YNS Challenge #28: Bookmark it!

Happy Wednesday YNS fans!  Today we have a brand new challenge over at YNS Challenges and it's the fabulous Chris who has chosen this fortnight's challenge.  Chris is challenging us to make a BOOKMARK!

I've wanted to have a go at making these corner bookmarks for the longest time! This is an extra special bookmark as I made it especially for Karen's birthday!!!

I used my teeny tiny Mini Bubbly Fun Fhiona stamp for my bookmark (the Mini Fhiona stamps are the perfect size for these bookmarks!)  I also decided to make a matching post-it note holder as well using the adorable 'full-size' Fairy Fhiona!  I love how I can glitter up her adorable wings!

The matching card is one I made a while ago for YNS Challenge #15 and uses one of my favourite Fhiona stamps, Flower Bouquet Fhiona.  I loved the colours of this card so much that it inspired me to make the matching bookmark and post-it note holder!

I also altered a moleskine cahier using some more YNS stamps, but I forgot to photograph it before popping it in the mail to Karen - oops!! :o) 

I do hope you will pop by the YNS Challenge blog and see what yumminess my YNS DT sisters have made - I promise you won't be disappointed!

Thanks, as ever, for dropping by! :o)

Hugs,

Sparkle Creations Challenge #16: Elf Oliver

Happy Tuesday everyone! Welcome to a brand new Sparkle Creations Rubber Stamps challenge! 

This week we have a lovely inspiration challenge for you using the above photo.  For my challenge card I have used one of the adorable new release stamps, Elf Oliver.  I must apologise for the terrible quality of the photo of my card.  I had to take this at night and without a flash, and as I don't have any fancy photo equipment (just a very basic digi camera) this is best I could do, LOL!  I will take another photo later today in the daylight and update! :o)

Sparkle Creations challenge is open to all players. Each week a random winner will be chosen, and they will receive a SCRS rubber stamp. [In order to qualify for a prize, you must use a Sparkle Creations image on your creation.]

Do pop along to my SCRS DT sistahs' blogs to take a peek at their beautiful challenge creations:

Sparkle

Stephanie

Laurel

Lisa

Kim

Thanks for dropping by!

Hugs,

YNS 'Happy Birthday Karen' Hop!

Today is a very special day as it's the Your Next Stamp boss-lady's birthday!! 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY KAREN!!!!!

Karen is one of the sweetest, kindest, loyal. supportive and compassionate people I know, and I am honoured to call her my friend.  I am so thankful that I stumbled across YNS back in August 2009 when it was just starting out and applied for a position on the DT.  I crossed everything, but didn't think I stood any chance, so imagine my shock and delight when I found out I'd been chosen!!!  To say I was ecstatic is an understatement!!  And now, over a year on, I still feel that same excitement and elation about being on the YNS DT and working with Karen! 

Karen, you are, quite simply.... amazing, and I wish you the most fan-ta-bu-lous birthday ever!  I am so thankful that you invited me onto your DT and I am even more thankful for our friendship.  Thank you for being you!  And thank you for understanding my donut brain....ROFL!!!

Sooooo.... as today is special, I thought it would be a nice for the YNS design team to hold a little hop in honour of Karen's birthday!  (This is just for fun so no prizes!)  Myself and my teamies are showcasing some YNS birthday goodness on each of our blogs, so we invite you to hop around with us, and then hop on over to Karen's blog and leave her some birthday love! :o)

Here is the blog hop order in case you get lost...

YOU ARE HERE ---> Simonne <--- YOU ARE HERE
Maureen
Beth
Chris
Crystal
Jenny
Linda
Kerri

Dearest KAREN.....

"Sending Happy Thoughts Your Way"...

 ...hope you "have a fin-tastic day"...

 ... "You're Fabulous"...

...so relax and have some "Bubbly Fun"...

 ...and enjoy your special day!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY KAREN!!

So now it's time to hop on over to Maureen's blog, but before you do, I just want to remind you that the Birthday Bash YNS Sale ends tomorrow!!! So when you done hopping...CLICK HERE to grab a YNS bargain! 

Thanks for stopping by on this very special day!

Hugs,

Sketch Saturday #125: Whimsy Vintage Christmas

Hello everyone!

