Beary Happy Birthday

I've masked a couple of stamps to create this Beary Happy Birthday card in Springtime colours for a cheerful card.  The organza ribbon has been accented with some cream satin ribbon to give some texture to an otherwise clean and simple layout. I've used some sparkle gel pens on the balloons, candles and cake icing.

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
• Cake: Frayed Burlap, Walnut Stain
• Balloons: Milled Lavender, Dusty Concord, Seedless Preserves, Spun Sugar, Worn Lipstick, Picked Raspberry, Kitsch Flamingo
• Candlelight: Squeezed Lemonade, Mustard Seed

Card Recipe:

From Dies To Die For:

• MFT Beary Special Birthday
• MFT BB Cool Day (Sentiment)
• MFT Watercolour Paper Pad
• MFT Stitched Basic Edges 2
• Intensive Pink Card
• 6mm Cream Satin Ribbon
• 15mm Organza Ribbon

I've been inspired by:

• Sketch Challenge 688
• Colour Challenge 231  
  
  
  

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Moonlight Bear

My recent cards have been fairly simple in layout, but this one has a little extra effort with a blended moonscape background for my watercoloured bear.

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

• Fur: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, Tattered Rose, Tea Dye
• Scarf: Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Rustic Wilderness, Peeled Paint, Hickory Smoke
• Snow: Speckled Egg
• Moon: Scattered Straw, Antique Linen

Card Recipe:

• Polar Opposties by MFT
• Honey Bee Christmas die
• Smooth White Card 160gsm
• Fuchsia Pink Pure Pearl Card
• Nitwit Collections Papers
• Crealies Crea-Nest-Lies XXL24 Rectangles with Stichline

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Monday Challenge - Let it Snow
• Country View Crafts - Christmas using Ranger Distress Ink Reinkers (for watercolouring the bear) & Inkpads (for blending the background)

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

Sweater Weather - Moose

This is the last one in the set, I promise! 

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, Tea Dye
• Antlers: Frayed Burlap, Walnut Stain
• Reds: Candied Apple, Fired Brick, Aged Mahogany

Card Recipe:

From Dies To Die For:

• MFT Sweater Weather in the Woods
• Avery Elle North Pole Pals (sentiment 'Christmas')
• Spellbinders Serenade Sentiment Etched Dies

Papermill Direct:

• Smooth White Card 160gsm
• Plain Red Card 290gsm

I've been inspired by:

• MFT - Ready Set Christmas

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Sweater Weather - Zebra

I'm back with another 'Sweater Weather' card in my quick-makes series!  

Designed for:
Dies to Die For

Papermill Direct

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

• Zebra: Hickory Smoke, Black Soot, Tattered Rose
• Reds: Candied Apple, Fired Brick, Aged Mahogany

Card Recipe:

From Dies To Die For:

• MFT Sweater Weather on Safari
• Avery Elle North Pole Pals (sentiment 'Christmas')
• Spellbinders Serenade Sentiment Etched Dies

Papermill Direct:

• Smooth White Card 160gsm
• Plain Red Card 290gsm

I've been inspired by:

• MFT - Ready Set Christmas

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Sweater Weather - Giraffe

Another little critter in my set of  Clean and Simple Christmas cards, this time featuring am adorable giraffe!

Designed for:
Dies to Die For

Papermill Direct

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

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

• Giraffe: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, Gathered Twigs 
• Purples: Milled Lavender, Dusty Concord, Wilted Violet, Villainous Potion

Card Recipe:

From Dies To Die For:

• MFT Sweater Weather on Safari
• Avery Elle North Pole Pals (sentiment 'Winter')
• Spellbinders Serenade Sentiment Etched Dies

Papermill Direct:

• Smooth White Card 160gsm
• Violet Plain Card 290gsm

I've been inspired by:

• MFT - Ready Set Christmas

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Sweater Weather - Polar Bear

Today I'm sharing two cards along the same theme, but in different colour combos.  Red and green are traditional Christmas colours, but I also love purple for a more frosty themed card too.

