Christmas Critters

Although I do love robins and reindeer, my favourite Christmas critters are Penguins.  I love their waddle and I have a tote bag which says 'you cannot be sad when you look at a penguin' which I think is very true!  I've used an adorable image aptly named Penguins with Christmas Tree by Lee Holland, which I've watercoloured using DI reinkers and glitter.  I've added some flowers, pearls and a Magnolia Merry Chrismtas die.  My tag base is my favourite XXL Crealies tag die.

Designed for:  As You Like It Challenge

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Fashion Girlie

We're looking for your favourite fabric embellishment today (twine, lace etc), and by a long shot mine is ribbons. I have several shoe boxes full of reels and reels of different widths and textures, and my favourite way to use them is to make double bows to frame my image. On today's card, I've used a 6mm satin ribbon to cover the join in my patterned papers, and a 15mm organza ribbon in the same purple for the double bow.

Designed for:
As You Like It Challenge

Card Recipe:

• Image by Lili of the Valley
• Water-coloured on Ecoline Watercolour Card with Ranger Distress Ink Reinkers
• MFT Dienamics Stitched Circle Stax
• Flat Backed Pearls
• 6mm Satin Ribbon
• 15mm Organza Ribbon
• Nitwit Collections Papers
• Cherry Blossom
• Open Roses
• Mini Rosebuds
• MFT Happy Birthday Circle Frame

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Doug the Bear

I'm not a huge sports fan, but one thing that does get my heart pumping amd muscles aching is gardening. We have a vegetable plot and have grown veggies in the past, but I admit this year I've not dedicated the time to it, so mostly I've just been weeding, rather than enjoying the garden.  I would very much like to change that next year, so we can enjoy picking and eating our own food again.

Designed for:
As You Like It Challenge

Card Recipe:

• James Gardening by Lili of the Valley
• Water-coloured on Ecoline Watercolour Card with Ranger Distress Ink Reinkers
• 6mm Satin Ribbon
• Nitwit Collections Papers
• Tattered Lace Happy Birthday Die

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Purple Watering Can

It's a Halloween colour theme this week at As You Like It Challenge, and although I don't tend to send Halloween cards, I do enjoy putting up decorations for the Trick or Treaters who come to visit by the dozen each year. However, although today's card is not Halloween themed, I have used my favourite Halloween colour which is purple.  I am not a fan of orange and green, but purple is right up my street for any time of year!

Designed for:
As You Like It Challenge

Card Recipe:

• Image by Lili of the Valley
• Water-coloured on Ecoline Watercolour Card with Ranger Distress Ink Reinkers
• MFT Dienamics Stitched Circle Stax
• Flat Backed Pearls
• Nitwit Collections Papers
• Cosmos Daisy
• Open Roses
• Purple twine
• Watering can shaped cardbase cut with my Silhouette cutting machine

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Woodland Fox

For my 'favourite wild animal' this week at As You Like It Challenge I've picked a fox, because we regularly have them visiting our garden at night and I love seeing them pottering around the flower beds!

Designed for:
As You Like It Challenge

Card Recipe:

• Fox by Lee Holland Digi Stamps
• Water-coloured on Ecoline Watercolour Card with Ranger Distress Ink Reinkers
• MFT Dienamics Stitched Circle Stax
• Flat Backed Pearls
• 15mm Satin Ribbon
• Nitwit Collections Papers
• Cherry Blossom
• Open Roses
• Mini Rosebuds
• Shaped cardbase cut with my Silhouette cutting machine

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Watercoloured Bunny

My favourite colouring medium is my disress ink reinkers which I use for watercolouring almost every project. I have recently been learning coloured pencil drawing but I've not managed to use them very successfully for my cards, and I find the watercolouring quite therapeutic anyway, so it's not a bad thing to have both mediums for different hobbies.

Designed for:
As You Like It Challenge

Card Recipe:

• Bunny with Flower by Lee Holland Digis
• Water-coloured on Ecoline Watercolour Card with Ranger Distress Ink Reinkers
• Flat Backed Pearls
• 6mm Satin Ribbon
• 15mm Organza Ribbon
• Nitwit Collections Papers
• Cherry Blossom
• Open Roses
• Hip Rosebuds

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Tiger

My favourite safari animal has to be the tiger. I've loved them since I was tiny and I remember learning all about them for a scrapbook project I made when I was at primary school. They're still my favourite now, beautful and graceful.