This week over at Sketch Saturday we have another fab sketch by our wonderful leader Jo, and this week we are being sponsored by Digital Delights who are offering a $10 gift certificate to one lucky entrant!

For my DT card this week, I used some of the fabulous and very beautiful new Whimsy Stamps Holiday stamps.  Initially, I was going to use a different Whimsy stamp for the main focal part of this card, but once I'd made up the base of the card, I decided it just didn't look right, and so I inked up the large poinsettia stamp from the Vintage Christmas stamp set and set about colouring it, then cut it out and popped it up with foam pads.  I also stamped the swirls onto the mistletoe DP and then traced over them with a gold spica pen:

The 'Merry Christmas' sentiment stamp and the holly stamp I used to stamp on the green background paper are both from the Jingle Bell Ride stamp set.

Once I'd finished the card I felt it needed something in the top corners, and as I don't have a fancy corner punch or die, I decided to improvise with what I had.  I do have the Cuttlebug 2x6 Ornamental dies (bought them a long time ago from Ebay), and so cut out this shape twice with my Cuttlebug and then snipped off the parts I didn't want.

I don't own the Spellbinders Fancy Tags set of dies (it's on my Christmas list!), but I do own the original Ribbons Tags Trio set. So to make my plain ribbon tag a little fancier, I added the tiny scrolls that I'd snipped off the cuttlebug die shape!

I really enjoyed making this card, even though the end result was quite different from what I'd set out to do!  I wouldn't have put the striped paper with this image, but as I had originally chosen it to match the pyjama pattern on the Santa's Midnight Snack stamp, and had already stuck it all down before deciding to change the image, it'll have to stay, LOL!

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges:

1. Sweet Stampin Challenge #48 - Ribbons
2. A Spoon Full of Sugar #125 - Winter Wonderland
3. Papertake Weekly Challenge - 3 of a Kind (I've used 3 different DPs)
4. ABC Challenge - F is for Flowers (my stamped image is my flower!)
5. Quixotic Inspiration Challenge - Christmas is Coming

Thanks for popping by today and thank you for all your kind words and well wishes!  Thankfully the sore throat has started to get better, but now I have earache and still this awful painful cough is hanging on! 

Wishing you all a wonderful weekend, whatever you're up to!

Hugs,

Your Next Stamp & ScrapFest Surprise Blog Hop

Okay, so it's official ... I have the full blown flu, complete with a hacking and very painful cough! Urgh! However, I'd still like to welcome you to the ........ Your Next Stamp SURPRISE BLOG HOP!

Before I continue I just want to say a very Happy Birthday to my wonderful crafting buddy, Shelia (aka DippyDog). Hope you have a fabulous day!!! :o)

I'm the last stop of our surprise hop and I'm also hosting the prize draw, so if you didn't arrive here from Kerri's blog, please CLICK HERE to return to the start of the hop at the Karen's blog and begin hopping!

The hop starts today (Friday, October 15th at 9:00 EST) and ends on Sunday, October 17th at midnight (EST).

So what's this surprise hop about? Well....if you've popped by any of the YNS DT's blogs this week, you may have read our posts about today's very special hop showcasing a VERY special, NEW and EXCLUSIVE YNS stamp! The DT have been 'in the know' about a secret project involving YNS and ScrapFest for a little while, and now the day has finally come when we can officially announce the proud news that Karen was approached by Lisa (owner of ScrapFest in Ontario) to design an exclusive YNS stamp for this autumn's ScrapFest (15-16 October 2010)- YAY!! And here it is:

I have followed this week's lovely sketch #85 over at CardPatterns, used some SU card and Cosmo Cricket DeLovely DP.  Not sure why, but it was very difficult to get a good shot of this card.  After some editing, I still can't get the colours to represent what the look like in IRL!  The yellow is more 'yellow' and her brown hair and table are not as 'red'!  I have used E31, E33, E35 and E37 to colour the browns, so those of you who use Copics will know how the colour looks IRL!! :o)

This stamp will be available to buy from the Your Next Stamp booth at ScrapFest Ontario, but fear not if you can't get along to ScrapFest as Karen is also selling this fabulous stamp in the YNS online store!! IMPORTANT: This stamp will only be available to buy online for the duration of ScrapFest, so do not delay in placing your order! As it is only available for a very limited time, Karen is offering the stamp at a very special price of $6 with FREE SHIPPING!! (*NB Free shipping only applies to the ScrapFest stamp - if you include other items in your order, you will be charged shipping accordingly).

