Bedtime Stories

I'm so proud to be sharing my project with you today as a guest designer for Crealies.

I've been a fan of Crealies for a long time, especially the large nesting dies and box templates which make cute little gift boxes so easy to make.

But today, I'm sharing a card and matching bookmark tag made with a range of gorgeous products.

On my card I've used one of my favourite circle nesting dies which come in extremely generous sizes to suit all cards without squashing the space around the image.  I also love that it's got a pierced edge which gives it fantastic texture.


I've also used two 'on the edge' dies, one to shape the card base, and the other to create a banner for my ribbon strip.  Again both of these have stitched or pierced edges which give a fantastic finish to the die-cut edge.

I've used a beautiful layered flower die set which I've chalked to add more dimension and combined it with a large pearl in the centre.

The image is 'Bedtime Stories' from Lili of the Valley and I've also made a matching bookmark tag using my large Crealies tag die which also has pierced edge texture.  The tag is really large, and you can see it measured up against the card which, like most of my card bases, is 6x6.

Finally, I've used a fantastic background stamp from Crealies called 'stones' behind the teddy bear to make it look like he's propped up against a wall.  I masked the bear and stamped the bricks either side of him in a pale grey water-based ink. I then my paintbrush to give the stones some detail with some more ink afterwards.

I hope you like my project and thank you again to Annelies and Ingrid for the opportunity to showcase my card on the Crealies blog.

Card Recipe:

• Bedtime Stories by Lili of the Valley
• Watercoloured with Ranger Distress Ink Reinkers
• The Langton Watercolour paper
• Pion Spring Meadow Paper
• Crealies XXL #41 Pierced Circles
• Crealies Duo Dies #35
• Crealies Set of 3 Flowers #35
• Crealies On the Edge Double Dots #20
• Crealies On the Edge with Stitch #7
• Crealies Bits & Pieces Stamped Stones #10
• Crealies Crea-Nest-Lies Extreme Labels and Tags No.8 with Dots
• Flat Backed Pearl
• Ribbon

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Splashing Around Baggie

There's another new release at Crafty Sentiment Designs, and my project today features one of them, called 'Splashing Around'.  I've made a little baggie Simoand decorated it with a tag using the image. The handles are lace and there's a little closure which I've made using a mini magnet.

Project Recipe:

• Image - Splashing by Crafty Sentiment Designs
• Colouring - Alcohol Markers
• Make and Create Victorian Roses paper pad
• Spellbinders Labels 18
• Glossy Accents
• Pink Brad
• Lace
• Ryman's Hole Punch
• Magnet for closure

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Gift

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Splashing Around

This is the same image that I used on my clock a couple of days ago, but this time she's on a CAS card.   In contrast to yesterday's CAS layout, I've used a stitched speech die and 'hello' script die for the panel at the top.

Card Recipe:

• Image - Splashing Around from Crafty Sentiment Designs
• Colouring - Alcohol Markers
• Maja Design Paper Pad
• Mama Elephant Hello Script Die
• Stitched Speech Bubbles

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - CAS
• Copic Marker Europe - Skin

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Splashing Clock

It's been a while since I shared one of my clocks and today's creation features a cute digi from Crafty Sentiment Designs.  I used my trusty clock template (see my freebies page if you want to grab it) and mountboard for the base.  I think this is the last of my clock mechanisms too so it may be my last clock for a while :0(

Card Recipe:

• Image - Splashing by Crafty Sentiment Designs
• Colouring - Copics
• Wild Orchid Craft Flowers
• WOC & Mulberry Flowers
• 15mm Ribbon
• Flat Backed Pearls
• Glossy Accents
• Card-io Majestix mini stamps
• Mount Board for clock base
• Card Template
• Clock mechanism
• Pearl star
• Butterfly Embellishment

I've been inspired by:

• Creatalicious - Anything Goes / Song Inspiration (Splish Splash)

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Birthday Heffalump

It's my last day as Guest Designer for Sketch Saturday today, and I've got a card featuring a cute Heffalump from the sponsors, Bugaboo.  Again he's coloured with my markers rather than watercolour inkies, but I admit that I found the open spaces harder to shade than the more intricate girlies that I've posted the last couple of days.  I think he turned out well though, and is full of fun, bright colours.

