Less is More ~ masculine cards!

 for my Whimsy Blog Hop post please click here!

The theme on Less is More this week is

masculine cards!  Obviously, while adhering to the other Less is More guidelines!

Keeping it very simple, I stamped my Lily of the Valley 'Top Chef'' and coloured him with 

Prismacolor pencils then die cut around him with a Nestabilities die.

There is still plenty of room for a sentiment when I eventually decide what this card will be for!

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My 10 year old son decided he wanted to do some colouring so he grabbed my spare image and crafted along with me!  

He is just learning the shading technique and I think he did a fabulous job!

He has started his own blog here!

Thank you for dropping by, hope you are having a great Saturday!

Cute Card Thursday - Music

for my Whimsy Blog Hop post please click HERE

Our theme on Cute Card Thursday this week is 

Music!

It is open to interpretation but some ideas are music themed papers, charms or even dancing!  

We are sponsored this week by Alota Rubber Stamps. 

I used the fabby sketch over at 

Everybody Art Challenge

I made another of my book cards which I always make for my children.  Have made lots of them lately as 3 of my kids have birthdays in spring!  

Here is a tutorial I created a year ago for them.....Book Card Tutorial

I used the newly released Whimsy rubber stamp 'Brooklyn Babe' by Kenny K.  She is coloured with Copics and Prismacolors.

I also used the new Treasured Moment tickets from Whimsy Stamps and the new banner pennant die.  These are all available to purchase in the Whimsy online store.  

You might also just be able to see the Whimsy Stamps

'music notes' background stamp, I stamped it in white and embossed it for the layer beneath the image.

 The new Whimsy Stamps banner pennants die and the quote/sentiment is from the Spring seals stamp set. 

 I had to make a double layer of pockets as the chocolate was rather large, I chose it for its colour rather than anything else!

a little simple back detail to finish off!

other challenges I am entering with this card

Pollycraft ~ Teen card

Totally gorjuss ~ pearls and lace

ABC challenge ~ q is for quote

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I hope you will pop over to see the rest the DT's fabulous musical makes, thank you so much for dropping in!

Help for Japan

For my Whimsy Blog Hop post please click HERE!

Buy this image for only $1 from Mo's digital pencil and all proceeds of the sale will be donated to Japan!

Less is More!

for my Whimsy Blog Hop Post please click HERE

I have come across a  lot of people playing along in a new challenge over the last few weeks.

It is the Less is More challenge.

You have to keep the card clean and simple, one layer, lots of white etc....

also this week they are asking for 'off the edge'

Not my usual style so quite a challenge for me!

I decided to keep it super simple and do some straightforward stamping.

I used the newly released 

Time Flies stamps designed by Raindrop Echo Designs for Whimsy Stamps.

Whimsy Stamps March Release Blog Hop!

Hello and welcome to the Whimsy Stamps March new rubber release BLOG HOP!

We have 13 fabulous new Whimsy Stamps plus 2 new wonderful dies to show you today! These new goodies are available to buy right now from the Whimsy Stamps store along with all your Whimsy favourites. We also have our wonderful special guests joining us for this hop - Beate Johns, Deb Routledge, Jacque Beddingfield and Elaine Hughes!

The Whimsy Stamps DT have been sneak peeking these fabulous stamps for the past 4 days, so if you missed them be sure to hop on over to the Whimsy Inspirations Blog for some more inspiration!

Here is a full list of the wonderful new rubber stamps and dies being released today:

4 stamps from Crissy Armstrong
Benny & Joon Have Cake ~ Celebrate Big! ~ Tippy By The Tail ~Valerie & Kitty sitting pretty

2 stamps from Meljen's Designs
Rainy Day Duckling ~ Little Puddle Duck

4 stamps from Kenny K
Brooklyn Babe ~ Club Kid ~ Strong Island ~ Let’s Party

3 stamps/sets from Raindrop Echo Designs
Treasured Moments Tickets ~ Time Flies ~ Spring Letter Seals

2 dies/sets from Raindrop Echo Designs
Banner Pennants Die Set ~ Double Scallop Border Die

If you would like to participate in the hop and you didn't arrive here from Simonne's blog, please CLICK HERE to return to the beginning of the hop at Crystal’s blog.

