Under the Sea

I made this card for my bestie's birthday earlier this month.  It took quite a bit of inking, and by the end of it my fingertips were blue!  I don't think I've used this stamp before, so it was lovely to use something new and I really enjoyed the green and blue theme.  The sentiment is spot on too!

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

Card Recipe:

• Under the Sea by CC Designs
• Distress Ink pads (for blending)

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Your Friendship keeps me Warm on Cool Days

I've realised that it's nearly October and I'm behind with my Christmas cards. Hubby often jokes that I start making next year's festive cards on Boxing day, but that's not actually far from reality! Christmas is my favourite theme to craft for, so I do make wintry cards throughout the year. This year I've been slacking, so it's time to get a wriggle on!

For this card, I've stamped a cute polar bear and perched on an iceburg. I've masked both elements and used a sheet of paper to mask the horizon so that I can ink the sea using Salty Ocean (very apt!).  I've used a cloud stencil to lightly ink the sky with Tumbled Glass, and added a few hand-drawn sea birds inthe background.  

The panel is framed by a stitched line for a tiny bit of texture, and some card in a shade of blue that matches my sea to bring it all together.  Finally I've stamped the sentiment which is perfect for a close friend at Christmas.

White animals are quite a challenge because white is usually the parts left uncoloured, so instead I'm only colouring the shadows.  But too much and it looks dirty and too little makes it look like you've forgotten to colour at all!  I quite like the darker contrasts of the shaded parts of this guy so even though there is a lot of white space on the rest of the card, my polar bear still looks different enough despite some of his curvaceous belly still being left uncoloured.

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

• Polar: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, Hickory Smoke
• Sky/Iceburg: Tumbled Glass
• Sea: Salty Ocean
• Reds: Candied Apple, Fired Brick, Aged Mahogany

Card Recipe:

• MFT Cool Day (Polar Bear)
• MFT Playful Penguins (iceburg)
• MFT Polar Opposites (sentiment)
• MFT Dienamics Stitched Rectangle Stax
• MFT Mini Cloud Edges Stencil
• Ocean Blue Plain Card
  

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Eeyore

I've always adored donkeys and Eeyore from Winnie the Pooh, so when the theme of 'favourite animal' was picked for the theme at As You Like It Challenge this fortnight, it wasn't a difficult choice for me.  I had a soft toy donkey when I was a baby and nearly 50 years later I still have him.  Thankfully I live close enough to the Sidmouth Donkey Sanctuary that I can visit real donkeys fairly often too. It's a great day out if you are ever passing.  Today I'll have to make do with a 2D version in the form of my donkey themed card.

Designed for:
As You Like It Challenge
Dies to Die For

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

• Donkey: Milled Lavender, Wilted Violet, Tattered Rose, Victorian Velvet, Tea Dye, Vintage Photo
• Grass: Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Rustic Wilderness, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• Sky: Tumbled Glass

Card Recipe:

From Dies To Die For:

• Donkey Trio Stuffies by Stamping Bella

Papermill Direct:

• Smooth White Card 160gsm
• Violet Plain Card 290gsm

Other:

• Nitwit Collections Papers
• Flat backed pearls

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Bright & Cheerful

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

You're Amazing

It's our first challenge of the year at As You Like It Challenge, and we want to know your favourite occasion to craft for. I love crafting for Christmas, but I'm a bit Christmass'ed out so my next favourite occasion is a 'just because' card, to tell someone special that you're thinking of them. I made this card for my bestie, as a little way to tell her how much she means to me.  

I've watercoloured the bunnies, framed them with some of my favourite papers, and added a layered sentiment which I die cut, and added some extra bits (the 'you're' text and the outline shadow) using my Silhouette.

Designed for:
Amanda Jayne Designs

As You Like It Challenge

Papermill Direct

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

• Bunny: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, Tattered Rose, Tea Dye
• Sky: Tumbled Glass
• Blues: Uncharted Mariner, Tumbled Glass
• Purples: Villainous Potion
• Ground: Milled Lavender, Wilted Violet

Card Recipe:

• April Showers by Amanda Jayne Designs
• Crealies Crea-Nest-Lies XXL34 Double Stitched Squares
• Avery Elle Simply Said "Amazing" die
• Nitwit Collections Papers
• Flat Backed Pearls
• 'Fresh Mix' font used for 'you're' text cut in Silhouette Studio

Papermill Direct:

• Smooth White Card 160gsm
• Violet Plain Card 290gsm

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Too Cute

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

You're the Salt to my Pepper

I created this shaped card using my Silhouette to house this little meecie from Lee Holland.  

