Thinking of You

I've got a really quick and simple card to share today, using one of my few House Mouse stamps. I like this image because it's perfect for so many different themes. This time, it's a 'thinking of you' card, and I've typed the sentiment in pale grey and coloured over it with a marker.

Card Recipe:

• Image - Amanda Writes
• Typed Sentiment (Praying Angel font)
• Colouring - Distress Ink Reinkers
• Stazon Ink Pad
• The Langton Watercolour paper

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Monday Challenge - Thinking of You
• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Thinking of You

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Patsy - Thinking of You

This is another card using one of the new images from Crafty Sentiment Designs featuring Patsy and Gizmo.  The sentiment is from the same set.

And here's a close up of her when she was on TV last Friday   :0)

Card Recipe:

• Image & Sentiment - Thinking of You by Crafty Sentiment Designs
• Colouring - Alcohol Markers
• Lili of the Valley paper pad
• Momento Stamp Pad Ink
• Button Twine
• Metal brad

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Create with Critters
• Winter Wonderland - Something New (new stamp & sentiment set only released Friday)
• Simon's Monday Challenge - Best Friends

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Fiona Loves Flowers

I've used my beloved Fiona Loves Flowers stamp again today. And, yup, I still love her!  I've followed a simple sketch which allows her to be the focus of the card, but have still managed to sneak in some twine and pearls as embellishments.  I really love colouring this image, even though at first, the thought of attempting those flowers gave me the heebie jeebies!  I think she's worth the effort, and I love her in purple. I hope you do too. :0)

Card Recipe:

• Image - Stamping Bella Uptown Girl Fiona Loves Flowers
• Colouring - Distress Ink Reinkers
• Lili of the Valley promises paper pad
• Stazon Ink Pad
• The Langton Watercolour paper
• Magnolia Doohickey Lacey Border die
• Button Twine
• Flat Backed Pearls
• Glossy Accents

I've been inspired by:

• Handmade Bliss - Sketch
• Simon's Monday Challenge - I for Indigo and Ink (reinkers)

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Antiques Roadshow - Midsummer Night

I've got another reminder card for Squirrel's Antiques Roadshow today, and again this image is one I've had for a while but not used much.  I think I struggled with a theme for her, but I think I've got it right with this sentiment!

Again the flowers, pearls and coloured twine are firm staples in my stash (I have them in pretty much every colour!), and even pearl dots were bought over a year ago.

So dig out your own old stuff and pop over to Squirrel's blog to link up your creation.

Click on the logo below to go straight to the challenge ...

Card Recipe:

• Image - Midsummer Night from LOTV
• Typed Sentiment
• Colouring - Promarkers, Copics
• Cardworks Card base
• Lili of the Valley Shabby Shack paper pad
• Momento Stamp Pad Ink
• Wild Orchid Craft Flowers
• Button Twine
• Flat Backed Pearls
• Viva Pearl Pen - Ice White
• Whiff of Joy banner die

I've been inspired by:

• Deep Ocean Challenge - Flowers

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Where are the pearls?

I've got something worrying to share with you today, because I've been diagnosed with a life changing condition.

It's called EWS.  I have good days and bad, the symptoms come and go, but it's hit me pretty hard today.

I'm going to need a lot of therapy.

Or possibly chocolate.

Actually, better make that a lot of chocolate (and never mind the 'possibly').

So EWS, is 'Embellishment Withdrawal Syndrome'.

The symptoms are clearly present in today's card, which features no embellishments whatsoever.

Not one.

Nothing.

Nada.

Nicht.

Not even any of my beloved pearls.  (yup, I've got it bad)

(OK there's maybe a little stitching, but that doesn't count, right?)

Crafty Little Fairies' new challenge is 'use only one designer paper', so despite the lack of, well, anything, it actually fits that theme perfectly.

I've gone all 'Jen Nelson' on you all of a sudden!!!   I love her style, but get the twitches when I try it myself.

So, take a peek while I nip off to find some chocolate to help me recover from today's bout of EWS.

This is also my final challenge with the Crafty Little Fairies, after 12 months on the team.   I've created with some lovely ladies, and loved every challenge, but it's time to move on.  I hope to see you play along with us this month.

