley

Papermill Direct

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

• Foxes: Antique Linen, Tea Dye, Vintage Photo, Tattered Rose

Card Recipe:

• Hello Pumpkin Stamp set by Lili of the Valley
• Nellie Snellen Marigolds Slimline Embossing Folder
• Creative Expression Sue Wilson Camellia Open & Closed petals
• Whiff of Joy Grass die
• CC Designs number die set
• MFT Hanging Happy Birthday die
  
  

Papermill Direct:

• Pumpkin Orange Pearlescent Card
• Terra Rossa Materica Card
• Green Grass Pearl Card

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Monday Challenge - Emboss It
• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Pop Up Chloe Christmas

Today's card is a pop up card that folds flat for posting.  I've added in 2 layers to showcase a couple of the Chloe Christmas images from Amanda Jayne Designs and some dies.  I 'fussy-cut' the images and created the card base using my Silhouette machine and added some grass by making random cuts to create the blades of grass.

I've actually watercoloured 4 of the Chloe images, and I'll share what I've created using the others over the next few days.

Designed for:
Amanda Jayne Designs

Papermill Direct

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

• Cows: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, Tattered Rose, Tea Dye
• Greens: Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Rustic Wilderness
• Reds: Festive Berries, Barn Door, Aged Mahogany
• 'Whites': Hickory Smoke

Card Recipe:

• Christmas Chloe from Amanda Jayne Designs
• Honey Bee Christmas die

Papermill Direct:

• Red Plain Card
• Green Grass Pearl Card

Other:

• Nitwit Collections Papers
• Creative Expression Sue Wilson Filigree Poinsettias
• Enamel Dot from Hobbycraft

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Monday Challenge - Die Cuts

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

You're Roar-some

At As You Like It Challenge this week we're asking if you prefer African or Australian wild animals, and it was a tough one as I am really fond of koalas and kangaroos, but for me it has to be the Big Cats.  Technically tigers have long been my favourite wild animals, but since they're mainly native to Asia I've opted for Leo, the King of the Jungle to represent my Big Cat theme instead.

This Cute Lion is from Lee Holland and as usual I've watercoloured him and then used a stencil to ink in some background coulds. I've framed him with one of my new dies which matches the wild animal theme, and made a custom sentiment using my Silhouette.  The 'you are' is stamped, but I wrote the Roar-some text around it and created a shadow layer to make it stand out a bit more.  

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

• Fur: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, Gathered Twigs. Tattered Rose, Tea Dye
• Mane: Antique Linen, Frayed Burlap, Walnut Stain
• Grass: Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Rustic Wilderness, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• Sky: Tumbled Glass

Card Recipe:

• Cute Lion from Lee Holland
• Tattered Lace Nested Frames Spots
• MFT Cloud stencil
• Crealies Crea-Nest-Lies XXL24 Rectangles with Stichline
• Card Making Magic Die Set Easel
• Silhouette (custom made sentiment and matt)
  

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

Hope you had a Rocking good Christmas

The Digi Choosday team over at Polkadoodles have been tasked this fortnight with making a moving element, so I've made my whole card the moving element by making a rocker card.  I've used Gnome Festive Fun with Snowman for my image and Eden Collection Paper Heaven 3 papers.  I've used some fancy Tattered Lace Doily dies and a sprinkling of Glamour Dust.  As usual, my image is watercoloured using Ranger Distress Ink Reinkers.

I've been inspired by:

• Creative Inspirations - Anything Goes
• Crafty Calendar - Anything Goes

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Santa's Train

Well, I hope you've all had a lovely Christmas. I think I may have eaten myself into a Mince Pie coma because I've been feeling a little tired this week.  We've pottered out for a few walks, but to be honest, the weather's been awful, so that's mostly ended up with damp boots and coats to dry out when we get home. I think it's forecast to rain again tomorrow, so I doubt we'll be going far. I've taken the opportunity to have a bit of a tidy up of my craft items and declutered a few things that I haven't used in years, like old peel-offs and things that I had optimistic visions of up-cycling.  It's not thinned it out much, but there's a bit more space for my newer things now!

For the card I'm sharing today, I watercoloured 3 different images from Whimsy's Santa's Train stamp set to create a concertina card.   I love these tags and they're perfect to create this kind of fancy-fold card.   I hope you like it.  

Card Recipe:

From Dies To Die For:

• Whimsy Stamps Santa's Train
• MFT Plaid Papers

Other:

• Gummiapan Tag die
• 15mm Blue Organza Ribbon
• Langton Watercolour paper 
• Memory Box Twilight Snowflake Dies
• Watercoloured using Ranger Distress Ink Reinkers:

I've been inspired by:

• Country View Crafts - Anything Christmas

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Give us a Hug

We want to know if you prefer dies or stencils over at As You Like It Challenge this fornight. Although I've recently bought a few more stencils this year, I still use them only a fraction as much as my dies. I must have hundreds of dies (and still collecting!) but only half a dozen stencils.  I love the intricacy of the dies, especially the ones I've used today.