Click here to purchase ScrapFest Cropper Fhiona stamp for $6 with FREE shipping!

If you do plan to pop along to ScrapFest this weekend, don't forget to print out this voucher and take it along to the YNS booth to receive 10% off your purchase of YNS stamps:

[Click on the voucher to open it in new window ready for printing]

As I'm the last stop on the hop, all that remains is for you to enter the prize draw to win one of these gorgeous and exclusive YNS ScrapFest stamps. [If you purchase one of these stamps and then find you are the lucky winner of the prize draw, you will be given a $6 gift certificate to spend at the store instead.] To enter, please leave your details in the InLinkz widget below.  If you don't have a blog you can still enter - just leave your name, MY blog address and YOUR email address in widget below. The lucky winner will be randomly chosen on Monday October 18th.

Thanks for hopping with us today!

Hugs,

YNS#27: Nicely Negative

Okay, so I'm pretty sure I have the full-blown flu - urgh!!  Haven't slept a wink for the past 2 nights, am going through tissues and strepsils like there's no tomorrow, am probably infecting the rest of the household by sneezing every 2 minutes, and am generally feeling very sorry for myself, LOL! 

I should have taken everyone's advice and stayed in bed, but no, being the stubborn person I am I sat and made my Your Next Stamp Challenge 27 creation yesterday.  Beth is challenging us to stamp light ink onto dark cardstock so it looks like a 'negative'.  I ADORE this challenge and had what I thought was a fab idea in my head.  I even spent some of the night before's sleepless episodes thinking about it, but unfortunately it didn't turn out like I'd envisaged!!  Pooh!  It's a 3x3 notecard and the intention was to make a dozen of these as invites for the Halloween party our daughter is having.  She really loves the design, but I'm going to have another go in a few days - see if I can come up with something a bit more special.  Perhaps I should ditch the white card for some patterned paper with a bit of colour in it?  Yep, I'll try that!! :o)

Do pop along to the YNS Challenge blog and see what my YNS DT sistahs have made - much, much better than my attempt, LOL!  But I'm not disheartened ... onwards and upwards, LOL!

Thanks for popping by!

Shiver, splutter, cough and ....aitchoo!!!! (sniffly grin)
Hugs,

Sparkle Creations Challenge #14: CAS

Happy Tuesday everyone! Welcome to a brand new Sparkle Creations Rubber Stamps challenge! 

This week we are challenging you to create a CAS card, and if you're a regular reader of my blog, you'll know that I've been embracing this style recently (I will admit, sometimes out of necessity, LOL!).  I am really suffering with an awful cold and a extremely painful and sore throat at the moment, so to sit and enjoy a bit of colouring and then pop the card together really quickly was perfect for me! 

For my CAS creation I used one of the brand new Holiday stamps that were released on Saturday - Holiday Emily.  I really enjoyed colouring her in traditional red and green with a splash of purple.  Next time I colour her I think I will give her a different look and a different coloured candy cane - perhaps a black and pink combo would look cool?

I do wish I hadn't used an embossing folder on the purple card, not because I don't like the embossing but because I always use Core'dinations Colorcore cardstock, and I don't think the lighter core showing through works.  Now that the new SU catalogue is out, I must stock up on the new card...just waiting for the finances to look a bit better first before placing my order, LOL!

Sparkle Creations challenge is open to all players. Each week a random winner will be chosen, and they will receive a SCRS rubber stamp. [In order to qualify for a prize, you must use a Sparkle Creations image on your creation.]

Do pop along to my SCRS DT sistahs' blogs to take a peek at their beautiful CAS challenge creations:

Sparkle

Stephanie

Laurel

Lisa

Kim

Thanks for dropping by!

Hugs,

Paper Makeup Stamps Review Day

Hello everyone!  Today I have a PMS card to show you reviewing 2 stamps from the recent Paper Makeup Stamps release:

I have used the cake stamp from the So Sweet stamp set and the sentiment is from the Weighing In sentiment set.