The hop starts today (Wednesday March 16th at noon EST) and ends on Wednesday March 23rd at noon EST.

For this hop we have 6 different prize draws! We have not one but TWO grand prize draws, so two lucky hoppers will win a large selection of new release stamps. Grand Prize 1 will be for those who help us advertise the hop, and Grand Prize 2 will be for those who hop along with us. Also, we have 4 mini candy stops throughout the hop where you can enter to win a new release stamp! I'm not going to tell you where they are, so if you haven't found them you'll just have go back to the beginning and start hopping! *wink*

For my blog hop creation I used .... Valerie and kitty sitting pretty by Crissy Armstrong, a sentiment from the Time Flies set, Treasured Moments tickets and the Spring Letter Seals designed by Raindrop Echo Designs.  I also used the banner  pennants die set. I used the Whimsy ticket die to cut out the tickets.

I love to decorate gift bags, so much nicer than shop bought ones.   Along with the new Whimsy stamps I used Tim Holtz papers and the new Tim Holtz die 'mini paper rosettes'.

I kept the back very simple just adding a spring letter seal stamp.

So now it's time for you to continue the hop by hopping on over to Annika's blog.

Finally, here is a complete blog hop list in hopping order:

Crystal Irwin
Jacque Beddingfield
Ann Vento
Erin Bailey
Vicki Parson
Chris Olsen
Marley van der Heijden
Crissy Armstrong
Donna Smith
Iris Wiechmann
Stephanne Maraver
Vanja Stevanovic
Beate Johns
Simonne Clay
Deb Routledge
Annika Ryan
Denise Lynn
Lori Pachkowsky
Patricia Garcia
Elaine Hughes
Debbie Eastman

Thank you so much for hopping with us today and I hope you enjoy the new releases!

WOYWW

WOYWW

I don't know if you can tell but I have turned my desk around, like it much better and I can use more of it! I have stashed all my 'need at hand stuff' next to the window so I have the rest of the desk to work on.

It also means I get to the windows to give them a much needed clean and also open them once the days warm up, which I am hoping is very soon!  You might be able to see out the window there is still plenty of white stuff! It is gradually melting back!  I am happy to see the lighter evenings now that the clocks went forwards but not happy at the darker mornings again!  Will be so happy when it is light when I get up at 6am!

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I am finishing off a little project which will be shown on my blog later today during the 

Whimsy Blog Hop.

You can probably see I have been making more of the Tim Holtz rosettes, love them! Also, you might just see the pennants I am working on, the die to make these is also being released today at 

Whimsy Stamps!  You will see these in action on my creation at noon (EDT) when I post for the hop!

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If you want to play along with WOYWW pop over to Julia Dunnit's blog to find out how!

Thanks for dropping by......hope to see you later!

Whimsy Sneak Peek!

Here is my sneak peek for the newest Whimsy rubber stamps release!

I have used 

Spring Letter Seals by Raindrop Echo Designs

they will be released for purchase along with the rest of the new stamps on Wednesday 16th March!

I love these seals, Ann designs them beautifully.

I use it to decorate up a notebook from Michaels. It is perfect for a little gift for a friend or even to keep for myself as a little book for my handbag, very useful!

Don't forget the Whimsy Blog Hop is happening tomorrow at 12 noon (EST), be sure to join in, there are lots of prizes to be won!

Whimsy Sneak Peeks!

The March release of the latest rubber stamps from Whimsy Stamps is this coming Wednesday 16th March!

I hope you will join us then to see all the fabulous releases from the very talented artists Crissy Armstrong, Melissa Jenkins, Ann Vento and Kenny K.

