Sparkle Creations Challenge #21: Central 'Perk'

Happy Tuesday everyone! Welcome to a brand new Sparkle Creations Rubber Stamps challenge!  This week we have a fabulous photo for your inspiration.  This image is from one of my all-time FAVOURITE shows, FRIENDS!  Intially I had the idea to make a large card and feature all 6 characters from the show with some drinking coffee, but realised that I'd have to do some major altering of Sparkle's images to make them look like the characters and so I will save that little project for another time....perhaps over Christmas! :o)

So, of course I had to use one of the brand new coffee-themed stamps for my card, and so chose Cafe Lucy:

I followed the fabulous sketch SSS84 over at The Sweet Stop!

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
Mercy (guest designer)

Thanks for dropping by!

Hugs,

YNS Challenge #30: The Borrowers

Happy Wednesday everyone!  [Fingers crossed Blogger posts this pre-scheduled post at 8am today]

It's time for a brand new challenge over at YNS Challenges and this fortnight we are challenging you to CASE a member of the YNS DT.  Heather Rolin, our past YNS DT member chose this challenge before she left, so I would like to say thank you to her for picking such a FAB and FUN challenge! :o)

CASE is an acronym for Copy And Share Everything. The idea is that you choose a specific piece of work and take inspiration from it.  You can be very literal when CASEing and create an exact copy of the work you have chosen as inspiration. Alternatively, you can use the work you have chosen to copy as a starting point, lifting one or two elements like the general style of the piece, or perhaps a colour.

For your YNS CASE creations, we would like you to choose a YNS DT member, visit their blog, pick one of their creations (past or present) and CASE it.  You can either copy it exactly or put your own spin on it, but we do need to be able to see that you have CASEd a specific creation.  Therefore, please post a picture of the original card/creation you CASEd in your blog post, giving credit to the original artist, so we can see your individual take on it!

I chose to CASE two members of the YNS DT!  Here is my first creation ... can you guess who I've CASEd?

....it's the gorgeous and super-talented Jenny.  I absolutely ADORE Jenny's style of creating.  Some would call her style CAS (clean and simple), but I think she has a style all of her own and so I call it JSS (Jenny Suchin Style)!  Hee hee!!  It was incredibly difficult to choose one card to CASE, but I ended up using this card as inspiration.  Jenny created this card for our most recent YNS hop, and you can see her original post on her blog here.

Now, I know that my CASE of Jenny's adorable card is certainly not clean and simple, but as I was creating it kept evolving to what it is now, LOL!  I'm not really a 'distress' girl (...although I certainly get distressed, LOL!), but for some reason I had it in my head that Fhiona was in France.  So first came the shutters idea - I sanded, inked and generally distressed these.  Then I found a piece of DP that I thought look like an old, rendered French wall...and well, the rest came together rather quickly.  The window shutters even close, and I am really pleased with how my climber/trellis came out:

Second I chose to CASE the wonderful and fabulous Beth.  I also think that Beth has a style that is uniquely hers - I can always tell that a creation is a "Beth masterpiece" as soon as I see it! Hee hee!  Again, I chose to CASE one of the creations she made for our most recent blog hop. I really wanted to CASE her wondeful bauble, but I couldn't find one anywhere! Pooh!  So I settled on CASEing her fabulous card, and this time I kept it pretty close to the mark.  You can see Beth's card and bauble HERE on her blog.

Here is Beth's adorable card:

and here is my CASE of it:

I have loved this challenge so much!  It has been a blast seeing who each member of the DT has CASEd and how they've actually done it!  Be sure you pop on over to the YNS Challenge blog to see everyone's FABULOUS creations - they are terrific!

Thanks for dropping by!

