Baby Gro Card is Bang on the Mark

At As You Like It Challenge today we're asking to see your favourite non-standard shaped cardbase. Recently I've tried to use my Silhouette more and have tried making some cardbase shapes to match my image themes. I've used this babygro shape before and it's one of my favourites because it works so well for any baby themed image.  I think shaped cards really make it look like you've made more of an effort for a special occasion and hopefully make a memorable keep-sake for the recipient.

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

• Skin: Tattered Rose, Tea Dye, Worn Lipstick
• Green: Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Peeled Paint
• Blues: Stormy Sky, Faded Jeans
• Reds: Candied Apple, Barn Door, Aged Mahogany

Card Recipe:

• Bang the Drum from LOTV
• MFT Dienamics Stitched Circle Stax
• Nitwit Collections Papers

I've been inspired by:

• Cute Card Thursday - Anything Goes

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Baby Giraffe

We're asking you to share your favourite way to add ribbon to your projects this week at As You Like It Challenge, and I love to use ribbons so this is a fabulous challenge for me!  I like using 2 papers on my cards and use a strip of satin ribbon to cover the join, as well as add a double bow in the same ribbon.  The double bows are really easy to make once you get the hang of them, and I think they look really special.  

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

• Giraffe: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, Gathered Twigs 
• Sky: Tumbled Glass
• Present: Stormy Sky, Faded Jeans
• Reds: Candied Apple, Barn Door, Aged Mahogany
• Ground: Pumice Stone, Hickory Smoke, Black Soot

Card Recipe:

• Toy Giraffe from Lili of the Valley
• Typed Sentiment
• 15mm Satin Ribbon
• Wild Orchid Crafts Cherry Blossom
• Wild Orchid Crafts Open Roses
• Wild Orchid Crafts Mini Rosebuds
• Crealies Crea-Nest-Lies XXL67 Double Stitched Ovals
• Crealies Crea-Nest-Lies XXL65 Double Stitched Circles
• Crealies Edger die

I've been inspired by:

• Cute Card Thursday - Anything Goes

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Heffalump Tags

There's a new release of cute babies and critters at  Lili of the Valley today, and I've made a little trio of tags using some ellies and a fabulous new die (gorgeous Xmas pressie from a lovely friend).  

These Nitwit Collections Papers are some of my favourites with their auqa blue and lilacs, so they were the colour inspiration for my ellie tags.

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

• Ellies: Tattered Rose, Milled Lavender, Dusty Concord
• Outfits: Speckled Egg, Broken China, Peacock Feathers
• Sky: Tumbled Glass
• Ground: Old Paper, Pumice Stone

Card Recipe:

• Lili of the Valley Elephants
• Gummiapan Large Old Tag die
• Pinkfresh Studio Classic Edgers
• MFT Stitched Basic Edges 2
• Flat Backed Pearls
• 6mm Satin Ribbon
• Nitwit Collections Papers

I've been inspired by:

• Cute Card Thursday - Anything Goes
• Simon's Monday Challenge - New Products

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Baby Bunny

It's a new year and there are some new baby images soon to be released at Lili of the Valley.  This one's a cute little bunny and I've made a babygro shaped cardbase for her to sit on.

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

• Fur: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, Tattered Rose
• Sky: Tumbled Glass
• Pinks: Spun Sugar, Worn Lipstick, Candied Apple, Aged Mahogany
• Whites: Weathered Wood, Hickory Smoke, Black Soot

Card Recipe:

• Lili of the Valley Baby Animal Rabbit
• MFT Dienamics Stitched Circle Stax
• Flat Backed Pearls
• Nitwit Collections Papers butterfly Kisses
• Button Twine
  
• Cardbase is a Silhouette cutting file

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Baby Giraffe

There's a new animals or people challenge at As You Like It Challenge this week.  It's an easy "animals" choice for me because I can't resist cute critters such as this adorably sweet baby giraffe. My lovely fur-babies are also more cherished than normal at the moment too and are getting lots of extra snuggles!

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

• Fur: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, Frayed Burlap, Walnut Stain
• Grass: Old Paper, Bundled Sage, Mowed Lawn, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• Sky: Tumbled Glass

Card Recipe:

• Lee Holland Baby Giraffe
• Maja Design Vintage Romance papers
• 15mm Satin Ribbon
• Blue mesh ribbon
• Wild Orchid Crafts Cherry Blossom
• Wild Orchid Crafts Cosmos Daisy
• Wild Orchid Crafts Open Roses
• Wild Orchid Crafts Mini Rosebuds
• Wild Orchid Crafts Lily Flowers
• Crealies Crea-Nest-Lies XXL41 Pierced Circles
• Aqua blue gems

I've been inspired by:

• Country View Crafts - Animal Magic

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Babygro

It's a baby challenge at As You Like It Challenge this week and I've made a little babygro card using a cute image from Lili of the Valley.  I love making shaped cards and this little fella seemed perfect for a cute babygro card. I've added faux stitching around the edge of the card and fussy cut the baby giraffe.