And here's the sketch I followed:

Card Recipe:

• Image - Birthday Elephant from Bugaboo (flipped)
• Colouring - Alcohol Markers
• Lili of the Valley paper pad
• Spellbinders Grand Ovals
• Lawn Fawn Stitched Scalloped Border die
• Button Twine
• Glossy Accents

I've been inspired by:

• Creative Inspirations - Anything Goes
• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

House Mouse Notepad

My husband asked me for a scrap paper to make some notes so I decided to make him a notepad. I cut up some A4 paper into quarters and added a cover, binding it together with my Zutter binding machine. I used brass coloured wires to match the natural colour combo, and used a sweet little House Mouse image which matches the note theme. Ironically the papers are from Lili of the Valley's Country Lady pad (now retired) but I've used them more for masculine themed projects as they're neutral colours rather than lots of pinks and purples.  He seemed quite pleased with it. Hopefully now I'll stop finding his scribblings all over used envelopes, the corners of the newspaper and folded up bits of printer paper.

I've used the sketch from Sketch Saturday where the new challenge starts today.  Here's the sketch which I rotated anti-clockwise:

Card Recipe:

• Image - Amanda Writes from House Mouse
• Typed Sentiment (and a bit of patience to print it on the right place on the DP!)
• Colouring - Distress Ink Reinkers
• Lili of the Valley Country Lady paper pad
• Stazon Ink Pad
• The Langton Watercolour paper
• Lawn Fawn Stitched Scalloped Border die
• American Crafts Ribbon (gift from Sue, xx)
• Zutter Binding Machine & Wires

I've been inspired by:

• Creative Inspirations - Anything Goes

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Going Out

I'm sharing a sneaky peek of one of the forthcoming new images from Crafty Sentiment Designs today, and I've combined it with a sketch from Sketch Saturday because I'm joining in as a Guest Designer this month. :0)

Here's the sketch I followed which I rotated anticlockwise one turn:

Card Recipe:

• Image - Going Out by Crafty Sentiment Designs
• Colouring - Distress Ink Reinkers
• Lili of the Valley paper pad
• The Langton Watercolour paper
• Wild Orchid Craft Flowers
• Die-namics Stitched Rounded Rectangle Stax
• WOC & Mulberry Flowers
• 15mm Ribbon
• Flat Backed Pearls

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

A Bite of Strawberry

I'm a guest designer at Sketch Saturday this month, and today's sketch just happens to be one of my favourites so it wasn't hard for me to enjoy this one.

I've used a cute little critter from A Day For Daisies, but I naively didn't fully consider that there's a whole lotta fur on this little guy!  I guess it allowed me some practice of colouring fur!

And I can never have too much practice!

Mind you, even the strawberry was a challenge and I can't blame that on fur (unless you're eating it with the clotted cream I bought at Christmas for the mince pies, and then promptly forgot about!)

Anyhoo, I hope you like him and please do pop over to Sketch Saturday to join in this week.

Here's the sketch I followed:

Card Recipe:

• Image - A Bite of Strawberry from A Day For Daisies
• Colouring - Alcohol Markers
• Maja Design Coffee in the Arbour Papers
• Wild Orchid Craft Flowers
• My Favourite Things Stitched Ovals
• 15mm Satin Ribbon
• Flat Backed Pearls

I've been inspired by:

• Crafty Ribbons - Animals

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Patsy - Good Luck

This is the final sample of my set of 4 for Crafty Sentiment Designs, and this one is 'Dressing Up' with one of the sentiments from the same set.  I love the bright reds on this one, and one of my favourite layouts too.

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

Card Recipe:

• Image & Sentiment - Dressing up by Crafty Sentiment Designs
• Colouring - Alcohol Markers
• Lili of the Valley paper pad
• Momento Stamp Pad Ink
• Wild Orchid Craft Flowers
• My Favourite Things Stitched Circles
• WOC & Mulberry Flowers
• 15mm Satin Ribbon
• Button Twine
• Flat Backed Pearls

I've been inspired by:

• Ribbon Girl - Any Image

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

Patsy - Dressing Up

Today I'm sharing my second card featuring the new release at Crafty Sentiment Designs available from Hochanda TV.  This one's called Dressing Up and includes the sentiment.

And here is my card on TV from a screenshot I took during Suzette's show yesterday.  You were fab Suzette!!!  I loved the shows and it was fabulous to see both you and our cards on the screen.

Card Recipe:

• Image and Sentiment - Dressing Up by Crafty Sentiment Designs
• Colouring - Alcohol Markers
• Lili of the Valley paper pad
• Momento Stamp Pad Ink
• Wild Orchid Craft Flowers
• My Favourite Things Stitched Ovals
• Lawn Fawn Stitched Scalloped Border die
• Memory Box Stitched Clouds
• WOC & Mulberry Flowers
• Flat Backed Pearls

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Monday Challenge - Best Friends
• Winter Wonderland - Something New (brand new stamp only released yesterday!)
• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Create with Critters

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Patsy - I Love You

I'm quite excited today because my lovely As You Like It teamie, Suzette, who also happens to be one of the artists and owners of Crafty Sentiment Designs, has some new images out today, and I've been lucky enough to have been allowed to play with some of them ahead of the release.  Not only that, she's demonstrating her new images on TV today. so if you're near a TV or have access to the tinterweb take a peek at Hochanda TV at 10am, 1pm or 5pm today!  I'm hoping one of my cards might even be on TV!!