Designed for:

Dies to Die For

Papermill Direct

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

• Fur: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, Tattered Rose, Tea Dye
• Purples: Milled Lavender, Dusty Concord, Wilted Violet, Villainous Potion
• Reds: Candied Apple, Fired Brick, Aged Mahogany

Card Recipe:

From Dies To Die For:

• MFT Sweater Weather in the Woods
• Avery Elle North Pole Pals (sentiment 'Christmas')
• Spellbinders Serenade Sentiment Etched Dies 'Wishes'

Papermill Direct:

• Smooth White Card 160gsm
• Plain Red Card 290gsm
• Violet Plain Card 290gsm

I've been inspired by:

• Stamping Sensations - Get ready for Christmas
• MFT - Ready Set Christmas

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Sweater Weather - Fox and Owl

I'm building up my Christmas cards with a simple design featuring these Sweater Weather images from My Favorite Things. Just a little stencilling and a die cut sentiment keeps the design very clean and simple.

Designed for:
As You Like It Challenge

Papermill Direct

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
• Reds: Candied Apple, Fired Brick, Aged Mahogany

Card Recipe:

From Dies To Die For:

• MFT Sweater Weather in the Woods
• Avery Elle North Pole Pals (sentiment 'Winter')
• Spellbinders Serenade Sentiment Etched Dies

Papermill Direct:

• Smooth White Card 160gsm
• Apple Green Card 240gsm

I've been inspired by:

• Stamping Sensations - Get Ready For Christmas

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Your Friendship keeps me Warm on Cool Days

I've realised that it's nearly October and I'm behind with my Christmas cards. Hubby often jokes that I start making next year's festive cards on Boxing day, but that's not actually far from reality! Christmas is my favourite theme to craft for, so I do make wintry cards throughout the year. This year I've been slacking, so it's time to get a wriggle on!

For this card, I've stamped a cute polar bear and perched on an iceburg. I've masked both elements and used a sheet of paper to mask the horizon so that I can ink the sea using Salty Ocean (very apt!).  I've used a cloud stencil to lightly ink the sky with Tumbled Glass, and added a few hand-drawn sea birds inthe background.  

The panel is framed by a stitched line for a tiny bit of texture, and some card in a shade of blue that matches my sea to bring it all together.  Finally I've stamped the sentiment which is perfect for a close friend at Christmas.

White animals are quite a challenge because white is usually the parts left uncoloured, so instead I'm only colouring the shadows.  But too much and it looks dirty and too little makes it look like you've forgotten to colour at all!  I quite like the darker contrasts of the shaded parts of this guy so even though there is a lot of white space on the rest of the card, my polar bear still looks different enough despite some of his curvaceous belly still being left uncoloured.

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

• Polar: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, Hickory Smoke
• Sky/Iceburg: Tumbled Glass
• Sea: Salty Ocean
• Reds: Candied Apple, Fired Brick, Aged Mahogany

Card Recipe:

• MFT Cool Day (Polar Bear)
• MFT Playful Penguins (iceburg)
• MFT Polar Opposites (sentiment)
• MFT Dienamics Stitched Rectangle Stax
• MFT Mini Cloud Edges Stencil
• Ocean Blue Plain Card
  

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Beary Sweet Wishes

For someone who doesn't like yellows and oranges, I seem to have a Springtime colour theme going on recently. It must be the hope of warmer days on the horizon. Unfortunately I think we have a short cold spell to get through before we see Spring arrive so I will have to make do with some sunshine inspired crafting instead.

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
• Yellows: Scattered Straw, Squeezed Lemonade, Mustard Seed, Wild Honey, Rusty Hinge
• Greys: Hickory Smoke, Black Soot

Card Recipe:

From Dies To Die For:

• MFT Sunshine Friends

Papermill Direct:

• Smooth White Card 160gsm
• Mocha Brown Card 240gsm

Other:

• 15mm Satin Ribbon
• Nitwit Collections Papers
• Cherry Blossom
• Open Roses
• Mini Rosebuds

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Let's Stick Together Forever

I've used the name of this prickly stamp set from MFT as inspiration for a Valentine themed project.

The lettering is typed in a font called 'Tasty Burger' and cut out in plain red card using my Silhouette. 

I've outlined the text firstly in black card then baby pink and hammered white card to give it some depth and shadow.

I've also embossed the red card which was quite fiddly with the dinky apostrophe but I laid some tape across the back of the whole strip after cutting it so that the letters didn't fall out while I embossed them.  I then glued them all onto the black outline using the negative as a guide to ensure they were all correctly spaced and level.

The little cactus couple image is stamped, watercoloured and included in the outline shadow so that it forms part of the overall shape of the cardbase.