IN the meantime between today and Wednesday you can see daily sneak peeks of the new designs.

Today the following DT members have peeks on their blogs to show you, just click on each name to visit!

Ann

Annika
Chris O

 Dawn

Debbie 
Denise 

Erin

Iris
Jackie

Lori

Patricia

Pattie

Simonne

Vicki 

Happy Birthday Cute Card Thursday!

I cannot believe it!  It has been 3 years since we launched 

Cute Card Thursday!

We still have a good number of our original Design Team with us too which shows just how much fun it has been!  Our aim was to have a challenge that was fun for everyone and have a 'no strict rules policy', I think we have achieved that!

Can you believe that in the beginning there wasn't all this sponsoring of challenges going on and some members of our Design Team donated the first few prizes until we got around to asking companies to sponsor us? 

 There weren't so many challenges around back then nor were there the choice of stamps, so funny to think of now with the abundance of both!  We sometimes had to tell each other which stamp we were using in case someone else was using it too!  We did have times when we used the same one, it was inevitable.  I can't remember the last time that happened!

Anyway, enough reminiscing, onto my card!

Another book card, this one for my other son.  

I used the fantastic sketch over at 

Friday Sketchers

designed by super talented Rach!

The cute stamp is Lily of the Valley 'Big Present'

This week we are sponsored by one of my favourite stores

Simon Says Stamp!

It has the obligatory pocket for cash and a roll of sweeties!

I am loving these new stamps, the pennant and cupcake are from a set by Hampton Art from their cling range.  

The stars are punched out with my Martha Stewart punch.

My custom made signature stamp is from Whimsy Stamps.

Please pop over and see the rest of the Design Team's beautiful birthday creations!

Thanks so much for dropping by, have a fabulous day!

Shiny Tilda

My new favourite challenge is

Make it Colourful

I couldn't wait to get started on the new challenge this week which is

make it shiny

particularly shine on hair and clothes!

I coloured this image at the weekend when I was lying low with a cold and only just managed to make her into a card today!

She is coloured with Copics and Prismacolor pencils!

I used the fantastic sketch from Crazy4 challenges.

I used some of my old favourite papers Basic Grey 'sugared' and also used my newest favourite toy (note all the favourites here!) my Tim Holtz die mini paper rosettes (bought from Simon Says Stamp).  OH and she is probably my favourite Tilda too!

other challenges I am entering with this card

A Spoonful of Sugar ~ vintage/shabby

Just Magnolia ~ anything goes

Simon Says Stamp ~ anything goes

Fussy and Fancy ~ embossing/paper piercing

Thanks for dropping by today, hope you have a great day!

WOYWW

Time for WOYWW again!

this greeted me this morning, my little guys hijacked my desk last night to make birthday cards for their older brother!

A quick tidy up and back to my own projects for the day!

Just got this fab new Tim Holtz die to make these very clever flowers!  Will be making a few of these today I think!  Also must make this cute little Tilda into a card, I coloured her up at the weekend and not found any time to do anything with her.  A crafty morning ahead for me!

 You can also see the rubber stamp set that I picked up at the weekend, the banner stamp is so cool, I have added it to a card  for tomorrows post!  It is by Hampton Art.  

Of course the obligatory morning coffee, I have given up my daily trip to Starbucks, it gets very addictive and now make my own.  This is my favourite mug, my lovely daughter chose it for my birthday last year!

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Can't wait to see what is on your desk this week, if you want to play along pop along to Julia's blog!

Cute Card Thursday - Signs of Spring!

A lovely spring theme on Cute Card Thursday this week!  I am so ready for spring and so done with snow!  Unfortunately, due to our climate it will be a little while yet before I see the daffodils in my garden!

CCT is sponsored by The Stamp Shoppe

Hope you will pop over and check out the rest of the DT's spectacular spring makes!