Designed for:
As You Like It Challenge

Card Recipe:

• Tiger by Lee Holland Digi
• Water-coloured on Ecoline Watercolour Card with Ranger Distress Ink Reinkers
• MFT Dienamics Stitched Circle Stax
• Flat Backed Pearls
• 15mm Organza Ribbon
• 3mm Satin Ribbon
• Nitwit Collections Papers
• Cherry Blossom
• Open Roses
• Hip Rosebuds

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Deckchair Kitty

I've had kitties my whole life, and my house wouldn't be a home without a feline companion. I currently have 2, a brother and sister, who are naughty troublemakers, but I wouldn't be without them. I'm rarely alone and the little boy cat in particular is usually only a few inches from my ankles or demanding cuddles on my lap!

Designed for:
As You Like It Challenge

Card Recipe:

• Jack Patch and Puss Relaxing image by Lili of the Valley
• Water-coloured on Ecoline Watercolour Card with Ranger Distress Ink Reinkers
• Typed sentiment
• Nitwit Collections Papers

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Bunny Tag

I love making large gift tags to decorate presents, and these supersized Crealies tag dies are my favourites.  They make a present look much more special and I really enjoy making them.

Designed for:
As You Like It Challenge

Card Recipe:

• Bunny image by Lili of the Valley
• Water-coloured on Ecoline Watercolour Card with Ranger Distress Ink Reinkers
• 15mm Satin Ribbon
• Nitwit Collections Papers
• Cosmos Daisy
• Open Roses
• Crealies Crea-Nest-Lies XXL65 Double Stitched Circles

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Golf Cart

I've made this hexagon pop-up card for a golf loving colleague. It was quite fiddly to cut all the parts out, but I've layered most of it to reinforce the narrow parts, particularly the clubs and cart.  

I personalised it by editing the Silhouette cutting file to add his name (the original was a father's day card theme).  

Card Recipe:

• Lori Whitlock Cut File
• Nitwit Collection Papers

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Little Bear

My favourite colours are soft pastels, particularly pink, blue and purple, so this sweet bear features all three, including some of my favourite papers and embellishments in the same colour theme.

Designed for:
As You Like It Challenge

Card Recipe:

• Bear with Gift digi image by Lee Holland
• Water-coloured on Ecoline Watercolour Card with Ranger Distress Ink Reinkers
• 15mm Organza Ribbon
• Nitwit Collections Papers
• Cosmos Daisy
• Open Roses
• Crealies Crea-Nest-Lies XXL65 Double Stitched Circles
• Enamel dots from Hobbycraft

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Daisy Elephant

I'm not very reliable at popping sentiments on my cards, so when I do it is often a simple 'happy birthday'. However, I do like creating my own sentiments with fancy fonts, so I've created this one in 2 different fonts and overlaid them so they fit together for added interest.

Designed for:
As You Like It Challenge

Card Recipe:

• Elephant digi image by Lili of the Valley
• Water-coloured on Ecoline Watercolour Card with Ranger Distress Ink Reinkers
• Nitwit Collections Papers
• The Paper Boutique Thanks Daisy Frame die

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Bear with Watering Can

My favourite season is Summer, when the days are at their longest and warmest. I really don't like the cold, wet weather of winter, and Autumn and Spring are still a little on the cool side.

Designed for:
As You Like It Challenge

Card Recipe:

• Bear with Watering Can by Lili of the Valley
• Water-coloured on Ecoline Watercolour Card with Ranger Distress Ink Reinkers
• Whimsy Stamps Birthday Word and Shadow Die
• Nitwit Collections Papers
• Enamel dots by Hobbycraft

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Badger Birthday

My favourite card layout is cover a square base card with two pretty patterned papers top & bottom. I cover the join with some ribbon and add a double bow at the side. Often the image is die cut into a circle, and I'll add a posy of flowers on the diagonals. The final touch is a trio of pearls in the opposite diagaonal corners. I've used this sketch many many times, and still love the layout because it gives lots of interest, texture and embellishment to frame the image.

Designed for:
As You Like It Challenge

Card Recipe:

• Badger with Birthday Gift digi image by Lee Holland
• Water-coloured on Ecoline Watercolour Card with Ranger Distress Ink Reinkers
• Flat Backed Pearls
• 6mm Satin Ribbon
• 15mm Organza Ribbon
• Nitwit Collections Papers
• Cherry Blossom
• Open Roses
• Mini Rosebuds
• Crealies Crea-Nest-Lies XXL65 Double Stitched Circles

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Koala Cuddles

Pastels are my favourite colours, and in particular pinks, blues and purples. I think they're easier on the eye and pretty.  I've used lots of pinks on today's card, even for the little koala critter for a bit of fun.

