Carol Singers

I've got into the swing of the Christmas cards this weekend (it's never too early!), and found this adorable carol singer stamp from Penny Black. I've coloured it with my new promarkers and used some lovely christamassy colours. 

The backing card is a deep satin red, and the snowflake papers are downloadables matted onto silver card held on with silver brads.  The little holly decorations give it some texture and the image is raised on some sticky pads.   These little guys are so cute!

Ho! Ho! Ho!

Lili's Lilacs

I had a very enjoyable night last night designing a couple of cards using the Lili of the Valley Thursday Challenge sketch and my new LOTV stamps.  The two cards below are based on variations of the sketch provided, and are both using some lovely lilac papers that I got from my local craft shop.  It's not easy to see from the pics, but they are satin finish papers which give a real sheen to the cards.

The first one is my current favourite stamp (as it reminds me of Pingu !!)  These little guys are so adorable and the image is a beautiful design. I love it, and hope you like it too!

The overall backing paper is a satin finish pale lilac, and the darker strips are purple satin paper decorated with an edging punch.  The snowflake punchies are in silver card which has not shown particularly in the photo, but the little lilac roses finish it off nicely.  This is probably one of my favourite cards (so far!).

The next design (below) is also based on the same sketch but is a get well card, using another really lovely stamp by LOTV.  I used a crimping tool to give the papers some texture and used similar colours as the above design.  Hope you like it.

Thanks for visiting Nettys Cards



One for the Boys !

Male themed cards are not my favourite type of cards as I prefer 'cute' rather than masculine, but with both my husband's dad and my own dad's birthday this month I had a challenge on my hands. 

I've purchased some cute-but-masculine themed stamps from my current favourite designer, Lili of the Valley, which have given me some great new inspiration.   I'm also ashamed to say that it is only just September and I've already started on my Christmas cards!

These are two of my most recent creations.

There seems to be a bit of a theme going on here, you may notice!   I've been making some attempts at some alternative pop-up style cards, the above being an easel card and the one below a bit of an over complex concertina style (the latter one being a design I don't think I'll try repeating!)

Finally, I've been making good use of my new Promarkers which I've recently treated myself to. I was previously adicted to my twinkling H2O's but as some of my favourite colours were running low, I thought I'd try something new and invested in some Promarkers.  I think I may be converted, although I suspect my trusted H2Os will be making a reappearance soon!

Hope you like my designs.

Decoupage Teddy

 

I've been busy doing decoupage this weekend, and this teddy bear sitting on his park bench feeding the birdies is ultra cute. With its 3D layering 3 levels thick it is one that I'd be proud to send to someone special.


Please visit my website, http://www.nettyscards.com/, to view more cards made by me.

Relax - it's your birthday ...

Although I love stamping, I also have phases where I use my Sizzix cutting machine. I only have the smaller sidekick version, but there are some great Sizzlit dies available. This is one of my favourites for a relaxing girly card, although the intricate parts are very fiddly to assemble. I've used glitter for the soap bubbles and a bubble design backing paper to follow the bubble bath theme.

Bliss !

Please visit my website, http://www.nettyscards.com/, to view more cards made by me.

Favourite Papers

This card features yet another Penny Black image, but this time includes one of my all time favourite papers.

This card uses a flock style backing paper in green; a pale green background with darker green velvet leaves.

I'm always on the lookout for unique backing papers like this one. These can be quite expensive, but don't be put off because a large sheet will go a long way.




Please visit my website, http://www.nettyscards.com/, to view more cards made by me.

Favourite Cardmaking Techniques

I really love this card with its humorous image of the chickens needing a fire extinguisher to blow out the candles on the birthday cake!

Stamping has to be my all time favourite technique, and the Penny Black brand of rubber stamps in particular. The quality is top class and the images are often funny and flexible for various occasions.

As usual, I’ve used my trusted twinkling H2O water colour paints which I love. They last ages too which is good as they were a bit of an investment.

Finally, I've mounted the image onto a pale pink glitter base card.


Please visit my website, http://www.nettyscards.com/, to view more cards made by me.

"Family"

My husband, Paul, on our wedding day in 2005:




Our 2 cats from the local RSPCA rescue centre; 
Arnie (the ginger) and Pickle (tortie) ...

And finally, our 3 chickens from the Battery Hen Welfare Trust; 
Beryl, Mabel and Olive ...

Introduction !

As this is my first posting, I thought that I should introduce myself !

My name is Annette and because I'm a creative person, I'm usually more comfortable being behind the lens rather than in front of it so I've struggled to find a photo to post here.

However, this is a rare picture of me taken by my lovely husband, Paul, while we were on holiday in Venice.