I'll post some samples over the next few days, but today's card uses a stamp and sentiment set called Dreams, featuring a little girl (Patsy) and her puppy (Gizmo).

Update!!! ... Here's a screenshot of my card on TV earlier today *big grin*...

Card Recipe:

• Image and Sentiment - Dreams by Crafty Sentiment Design
• Colouring - Alcohol Markers
• Lili of the Valley paper pad
• Momento Stamp Pad Ink
• Wild Orchid Craft Flowers
• Die-namics Stitched Rounded Rectangle Stax
• WOC & Mulberry Flowers
• Satin Ribbon
• Flat Backed Pearls

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Monday Challenge - Best Friends

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Lemon Carrot Apron Card

I'm really excited today because I was picked as this month's guest designer at Bunny Zoe challenge. The them is shaped cards, which is right up my street.  I've made an apron shaped card to fit the food theme of my Carrot Tilda image and lemon papers!

I seem to have a little bit of an addiction to Tildas at the moment, and this one was really adorable to colour. I've even used yellow and green which are my least favourite colours, because I wanted to match the lemon papers I'd used, but I really love how she turned out.

Card Recipe:

• Image - Tilda picking Carrots
• Colouring - Distress Ink Reinkers
• Maja Design Coffee in the Arbour paper pad
• Stazon Ink Pad
• The Langton Watercolour paper
• Magnolia Doohickey Tag die
• 15mm Satin Ribbon
• Flat Backed Pearls
• Rose Organza Ribbon

I've been inspired by:

• Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes
• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Tie it Up
• Allsorts - Summer
• The Ribbon Girl - Any Image
• Simon's Monday Challenge - Home Grown
• All About Magnolia - Summer
• Stamp & Create with Magnolia - Decorative Edge

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Pink Wedding Card and Hanger

I'm a bit premature with today's project because it's intended for a couple who are not getting married for several months, but I got excited when I received all the goodies for it, and decided to plough ahead a bit early!

It is also a project for The Ribbon Girl Challenge where I'm a guest designer for the Lovely Lili theme this week which is to include a charm (and of course a Lili of the Valley image).

I've used 'Wedding Couple' from LOTV and water-coloured the couple using DI reinkers in colours to resemble the intended recipients.  It's a pink themed wedding so I've incorporated those colours too, including lots of gorgeous products from The Ribbon Girl in beautiful shades of pink, white and cream.

Firstly I've made a shaped card, covered with Magnolia papers, and cut the image using my stitched circle stax die.  I added some Ivory Jute Mesh directly onto the backing paper across the middle, and topped it off with a strip of Eggshell Velvet for even more texture.  I've then created a floral frame with a mix of roses, lilies and crysanths, as well as a little loopy string of pearls a lacy bow and a couple of banner shaped strips of Glitter Organza.

If you look closely you might even spot the charm! ;0)

Secondly I've decorated a shaped MDF wall hanger in a matching style.  Here I've added a couple more bits though, as I had a bit more space.  So there is a heart banner die-cut with the wedding date on it, a few more flowers, a beaded twirl and a pretty ivory beaded pin.

And here they are together so you can see the size of the hanger.

Woohoo, I also get to share this badge for the day :    :0)

Card Recipe:

• Image - Wedding Couple from Lili of the Valley
• Typed Sentiment (date)
• Colouring - Distress Ink Reinkers
• Cardworks Card base
• Magnolia Papers
• The Langton watercolour paper
• Stazon Ink Pad
• Whiff of Joy Heart Banner die
• Go Kreate Labels die
• MFT Die-namics Stitched Circle Stax
• Viva Pearl Pen - Ice White

From the Ribbon Girl (deep breath ...) :

• Rose Bud Semi Open Pale Pink
• Lily flowers small white
• Lili flowers small pale pink
• 3mm White Pearl Bead String
• Crysanth White
• Tulip Flower Baby Pink
• Tulip Flower White
• Tiny Ivory/Cream Rosebuds
• Ivory Open Roses
• Ivory Gold Glitter Organza ribbon
• Ivory Jute Mesh ribbon
• Eggshell velvet
• 25mm Amber White Lace
• Vintage Trinket Pin Ivory pearl
• Ivory Flat Backed Pearls
• 8mm Pearl Brad Ivory Silk
• Beaded Twirl
• Heart Flower Charm

