Deckchair Kitty

I've had kitties my whole life, and my house wouldn't be a home without a feline companion. I currently have 2, a brother and sister, who are naughty troublemakers, but I wouldn't be without them. I'm rarely alone and the little boy cat in particular is usually only a few inches from my ankles or demanding cuddles on my lap!

Designed for:
As You Like It Challenge

Card Recipe:

• Jack Patch and Puss Relaxing image by Lili of the Valley
• Water-coloured on Ecoline Watercolour Card with Ranger Distress Ink Reinkers
• Typed sentiment
• Nitwit Collections Papers

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Bear with Watering Can

My favourite season is Summer, when the days are at their longest and warmest. I really don't like the cold, wet weather of winter, and Autumn and Spring are still a little on the cool side.

Designed for:
As You Like It Challenge

Card Recipe:

• Bear with Watering Can by Lili of the Valley
• Water-coloured on Ecoline Watercolour Card with Ranger Distress Ink Reinkers
• Whimsy Stamps Birthday Word and Shadow Die
• Nitwit Collections Papers
• Enamel dots by Hobbycraft

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Moush-room

I love creating cards with texture and embellishments, my favourites being paper flowers. I've added a posy of cosmos daisies, roses and tulips to this sweet birthday card.

Designed for:
As You Like It Challenge

Card Recipe:

• Mouse on Mushroom digi image by Lee Holland
• Water-coloured on Ecoline Watercolour Card with Ranger Distress Ink Reinkers
• MFT Happy Birthday Circle Frame Die
• 6mm Satin Ribbon
• 15mm Satin Ribbon
• Nitwit Collections Papers
• Cosmos Daisy
• Open Roses
• Mini Rosebuds
• Tulip Flowers
• Flat enamel dots from Hobbycraft

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

In the Dog House

It's always nice to receive complements when you give a hand crafted item, and today's card is made for a sweet friend who always appreciates the work that's gone into a hand crafted card.  She usually opens her card in front of me and shows it around the office to all her co-workers. It's a really nice feeling to know that your creations are enjoyed and possibly kept rather than binned once the special occasion has passed.

Designed for:
As You Like It Challenge

Card Recipe:

• Puppy digi stamp by Lee Holland
• Water-coloured on Ecoline Watercolour Card with Ranger Distress Ink Reinkers
• MFT Happy Birthday Circle Frame Die
• 6mm Satin Ribbon
• 15mm Satin Ribbon
• Nitwit Collections Papers
• Cherry Blossom
• Open Roses
• Hip Rosebuds
• Mini Rosebuds
• Crealies Crea-Nest-Lies XXL65 Double Stitched Circles

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Bouquet Bear

Christmas would usually be my favourite crafting occasion, but as it's January I'm not feeling the festive vibe at the moment, so I've switched my allegiance to birthdays for the first challenge of 2026 at As You Like It Challenge.  Today's card is for my Auntie, whose birthday is next week.

Designed for:
As You Like It Challenge

Card Recipe:

• Teddy Bouquet Digi image from Lili of the Valley
• Watercoloured on Ecoline Watercolour Card with Ranger Distress Ink Reinkers
• Flat Backed Pearls
• 15mm Satin Ribbon
• Nitwit Collections Papers
• Cherry Blossom
• Open Roses
• Mini Rosebuds
• Crealies Crea-Nest-Lies XXL65 Double Stitched Circles
• MFT Happy Birthday Circle Frame Die 
  

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Pirate Bear

Square cards are my favourite standard shape cardbase. I caveat that by saying I still love a fancy shaped card, like an apron shape for a food related image, or snowflake shaped cards for Christmas, but for my go-to cards, it's always a 6" square. Maybe it's the symmetry of them, but there's plenty of space for an image, pretty papers, and some fancy bits.  Today's card is for my Brother-in-Law, so I've kept the fancy bits limited to some fonts with a personalised typed sentiment.

Designed for:
As You Like It Challenge

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

Card Recipe:

• James Pirate image by Lili of the Valley
• Nitwit Collections Papers
• MFT Stitched Border Die
• Typed sentiment

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Bunny Birthday

We're asking for your favourite colouring medium at As You Like It Challenge this fortnight.  I've been trying my hand at colouring pencils recently (more art drawings than cards) but my favourite go-to medium for cardmaking has been Ranger Distress Reinkers, which I use as watercolouring inks with a dinky brush.  Watercolouring feels like relaxing therapy!  I've watercoloured this sweet bunny image by Emma Punktchen on a clean and simple card.