Designed for:
Dies to Die For

Papermill Direct

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

• Greens: Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Rustic Wilderness, Peeled Paint
• Reds: Candied Apple, Fired Brick

Card Recipe:

From Dies To Die For:

• MFT Let's Stick Together Stamp Set
• MFT Let's Stick Together Die Set
• Whimsy Slimline Embossing Folder - Thatched

Papermill Direct:

• Plain Red Card 290gsm
• Black Plain Card 240gsm
• Baby Pink Plain Card 240gsm
• Hammered White Card 255gsm

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Emboss it

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Wish Big!!!

A very clean and simple card, embossed main panel layered onto a pop of red, with a die cut sentiment in red glitter card. 

Simples!

Card Recipe:

From Dies To Die For:

• MFT Dienamics Wish Die

Papermill Direct:

• Smooth White Card 160gsm
• Post Box Red Smooth 240gsm
• Red Glitter Card 220gsm

From Simon Says Stamp:

• Simon Says Stamp Kaleidoscope Embossing Folder

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Fun with Dies
• Crafty Catz - Anything Goes
• Country View Crafts - Be Sentimental

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Big Birthday Scraps

I've used the MFT Big Birthday Wishes die to create a simple card in some various purples and gingham cardstock.  I've cut the wording out from Hammered Cream card and used alternating stripes of scraps behind to show through the negative. It's all layered onto Deep Violet card and finally onto a cream cardbase.

Designed for:
Dies to Die For

Papermill Direct

Card Recipe:

From Dies To Die For:

• MFT Big Birthday Wishes
• MFT A2 Stitched Rectangles

Papermill Direct:

• Rich Cream Hemp Card 255gsm
• Violet Plain Card 290gsm
• Dark Violet Plain Card 240gsm
• Lilac Gingham 300gsm

I've been inspired by:

• Country View Crafts - Be Sentimental

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Big Birthday Wishes

A really simple card (no colouring!) using this Big Birthday Wishes die from MFT.

I've embossed some Rich Cream hammered card for extra texture and it's all layered onto a violet card frame before adding onto a cream cardbase.

Designed for:
Dies to Die For

Papermill Direct

Card Recipe:

From Dies To Die For:

• MFT Big Birthday Wishes
• Pinkfresh Studio Sparkling Diamond Die

Papermill Direct:

• Violet Plain Card 290gsm
• Rich Cream Hammered Card

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Mouse Tags

I've been playing with my new MFT tags and Mouse stamp set to create this sweet duo of gift-tags.  

The two meecies are waterecoloured and fussy cut, and I've added a trim of coloured paper cut with a stitched cloud edger die at the top.

The tags are cut in a hammered cream card with a base ourline in a matching solid colour. 

I've added some soft seam binding and organza ribbon to finish them off.

Designed for:
Dies to Die For

Papermill Direct

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

• Mice: Hickory Smoke, Black Soot, Tattered Rose, Tea Dye
• Blues: Tumbled Glass, Mermaid Lagoon
• Purples: Milled Lavender, Dusty Concord, Wilted Violet

Card Recipe:

From Dies To Die For:

• MFT Mice Day to Celebrate Stamp set
• MFT Mice Day to Celebrate matching dies
• MFT Tall Tag Duo Dynamics
• Lawn Fawn Puffy Cloud Border Dies

From Papermill Direct

• Violet Card 290gsm
• New Turquoise Card 170gsm
• Ivory Hammered Card 255gsm

Other

• 15mm Organza Spotty Ribbon
• 15mm purple seam binding

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Monday Challenge - Four-Legged Animals

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Mice Day to Celebrate

Today's card is a simple design using some MFT papers and Whimsy Birthday layered shadow die to decorate this watercoloured mouse from the Mice Day To Celebrate set.  Despite losing his balloon, this little mouse still seems happy!

Designed for:
Dies to Die For

Papermill Direct

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

• Fur: Hickory Smoke, Black Soot, Tattered Rose, Tea Dy
• Reds: Candied Apple, Fired Brick, Aged Mahogany
• Ground: Pumice Stone, Speckled Egg, Black Soot

Card Recipe:

From Dies To Die For:

• MFT Mice Day to Celebrate
• MFT Joyful Plaid Papers
• Whimsy Stamps Birthday Word and Shadow Die
• MFT Dienamcis Stitched Square Stax
• Glossy Accents
• Flat Backed Pearls

Papermill Direct:

• Smooth White Card 160gsm
• Post Box Red Smooth 240gsm

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Too Cute

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Tag Team (3)

I've created a festive scalloped circle tag using my Silhouette in layers of red, green and white card (which I've embossed for texture).  The image was stamped and watercoloured before fussy cutting and raising up on foam pads.  I've finished it off with some snowflake organza ribbon.

