Snow Squirrel

This fortnight at As You Like It Challenge we want to see Anything Christmas!  Nice and easy theme in the final week before the big day!

Designed for:
As You Like It Challenge
Lee Holland

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

• Fur: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, Gathered Twigs, Tattered Rose, Tea Dye
• Greens: Bundled Sage, Rustic Wilderness, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• Sky: Tumbled Glass
• Snow: Weathered Wood, Speckled Egg

Card Recipe:

• Squirrel Looking at the Snow by Lee Holland Digis
• Smooth White Card 160gsm
• Typed Sentiment
• Heidi Swap Minc Foiling machine

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Bunny present

Hot on the heals of yesterday's post, this fortnight at As You Like It Challenge we want to see your favourite critters.  Bob-tailed bunnies are one of my favourite cute and fluffy critters, but I also like cuddly teddy bears, so this image which features both is perfect for this theme!

Designed for:
As You Like It Challenge
Lili of the Valley

Papermill Direct

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

• Bear: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, Gathered Twigs, Tattered Rose, Tea Dye
• Greens: Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Rustic Wilderness, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• Bunny: Antique Linen, Frayed Burlap, Walnut Stain
• Sky: Tumbled Glass
• 'Whites': Hickory Smoke, Weathered Wood, Speckled Egg

Card Recipe:

• Image by Lili of the Valley
• Smooth White Card 160gsm
• Typed Sentiment and Foiling Machine with Green Foil

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Tree-mendous

Is anyone else thinking about Christmas!!!

Designed for:
Lee Holland

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

• Fur: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, Gathered Twigs, Tattered Rose, Tea Dye
• Greens: Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Rustic Wilderness, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• Tree Trunk: Antique Linen, Frayed Burlap, Walnut Stain
• Sky: Tumbled Glass
• Hat: Candied Apple, Fired Brick, Aged Mahogany, Hickory Smoke, Black Soot

Card Recipe:

• Teddy Bear decorating a Christmas Tree
• Smooth White Card 160gsm
• Dark Green Plain Card 240gsm
• Typed Sentiment

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Woolly Balls

I saw Lee's digitally coloured image of this woolly ball bear recently which has inspired me to share this version which I've watercoloured with Distress Reinkers.  I've used hot foil on the sentiment to give it some shine, but have otherwise kept the card clean and simple to give the adorable bear centre stage.

Designed for:
Lee Holland

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

• Fur: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, Gathered Twigs, Tea Dye, Worn Lipstick
• Sky: Tumbled Glass
• Woolly balls: Too many colours to remember (sorry!)

Card Recipe:

• Little Teddy holding balls of Wool by Lee Holland Digis
• Heidi Swapp Foiling machine & blue metalic foil
• Typed Sentiment

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Happy Mother's Day

I love the bear images from Lili of the Valley so I've used this pretty image which is ideal for a Mother's Day card.  At As You Like It Challenge this week, we want to know if you prefer monochrome or colours on your crafting creations. I do prefer to restrict myself to a small number of colours on my images, rather than a whole rainbow, and I carry those colour themes through as accents on my papers, matting layers and any embelishments.  

For this card, I've concentrated on Spring lemons with some accents in orange and green. I've added a small hint of bronze (to match the bear's fur) in the form of a narrow strip of satin ribbon on the base matt (mainly to cover where I'd joined two smaller pieces of yellow card together beneath the image panel).

To finish off my card, I've foiled the typed sentiment using my Minc machine.  It's challenging to photograph the effect of the foil, but it does show fairly well in this photo.

Designed for:
As You Like It Challenge
Lili of the Valley

Papermill Direct

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

• Fur: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, Tattered Rose, Tea Dye
• Greens: Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Rustic Wilderness, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• Sky: Tumbled Glass
• Yellows: Squeezed Lemonade, Dried Marigold, Wild Honey, Rusty Hinge

Card Recipe:

• James with Heart Bouquet from Lili of the Valley
• 6mm Satin Ribbon

Papermill Direct:

• Smooth White Card 160gsm
• Woodstock Giallo Card 285gsm

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Christmas Bear

I've made a Christmas card for my Mother in Law using this cute polar bear, and a spot of foiling on a typed sentiment using my Minc machine for some Christmas sheen.

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

• Fur: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, Tattered Rose, Tea Dye
• Sky: Tumbled Glass
• Sea: Stormy Sky, Faded Jeans
• Scarf: Candied Apple, Fired Brick, Aged Mahogany, Hickory Smoke

Card Recipe:

From Dies To Die For:

• MFT Cool Day (bear)
• MFT Playful Penguins (iceburg)
• MFT Cloud Stencil

Papermill Direct:

• Smooth White Card 160gsm
• Intensive Blue Card 160gsm

I've been inspired by:

• MFT - Ready Set Christmas Challenge

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

You must be Quackers

Does anyone other than me and my nutty husband refer to ducks as 'Jacobs'?  If you're not familiar with the brand, there is a company called Jacobs who make cream crackers, and because ducks are 'quackers', hence the connection!  