Designed for:
As You Like It Challenge

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

Card Recipe:

• Digi image by Emma Punktchen
• Typed Sentiment

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Teddy Birthday

I've made this card for one of my lovely teamies at As You Like It Challenge.  I really love this little bear and I've used him a couple of times this year because I love the image so much. I've kept the design layout simple, but added a personalised sentiment to make it a little more special.

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

Card Recipe:

• James Bouquet image from LOTV
• Typed sentiment

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Pinks and Blues (with a touch of purple)

This week at As You Like It Challenge we want to know what your favourite 2 colour combos are.  For me, I prefer soft pastel pink and blue, but I also like purple, so I admit there's a touch of purple in my card too!  These are my go-to colours, and feel prettier than bold colours, although I have surprised myself and used a few bold citrus colours this year for summer vibes!  Anyway, today I'm focused on my pinks and blues (with a touch of purple!, but what's wrong with an extra colour beween friends!).  The gnome image stamp is from Lee Holland (Esty). I've watercoloured my image using Distress Ink Reinkers on Ecoline Watercolour card and added a typed sentiment in some fancy fonts.

Designed for:
As You Like It Challenge

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Mousie Tea Time

This week at As You Like It Challenge we want to know if you prefer monochrome or colourful creations.  I do like to stick to just a couple of colours in my cards, but I can never seem to restrict myself to just one by using different shades and depth for variety.  I prefer to co-ordinate a few colours through into embellishments or, in this case, pulling a the dark purple from the image through into the cardstock matting layer.

Designed for:
As You Like It Challenge

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

• Mouse: Hickory Smoke, Black Soot, Tea Dye, Tattered Rose, Ground Espresso
• Sky: Tumbled Glass
• Green Cup: Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Rustic Wilderness, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• Purple cup: Milled Lavender, Dusty Concord, Villainous Potion
• Orange cup: Scattered Straw, Squeezed Lemonade, Wild Honey, Rusty Hinge

Card Recipe:

• Pipsqueak Coffee Flowers by Last Minute Manda
• Violet Plain Card 290gsm
• Typed sentiment

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Light the Candles

At As You Like It Challenge this week want to know if you prefer stamped or digi images.  I have far more digi images than I do rubber stamps, and I certainly appreciate the convenience of them when it comes to storage, ease of browsing my collection and instant purchasing!  But there is still something more satisfying about getting truely inky and stamping your own image.  I've had problems in the past with printer ink bleeding when I'm watercolouring digi images, and times when my printer's not been playing ball, whereas my physical ink pads seem to last forever although sometimes you don't get a full image (I have better luck if I use my stamp platform).  And finally, the brands that gave me the papercrafting bug were physical stamps (some on wooden blocks!) so it's often nice to dig out those stamps again.  Therefore, I've selected a rubber stamp from my collection for today's card.  However, I expect my laziness will kick back in and I'll revert back to digis again next week!

Designed for:
As You Like It Challenge

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

Card Recipe:

• Stamping Bella Gnome Firefighter
• MFT Dienamics Stitched Oval Stax
• Smooth White Card 160gsm
• Nitwit Collections Papers
• Crealies Crea-Nest-Lies XXL65 Double Stitched Circles
• 3mm Flat backed pearls
• Typed Sentiment (Fonts: KG Beanth Your Beautiful Chunk & Outside)

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Woolly Balls

I saw Lee's digitally coloured image of this woolly ball bear recently which has inspired me to share this version which I've watercoloured with Distress Reinkers.  I've used hot foil on the sentiment to give it some shine, but have otherwise kept the card clean and simple to give the adorable bear centre stage.

Designed for:
Lee Holland

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

• Fur: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, Gathered Twigs, Tea Dye, Worn Lipstick
• Sky: Tumbled Glass
• Woolly balls: Too many colours to remember (sorry!)

Card Recipe:

• Little Teddy holding balls of Wool by Lee Holland Digis
• Heidi Swapp Foiling machine & blue metalic foil
• Typed Sentiment

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Birthday Bear

I've watercoloured a Lee Holland image and framed him with some Summery papers.

