Hedgehog Gift Tag

I'm still well and truly in 'gift tag' mode at the moment with this prickly little fella!

Designed for:
Dies to Die For

Papermill Direct

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

• Fur: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, Gathered Twigs, Tattered Rose
• Reds: Candied Apple, Fired Brick, Aged Mahogany

Card Recipe:

From Dies To Die For:

• Gerda Steiner Hedgehog with Sign
• Honey Bee Christmas die

Papermill Direct:

• Plain Red Card 290gsm
• Red Glitter Card 220gsm
• Apple Green Card 240gsm

Other:

• Spotty Ribbon
• Nitwit Collections Papers
• Crealies Crea-Nest-Lies XXL Tag No.12 (with stitching)
• Crealies Crea-Nest-Lies XXL65 Double Stitched Circles
• Creative Expression Sue Wilson Poinsettia

I've been inspired by:

• Gerda Steiner Share Your Designs

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Bear with me

I'm trying to build up my stash of Christmas Gift Tags and this little fella is perfect for a fun decorative tag.  I've cut the base shape out using my Silhouette and lots of scallops and then just layered on some simple circles.

Designed for:
Dies to Die For

Papermill Direct

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

• Fur: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo
• Greens: Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Rustic Wilderness, Peeled Paint
• Sky: Tumbled Glass
• Reds: Candied Apple, Fired Brick, Aged Mahogany

Card Recipe:

From Dies To Die For:

• Gerda Steiner Warm Fuzzies

Papermill Direct:

• Plain Red Card 290gsm
• Apple Green Plain Card 240gsm

Other:

• Crealies Crea-Nest-Lies XXL65 Double Stitched Circles
• Red Twine

I've been inspired by:

• Gerda Steiner Share Your Designs

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Monster Tag

I've created a tag using my rounded rectangle die and curved the top using a stitched oval die. It's decorated with Party Plaid papers, Eyelet border dies and a little top tab using one of the smaller rounded rectangle dies.

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

• Cake: Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, Gathered Twigs 
• Greens: Bundled Sage, Mowed Lawn, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• Reds: Candied Apple, Barn Door, Aged Mahogany

Card Recipe:

From Dies To Die For:

• Gerda Steiner Coffee Monster
• MFT Dienamics Inside Out Stitched Rounded Rectangle Stax
• MFT Dienamics Stitched Oval Stax
• MFT Dienamics Stitched Circle Stax
• Pretty Pink Posh Eyelet Border Dies
• MFT Party Plaid Paper Pad
• Whimsy Stamps Birthday Word and Shadow Die

I've been inspired by:

• Gerda Steiner Share your Designs
• Crafty Catz - Anything Goes
• Cute Card Thursday - Anything Goes

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

He's behind you ...

I'm in clean 'n' simple mode today with this Gerda Steiner image using my new eyelet border dies to add a bit of interest.



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

• Elephant: Hickory Smoke, Black Soot, Tattered Rose
• Browns: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, Gathered Twigs 
• Skin: Tattered Rose, Tea Dye, Worn Lipstick
• Greens: Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss

Card Recipe:

From Dies To Die For:

• Gerda Steiner Go Wild stamp set
• Sentiment from Gerda Steiner Moody Unicorn set
• Pretty Pink Posh Eyelet Border
• MFT Papers

I've been inspired by:

• Gerda Steiner - Share your Design

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Kitty Cats

I'm back to birthday cards today with a cute kitty card using this Gerda Steiner Cats set.

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

• Ginger Kitty: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, Gathered Twigs 
• Grey Kitty: Hickory Smoke, Black Soot
• Grass: Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss

Card Recipe:

• Gerda Steiner All Cats
• Lawn Fawn Stitched Border Dies
• Lawn Fawn Plaid Papers

I've been inspired by:

• Gerda Steiner Share Your Designs
• Simon's Monday Challenge - Happy Birthday (using Ranger Distress Ink Reinkers)

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Go Wild Tags

A quickie post from me today to share a couple of supersized gift tags using some Gerda Steiner stamps. I love this giraffe's surprised expression!