Yes, we are loopy in this house!!!

Designed for:
Amanda Jayne Designs

Papermill Direct

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

• Duckling: Scattered Straw, Squeezed Lemonade, Mustard Seed, Rusty Hinge
• Grass: Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Rustic Wilderness, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• Sky: Tumbled Glass
• Purples: Milled Lavender, Wilted Violet

Card Recipe:

• Butterfly Duck by Amanda Jayne Designs at Etsy
• Tutti Fruitti Paper Bundle by Amanda Jayne Designs at Etsy
• Crealies Crea-Nest-Lies XXL34 Double Stitched Squares
• Heidi Swapp Foil (green)

Papermill Direct:

• Smooth White Card 160gsm
• Pompelmo Nettuno Linen Effect Card 280gsm

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Bright & Cheerful

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Paint the Town Red

I love this paintbrush stamp set from Colorado Craft. I've typed a sentiment in a font called 'Take Warning' to look like dripping paint and a couple fo the hamsters with a stencilled background.

Designed for:
Dies to Die For

Water-coloured on Ecoline Watercolour Card 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
• Reds: Candied Apple, Fired Brick, Aged Mahogany

Card Recipe:

From Dies To Die For:

• Colorado Craft Paint the Town
• Taylored Expression Brick by Brick Stencil

Other

• Smooth White Card 160gsm
• Plain Red Card 290gsm
• Crealies Crea-Nest-Lies XXL24 Rectangles with Stichline
• Heidi Swap Foiling machine & red foil

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Easter Bunny

Did you catch the new release of Alphabunnies today on Create and Craft TV?  The whole set is available as both clear polymer stamps and Digis.

Designed for:
Lili of the Valley

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

• Fur: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, Tattered Rose, Tea Dye
• Greens: Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Rustic Wilderness, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• Sky: Tumbled Glass

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Monday Challenge - Easter / Spring

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Namecard

This is my first sneak peek of the new Alphabet Bunnies being released by Lili of the Valley on Create and Craft on Monday at 5pm.   Make sure you tune in to see the whole set. They're going to be available in clear stamps and digis.

Designed for:
Lili of the Valley

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

• Fur: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, Tattered Rose, Tea Dye
• Sky: Tumbled Glass
• Purples: Milled Lavender, Wilted Violet, Villainous Potion, Kitsch Flamingo

Card Recipe:

• Alphabet Bunnies by Lili of the Valley
• Heidi Swapp Hot Foiling machine with purple foil

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Easter Flower Giraffe

Do you know why giraffes don't make good pets?

Well, it's because they're too high-maintenance!  

Get it ?!!!  Oh dear. I'll get my coat.

Designed for:
Amanda Jayne Designs

Water-coloured on Ecoline Watercolour Card 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
• Flower: Scattered StrawWild Honey, Rusty Hinge

Card Recipe:

• Flower Giraffe Amanda Jayne Designs
• Summer Floral Papers Amada Jayne Designs
• Smooth White Card 160gsm
• Organza Ribbon
  
• Typed Sentiment
• Heidi Swapp Minc Foiling Machine

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Flower Gnome

Sharing a flower gnome to get you in the mood for Spring.

Designed for:
Lee Holland

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

• Skin: Tattered Rose, Tea Dye
• Greens: Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Rustic Wilderness, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• Sky: Tumbled Glass
• Flower: Scattered Straw, Wild Honey, Rusty Hinge
• 'Whites': Hickory Smoke, Weathered Wood
• Greys: Pumice Stone, Hickory Smoke, Black Soot, Speckled Egg

Card Recipe:

• Lee Holland Flower Gnome
• Smooth White Card 160gsm
• 15mm Satin Ribbon
• Nitwit Collections Papers
• Crealies Crea-Nest-Lies XXL24 Rectangles with Stichline
• Typed Sentiment
• Heidi Swapp Foiling Machine

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Badger with Paintbrush

A simple card with a watercoloured badger and a typed sentiment. I've foiled the sentiment to give it a bit of added interest but otherwise it's a very simple layout with a matt of dark green to complement the colours in the image.

Designed for:
Lee Holland

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

• Badger: Hickory Smoke, Black Soot, Tea Dye
• Grass: Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Rustic Wilderness, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• Paintbrush: Frayed Burlap, Walnut Stain, Wild Honey, Rusty Hinge, Speckled Egg
• Sky: Tumbled Glass

Card Recipe:

• Badger with Paintbrush Digistamp by Lee Holland
• Font for typed sentiment - Take Warning
• Heidi Swapp Foiling machine and Lime Green foil
  
  

Papermill Direct:

• Smooth White Card 160gsm
• Verde Foresta Nettuno Linen Effect Green Card 280gsm

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Monday Challenge - 4 legged animals

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Teddy with Christmas Lights

I've watercoloured one of Lee Holland's new teddy bear images and created a simple single layer card with a little foiling on the printed sentiment.