Hugs,

Sparkle Creations sponsoring Card Patterns Challenge

Hey everyone!
Sparkle Creations Rubber Stamps is sponsoring today's new Card Patterns #91 challenge - woo-hoo!  Card Patterns is one of my favourite sketch challenge blogs, so of course I just had to join in!  Hee hee!  Here is the sketch:

And here is my take on it:

I'm quite pleased with how this card came out!  I feel that I've been in a real card-making slump lately, but when I saw this sketch I immediately thought of a bauble hanging from a tree!  I think it would have looked better if I'd had some different tools to cut out the tree layers, but as I don't own loads of crafting tools I had to make do with what I have!  I used my old scallop scissors to cut out the layers, inked around the edges and used a green pencil to add a little depth.  I was going to cover my bauble with glossy accents, but I was a bit scared the Memento ink or my Copic inks would run, so I chickened out, LOL!  I was lucky to find some gold ribbon tied around a toiletry gift set I received last Christmas, and so I was able to use it to finish off the card (note to self - must buy some gold ribbon for Christmas cards!).  When our daughter saw this card she said that it looked like the elf was creeping past the tree and his image was being reflected in the bauble!  I quite like this, even though I made the bauble as a conventional printed one! LOL!

I have also been working on a Your Next Stamp card for the past few days, which is a little out-of-the-box for me.  I'm really enjoying being able to think about it, do a little, and then come back the next day and do a bit more.  Don't get me wrong - it's certainly not a card that takes a long time to make, but I'm just loving being able to create when inspiration strikes! :o)

So, if you fancy being popped in the draw to win a SCRS stamp, why no hop on over to Card Patterns and join this week's challenge!

Thanks for dropping by!
Hugs,

Your Next Stamp New Release BLOG HOP

Welcome to the Your Next Stamp November New Release BLOG HOP!

We've got some fabulous new YNS stamps to showcase today! These new stamps are available to buy right now from the Your Next Stamp store along with all your YNS favourites. We also have 2 wonderful guests joining us for our hop - the amazing Jen del Muro, and our fabulous November YNS Guest Designer Kerry Urbatch. Welcome girls!

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

The hop starts today (Thursday November 18 at 03:00 EST) and ends on Saturday November 20 at midnight EST.

As always, here at Your Next Stamp, we have a wonderful prize for you to win! One lucky winner will be drawn at random from the comments at Karen's blog to receive a new release stamp package. It's not a requirement for you to comment at every stop along the hop to be eligible, but the DT would sure love to hear what you think of their new release creations!

Not only is Karen offering an amazing hop prize, she's also holding a special 20% OFF YOUR ORDER sale which is running for an entire week (from today untli November 25 at midnight EST)! Be sure to enter the code YNSNOV when checking out at http://www.yournextstamp.com/ to receive your 20% discount!

So onto my blog hop creation! I have used 3 of the new mini stamps (mini Ellie loves to skate, mini Snowman, mini Christmas tree).  There are 8 new mini stamps being released today, and you can either buy them separately or in one pack HERE where you will receive a 15% discount on the cost of buying them individually.

So now it's time for you to hop on over to the gorgeous Kerri's blog as she is the next stop on our hop and I know she has something amazing to show you, but I'd love it if you left me a comment before you go! *wink*

Before I go I'd just like to remind you all about our current YNS Challenge chosen by the wonderful Crystal! It ends on Tuesday November 23, so you still have plenty of time to join in! The challenge is extra special as we are being co-sponsored by Really Reasonable Ribbon, so why not hop on over to the YNS Challenge blog and join in!

Thanks so much for hopping with us today! I hope you enjoy our new release!

Maureen Wong  http://mycasestudies.blogspot.com

Jen del Muro   http://iheart2stamp.com

Jenny Cierley  http://suchins.blogspot.com

Crystal Irwin  http://crystalkbk.blogspot.com
YOU ARE HERE ---> Simonne Clay  http://semsee.blogspot.com <--- YOU ARE HERE

Kerri Michaud  http://cardsbykerri.blogspot.com

Beth Ranney-Thomas  http://inkyfingersrule.blogspot.com

Wendy Ramlakhan  http://sugarpea-designs.blogspot.com

Kerry Urbatch  http://thestampingbug.blogspot.com
Chris Olsen  http://twinklesglow-glowbug.blogspot.com
Linda Cummings  http://lccorner.blogspot.com

Karen Dedman  http://yournextstamp.blogspot.com (GRAND PRIZE DRAW)

Hugs,

Sparkle Creations Challenge #19 meets SS#129: Cupcake Ruby

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

This week we are challenging you to GIVE THANKS.  Sparkle Creations is also sponsoring Tuesday Morning Sketches #68 today and their challenge is cupcakes, so of course I just had to use Cupcake Ruby on my card so I could play along!  The prize up for grabs at Tuesday Morning Sketches #68 is a Cupcake Ruby stamp and our prize at SCRSC#19 is a Cafe Lucy rubber stamp, so why not combine your challenge entries and double your chances of winning a new SCRS stamp!