Card Recipe:

• Image - Time Flies by Lili of the Valley
• Typed Sentiment (Wendy Medium font)
• Colouring - Distress Ink Reinkers
• Cardworks Card base
• Lili of the Valley Promises Paper Pad
• The Langton watercolour paper
• Stazon Ink Pad
• Crystal Glamour Dust
• Glossy Accents

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Monday Challenge - Finishing Touch (Glitter!)
• Allsorts Challenge - A Stitch Up
• NordSalten Hobby Club - CAS
• Sparkles - Things with Wings

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Sparkle and Bling

I usually prefer pearls to rhinestones, but I've gone overboard with the gemstones on today's card!

The challenge at Crafty Little Fairies this month Sparkle and Bling so I've used rhinestones in the corner as well as along the scalloped base.  The sweet bunny image and pretty papers are both from Lili of the Valley, and the rich chocolate brown satin ribbon is less 'black' in real life!

Card Recipe:

• Image - Armfuls of Daisies by Lili of the Valley
• Typed Sentiment
• Colouring - Distress Ink Reinkers
• Cardworks Card base
• Country Lady Paper Pad from LOTV
• The Langton watercolour paper
• Stazon Ink Pad
• 15mm Chocolate Satin Ribbon
• Rhinestones

I've been inspired by:

• LOTV Ideas to Inspire - Pretty Papers
• Deep Ocean Challenge - Something Sweet
• Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes
• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Rubber or Clear Stamps

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Double Trouble with Designer Papers

There is a new challenge today at Top Tip Tuesday, and the theme to play along with this week is an easy one.  

Challenge - Use Designer Papers

Optional Extra - Make your own Flowers too!

I've actually made two cards this week as I could not choose between two fab images from Robyn's Fetish, so here they are.

Card Recipe:

• Image - Love Ewe from Robyn's Fetish
• Sentiment - Ribbon
• Papers - Summertime Designs and Heather Jolly
• Colouring mediums - Promarkers, Copics, Dovecraft Shimmer chalks.
• Nesties - Lacey Squares
• Cherry Blossom, 10mm & 15mm roses - Wild Orchid Crafts
• From my stash - Pearls, ribbons

Card Recipe:

• Image - now I lay me down to sleep from Robyn's Fetish
• Sentiment - One of my own Freebies
• Papers - Summertime Designs and Heather Jolly
• Colouring mediums - Promarkers, Copics
• Nesties - Labels 18, Lacey Circles
• Border punch - Martha Stewart Lace Doily
• Ribbons - Fantastic Ribbons
• From my stash - Twine

Our sponsors this week are ...

Robyn's Fetish

and ...

Simon Says Stamp

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 challenge.  I look forward to seeing your creations this week.


I've been inspired by:

• Totally Papercraft - Animals
• OSAAT - Anything Goes
• Sunday Sketch & Stamp - Sketch (Lamb card)

Happy crafting.

Fancy Folds

There is a new challenge today at 2 Sisters Challenges, and the theme to play along with this week is Fancy Folds and we're sponsored by Stitchy Bear Stamps.

Card Recipe:

• Image - Oriental Beauty from Stitchy Bear (think they're having shop problems so doesn't see to be on the shop at the moment)
• Sentiment - One of my own Freebies
• Papers - Shabby Princess
• Nesties - Lacey circles, Labels 16
• Cherry Blossom, 10mm & 15mm roses - Wild Orchid Crafts
• Ribbons - Fantastic Ribbons
• Butterfly - The Works Stationery shop

Please pop on over to the 2 Sisters Challenge Blog to see the other creations by the talented design team, and to enter our challenge.  I look forward to seeing your creations this week.

I've been inspired by:

• Creative Card Crew - Easel Card
• Simon Says Stamp - Anything Goes
• Paperplay - White + 1 (red!)
• Crafty Ann - Around the world

Happy crafting.

GDT at Creative Craft - Sketch

This is my second (and final) week as a guest designer for Creative Craft Challenges.

Creative Craft Challenges are being sponsored by Robyn's Fetish who are providing the prize for the lucky winner of this week's sketch challenge.

Here's the sketch :

And here's my card :

Candy:
By the way, if you like the beautiful ribbon I've used on this card, don't forget there is one more week left for you to enter my birthday candy.  You could win your choice of 4 whole rolls ribbons from the fabulous selection at Fantastic Ribbons.