I've followed the wonderful sketch #77 at The Sweet Stop, turning it 90 degrees to the left, which is a great one for using up those odd shaped paper scraps!  I used my Viva Decor pearl pen to add some tiny pearls to decorate the cake stand, and also added a touch of SU glitter to the icing for a bit of depth and dimension, although you may have to click on the photo to enlarge to see the sparkle!

Thank you for all your lovely comments and well wishes yesterday.  Unfortunately, I think I may have the beginnings of the flu, as all I've done all day is 'glow' profusely, ache and feel really lethargic, plus I have a monster sore throat!  Let's hope it's just a cold and not anything else, but I think a few days wrapped up in bed or perhaps ensconced on the sofa with my fave book may be in order!  I may have to take a few days off and recharge my batteries! :o)

Thanks for stopping by!

Hugs,

Sparkle Creations New Release BLOG HOP

Hello everyone and welcome to the Sparkle Creations Rubber Stamps new release blog hop! Today, the DT (along with our guest designer Piali) are showcasing the sixth and final new release SCRS stamp... SLEDDING CHLOE. And the best bit is that all 6 of the new stamps are available to buy from today from the re-vamped SCRS store - YAY!

I must apologise for the not-so-great quality of this card.  I am so beat at the moment and sufffering health-wise that I spent most of yesterday in bed sleeping.  I awoke with a start at 10.30pm last night and panicked as I hadn't made my SCRS blog hop card - eek!  So I stayed up til midnight getting this done.  I know the colouring is pants, and the layout is not the most inspiring, but on the plus side I do love the colours of this OA paper.  I will re-do the image and add some ribbon and embellies over the weekend, then update the photo. I have added a little white flowersoft to the fur trims and bobbles plus some SU glitter to the stars (although it is hard to see in this photo):

Sparkle will be giving away 3 of these new release stamps (Caroling Josh, Elf Oliver and Christmas Tree Ruby) to 3 lucky random commenters. We don't know where these prizes are hidden, so be sure to comment on all of today's blogs hop posts to be in with a chance to win - you have until midnight EST to leave your comments.  Here is the complete blog hop rotation:

SCRS blog

YOU ARE HERE ---> Simonne <--- YOU ARE HERE

Sparkle

Piali

Kim

Stephanie

Laurel

Lisa

Also, Sparkle has redirected the store blog to a new URL: http://www.shop-sparklecreationsrubberstamps.com/  Be sure to check  out the new store, as we also have a forum! Yay!

So now you need to continue the hop by heading on over to Sparkle's blog.

Thanks for dropping by!

Hugs,

Whimsy Meljen Rubber Blog Hop

Hello and welcome to the Whimsy Stamps Meljen Designs RUBBER STAMPS new release BLOG HOP!

The DT have FIVE brand new and super-fabulous Whimsy stamps to showcase today from the pen of Melissa Jenkins! That's right, Meljen Designs RUBBER STAMPS are now available from Whimsy Stamps - woo-hoo!

These new stamps are available to PRE-ORDER from the Whimsy Stamps store and will be shipped out later this month when they arrive fresh from the manufacturer at Whimsy Stamps HQ.

If you would like to participate in the hop and you didn't arrive here from Donna's wonderful blog, please click here to return to the start of the blog hop at Chris' blog, as you don't want to miss these fab new releases!

The hop starts today (Friday October 8th at 12 noon EST) and ends on Friday October 15th at 12 noon EST.

For this hop we have 4 different prize draws! The grand prize of ALL 5 of the new release stamps is at the end of the hop (Denise's blog), but there are also 3 mini candy stops throughout the hop! I'm not going to tell you where they are, so you'll just have to keep on hopping to find them!

I have used the adorable Snow Kitty stamp for my blog hop creation and followed today's gorgeous Friday's Sketchers sketch #123:

I added white flowesoft to the fur trim and bobble of kitty's santa hat and SU glitter to highlight the snow.  I also used my extremely neglected Spellbinders snowflake dies with some glitter card to make the snowflakes.

Okay, so now it's time to continue hopping and hop on over to the wonderful and fabulously talented Debbie's blog, but of course I would love it if you left me a comment first - thanks! {grin}

Thanks for hopping with us today, and I hope you enjoy this new release!

Hugs,

Winner of my Whimsy Blog Hop mini candy

Hey Whimsy fans!