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I followed the challenge over at Make it Colourful which was to have your light source top left.  I used Prismacolor pencils.  I am loving these challenges just now, guaranteed to enhance your colouring skills!

also entering the following challenges~

I used the fabulous sketch over at Friday Sketchers designed by Claudia.

Stamp Something challenge ~something with flowers

Allsorts challenge ~ make your own flowers

One stop craft challenge ~ spring flowers

Die Cut Dreams ~ Create a garden scene 

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Supplies used~

Stamps ~ Sugar Nellie 'peek a bunny' designed by Elisabeth Bell

Cats Life Press 'a spring day seal'

Digital image ~ daffodil dell  by Make it Crafty from the Secret Garden collection.

Designer paper ~ K&Co. Hannah

other items used ~ nestabilities die and various flower and leaf punches

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Thank you for dropping by, have a fabulous Thursday!

WOYWW

WOYWW

I am glad to be able to join in today.  The last couple of Wednesdays have been too busy so I missed WOYWW!

Some colouring to do today I think!  I delved into my Sugar Nellie box of stamps and came out with these favourites, all very perfect for Spring cards!

I also need to finish a layout I have been working on for far too long!  I am a very slow scrapper!  the little Mickey Mouse sticker is to add to the layout so hopefully will get that sorted this afternoon! 

If you want to play along with WOYWW drop by Julia Dunnit's blog to see what it is all about! 

Cute Card Thursday - Sketch by Christine!

I am so late today, my schedule is all off this week with the kids being off school!  It has mostly been taken up with Science Fair experiments but managed to get out ski-ing yesterday!  I think I am finally starting to like it!

We have a fabulous sketch by DT Christine to follow over on Cute Card Thursday this week.  It worked perfectly for this card for my son's upcoming birthday.

WE are sponsored this week by Kraftin Kimmie Stamps

you can win 2 rubber stamps of your choice!

I make a book card for all my children's birthdays, I think it is now expected!

It holds the obligatory English sweeties (the ones they miss) and of course some cash which they also love to get despite the mountains of pressies too!

the back

the digi  image I used is by Mo Manning he is 'Paul Typing'this is so perfect for my gaming mad boy!

The papers are basic grey stamped up with Inkadinkado 'Rock Star'.

the dies I used are Nellie Snedden and Tim Holtz.

Other challenges I am entering are

Totally Papercrafts ~ do it with digis

Totally Gorjuss ~ check it out

Make it Colourful ~ smooth gradients

Stamptacular Sunday ~ SOS someone special

Paper Sundaes ~ masculine colours

Stamp Something ~ Something Funky

the shabby tea room ~ buttons and bows

A spoonful of sugar ~ birthday wishes

Thanks so much for dropping by! 

Cute Card Thursday - Shiny, happy people!

This week Cute Card Thursday is being sponsored by Tiddlyinks.

We were given these adorable digital images to use on our projects. This one is 'Everyday Princess', so cute!

The theme this week is

Shiny, happy people!

I used some pretty shiny pearls and a little metal tab.

The small sent with love sentiment is from Whimsy Stamps.

I can also enter

Paperplay challenge ~ to add shine

Charisma cards ~ spring has sprung 

Make it colourful ~ using shadow and depth

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Thanks for dropping by!

Happy Valentines Day!

If you are looking for the Whimsy February Rubber Release Blog hop please click here!

Hope you are having a great start to the week and a very special Valentines Day!

Chicken Soup has this fabulous pic for inspiration and the simplicity of it was so perfect for Hubby's Valentines card!  He is so not into flowers and frills so I kept it super simple. I loved this little devil so much I didn't mind too much not adding anything else.

He is available from Whimsy Stamps, a digital image designed by Melissa Jenkins.

I coloured him with Prismacolor Pencils.  

The die is the Stampin Up Top Note Die.

I am also entering it into

Stamp Something ~ something for your Valentine

Totally Gorjuss ~ Love

One Stop Craft ~ Love is in the air

A Spoonful of Sugar ~ lets see some love

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Thanks for dropping by!