For my card I omitted the candle from the top of Ruby's cupcake by masking it off when stamping and then added the "So Sweet of You" sentiment which not only goes well with the cupcake-theme, but also means "thank you" in my book!  A perfect combination! :o)

I also followed this week's fabulous sketch over at Sketch Saturday (SS129), where we have a $25 Simon Says Stamp gift voucher up for grabs.  I rotated the sketch 90 degrees to the right and used a rectangle instead of an oval, as my oval nesties aren't big enough to fit Cupcake Ruby in, 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 challenge creations:

Sparkle

Stephanie

Laurel

Lisa

Kim
Mercy (GDT)

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

1. Stamp with Fun #85 - Square
2. The Shabby Tea Room #36 - inspiration photo (cupcakes and thankful)
3. Cute Card Thursday #138 - Anything Goes

Thanks for dropping by!

Hugs,

Sparkle Creations Rubber Stamps: November Release Day

Hello everyone and welcome to Sparkle Creations Rubber Stamps RELEASE DAY!!

Today the DT (along with our November guest designer Mercy Kerin), are showcasing the second and final new release SCRS stamp... CAFE LUCY.  And the best bit is that both of the new stamps are available to buy from today - YAY! Sparkle Creations is also sponsoring Jen del Muro's Sketch for You to Try (SFYTT) challenge today, so all the DT have also followed Jen's fabby sketch for today's creations. If you join in this week's SFYTT you will be entered into the draw to win Snowman Rin and Holiday Emily!

Would you like to win this stamp? All you need to do is comment on every one of the DT's posts plus the SCRS blog to be added to the draw.  You have until midnight EST to comment and a random winner will be announced tomorrow morning on the SCRS blog.

So.....pop along to my SCRS DT sistahs' blogs to take a peek at their beautiful new release creations and remember to leave everyone (including me!) a comment on today's sneak peek post to be added to the prize draw:

Mercy (GDT)
Kim
Laurel
Lisa
YOU ARE HERE ___> Simonne <--- YOU ARE HERE
Sparkle
Stephanie
Sparkle Creations Rubber Stamps

Thanks for dropping by and I hope you enjoy the new release!

Hugs,

PMS M4TW and baby shower

Hey everyone!  Today, the PMS gals are throwing one of our 'own' a virtual baby shower! YAY!!  Congratulations Ginger and hubby! I am SO excited for you!

So for our virtual baby shower we thought we'd host a hop! The entire PMS DT have each made a gorgeous baby-related creation especially for Ginger, and I hope you will hop along with us to see these scrummy creations!

For my baby card I used Drummer the Bear - I think he's perfect for a baby boy's card! :o)  You can buy Drummer the Bear direct from Paper Makeup Stamps by clicking HERE (or if you live in the UK/Europe, you can buy this and other PMS stamps from Quixotic Paperie - the UK's only online stockist of PMS stamps!)
The Baby Shower Blog Hop starts at the PMS blog, so if you've randomly happened upon this post, why not hop back to the PMS Blog and start the hop from the beginning.  If you're hopping away, you should have come to me from the uber-talented Christi T.  And now you'll want to continue the hop by hopping over to see what gorgeousness the wonderful Shaela has for you.

Oops, almost forgot to say that I followed the fabby sketch for today's brand new PMS M4TW#49 challenge!  Thanks Stephanie for a wonderful sketch!

Thanks for dropping by!

Hugs,

Sparkle Creations Rubber Stamps: Introducing...Coffee on the Street Josh

Hello everyone and welcome to Day 1 of Sparkle Creations Rubber Stamps new release sneak peeks!