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

• Hair: Antique Linen, Frayed Burlap, Walnut Stain 
• Skin: Tattered Rose, Tea Dye, Worn Lipstick
• Blues: Stormy Sky, Faded Jeans
• 'Whites': Weathered Wood
• Ground: Speckled Egg

Card Recipe:

• Magnolia Tilda in Cosy Coat
• 15mm Satin Ribbon
• Wild Orchid Crafts Cherry Blossom
• Wild Orchid Crafts Cosmos Daisy
• Wild Orchid Crafts Open Roses
• Crealies Crea-Nest-Lies XXL65 Double Stitched Circles
• Card Making Magic Die Set Easel
• Tattered Lace Foundation Doilies
• Maja Design Papers

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Halloween Hexagon Pop Up

For my Polkadoodles Digi Choosday project today I've created a hexagon pop-up Halloween decoration using Winnie Witch and Cat and some orange papers from the Winnie Celebrations 3 paper bundle. 

As usual I've watercoloured my image using Ranger Distress Ink Reinkers.  

The hexagon shaped cardbase is a Silhouette design by Lori Whitlock.

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Monday Challenge - Halloween / Spooky

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Happy 40th

I was really pleased with how this card turned out for a friend's recent special birthday.  

I created the fabulous pop-up shape with my Silhouette and embellished it with a Birthday Gnome, balloons, bunting and die cut '40' numbers in contrasting colours.  I love making something a bit different for a special birthday.

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

• Skin: Tattered Rose, Tea Dye, Worn Lipstick
• Blues: Stormy Sky, Faded Jeans
• Flame: Wild Honey, Rusty Hinge
• 'Whites': Weathered Wood

Card Recipe:

• Gnometastic Happy Birthday from Polkadoodles
• Silhouette Hexagon Pop Up Card Base by Lori Whitlock
• Whimsy Birthday Word & Shadow Die
• Memory Box Pennant Garland Die
• CC Designs Mini Alphabet and Numbers Dies
• Marine Blue Card Papermill Direct

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Lots of Layers

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Dragon Quartet

If you're a regular visitor, then you'll know that I'm on a mission to get a wriggle on with my Christmas crafting, so today's project is a set of 4 matching Bauble shaped Christmas cards, each featuring an adorable Christmas cutie.

I'm a long-standing fan of Lee Holland's digi images and have been lucky enough to play with 4 of his festive Dragons as part of the promotions he's running in his Etsy Shop until the end of August.  

There is a massive 60% off his 'Ultimate Christmas bundle' (50 Christmas character digis) and his 'Christmas Dragon Bundle' (22 Dragon images including the four I've used today), using coupon code CHRISTMAS60, which is valid until the end of August.

If you prefer to pick 'n' mix, there's also 30% off if you buy 3 single digis (no code needed).  

I may have had a teensy weensy purchase when I saw that one!!!  

Well it would be rude not to, right?

So, these bauble shaped cards are easily created using circle dies and a small handled 'hanger' onto which I've tied some twine and added a tiny bow.  I wanted the bauble 'hanger' to be at a jaunty angle so the fold is underneath it, on the top-left corner.  This means that the cardbase stands up a little better than a top-fold tent, which has a tendancy to do a belly flop on shiny surfaces.  I've ensured my circles don't rock like a see-saw by cutting a straight line across the base of the rear base-circle only.  

Here is the full set together:

And here they are a little bigger so you can see the sweet dragons:

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

• Dragons: Spun Sugar, Victorian Velvet, Aged Mahogany, Frayed Burlap, Walnut Stain
• Greens: Twisted Citron, Bundled Sage, Mowed Lawn, Peeled Paint, Rustic Wilderness, Forest Moss
• Sky: Tumbled Glass
• Reds: Candied Apple, Abandoned Coral, Fired Brick, Aged Mahogany
• Snow: Speckled Egg

Card Recipe:

From Lee Holland Designs:

• Christmas Dragon Elf with a Bell
• Dragon on Christmas Bauble
• Reindeer Antlers Christmas Dragon
• Dragon with Christmas Candy Cane

Other:

• Stamperia Circle of Love Texture Branches Stencil
• Glossy Accents
• Flat Backed Pearls
• 3mm Satin Ribbon
• Nitwit Collections Papers
• Crealies Crea-Nest-Lies XXL65 Double Stitched Circles

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes
• Creative Knockouts - Christmas In July

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Santa's Train

I've coloured up 3 images from the lovely Santa's Train set to create this fun card using 4 die cut tags joined together to make a concertina fold card.