The base card is made from White Hammered card which I thought looked like the texture of fabric!  

Because it's all white, I've defined the edges of the shape with some doodled stitching and layered all the pieces on 3D foam for some shadow and texture.

My little meecie is watercoloured in Distress inks, and fussy cut (OMG that tail was a challenge!)

Designed for:
Papermill Direct

Lee Holland

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

• Mouse: Pumice Stone, Black Soot, Tattered Rose, Tea Dye
• Spoon: Antique Linen, Frayed Burlap, Walnut Stain
• Hat: Hickory Smoke, Black Soot

Card Recipe:

• Cute Digi Bundle Chef Mouse from Lee Holland
• White Hammered Card 225gsm
• Sentiment typed using Font 'New Hopes' 

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes

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

It's Always Tea Time

I've made another pair of cards in order to make a gift-set of 4 using my Colorado Craft Tea Time Fun stamps .  

I've stamped and watercoloured the image, and then matted it onto alternating layers of nude pink, white and fuschia pink coloured card.

The 'Friend' sentiment is die cut, but I've used my Silhouette cutting machine to create a double shadow using the same card colours around the text.

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

• Fur: Pumice Stone, Hickory Smoke, Black Soot, Tattered Rose
• Browns: Antique Linin, Brushed Corduroy
• Pinks: Spun Sugar, Kitsch Flamingo
• Ground: Speckled Egg, Old Paper

Card Recipe:

From Dies To Die For:

• Tea Time Fun by Colorado Craft
• Mama Elephant Friend Script Die
• MFT Dienamics Stitched Rectangles Stax

Papermill Direct:

• Polka Dots Card 250gsm
• White Hammered Card 255gsm
• Nude Sirio Card 290gsm
• Woodstock Malva 285gsm

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Colorado Mice

I've made a set of sweet cards using a stamp set from Colorado Craft called Tea Time Fun. I've stamped and watercoloured the image, and then matted it onto alternating layers of nude pink, white and fuschia pink coloured card.

The sentiment is die cut, but I've used my Silhouette cutting machine to create a double shadow using the same card colours around the text.

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

• Fur: Pumice Stone, Hickory Smoke, Black Soot, Tattered Rose
• Browns: Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo
• Pinks: Spun Sugar, Kitsch Flamingo
• Ground: Speckled Egg, Old Paper

Card Recipe:

From Dies To Die For:

• Tea Time Fun by Colorado Craft
• Mama Elephant Friend Script Die
• Mama Elephant Thanks Script Die
• MFT Dienamics Stitched Rectangles Stax

Papermill Direct:

• Polka Dots Card 250gsm
• White Hammered Card 255gsm
• Nude Sirio Card 290gsm
• Woodstock Malva 285gsm

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

My Greatest Joy

I've watercoloured the adorable Happy Day bunny image from Colorado Craft Company.  The image has been die cut using a stitched rectangle die before being matted onto multiple layers of red and cream to frame it.

The wide layer of red has been embossed, but my embossing folder wasn't wide enough to cover the whole width of 7" card, so I've only embossed part of the card, then scored a line down to 'edge' the embossed area rather than try to line it up and emboss the remaining strip.

I fussy cut the image and used a blending brush to create a bit of blue sky behind the bunnies.

The sentiment is from the same stamp set.

Water-coloured on Langton Watercolour paper 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:

From Dies To Die For:

• Colorado Craft Company Happy Day!
• Rectangle Stitched Nesting Die Stax

Papermill Direct:

• Post Box Red Card
• Ivory Hammered Card

Other:

• Embossalicious Floral Frenzy Embossing Folder
  

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

A cup of tea and a slice of cake ...

I've been playing with some of my uninked images this week and have this little sweetie to share with you today.  I am ashamed to look at the pile of new stamps and dies that I've bought recently but am already looking at the new releases!  