Designed for:
Dies to Die For

Papermill Direct

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

• Fur: Hickory Smoke, Black Soot, Tattered Rose, Tea Dye
• Tree: Bundled Sage, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss, Antique Linen, Frayed Burlap, Walnut Stain
• Reds: Festive Berries, Barn Door, Aged Mahogany

Card Recipe:

From Dies To Die For:

• MFT Christmas Tree Farm
• Matching dies available (I fussy cut manually!)

Papermill Direct:

• Plain Red Card 290gsm
• Apple Green Card
• Smooth White Card 160gsm

Other:

• 15mm Satin Ribbon
• Crealies Crea-Nest-Lies XXL41 Pierced Circles
• Embossalicious Let It Snow Embossing Folder

I've been inspired by:

• Country View Challenges - Tags

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

A Christmas Carol

It's been a while since I've made a single layer Clean and Simple card, but while digging through my older stamps today I found this MFT Christmas Carol stamp set and I wanted to try a lightbeam effect using ink.  

There was a lot of masking involved for this card.  The lamp post was also shorter than I needed, so I masked off the bottom half and stamped the top, then did the reverse to stamp only the base.  I wanted the lantern to be quite high on the card so that the light it shone covered about a third of the card.  I then masked everything to stamp the stones and ink the lightmeam in tones of orange fading out to pale yellow. 

I've watercoloured the image using mostly neutral colours but added a pop of red on each element, including the candle in the lantern.  I tried to create some darker shadow in front of the carol singers to show that the light is coming from behind them.  I added a sprinkling of snow and a yellow glow on the goat's hat pompom.

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

• Cow/Robin: Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, Tattered Rose, Tea Dye
• Goat: Antique Linen, Frayed Burlap, Walnut Stain, Tattered Rose, Tea Dye, 
• Light: Scattered Straw, Wild Honey
• Reds: Candied Apple, Barn Door, Aged Mahogany
• Greys: Hickory Smoke, Black Soot

Card Recipe:

• MFT Christmas Carol

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Tag Team (2)

I've created a festive scalloped circle tag using my Silhouette in layers of red, green and white card (which I've embossed for texture).  The image was stamped and watercoloured before fussy cutting and raising up on foam pads.  I've finished it off with some snowflake organza ribbon.

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, Tattered Rose, Tea Dye
• Shirt: Bundled Sage, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss, 
• Sign: Antique Linen, Frayed Burlap, Walnut Stain
• Reds: Festive Berries, Barn Door, Aged Mahogany
• Axe: Hickory Smoke, Black Soot

Card Recipe:

From Dies To Die For:

• MFT Christmas Tree Farm
• Matching dies available (I fussy cut manually!)

Papermill Direct:

• Plain Red Card 290gsm
• Apple Green Card
• Smooth White Card 160gsm

Other:

• 15mm Satin Ribbon
• Crealies Crea-Nest-Lies XXL41 Pierced Circles
• Creative Expressions Radiant Rings Embossing Folder

I've been inspired by:

• Country View Crafts - Tags
• Simon's Monday Challenge - Christmas

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Tag Team (1)

I've created a festive scalloped circle tag using my Silhouette in layers of red, green and white card (which I've embossed for texture).  The image was stamped and watercoloured before fussy cutting and raising up on foam pads.  I've finished it off with some snowflake organza ribbon.

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, Tattered Rose, Tea Dye
• Tree: Bundled Sage, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss, Antique Linen, Frayed Burlap, Walnut Stain
• Reds: Festive Berries, Barn Door, Aged Mahogany

Card Recipe:

From Dies To Die For:

• MFT Christmas Tree Farm
• Matching dies available (I fussy cut manually!)
• Whimsy Holly Slimline Embossing Folder

Papermill Direct:

• Plain Red Card 290gsm
• Apple Green Card
• Smooth White Card 160gsm

Other:

• 15mm Satin Ribbon
• Crealies Crea-Nest-Lies XXL41 Pierced Circles
  

I've been inspired by:

• Simon's Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes

Happy crafting

Annette
xx