Card Recipe:

From Dies To Die For:

• Whimsy Stamps Santa's Train
• MFT Plaid Patterns Papers

Other:

• Gummiapan Tag die
• Purple Twine
• Langton Watercolour paper 
• Watercoloured using Ranger Distress Ink Reinkers:

I've been inspired by:

• Nordsalten Hobbyklubb - 1 or more tags
• Creatalicious - Anything Goes (optional transport)

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Snow Critters

Today I'm in fully frilly mode and since it's June, I thought it was about time for some Christmas creating!  Whilst I appreciate the simplicity of a CAS card, (especially when I've spent ages colouring an image and don't want it to be overwhelmed by too much faff) I also love adding all the fancy embelishments in my stash. I especially love pearls and flowers, and at the moment I seem to have a bit of a theme going on with fancy folds and pop-up card bases. This one, using a card stand, is also a favourite.

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

• Bunny: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, Tattered Rose, Tea Dye
• Brown Buttons: Frayed Burlap, Walnut Stain
• Blues: Stormy Sky, Faded Jeans
• Reds: Festive Berries, Barn Door, Aged Mahogany
• Snow: Weathered Wood
• Penguin: Hickory Smoke, Black Soot

Card Recipe:

• Stacey Yacula - Sweet Snow Friends (Snowman, Penguin & Bunny)
• Wild Orchid Crafts Cherry Blossom
• Wild Orchid Crafts Open Roses
• Wild Orchid Crafts Hip Rosebuds
• Wild Orchid Crafts Mini Rosebuds
• Crealies Crea-Nest-Lies XXL65 Double Stitched Circles
• Card Making Magic Die Set Easel
• Tattered Lace Foundations Doilies
• Merry Christmas Circle Frame (snipped so it can be stretched out)
• Handmade beaded pin
  

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Happy Anniversary

For Polkadoodles' Digi Choosday today I've made an Easel Anniversary card featuring Horace & Boo Friendly Cuddles and some papers from Eden Paper Heaven 1.  The sentiments are from Winnie Sunshine Delights and Winnie Celebrations 1.  The image is watercoloured using Ranger Distress Ink Reinkers.

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

• Puppy: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, Gathered Twigs 
• Cat: Pumice Stone, Hickory Smoke, Black Soot
• Grass: Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• Sky: Tumbled Glass
  

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Gardening

I wanted to make a flowerpot shaped cardbase for this gardening image, but it turned out more challenging than I'd expected!  This is what I've come up with and I've decorated it with some die cut flowers to match the gardening theme.  It's my DT card for the As You Like It Challenge where the theme is to showcase your favourite colouring medium.  I've tried H2O's, Promarkers, Pencils, Copics, Zigs and Docraft Artiste pens in the past but always come back to watercolouring with my DI reinkers like a comfy pair of slippers!  I really should try harder with the other mediums, but I actually find the watercolouring quite therapeutic and I like the way they blend and shade.

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

• Fur: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, Gathered Twigs 
• Grass: Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• Sky: Tumbled Glass
• Reds: Candied Apple, Barn Door, Aged Mahogany

Card Recipe:

• Scruff the Dog Gardening from Polkadoodles
• Crealies Crea-Nest-Lies XXL67 Double Stitched Ovals
• MFT Papers
• Hunkydory Moonstone Flower dies

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Monday Challenge - Four Legged Friends

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

It's Always Tea Time

I love making fancy shaped cards and this teapot shape seemed the perfect match for these adorable Tea Time Fun mice from Colorado Craft.  

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

• Fur: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, Tattered Rose
• Backgrouns: Antique Linen
• Reds: Candied Apple, Barn Door, Aged Mahogany
• Greys: Pumice Stone, Hickory Smoke, Black Soot

Card Recipe:

From Dies To Die For:

• Tea Time Fun from Colorado Craft
• MFT Dienamics Stitched Oval Stax

Other:

• Nitwit Collections Papers
• Wild Orchid Crafts Open Roses
• Wild Orchid Crafts Mini Rosebuds
• Flat Backed Pearls

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Monday Challenge - Four Legged Friends

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Cuddles

Today's Polkadoodles Digi Choosday card has a gate-fold flap on the front which opens to reveal a little hidden message. The flaps can be tucked under the flower petals on the front so they remain in place until they're opened.  I've used Friendly Cuddles for my main image, papers from the Eden Paper Heaven 1 set and a sentiment from the Winnie Sunshine Delights sentiment bundle.

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

• Kitty: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, Gathered Twigs, Tattered Rose
• Puppy: Antique Linen, Frayed Burlap, Walnut Stain
• Grass: Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• Sky: Tumbled Glass
• Bench: Pumice Stone, Hickory Smoke

I've been inspired by:

Happy crafting
Annette
xx