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

• Giraffe: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, Tea Dye, Tattered Rose, Frayed Burlap, Walnut Stain
• Green: Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss

Card Recipe:

• Toy Giraffe from LOTV
• Memory Box Plush Frosty Mitten die (button)
• CC Designs Mini Alphabet and Numbers die
• Embroidery Thread

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Summer Clock

We want to know whether you prefer summer or winter colour combos this week at As You Like It Challenge and for my sample I've made a clock using a couple of cute Lee Holland digi images.

I don't normally opt for orange and yellow but I have been feeling really cold lately (despite it being June!) so I'm craving some warm colours.  These sunshine tones fit the bill perfectly.

The clock template is a freebie (help yourselves from my freebie page if you'd like a copy) and as usual I've water-coloured the images. I've decorated with Glossy Accents (on the numbers) and some Pixie Dust (on the bee wings) which gives them a lovely shimmer.

The bees were actually unplanned, but I like them now they're added.  I'd finished the colouring and was just putting it all together when I accidentally splashed two tiny drops of water onto the clock face. I immediately dabbed them with some kitchen paper, but they left two pale circles in the sky.  I hunted around in my stamps for a small butterfly and found the bees on my Joyful Heart Bears stamp set. They were the perfect size so I popped them on, gave them a bit of colour and shimmer, and voila! 

I've made the clock for a colleague who is due to start her maternity next week. She has a safari theme for her nursery but doesn't know the gender of her baby yet so I hope that, despite the flowers, it's acceptably gender neutral, although to be fair, I doubt her newborn will be using it to tell the time themselves for a while yet.... !

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

• Giraffe: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, Tea Dye
• Heffalump: Tattered Rose, Pumice Stone, Black Soot
• Grass: Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss
• Sky: Tumbled Glass

Card Recipe:

• Baby Giraffe and Cute Elephant from Lee Holland digis
• Bee stamps from MFT Joyful Heart Bears
• Glossy Accents
• Liquid Pixie Dust
• Flat Backed Pearls
• Wild Orchid Crafts Open Roses
• Wild Orchid Crafts Mini Rosebuds
• Clock Mechanism
• Mountboard
• Clock Template (freebie)

I've been inspired by:

• Country View Crafts - It's a Bug's Life using DI reinkers

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

AYLI 6th Anniversary Tag & Blog Hop

When I started As You Like It Challenge I could only hope that it would be popular so I can hardly believe that today is our 6th anniversary. I've got a super team who I'm so proud of every fortnight, including several ladies who've been with me from the start!

To celebrate our anniversary we're having a little blog hop and there's an extra prize on offer in addition to our usual challenge prize.  Make sure you visit each of my teamies and leave a little love in the comments for them, then leave a comment on the main challenge blog to qualify for the blog hop.

Our challenge this week is to create something other than a card, so I've opted for a gift tag. I love wrapping presents and attaching a little homemade tag to my gift.  I also love these oversized tag dies - they're great to still include a full stamped image and some embellishments so it's a fussy and fancy creation too!

Don't forget to visit my lovely teamies, and then leave a comment on the challenge blog:

Anne

Annette  (you are here!)

Brenda

Elaine

Larissa

Lynne

Sarah

Squirrel 

Wilma

As You Like It Challenge

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

• Bunny: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, Tattered Rose, Tea Dye
• Onesie: Milled Lavender, Dusty Concord
• Blanket: Worn Lipstick
• Clouds: Hickory Smoke
• Bear: Frayed Burlap, Walnut Stain
• Moon: Scattered Straw, Fossilised Amber, Fusty Hinge

Card Recipe:

• Bunny Moon from LOTV
• 15mm Satin Ribbon
• Nitwit Collections Papers
• Wild Orchid Crafts Cherry Blossom
• Wild Orchid Crafts Open Roses
• Wild Orchid Crafts Hip Rosebuds
• Wild Orchid Crafts Mini Rosebuds
• Wild Orchid Crafts Lily Flowers
• Crealies Crea-Nest-Lies Extreme Labels and Tags No.12
• Crealies Crea-Nest-Lies XXL65 Double Stitched Circles
• Crystal gems, flat backed pearls and pearl string

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Heffalumps

I've been playing with these adorably cute heffalumps from Lili of the Valley and made a few in lilac with cream ears (no, the ears are not Pringles as one smart-Alec suggested!).  I added a couple of stitches around the eyes for eyelashes and a little bow for decoration.  I made three heffalumps and added some white clouds (a Memory Box die) and cream moon shapes (hand-drawn).

Here's a close up of one of the Lili of the Valley elephants ....