Card Recipe:

• Image -  Primative Birdhouse by Robyn's Fetish
• Sentiment - One of my own Freebies
• Papers - Heather Jolly
• Ribbons - Fantastic Ribbons
• Nesties - Lacey circles
• Cherry Blossom, 10mm & 15mm roses - Wild Orchid Crafts
• Colouring mediums - Promarkers and Copics
• From my stash - liquid pearls

I hope to see you all join in the challenge, and please pop over to the Creative Craft challenge blog to see the other fab designs by the other DT members and join in the sketch challenge this fortnight.

I've been inspired by :

• Craft your days away - Pink Brown & blue
• Creatalicious - Anything Goes
• Critter - Anything Goes
• Paper Sundaes - Anything Goes

Happy crafting

Tilda's Half Moon Shaped Card & Freebie

There is a new challenge today at Top Tip Tuesday, and the theme this week is "T for ......?".  Your creation should have as many things beginning with the letter T as possible !!!

We're sponsored by Simon Says Stamp who are offering a generous $20 voucher for their store and, as if that was not enough, Pizzazz Aplenty are offering a huge stash of crafting goodies to one lucky winner, so get your thinking caps on for T is for .....?

Here's my card.  My T's are :

Tilda

Thinking of You (sentiment), 

Two birds, 

Two flowers and 

Tried something new (making my own shaped card)

How I made the base card:
I actually made this shaped card by cutting two large circles: one from plain card which is folded in half to be used as the base card, and the other circle cut from pink patterned paper, which I then cut in half.  I then cut out 16 small circles and glued them around the edge of the two patterned paper half circles.

See the picture below which shows the reverse side of one of the patterned half circles with the little circles stuck around the edge, and also the finished result after the two semi circles with their little circle additions are stuck onto the base card.

Tip : Ensure that you attach an even number of mini circles on each half circle, so that the card stands up straight and does not lean to one side.  For example, there are 8 mini circles for each half moon on my sample below, ie 4 mini circles attached to each side of the centre point of each half moon.  The balancing point is therefore in between two mini circles so the card does not roll about, even if the embellies are weighted to one side.

Card Recipe:

• Image - Magnolia Tilda and Magnolia Birds
• Sentiment - One of my own Freebies (see below)
• Papers - Summertime Designs
• Colouring mediums - Promarkers and Copics (mix 'n' match, cos I don't have enough of each!).
• Nesties - Lacey circles
• 10mm roses - Wild Orchid Crafts
• Embossing folder - Cuttlebug Swiss Dots
• From my stash - Pearls, ribbons, Stickles, White gel pen

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 challenge.  I look forward to seeing your creations this week.

Freebie:
As promised above, here is my Sentiment freebie that I've used above.  You're free to download it if you like it; click on the image for a larger version, then right click and 'save picture as' to save to your own computer. 

My conditions are as follows:

1. Please become a follower, then you will see more freebies as they are posted,
2. Please leave a comment on this post to let me know you've downloaded it, and
3. Please don't share my freebies directly with other people.

I also adore seeing your creations using my digi sentiments, so I'd really love you to send me an email with links to your creations so I can pop over for a peek!

I've been inspired by:

• I Love Promarkers - Anything Goes
• Sassy Studio - Hot Pink, Light pink & Black
• Phindy's Place - Going around in circles
• Simply Create - Fly with us (birdies)
• Stampin' for the weekend - My Favourite Things (Pink, Pearls, Glitter, Shaped cards, Girlie)
• CES - Anything but square
• Crafty Calendar - Things with Wings

Happy crafting.

Chelsea's Floral Frenzy

The theme at Incy Wincy this week is Floral Frenzy, and I've used an Aspire to Thrive Children's Charity image called Chelsea.  For my 'frenzy', I've used 3 floral backing papers, including one embossed by a floral embossing folder, Wild Orchid paper flowers and also there are some little flowers on the cute little sentiment from Cuddly Buddly.   I think that's enough flowers for one card ! I've also added a butterfly, some flat backed pearls and some pearl stamens behind the flower arrangement.