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

• Fur: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, Gathered Twigs 

Card Recipe:

• Gerda Steiner Go Wild
• Versafine Ink Pad
• MFT Dienamcis Stitched Square Stax
• Crealies Crea-Nest-Lies Extreme Labels and Tags No.12
• MFT Paper pad
• Spotty Satin Ribbon

I've been inspired by:

• Gerda Steiner's Share Your Designs
• Simon's Wednesday Challenge -Anything Goes

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Owl

I know this little guy looks a tad grumpy, but there's something about his quirky expression that makes me smile!  (pretty similar to the expression I have when my husband reckons that he really has done something that I've asked!).

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

• Owl: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, Gathered Twigs 
• Leaves: Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• Trunk: Frayed Burlap, Walnut Stain

Card Recipe:

From Dies To Die For:

• Gerda Steiner Owl Rather Be With You
• MFT Dienamics Stitched Oval Stax
• Clouds - no longer stocked, but similar here
• MFT Paper pads

Other:

• Orange Spotty Ribbon
• Gold Organza Ribbon
• Wild Orchid Crafts Cosmos Daisy
• Wild Orchid Crafts Open Roses
• Wild Orchid Crafts Mini Rosebuds
• Memory Box Stitched Clouds
• Flat backed pearls

I've been inspired by:

• Gerda Share Your Designs

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Sending some Warm Fuzzies

I love these cute images from Gerda Steiner and have made them the focus of some quick cards.

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

• Penguin: Hickory Smoke, Black Soot, Wild Honey, Rusty Hinge 
• Bear: Pumice Stone, Tattered Rose
• Greens: Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• Sky: Tumbled Glass
• Reds: Abandoned Coral, Festive Berries, Fired Brick, Aged Mahogany

Card Recipe:

From Dies To Die For:

• Long Time No See Penguin
• Warm Fuzzies Bear
• MFT Dienamcis Stitched Square Stax

I've been inspired by:

• Gerda Steiner - Share Your Designs

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

My Favourite Earthling

I've been inking again to create this little scene using Alien Invasion from Gerda Steiner which were a Christmas present from a lovely friend.  I've blended Distress Inks to create the background and added white gel pen stars.  The sentiment is from the same set.
Water-coloured on Langton Watercolour paper with Ranger Distress Ink Reinkers:

• Aliens: Shabby Shutters, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• Sky: Faded Jeans, Chipped Sapphire, Black Soot
• Purples: Dusty Concord, Wilted Violet
• Light Beam: Squeezed Lemonade, Fossilised Amber

Card Recipe:

From Dies To Die For:

• Alien Invasion from Gerda Steiner
• Versafine Ink Pad
• Stitched Rectangle die

I've been inspired by:

• Penny Black and More - Anything Goes
• Gerda Steiner - Share Your Designs

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Whooo is having a Birthday?

This is the third of my moonscape cards using my Gerda Steiner owls.  The sentiment is from the same stamp set.  The image and background are all coloured with DI inks (pads for the background and reinkers for the stamped image).

My little owl, with the moonscape tutorial, is included in this month's copy of Making Cards magazine so please go and buy your copy if you've not already!

Card Recipe:

From Dies To Die For:

• Gerda Steiner Owl Rather Be With You
• Versafine Ink Pad
• MFT Stitched Basic Edges 2
• MFT Stitched Scalloped Basic Edges 2
• MFT Plaid Papers

I've been inspired by:

• Creative Inspirations - Anything Goes
• Gerda Steiner Share Your Design
• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Clean & Simple using DI ink pads & Reinkers

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

He's behind you...

I've combined a couple of Gerda Steiner stamp sets to create a scenic safari themed card.  I'm not sure that the little park ranger knows that he has some companions although they don't look like they're about to gobble him up!

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

• Ranger's outfit: Tea Dye, Vintage Photo, Gathered Twigs
• Skin: Tattered Rose, Tea Dye, Worn Lipstick
• Rhino: Hickory Smoke, Black Soot
• Lion: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, Gathered Twigs
• Crocodile: Crushed Olive, Peeled Paint
• Ostrich: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy
• Elephant: Pumice Stone, Tattered Rose
• Grass: Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss, 
• Sky: Tumbled Glass, Broken China

Card Recipe:

From Dies To Die For:

• Gerda Steiner Party Animals
• Gerda Steiner Go Wild
• Versafine Ink Pad
• MFT Stitched Basic Edges 2
• MFT Plaid Papers

I've been inspired by:

• Penny Black & More - Make someone smile
• Gerda Steiner - Share your Designs

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Happy Halloween

I don't 'do' spooky so I've made some cute Halloween bunting using a couple of Gerda Steiner stamp sets.  I've inked the backgrounds then die cut them into banners and strung them together with some purple ribbon. Simples!