... and here's the finished mobile with all the trimmings:

Unfortunately I found that it was neigh on impossible to photograph because, funnily enough, they all twirled around constantly so I had to keep snapping pictures and hope that in one of the (many) photos I took, one might capture them:

1. facing sideways that you could see their features instead of their backsides,
2. not hiding behind a cloud, moon or another ellie and
3. where none had decided to fly off at a funny angle due to the VERY slight breeze.

Anyhoo, here's another where I'd tried to shelter them behind a low wall.

Finally, here is the other bits on the mobile. The clouds are cut from a Memory Box die and the moon is hand drawn.

Project Recipe:

• Lili of the Valley Elephant Softie Pattern
• Memory Box Stitched Cloud die
• Felt
• Safety eyes
• Stuffing
• Embroidery thread
• Ribbon
• Embroidery hoop
• Wool
• Lace

Created for:

I've been inspired by:

• That's Crafty! - Animal Magic

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Baby Bottle

I've made a second card for the new release of baby images at Lili of the Valley which are due out today.  I've created a bottle shaped base card and added the Clouds image in a pink theme.

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

• Giraffe/Basket/Brown teddy: Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, Gathered Twigs
• T-shirt: Tattered Rose, Worn Lipstick
• Baby: Tattered Rose, Tea Dye, Worn Lipstick
• Bunnies: Worn Lipstick
• Blue teddy: Stormy Sky, Faded Jeans
• Birds: Brushed Corduroy, Tattered Rose
• Sky: Tumbled Glass
• Baby's clothes: Seedless Preserves
• Clouds: Weathered Wood

Card Recipe:

• Flat Backed Pearls
• Nitwit Collections Papers
• Pink twine

Created for:

I've been inspired by:

• The Sketchy Challenge - Anything Goes

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Heffalump Babygro

There's an adorable new baby themed release due tomorrow at Lili of the Valley and I've made this card using one of the cute new images. This guy's called Scruffy Edward and I've used the balloon he comes with to create a bunch which I've fussy-cut and linked to the heffalump using embroidery thread.  I've added some small heart buttons and doodle-stitch around all the edges in markers which complement the papers.

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

• Elephant: Weathered Wood, Tattered Rose, Worn Lipstick, Hickory Smoke
• Jumper: Stormy Sky, Faded Jeans, Hickory Smoke, Antique Linen
• Balloons: Stormy Sky 

Card Recipe:

• Scruffy Edward from Lili of the Valley
• Nitwit Collections Papers
• Navy blue heart buttons

Created for:

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Monday Challenge - Doodle
• The Sketchy Challenge - Anything Goes

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Grandson Bunny

It's another personalised baby card from me today featuring an adorable bunny from Lili of the Valley.  This one's a 'grandson' theme for the same lucky laddie. It's watercoloured as usual but with the no-lines technique - I really must need my head examined when I use this technique because it's so much harder.

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

• Fur: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, Gathered Twigs, 
• Ears: Tattered Rose, Worn Lipstick
• Blues: Tumbled Glass, Broken China, Peacock Feathers
• Purples: Milled Lavender, Dusty Concord
• Pinks: Spun Sugar, Worn Lipstick
• Reds: Abandoned Coral
• Ground: Old Paper, Peeled Paint

Card Recipe:

• Baby Trio from Lili of the Valley
• Wild Orchid Crafts Cherry Blossom
• Wild Orchid Crafts Open Roses
• Wild Orchid Crafts Mini Rosebuds
• Crealies Crea-Nest-Lies XXL41 Pierced Circles
• 15mm Cornflower Satin Ribbon
• 5mm Aqua Crystals
• MFT Dienamics Stitched Tiny Tags
• MFT Dienamics Stitched Banner Alphabet
• Pion Spring Meadow Paper

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Monday Challenge - Tag It
• Crafty Creations - Anything Goes
• That's Crafty! - Feeling Blue
• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Add a Sentiment

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Baby Girl

Following yesterday's baby boy card, I've made a girl version!  I won't go into details because it's much the same, using the same image and sentiment from Lili of the Valley, but just in pink this time.

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

• Fur: Spun Sugar, Worn Lipstick
• Grass: Shabby Shutters, Mowed Lawn, Peeled Paint
• Sky: Tumbled Glass

Card Recipe:

• AlphaBears from Lili of the Valley
• AlphaWords from Lili of the Valley
• Flat Backed Pearls
• Nitwit Collections Papers
• Wild Orchid Crafts Cosmos Daisy
• Wild Orchid Crafts Open Roses
• Wild Orchid Crafts Mini Rosebuds
• Wild Orchid Crafts Tulip Flowers
• Wild Orchid Crafts Lily Flowers
• Crealies XXL #41 Pierced Circles

I've been inspired by:

• Crafty Creations - Anything Goes

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Baby Boy

I've made an easel card for a baby boy using one of my favourite bear sets from Lili of the Valley.  The whole theme is blue and I've added lots of flowers and ribbons to make it a real keepsake card.  We're looking for your favourite dies this fortnight at As You Like It Challenge and I'd have to say for me it's anything stitched, but I really do like circle nesties. I have a fair few of them in different varieties (dotted, stitched, double stitched, scalloped ...) so I think this is probably a good choice although picking a favourite die is like picking a favourite ice cream - you can't pick just one when you have so many delicious ones to choose from!