I've been inspired by:

• Deep Ocean Challenge - Lace & Pearls
• Bunny Zoe - Hearts (charm & die)
• Stamping Sensations - Anything Goes
• Live & Love Crafts - Hearts (charm & die)
• Simon's Monday Challenge - H is for 'hearts' or 'hanger'
• Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes with optional word print
• Cute Card Thursday - Crazy in Love
• Creative Knockouts - Hearts a Flutter (charm & die)

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Cold Hands, Warm Heart

I'm still in festive mood, with another reminder for the Snow-vember challenge which is happening over at Squirrel's blog.  It ends on 30 November, so get your (ice) skates on and get your snowmen entries in.

I've again tried a spot of grey added to the shadow areas. I don't know why, but I find white hard to 'colour'.  I do like the pink and aqua colour scheme though.  Hope you do too.

Card Recipe:

• Image - LOTV Cold Hands, Warm Heart
• Colouring - Promarkers, Copics
• Clouds - Dovecraft chalks
• Cardworks Card base
• Lili of the Valley paper pad and The Snowman paper pack
• Neenah Classic Crest White Stamping Card
• Momento Stamp Pad Ink
• Magnolia Mistletoe Die
• MFT Snowflake Die
• Satin Ribbon
• Pearls
• Crystal Glamour Dust
• Glossy Accents
• Viva Pearl Pen - Ice White

I've been inspired by:

• LOTV - Christmas
• Bunny Zoe - Snow
• Kit & Clowder - Christmas
• Passion for Promarkers - Entertain Us (The Snowman)
• Sister Act Card Challenge - Anything Goes

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Carolling Trio

I'm still in festive mood today with a quick reminder for the fun Snow-vember challenge taking place over at Squirrel's blog.

The image is quite large so it's another CAS card too, but I did sneak in some peals and a spot of stitching.  :0)

Card Recipe:

• Image - Snowy Trio from Purple Onion Designs
• Typed Sentiment
• Clouds - Dovecraft chalks
• Cardworks Card base
• Lili of the Valley paper pad
• Neenah Classic Crest White Stamping Card
• Momento Stamp Pad Ink
• Pearls
• Crystal Glamour Dust
• Glossy Accents
• Viva Pearl Pen - Ice White

I've been inspired by:

• Craft Your Passion - B for Blue
• A Random Fan - Winter Wonderland
• Stamping Sensations - Simply Christmas
• Bunny Zoe - Snow
• Christmas at Sweet Stampin - Snow People

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Seeds and Greetings

I'm still in a festive mood, with a reminder for the Snow-vember challenge that's taking place over at Squirrel's blog.  But there are no traditional red, green or gold colours in today's creation.  Instead I've used purples and lilacs with a gorgeous shimmery backing paper to match.

And yes, it's another CAS layout - I think this style is growing on me as it really makes me think about my colouring!

Card Recipe:

• Image - LOTV Seeds and Greetings
• Colouring - Promarkers, Copics
• Cardworks Card base
• MFT Snowflake Die
• Embroidery thread
• Card Candi
• Crystal Glamour Dust
• Glossy Accents
• Viva Pearl Pen - Ice White
• Pearl

I've been inspired by:

• LOTV - Christmas
• Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes with Optional Glitter
• The Ribbon Girl - Christmas Card
• Kit & Clowder - Christmas

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Red and Green Winter Wishes

I've got another Snow-vember card to share with you today.  Without wishing to blow my own trumpet, I rather liked this one too!  It seemed jolly and bright, and I really tried hard with the colouring (even though a large proportion of the main character was white!)

Don't forget to link up your snowman themed creations to Squirrel's blog to be in with a chance of winning a festive prize.  I'll be back in a week or so to share another Snowman themed reminder project.

Snowtastic!

Card Recipe:

• Image - Gifts on the Tree from Lili of the Valley
• Rubber sentiment (sorry, I can't remember where I got it, possibly off a magazine!)
• Colouring - Promarkers, Copics
• Cardworks Card base
• Memory Box Bursting Berry Vine Border
• Ribbon scrap
• Crystal Glamour Dust
• Glossy Accents
• Viva Pearl Pen - Ice White

I've been inspired by:

• Deep Ocean Challenge - One Layer
• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes
• The Ribbon Girl - Christmas
• A Little Bit Crafty - CAS

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Welcome to Snowvember !!!

Well, before I move onto today's card, did you all make it safely through Hallowe'en?