I've watercoloured the image but in a change from the norm, I've attempted to accent the shading with my Inktense Pencils.  I've used the Mama Elephant script die and layered it twice by creating matting layers with my Silhouette cutting machine.

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

• Hair: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, Gathered Twigs 
• Skin: Tattered Rose, Tea Dye, Worn Lipstick
• Cup: Milled Lavender, Villainous Potion
• Flower: Milled Lavender, Dusty Concord, Bundled Sage, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• Dress: Salvaged Patina, Peacock Feathers
• Ground: Speckled Egg, Hickory Smoke

Shadows enhanced with Derwent Inktense pencils

Card Recipe:

From Dies To Die For:

• Stamping Bella Tiny Townie Loves Tea
• Mama Elephant Friend Script
• MFT Dienamcis Stitched Square Stax
• MFT Papers
  

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

You're my Best-tea

Today's Digi Choosday card is another shaped card (I'm really enjoying making shaped cards this year!) and I've used a sweet little Bunnita Carrot Cake image and some papers from Eden Collection Paper Heaven 3 and Lily Bug Love Paper Heaven 2 collection.  I cut my cardbase using my Silhouette and added some doodled stitching around the edge, a little tag with my sentiment and some die cut flowers in contrasting kraft coloured cardstock.  My image is watercoloured using Ranger Distress Ink Reinkers.

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

• Fur: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, Gathered Twigs, Tattered Rose, Tea Dye
• Sky: Tumbled Glass
• Dress: Stormy Sky, Faded Jeans
• Pinks: Spun Sugar, Worn Lipstick, Kitsch Flamingo
• Ground: Weathered Wood, Hickory Smoke, Black Soot

Card Recipe:

• Pretty Pink Posh Eyelet Borders
• MFT Stitched Tiny Tags 2
• Hunkydory Moonshine Fabulous Flowers

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Summertime Blues
• Cute Card Thursday - Anything Goes
• Stamping Sensations - Any Celebration

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Bunny Time!

I love this little bunny trio so they're taking the centre stage on my clean and simple card using my new Colorado Craft Happy Day stamp set.  

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

• Fur: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, Gathered Twigs, Tattered Rose, Tea Dye
• Grass: Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• Sky: Tumbled Glass
• Purples: Seedless Preserves

Card Recipe:

From Dies To Die For:

• Coloraado Craft - Happy Day
• Your Next Stamp Plaid Paper
• MFT Stitched Rectangles

Other:

• 6mm Satin Ribbon

I've been inspired by:

• Cute Card Thursday - Anything Goes

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

You're Amazing

I'm on a mini-mission to make some 'just because' cards, not for a specific occasion, like birthday, but just to tell someone I'm thinking of them and am popping into their thoughts to say 'Hi'.  This one uses a sweet image that I've not inked up for a while, so I have watercoloured it and kept the layout simple with a stamped/die cut combo sentiment and little layering.

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

• Meecies: APumice Stone, Hickory Smoke, Black Soot, Tattered Rose, Tea Dye
• Greens: Bundled Sage, Mowed Lawn, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• Sky: Tumbled Glass
• Cup: Milled Lavender, Chipped Sapphire
• Purples: Milled Lavender, Seedless Preserves, Dusty Concord
• Flowers: Victorian Velvet, Aged Mahogany, Fossilised Amber, Rusty Hinge

Card Recipe:

From Dies To Die For:

• Stamping Bella Maisy and Madeline have some tea
• MFT Blossom Papers
• Stitched Square Die
• 'You Are' sentiment stamp taken from MFT Mermazing stamp set

Other:

• Avery Elle Simply Said "Amazing" die
  

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Besties

I love making cards for my friends, mainly because I belive that many of those who are creative themselves will appreciate how much time and love has gone into making something unique and handmade for them.  Today's card is a little 'thank you' card for my bestie, featuring two little critter friends itself.