Designed for:
Lee Holland

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

• Fur: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, Gathered Twigs, Tattered Rose, Tea Dye
• Sky: Tumbled Glass
• Whites: Hickory Smoke

Card Recipe:

• Teddy Bear with Christmas Decorations
• Glossy Accents
• Glamour Dust Fine Glitter

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Ice Cold

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Daphne the Donkey

It's our last challenge of the year at As You Like It Challenge and we have an 'anything goes for Christmas' theme this week as a super easy way to finish the year.  

I've used a cute donkey digi from Amanda Jayne Designs with a Clean and Simple layout. I've also sprinkled in a spot of foiling on the sentiment, with all my accents in purple.

Designed for:
As You Like It Challenge
Amanda Jayne Designs

Papermill Direct

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

• Donkey: Hickory Smoke, Black Soot, Tattered Rose, Tea Dye
• Purples: Milled Lavender, Dusty Concord
• Yellows: Scattered Straw, Wild Honey, Rusty Hinge

Card Recipe:

• Donkey from Christmas Crackers Bundle by Amanda Jayne Designs
• Heavenly Circles Stencil from Polkadoodles
• Glossy Accents
• Glamour Dust glitter
• Typed Sentiment
• Minc Foiling Machine & Purple Foils

Papermill Direct:

• Violet Plain Card

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Monday Challenge - Holiday Cheer
• Country View Challenges - Christmas
• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Add Some Sparkle

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Bear and Reindeer

There's nothing better than snuggling up in thick warm scarf when the weather's cold!  

I've been foiling again too, although it was a bit more hit and miss today and only shows up in a certain light / angle.  

Designed for:
Amanda Jayne Designs

Papermill Direct

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

• Bear: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, Tattered Rose
• Reindeer: Antique Linen, Frayed Burlap, Walnut Stain, Tattered Rose, Tea Dye
• Green scarf: Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Rustic Wilderness
• Sky: Tumbled Glass
• Reds: Festive Berries, Barn Door, Aged Mahogany

Card Recipe:

• Bear and Reindeer from Christmas Hugs Bundle by Amanda Jayne Designs
• Glossy Accents
• Flat Backed Pearls
• Crealies Double Stitched Squares
• Typed Sentiment (Fonts: "Cute Rita" & "Outside")

Papermill Direct:

• Plain Red Card 290gsm
• Apple Green Card

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Bear and Penguin

At As You Like It Challenge this week we're asking what your favourite Christmas image or animal is, and I think I may have found mine this week!  This adorable new bear has been released at Amanda Jayne Designs and I've totally fallen for him.  Normally, my favourite Christmas animal is a tuxedo wearing penguin (I adore love those funny little waddlers!) but this bear has seriously put my penguin addiction into question. However, just to be on the safe side though, I've added a photo-bombing penguin pal balancing on the bear's paw, but at the moment it's a hung jury!

Designed for:
As You Like It Challenge
Amanda Jayne Designs

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

• Fur: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, Tattered Rose, Tea Dye
• Paw Pads: Antique Linen, Frayed Burlap, Walnut Stain
• Greens: Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Rustic Wilderness, Peeled Paint
• Sky: Tumbled Glass
• Oranges: Dried Marigold, Wild Honey, Rusty Hinge
• Reds: Festive Berries, Barn Door, Aged Mahogany
• Greys: Hickory Smoke, Black Soot

Card Recipe:

• Frosty Friends bear and penguin images from Amanda Jayne Designs
• Mocha Brown Plain Card
• Nitwit Collections Papers Always and Forever
• Crealies Crea-Nest-Lies XXL24 Rectangles with Stichline
• Heidi Swapp Minc Foiling Machine and Gold toner reactive foil
• Fonts: Cute Rita ("Merry") & Outside ("Christmas")
  
• Glamour Dust
• Dr Ph Martin's Bleed Proof White (snow dots)

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Polar Bear

There's an adorable new character released today at Amanda Jayne Designs.  This cute bear has captured my heart and so I've made him the focus of attention on this simple Christmas card. 

I've also been playing with my new Heidi Swapp mini foiling machine to create this lovely festive gold sentiment.  I printed the sentiment in some fancy fonts before foiling it in gold.  I'm really pleased how it turned out although photographing it poses a challenge!

Designed for:
Amanda Jayne Designs

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

• Fur: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, Tattered Rose, Tea Dye
• Paw Pads: Antique Linen, Frayed Burlap, Walnut Stain
• Sky: Tumbled Glass
• Reds: Festive Berries, Barn Door, Aged Mahogany
• Greys: Hickory Smoke

Card Recipe:

• Frosty Friends from Amanda Jayne Designs
• Mocha Brown Plain Card
• Nitwit Collections Papers Always and Forever
• Crealies Crea-Nest-Lies XXL24 Rectangles with Stichline
• Heidi Swapp Minc Foiling Machine and Gold toner reactive foil
• Fonts: Cute Rita ("Merry") & Outside ("Christmas")
  
• Glamour Dust
• Dr Ph Martin's Bleed Proof White (snow dots)

Happy crafting
Annette
xx