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

• Fur: Stormy Sky, Faded Jeans
• Grass: Shabby Shutters, Mowed Lawn, Peeled Paint
• Sky: Tumbled Glass

Card Recipe:

• Lili of the Valley Alphabears
• Flat Backed Pearls
• Nitwit Collections Papers
• Wild Orchid Crafts Cherry Blossom
• Wild Orchid Crafts Cosmos Daisy
• Wild Orchid Crafts Open Roses
• Wild Orchid Crafts Mini Rosebuds
• Crealies Crea-Nest-Lies XXL65 Double Stitched Circles
• 15mm Satin Ribbon Cornflower

I've been inspired by:

• Crafty Creations - Anything Goes
• That's Crafty - Something Blue
• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Add a sentiment

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

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

Baby Bunny

I've got another sneaky peek sample of one of the new trio images due out soon from Lili of the Valley, also featuring some beautiful satin ribbon from The Ribbon Girl.

Card Recipe:

From Lili of the Valley:

• Baby Bunny Trios

From The Ribbon Girl:

• Pion Spring Meadow Paper
• 15mm Dusky Blue Satin Ribbon
• 5mm Aqua Crystals

From Dies To Die For:

• MFT Dienamics Stitched Circle Stax
• Glossy Accents

Other:

• Watercoloured with Ranger Distress Ink Reinkers
• The Langton Watercolour paper
• 15mm Blue Open Roses
• 10mm Blue Open Roses
• Cosmos Daisy Flower
• Mini Rose Buds

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Cute

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Deja Vu

You may have read my post just after Christmas saying that some personalised cards I'd made sadly hadn't reached their recipient. :0(   Anyway, I've made a replacement for the baby card as well as a little extra goodwill gesture in the form of a keepsake wall hanger.

Both items feature cuties from Lili of the Valley and lots of frilly stuff from The Ribbon Girl.  I was pleased how they turned out, even though it was heartbreaking to know the first set had been lost after all the effort that had gone into them.

The wall hanger is actually quite large, bigger than it looks her in comparison to the card, but even so the letters I've used (my new CCD Jumbo Alphabet) look mahoosive!  I've die cut them 3 times and layered the top designer paper onto thick purple cardstock to keep them strong as the paper was too flimsy. They're raised up on foam pads too for added dimension.

Card Recipe:

• Image - Special Delivery and Bunny Moon from Lili of the Valley
• One of my own bespoke sentiments 
• Colouring - Distress Ink Reinkers
• Nitwit Collections Snow Princess Papers
• Stazon Ink Pad
• The Langton Watercolour paper
• Wild Orchid Craft Flowers
• Viva Pearl Pen - Ice White
• MFT Stitched Circles
• WOC & Mulberry Flowers
• Ribbon
• Flat Backed Pearls
• Ivory Jute Mesh Ribbon
• 15mm Satin Ribbon
• 16mm Open Weave Lavender Ribbon
• Marianne Design Circle and Flower Stitched die set
• Cart-us Border die
• CCD Jumbo Alphabet Dies

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Monday Challenge - Start Afresh
• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Something New
• Cute Card Thursday - What's New
• The Ribbon Girl - Card Challenge
• Country View Crafts - Anything Goes (using DI reinkers)
• Penny Black & More Challenge - Anything Goes

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Baby Bear

I'll be back on Saturday, but today I'm sharing my last card of 2016 featuring a cute baby bear from LOTV.  I've used some of my favourite papers from the Snow Princess set from Nitwits. The dies are also some of my favourites and the sentiment is bespoke.  I was really pleased with how this one turned out so I was heartbroken to learn that it was lost in the post so was never seen by its intended recipient. :0(

Card Recipe:

• Image - Special Delivery by LOTV
• Bespoke sentiment
• Colouring - Distress Ink Reinkers
• Nitwit Collections Papers
• Stazon Ink Pad
• The Langton Watercolour paper
• Wild Orchid Craft Flowers
• MFT Stitched Circles
• Doohickey Heart border die
• Marianne Design Looped circle die
• Wired purple organza ribbon

I've been inspired by:

• That's Crafty - Anything Goes
• The Ribbon Girls - Any Image
• Creatalicious - Anything Goes

Happy crafting
Annette
xx