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

• Cat/Dog/Owl: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, Gathered Twigs
• Purples: Milled Lavender, Dusty Concord, Wilted Violet
• Moon: Antique Linen
• Spider/Bat: Hickory Smoke, Black Soot
• Oranges: Wild Honey, Spiced Marmalade, Carved Pumpkin, Rusty Hinge

Card Recipe:

From Dies To Die For:

• Gerda Steiner Where's the Candy?
• Gerda Steiner Bats
• Versafine Ink Pad
• Bunting Dies

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Monday Challenge - Take Flight
• That's Crafty! - Spookalicious
• Gerda Steiner - Share your designs
• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Halloween Flags

We want to know your favourite Halloween colours at As You Like It Challenge this week.  I love purple for Halloween and am not usually a fan of orange, but I love it combined with the purple for these backgrounds for a pop of bright colour. 

I've used a banner die to create the flags and used some twigs from the garden through some punched holes to make little flags.

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

• Dog/Cat/Owl: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, Gathered Twigs
• Purples: Milled Lavender, Dusty Concord, Wilted Violet
• Oranges: Wild Honey, Spiced Marmalade, Carved Pumpkin, Rusty Hinge
• Sheets: Pumice Stone

Card Recipe:

From Dies To Die For:

• Gerda Steiner Where's the Candy Stamp Set
• Versafine Ink Pad
• Bunting Dies

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Monday Challenge - Halloween / Spooky (using Ranger Distress Ink Reinkers)
• That's Crafty! - Spookalicious
• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Halloween / Spooky (using Ranger Distress Ink Reinkers)
• Gerda Steiner - October Share Your Design

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

You Make Every Day Better

I've been playing with some cute owls from Gerda Steiner today.  I masked the owls before adding the tree and used a sentiment from an MFT set.

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

• Owls: Antique Linen, Tea Dye, Vintage Photo, Gathered Twigs
• Greens: Twisted Citron, Shabby Shutters, Mowed Lawn, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• Tree: Frayed Burlap, Walnut Stain

Card Recipe:

From Dies To Die For:

• Gerda Steiner Fall In Love
• MFT Friends Furever
• MFT Bundles of Blossoms Pastels Paper Pack
• Versafine Ink Pad

I've been inspired by:

• Creative Inspirations - CAS or Fussy & Fancy
• Crafty Calendar - Things with Wings
• Gerda Steiner - Share Your Designs

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Christmas Cookies

Since it's still not feeling like Spring here yet, I've opted for another tally mark on the Christmas card stock with a cute mouse and sentiment from Gerda Steiner.  The papers are not specifically festive but are sufficiently versatile to fit the bill!

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

• Fur: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, Gathered Twigs
• Greens: Twisted Citron, Shabby Shutters, Mowed Lawn, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• Reds: Abandoned Coral, Aged Mahogany
• White/Ground: Hickory Smoke, Black Soot
• Cookies/Boots: Brushed Corduroy, Ground Espresso

Card Recipe:

From Dies To Die For:

• Gerda Steiner Smell Like Christmas
• MFT Plaid Patterns Merry & Bright Paper Pack
• Versafine Ink Pad
• MFT Stitched Basic Edges
• Flat Backed Pearls

I've been inspired by:

• Creatalicious - Anything Goes
• Gerda Steiner - Share Your Designs

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Do I Smell Cake?

I think I could probably sniff out chocolate at 50 paces, but this little fella has sniffed out a huge cupcake that he's now got is eyes on.  I don't think the cake would've lasted too long with me but it looks like it's about to disappear soon anyway.