Designed for:
Lee Holland

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
• Sky: Tumbled Glass

Card Recipe:

• Lee Holland Teddy sitting in Grass
• Apple Green Plain Card
• Spellbinders Serenade Sentiments
• 15mm Satin Ribbon
• Nitwit Collections Papers
• Cosmos Daisy
• Open Roses
• Enamel Dots

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Toadily Quackers

Yellow and green are not my go-to colours, but are perfect for the current summery season.

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

• Duck: Scattered Straw, Wild Honey, Rusty Hinge
• Greens: Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Rustic Wilderness, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• Water: Tumbled Glass
• Pinks: Kitsch Flamingo

Card Recipe:

From Dies To Die For:

• Pond Pampering by Colorado Craft
• Smooth White Card 160gsm
• Billiard Green Card 210gsm
• Nitwit Collections Papers

I've been inspired by:

• Country View Crafts - Seaside (using Distress Inks from CVC)

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Flower Bear

I'm often guilty of leaving out a sentiment on my cards, but I actually do prefer it when I remember to include one, even if it's a simple 'happy birthday'.  

Designed for:
As You Like It Challenge

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

• Fur: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, Gathered Twigs, Tea Dye
• Grass: Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Rustic Wilderness, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• Yellows: Scattered Straw, Wild Honey, Rusty Hinge

Card Recipe:

• The Stamp Corner Online
• Spellbinders sentiment die
• Apple Green Card 240gsm
• 15mm Satin Ribbon
• Nitwit Collections Papers
• Cherry Blossom
• Open Roses

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Bright and Cheerful

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Kitten Post

I've watercoloured this adorable kitten image by Lee Holland for a simple birthday card. The sentiment is layered several times for depth and texture, but I've used the same colour card for matting it to keep it simple.

Designed for:
Lee Holland

Papermill Direct

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

• Fur: Hickory Smoke, Black Soot, Tattered Rose, Tea Dye
• Grass: Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Rustic Wilderness, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• Sky: Tumbled Glass
• Hat: Prize Ribbon, Black Soot, Mustard Seed, Rusty Hinge
• Reds: Candied Apple, Aged Mahogany

Card Recipe:

• Kitten Bundle by Lee Holland
• Spellbinders Serenade Sentiments
• Smooth White Card 160gsm
• Marine Blue Card 240gsm
• Nitwit Collections Papers

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Embossed Mouse

I love the texture and subtlety of an embossing folder. It's amazing to see a beautifully intricate design appear once you peel away the folder and allow the light to reveal the pattern in its shadows.  I've raised the image and layered sentiment on 3D foam pads too for added dimension.

Designed for:
As You Like It Challenge

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

• Mouse: Tattered Rose, Tea Dye, Hickory Smoke, Black Soot
• Greens: Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Rustic Wilderness, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• Reds: Candied Apple, Fired Brick, Aged Mahogany

Card Recipe:

• Berry Sweet Mice from Last Minute Manda
• Whimsy Stamps Birthday Word and Shadow Die
• Nitwit Collections Papers
• Whimsy Stamps Slimline Embossing Folder Daisies

Papermill Direct:

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

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Monday Challenge - Lots of Texture
• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Panda

I've embossed some pearlescent silver to make this slimline card. I prefer pearl to mirror card as it's a bit more subtle, and very pretty paired with some accents of dark violet. I've framed the watercoloured panda image and the embossed silver layer with purple card, and then die cut a sentiment in alternating purple and silver.  The strip covering the join where the embossing ends is a satin ribbon in the same rich purple.

Designed for:
Lee Holland

Papermill Direct

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

• Panda: Hickory Smoke, Black Soot
• Grass: Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Rustic Wilderness, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• Sky: Tumbled Glass, Weathered Wood
• Yellows: Scattered Straw, Squeezed Lemonade, Mustard Seed

Card Recipe:

• Cute Teddy Bear by Lee Holland Digis
• Whimsy Stamps Birthday Word and Shadow Die
• Gummiapan Happy Birthday Die (Happy element only)
• Whimsy Slimline Embossing Folder - Daisies
• 10mm Satin Ribbon

Papermill Direct:

• Smooth White Card 160gsm
• Violet Plain Card 290gsm
• Silver Sirio Pearl Card

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

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