All but 2 of my spooky treat pouches were gone by 7.30, and I was about to turn the pumpkin lights off at 8pm when two young witches arrived (one wearing a pink 'hello kitty' cardigan) to take the last two.  We had lots of witches, but also a mummy (although he did expressly tell me several times that he was a male mummy - just so I was sure), a werewolf (who'd lost his mask), Boba Fett (from Star Wars), a pumpkin and a skeleton.

The skeleton shook his treat pouch and asked me whether it contained an X-Box.  Methinks one little character might be a teensy bit disappointed when he opened it, but hopefully he liked the fun sized Mars bar instead.  In contrast, one of the first young witches to arrive was so excited about the treat pouch that she didn't realise there were treats inside, and she nearly burst with excitement to find a Twix fell out.

And as it was Friday, my dad popped over for his long-standing dinner invitation, but by the time he arrived I was already in full flow of 'open the door and shove a treat pouch through it', so he nearly got bag of Maltesers thrown at him.  Then I realised he wasn't in costume!  ;0)

Unfortunately the glow sticks I'd ordered from Amazon for some spooky glow-in-the-dark eyes to put in the bushes didn't arrive in time, so I've got 364 days to make them in time for next year.  But the tombstone I made with a huge box and some crinkled paper and put outside the front door was popular.  Unfortunately mainly popular with snails, who nibbled though the paper wrapping. Hopefully Stazon ink isn't poisonous to snails.

Anyway, for someone who doesn't like Hallowe'en, I enjoy the preparation, although I'm glad it's over now!

So, onto today's creation.  I can't believe how fast October has gone by and it's November already.

And we all know what November means ... without wanting to make you panic ... it's Christmas next month!!!

So to get us all in a Wintry mood, there is a new snowman themed challenge starting today.  You may remember back in September that the lovely Squirrel hosted 'The Great Penguin Challenge'.

Well November is Snowvember, so this month you need to make a snowman themed creation.

The challenge runs for the whole month of Snowvember, and there are some Christmassy prizes on offer for one lucky winner who links up to challenge.

So get your Frosty the Snowman images out and let your creativity flow.  The link and rules are on Squirrel's blog.

Card Recipe:

• Image - Snow is Overrated by Whipper Snapper
• One of my own Freebie Sentiments
• Colouring - Distress Ink Reinkers
• Cardworks Card base
• The Snowman Paper Pad (how apt!)
• The Langton watercolour paper
• Stazon Ink Pad
• Button Twine
• Pearls
• Viva Pearl Pen - Ice White

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes
• Sweet Stampin' - Shaped Cards
• Live & Love Crafts - Favourite Christmas Colours (pink and aqua - I love pink on xmas cards and aqua for it's frosty feel)

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Sugar Nellie

Woohoo, today's the day that I get to be a Guest Designer for Sugar Nellie, and I've got not one, but two cards to share!!!

Even better news is that one of the images I was allowed to play with was from the new release, which just happened to feature some of my favourite characters; Jack, Patch and Puss!

I made a simple card using the image, and typed a sentiment into the banner they were holding.  I coloured the image with my Copics, and tried to create some reflection of light from the birthday candle on the kitty's face.  I created a background of clouds and 'grounded' them with some dusky purple.  Other than a bit of stitching, and some Stickles around the edge, the design was a simple one.

So here's my first card:

My second card features an older image, called Forest Friends.  I've coloured her in pink and green, and kept the colour scheme simple and neutral to focus on the sweet image.  The spotty ribbon is actually a chocolate brown in real life, although it looks almost black in the photo.

Well wasn't that over in a flash!  I've really enjoyed being a Guest Designer for Sugar Nellie. I hope my creations inspire you to pop over to the Funky Kits store where there is a 50% sale on at the moment.  Just be careful you don't do what I did, which is buy a stamp that you already have!  D'oh!  Well, at least it shows I liked it!  ;0)

Card Recipe:

• Image - Sugar Nellie
• Typed Sentiment
• Colouring - Promarkers, Copics, Sakura Stardust Gel pens
• Clouds - Dovecraft chalks
• Cardworks Card base
• Dovecraft Back to Basics Pink Paper,  Wild Rose Studio Brown Papers
• Neenah Classic Crest White Stamping Card
• Wild Orchid Craft Flowers
• Die-namics Stitched Circle Stax
• Magnolia Slender Fir die
• Fantastic Ribbons
• Pearls
• Glossy Accents
• Viva Pearl Pen - Ice White
• Stickles

I've been inspired by:

• Deep Ocean Challenge - Christmas in October
• Inky Chicks - Christmas
• Bunny Zoe - Animals

Happy crafting
Annette
xx