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

• Bunny: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Tattered Rose, Tea Dye
• Puppy: Antique Linen, Frayed Burlap, Walnut Stain
• Grass: Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• Sky: Tumbled Glass
• Flower: Scattered Straw, Mustard Seed, Wild Honey, Rusty Hinge

Card Recipe:

• Jack Patch and Puss Big Flower from LOTV
• Crealies Crea-Nest-Lies XXL67 Double Stitched Ovals
• Crealies Crea-Nest-Lies Extreme Labels and Tags No.12
• Crealies Crea-Nest-Lies XXL Stitched Rectangles
• Sizzix Tim Holtz Stitched Ovals
  

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Honey Bears

This is one of my favourite images from Stamping Bella, although I do have a bit of a soft spot for bears in general!

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

• Fur: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, Gathered Twigs, Tattered Rose, Tea Dye
• Grass: Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• Bee Hive: Antique Linen, Frayed Burlap, Walnut Stain
• Oranges: Wild Honey, Rusty Hinge
• Pot: Hickory Smoke, Black Soot

Card Recipe:

From Dies To Die For:

• Stamping Bella Honeybear Stuffies
• Lawn Fawn Stitched Scalloped Border Dies
• MFT Blossoms paper pad

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Bunny Pile

Question:  What's better than a card with a cute bunny on it?

Answer:  A card with two cute bunnies on it!

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

• Bunny: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, Gathered Twigs 
• Bunny: Hickory Smoke, Black Soot
• Grass: Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• Daisies: Wild Honey, Rusty Hinge, Picked Raspberry

Card Recipe:

From Dies To Die For:

• Stamping Bella Bunny Pile
• MFT Plaid Paper pad
• Pretty Pink Posh Eyelet Borders

I've been inspired by:

• Creative Knockouts - Furry Friends

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Purr-fect Friend

It's the turn of the kitties this week!  This card was made for a kitty loving friend and the sentiment is purr-fect indeed.  I've used my favourite Nottingham Border die again. It's getting a real dusting off at the moment!

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

• Kitty: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, Tattered Rose
• Grass: Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss

Card Recipe:

From Dies To Die For:

• CC Designs Cutie Cats
• Memory Box Notingham Border
• MFT Stitched Basic Edges 2
• MFT Paper pads

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Add a Sentiment

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Best Gifts

We're talking stitching at As You Like It Challenge this time, and although I really love real stitching on cards, it's so much simpler and neater to use stitched dies to apply a bit of texture and interest. I've opted for a curved and straight stitched die edging for my image panel although looking through my dies, a large proportion of them are stitched to some degree!  This card was made for my "bestest buddy", but she's received it now so it's safe to share.

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

• Hair: Antique Linen, Scattered Straw, Brushed Corduroy 
• Skin: Tattered Rose, Tea Dye, Worn Lipstick
• Greens: Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• Sky: Tumbled Glass
• Oranges: Fossilised Amber, Wild Honey, Rusty Hinge

Card Recipe:

From Dies To Die For:

• Daisy Squidgy from Stamping Bella
• MFT Sweet Holiday Penguins (sentiment)
• MFT Stitched Basic Edges
• MFT Stitched Basic Edges 2
• Lawn Fawn Perfectly Plaid Spring Papers

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Sweater Weather Crew

It's gone a bit chilly the past few days so these guys in their woollies seems appropriate. I couldn't choose between the safari and wood set, so I've used both to create a whole crew of cuties gathered together for a coffee.

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

• Moose: Frayed Burlap, Walnut Stain, Tattered Rose
• Fox/Giraffe/Tiger: Tea Dye, Vintage Photo, Gathered Twigs, Tattered Rose
• Polar Bear: Pumice Stone, Antique Linen
• Tiger's Sweater: Stormy Sky, Faded Jeans
• Red Sweaters: Candied Apple, Barn Door, Aged Mahogany
• Green Sweaters: Bundled Sage, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• Sky: Tumbled Glass, Stormy Sky, Chipped Sapphire, Black Soot
• Grass: Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss

Card Recipe:

From Dies To Die For:

• MFT Sweater Weather on Safari
• MFT Sweater Weather in the Woods
• MFT Bundles of Blossoms Papers
• MFT Watercolour Wash Papers
• MFT Stitched Scalloped Basic Edges 2
• Flat Backed Pearls

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Monday Challenge - Stamp It
• Penny Black & More - Animals

Happy crafting
Annette
xx