Designed for:
As You Like It Challenge

Card Recipe:

• Koala on a Branch digi image by Lee Holland
• Water-coloured on Ecoline Watercolour Card with Ranger Distress Ink Reinkers
• 6mm Satin Ribbon
• Nitwit Collections Papers
• Crealies Crea-Nest-Lies XXL34 Double Stitched Squares

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Moo-velously Simple

Although I often add a lot of fancy embellishments to my cards, I do actually enjoy making clean and simple cards which keep the focus on the image, especially if it's a cutie!  

Designed for:
As You Like It Challenge

Card Recipe:

• Cow digi image by Lili of the Valley
• Water-coloured on Ecoline Watercolour Card with Ranger Distress Ink Reinkers
• Nitwit Collections Papers
• Enamel dots from Hobbycraft

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Moush-room

I love creating cards with texture and embellishments, my favourites being paper flowers. I've added a posy of cosmos daisies, roses and tulips to this sweet birthday card.

Designed for:
As You Like It Challenge

Card Recipe:

• Mouse on Mushroom digi image by Lee Holland
• Water-coloured on Ecoline Watercolour Card with Ranger Distress Ink Reinkers
• MFT Happy Birthday Circle Frame Die
• 6mm Satin Ribbon
• 15mm Satin Ribbon
• Nitwit Collections Papers
• Cosmos Daisy
• Open Roses
• Mini Rosebuds
• Tulip Flowers
• Flat enamel dots from Hobbycraft

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

In the Dog House

It's always nice to receive complements when you give a hand crafted item, and today's card is made for a sweet friend who always appreciates the work that's gone into a hand crafted card.  She usually opens her card in front of me and shows it around the office to all her co-workers. It's a really nice feeling to know that your creations are enjoyed and possibly kept rather than binned once the special occasion has passed.

Designed for:
As You Like It Challenge

Card Recipe:

• Puppy digi stamp by Lee Holland
• Water-coloured on Ecoline Watercolour Card with Ranger Distress Ink Reinkers
• MFT Happy Birthday Circle Frame Die
• 6mm Satin Ribbon
• 15mm Satin Ribbon
• Nitwit Collections Papers
• Cherry Blossom
• Open Roses
• Hip Rosebuds
• Mini Rosebuds
• Crealies Crea-Nest-Lies XXL65 Double Stitched Circles

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Kingfisher Blue

Pastels are my favourites, as I find them calming on the eye.  In particular I like blue, pink and purple.  I've chosen this pretty pastel blue because the card and papers are some of my favourites.  I believe the image might be a robin, but I've chosen to colour him as a chubby kingfisher to continue the blue theme.

Designed for:
As You Like It Challenge

Card Recipe:

• Digi image by Lee Holland on Etsy
• Water-coloured on Ecoline Watercolour Card with Ranger Distress Ink Reinkers
• Nitwit Collections Papers
• Crealies Crea-Nest-Lies XXL65 Double Stitched Circles

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Cute Bunny

I'm not sure elegant is a quality that would apply to me in any thread of my life, and when it comes to cute versus elegant in my crafting, it's definitely cute that wins the vote!  In particular cute critters.

Designed for:
As You Like It Challenge

Card Recipe:

• Bunny with Flower digi stamp by Lee Holland
• Water-coloured on Ecoline Watercolour Card with Ranger Distress Ink Reinkers
• Flat Backed Pearls
• 15mm Satin Ribbon
• Nitwit Collections Papers
• Cherry Blossom
• Open Roses
• Hip Rosebuds
• Crealies Crea-Nest-Lies XXL65 Double Stitched Circles

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Daisy James

I've had a bit of a rummage through my craft stash and reaquainted myself with some of my older dies. I really love this daisy border die which creates such an effective frame around an image, adding a lot of interest and texture while still keeping it fairly flat for postage!

Designed for:
As You Like It Challenge

Card Recipe:

• James with Daisy from Lili of the Valley
• Water-coloured on Ecoline Watercolour Card with Ranger Distress Ink Reinkers
• The Paper Boutique Thank You Square

Happy crafting
Annette
xx

Bouquet Bear

Christmas would usually be my favourite crafting occasion, but as it's January I'm not feeling the festive vibe at the moment, so I've switched my allegiance to birthdays for the first challenge of 2026 at As You Like It Challenge.  Today's card is for my Auntie, whose birthday is next week.

Designed for:
As You Like It Challenge

Card Recipe:

• Teddy Bouquet Digi image from Lili of the Valley
• Watercoloured on Ecoline Watercolour Card with Ranger Distress Ink Reinkers
• Flat Backed Pearls
• 15mm Satin Ribbon
• Nitwit Collections Papers
• Cherry Blossom
• Open Roses
• Mini Rosebuds
• Crealies Crea-Nest-Lies XXL65 Double Stitched Circles
• MFT Happy Birthday Circle Frame Die 
  

Happy crafting
Annette
xx