Thank you so much for hopping with us and for your wonderful comments on the fantastic Whimsy Stamps Holiday Release!  I don't know about you, but I was floored by the DT's creations - WOW!

So without further ado, the winner of my hop candy is........

which means it's Patti Painter 

WOO-HOO!!  Congrats Patti - you get to choose one of the new Holiday Release stamps as your prize:

Holiday Tickets Sentiments

Holiday Wishlist

Happy Holidays

Life Defined

Classified Ads

Vintage Christmas

Starry Night

Santa's Midnight Snack

Jingle Bell Ride

Please email me your full name and full postal address, plus the name of the new release Whimsy Holiday Stamp you would like and I'll get those details to Denise right away!

Be sure to pop back later today (12 noon EST or 5pm UK time) for our Meljen's Designs rubber stamp blog hop!

Hugs,

YNS BLOG HOP - It's Starting to Look a lot like Christmas!

* 3rd post of the day *
Please scroll down for my Sparkle Creations Sneak Peek and Paper Makeup Stamps Hop post

Welcome to the Your Next Stamp Winter Release BLOG HOP!

The YNS DT (plus some fabulous guests!) are showcasing some fabulous new YNS Winter and Christmas stamps today! These new stamps are available to buy right now from the Your Next Stamp store along with all your YNS favourites.

If you would like to participate in the hop and you didn't arrive here from Beth's blog, please CLICK HERE to return to the start of the hop at the Crystal's blog, as you don't want to miss these fab new releases!

The hop starts today (Thursday, October 7th at 9:00 EST) and ends on Tuesday October 12th at midnight (EST).

For this hop we have 4 different prize draws - how FAB is that? The grand prize of a surprise new release stamp package is at the end of the hop (Karen's blog), but there are also 3 mini candy stops throughout the hop where you can win a new release stamp! I'm not going to tell you where they are, so you'll just have to keep on hopping to find them, but I can tell you that I'm hosting one of the mini candy draws!! Yay!!

So to enter my mini candy draw to win this adorable Merry Mouse Candle stamp, all you need to do is add your link to InLinkz at the end of this post and also leave me a comment (just in case there is a problem with the widget!). I will draw a winner on October 13th after the hop ends.

Not only are we hosting 4 prize draws, Karen is also holding a 15% OFF sale at the YNS store to celebrate the new release!!! WOO-HOO!!!  So once you've finished hopping, get yourself on over to the store and spend up large!!

Now, I have somewhat of a sad story to tell you about my blog hop creations.  I did actually make a fabulous stationery box using this tutortial at SplitCoast Stampers.  I used the new Cosmo Cricket Mitten Weather paper (12x12 sheets plus 6x6 pad), and made 6 cards, 6 notelets and 6 tags using 6 different YNS new release stamps.  My crafting table was a bit of a mess, and unbeknownst to me, under this mess was an almost finished cup of tea.  I wanted to add some paper piercing to my notelets, but as I was pulling the end cap off the plastic cylinder that my SU paper piercer lives in, it popped off all of a sudden, causing my right hand to 'fling' and yep, you've guessed it, knocked over the tea....all over my neatly put together stationery box.  I don't usually curse and swear, but let me tell you the air was pretty blue at this point!  I tried to carefully sponge dry everything with copious amounts of paper towels, but after everything had dried it was slightly tea-stained (I drink Earl Grey, so not too strong) but extremely wrinkly, so I had to throw it all in the recycling ... SOB, SOB!!!  Oh, I'm SO upset with myself.  It looked awesome!  And of course, because it wasn't completely finished I hadn't taken any piccies.  I was going to send it to Karen as well so she could take it to ScrapFest, as I thought it was a great way to show off several YNS stamps at once.  Oh, I'm gutted!!!!  I will make another, but as this happened yesterday I couldn't make one in time for today.

Okay, so enough of my sob story.  What I can show you today are the 3 cards I made with the Winter Warm Up set of stamps.  I sneak peeked the first of these cards on Monday, but here is it again along with the other two.  If you're a regular visitor of my blog, you will see that I'm definitely getting into a more CAS style at the moment, and these cards are no exception:

So now you need to continue the hop by hopping over to Sylvia's blog but remember to enter my mini candy draw below and leave me a comment before you leave!

Thanks for dropping by!

Hope you enjoy these amazing new releases!

Hugs,