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

• Monster: Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• Purples: Milled Lavender, Dusty Concord
• Pinks: Spun Sugar, Worn Lipstick
• Ground: Pumice Stone, Black Soot

Card Recipe:

From Dies To Die For:

• Gerda Steiner Monster Fun
• Versafine Ink Pad
• MFT Stitched Scalloped Basic Edges 2
• MFT Stitched Basic Edges 2

Other:

• Nitwit Collections Papers
• 5mm Crystal Gems

I've been inspired by:

• That's Crafty - Circles
• The Sketchy Challenge - Favourite colours (purple with a splash of pink)
• Gerda Steiner - Share Your Designs
• Simon's Monday Challenge - Mythology (monsters!)

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Love gnomes no boundaries

I've been playing with these sweet gnomes this week to create a bright and fun card. The punny text was typed and I noted the irony of offsetting the sentiment outside the "boundary" of the image panel! :0)

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
• Greens: Shabby Shutters, Mowed Lawn, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• Sky: Tumbled Glass
• Reds: Candied Apple, Aged Mahogany
• 'Whites': Pumice Stone
• Belt: Pumice Stone, Black Soot
• Flowers: Mustard Seed, Wild Honey, Rusty Hinge

Card Recipe:

• Gerda Steiner 
• Nitwit Collections Papers
• Sentiment typed (Font: Beneath your beautiful chunk)

I've been inspired by:

• Gerda's Monthly Challenge
• Cute Card Thursday - Anything Goes
• Creatalicious Challenge - Friendship

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

You Make My Heart Happy

There's romance in the air with a Gerda Steiner stamp set called 'Fall in Love'. I've used the pair of squirrels with the tree, masking the little critters to make sure they appeared to 'sit' on the branch.  The sentiments in the 'Fall in Love' set are autumnal so I've added a sentiment from an MFT set called Friends Furever instead.

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

• Fur: Tea Dye, Vintage Photo, Gathered Twigs, Tattered Rose
• Greens: Twisted Citron, Shabby Shutters, Mowed Lawn, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• Tree: Frayed Burlap, Walnut Stain

Card Recipe:

From Dies To Die For:

• Gerda Steiner Fall In Love
• MFT Friends Furever
• MFT Bundles of Blossoms Pastels Paper Pack
• Versafine Ink Pad

I've been inspired by:

• Gerda Steiner - Share your designs

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Take a Break!

Happy Friday!!!  

Today's 'Take a Break' card is extremely apt because it's my last day working in a company where I've been for over 20 years.  I've got some new adventures planned just around the corner which are going to keep me very busy, but for the final time, in my present role at least ... it's pens down and relax!  

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

• Fur: Hickory Smoke, Tattered Rose, Black Soot
• Greens: Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• Blues: Stormy Sky, Faded Jeans
• Reds: Festive Berries, Fired Brick, Aged Mahogany
• Shelf: Frayed Burlap, Walnut Stain

Card Recipe:

• Cat in Bookshelf from Gerda Steiner
• Sentiment from Gerda Steiner's Monster Fun clear stamp set

I've been inspired by:

• Gerda Steiner Monthly Challenge

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Good Luck on your New Adventure

I'm feeling 'lost in space' today with my astronaut themed scene using a set from Gerda Steiner.  I stamped the little guy, his martian buddy, the spaceship and masked them all along with the moon (a plain masked circle) before using my dauber to ink around the edge of the card with some DI Stormy Sky, Faded Jeans and Black Soot inks.  I then coloured my scene trying to give a little moon-glow to my spaceman's outfit and shaded the moon with some Scattered Straw ink.  I stamped the sentiment at the end to finish it off.

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
• Martian: Twisted Citron, Shabby Shutters, Mowed Lawn, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• Sky: Stormy Sky, Faded Jeans, Black Soot
• Reds: Abandoned Coral, Fired Brick, Aged Mahogany
• "Whites": Weathered Wood
• Spaceship: Weathered Wood, Hickory Smoke, Black Soot, Tumbled Glass
• Flame: Fossilized Amber, Spiced Marmalade, Carved Pumpkin, Rusty Hinge
• Moon: Scattered Straw

Card Recipe:

From Dies To Die For:

• Gerda Steiner Blast Off
• Versafine Ink Pad

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Monday Challenge - Road Trip
• Gerda Steiner - Share Your Designs

Happy crafting
Annette
xx