Please pop on over to the Incy Wincy blog to enter our floral frenzy challenge, and see the fab creations offered for your delight by the other team members, and to join in with our Floral Frenzy challenge.  Hope you join us this week.

I've been inspired by:

• Papertake - Anything Goes
• Creative Inspiration - Punches & Dies
• Paper Romance - Recipe
• Crafty Catz - Embossing

Happy crafting

One kind word can warm three winter months!

This adorable little girl wrapped up for winter is from Digital Doodling (a blog that has unfortunately shut down, but had some great images and backing papers).  I've used my Promarkers and used a pink colour theme, layered her twice and used shimmer chalks around the base image to create a shaddow.  The papers are digis as is the sentiment, and I've added some pink flowers, ribbons and liquid pearls as embellies.

I've been inspired by the following

• Wild Orchid - Let's get sentimental
• Friday Sketchers - Sketch
• Papertake - Ribbons & Pearls
• Die Cut Dreams - Winter Birthday
• Top Tip Tuesday - All Sentimental
• I Love Promarkers - K.I.S.S.
• Cute Card - Recipe (1 sentiment, 2 layers to the image/2 ribbons, 3 flowers/3 digi papers)
• Stampin' for the weekend - Getting warmed up
• Mark's Finest - Sympathy

Happy crafting

Thinking of You

Wooo Hooo !!!

Happy New Year !!!

Not only is this my first post of the new year, but it is also my first card as a member of the design team for 2 Sisters Challenge Blog so it is a double celebration !

The theme for 2 Sisters this week is 'Thinking of you'.  This pretty little Flower Fairy is from the Lil Diva's range of digi images, and the mauve floral and blue fairydust backing papers are both from Panda Bear's Garden Fairies 8x8 paper pack, both from Stitchy Bear Stamps.  I've coloured her using watercolour pencils and shimmer chalks with a sprinkling of fairy dust (glitter!)

I've used the following embelishments from my stash:
•Lilac pearlescent paper (to matt the fairydust papers and as a plain background for the image),
•Blue liquid pearls
•Silver peel-off coloured with blue perm marker
•Blue chiffon ribbon
•Pink mini gems on the dress
•Pink paper flower

I've really enjoyed my first project for the design team. 
Please leave me a comment to show you've been here.

This card also fits the following challenges:

• The ABC Challenge - K is for Keep it Simple
• Paper Sundaes - Cut it out by hand (image)
• Stamp Something - Use Glitter
• Mark's Finest Papers - Use something new (image & papers)

Happy Crafting

Special Challenge

This card was created for a special challenge over on the 2 Sisters Challenge blog, as follows:

Create a card that has a theme of THINKING OF YOU. You can also use HELLO, JUST FOR YOU, & JUST A NOTE as sentiments on your cards. Please refrain from using the sentiment of get well. Once you have your card(s) made and posted to the challenge, please write an encouraging note in the card and address the envelope to "ANY PATIENT" and then place the card(s) in a package addressed to STACY WALKER, 15 WILLOW WAY, SWANVILLE, MAINE O4915, USA

When your package is on its way please e-mail twosisterschallengeblog@live.com to let Stacy know it is on its way.  Once all the cards have been collected, Stacy will deliver them to the volunteers at the Brigham & Women's Hospital on January 30th to be handed out to patients in their transplant wards. It is hoped that when the patients receive these beautiful handmade cards and read the notes of encouragement it will brighten their day a little.

I think this is such a lovely idea, and therefore I decided to make a card to send off.  I hope this post encourages lots more of you to pop over to Stacy's blog and spend a few minutes to brighten someone's day with your magical creations.

Here's my card:

I've been inspired by the following:

• Two Sisters - Thinking of You
• Just Magnolia - Sketch
• Wild Orchid - Colour Combo
• Top Tip Tuesday - Embelish
• Fab 'n Funky - Quick & Easy
• Craft Your Days Away - Punch It Out
• Magnolia Down Under - A Gift for You
• Aly's Sunday - Anything Goes

One Stitch at a Time - Anything Goes

Allsorts - Free & Easy Anything Goes

I Love Promarkers - Anything Goes

Simon Says - Anything Goes

Crafty Ann - Anything Goes

Creative Craft - Anything Goes

Papertake - Anything Goes

Happy Crafting