Today, the DT (along with our November guest designer Mercy Kerin), are showcasing the first of 2 brand new SCRS stamps that are due to be released tomorrow. So without further ado, I am pleased to introduce ... STREET CORNER JOSH:

I followed one of Jo's fabby past Sketch Saturday sketches - SS109 - for this card.  Whenever I'm lacking inspiration and I can't find a 'current challenge' sketch that I like, I hop on over to I Need A Sketch where Jo has popped all the sketches she's designed to date for various challenge blogs (including Sketch Saturday). So if you ever need a sketch, you know where to go now! {{grin}}

I'm going to give this card to my DH.  He's a coffee lover and I want to say thank you to him for being so wonderful and supportive.  I am so blessed to have found him all those years ago! :o)

Would you like to win a stamp? All you need to do is comment on every one of the DT's posts plus the SCRS blog to be added to the draw.  You have until midnight EST to comment and a random winner will be announced tomorrow morning on the SCRS blog.

So.....pop along to my SCRS DT sistahs' blogs to take a peek at their beautiful new release creations and remember to leave everyone (including me!) a comment on today's sneak peek post to be added to the prize draw:

Mercy (GDT)
Kim
Laurel
Lisa
YOU ARE HERE ___> Simonne <--- YOU ARE HERE
Sparkle
Stephanie
Sparkle Creations Rubber Stamps

Thanks for dropping by and see you tomorrow for a peek of the other darling new stamp in this month's new release!

Hugs,

Whimsy Stamps November Rubber Release Hop

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

The DT have SIX fabulous new Whimsy rubber stamps/sets to showcase today .... and some BRAND NEW Whimsy products! Intrigued?  Read on....

Whimsy Stamps is now extending and adding to the rubber and digital stamps with it's own range of.... DIES and PAPER! Yes, that's right!!  It's all so terribly exciting!! 

The dies are officially called the "Whimsy Shapeology Die Collection" and the very first one to be released is the Ticket Die which works perfectly with all Whimsy's ticket die stamps!! Whoop whoop!!  The ticket die is available to buy now, but that's not all... we also have a second die which is a gorgeous snowflake designed by Crissy.  The snowflake design can be pre-ordered from today and will start shipping around November 22nd.

We also have the first 2 packs of 6x6 designer paper created by Ann and Crissy (2 sheets of each of 12 designs for a total of 24 sheets per pack) which are being released today!!  It is fantastic to see Whimsy growing like this and even more fantastic to be a part of it - thank you Denise! :o)  And thank you Ann and Crissy for continuing to share your amazing talent! :o)

Okay, so if you would like to participate in the hop and you didn't arrive here from the amazingly talented and oh-so-wonderful Crissy's blog, make sure you go back to her as she is the first stop of the blog hop!

The hop starts today (Wednesday October 10th at noon EST) and ends on Wednesday November 17th at noon EST.

For this hop we have 7 different prize draws - that's right ... count 'em...SEVEN prize draws!! WOW! The grand prize of ALL 6 of the new release stamps plus the brand new Whimsy ticket die and some of the new designer paper is at the end of the hop (Bev's blog), but there are also 6 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! :o)

For my first project I really wanted to use this gorgeous stamp from one of Ann's new sets entitled Christmas Tree in Words.  I won't tell you how many failed attempts I had using this stamp, LOL, but in the end I settled on a very simple design that took 4 times as long to design than it did to make!! :o) 

I stamped the image in Versamark onto some Core'dinations cardstock and then embossed it with gold embossing powder and my long forgotten heat gun.  I then sat staring at it for ages, trying to think of what to do with it.  I tried patterned paper, adding it to a white background...nope nothing! So I pulled out my tried and tested SU Kraft cardstock - I find it matches everything!!  I then remembered something I'd done ages ago - to punch out the corners of the image, add some brads and then wind some twine around.  I started with the SU twine, but it didn't look festive enough, so I pulled out the SU gold elastic and used that (I don't own any gold ribbon!).  I also don't own any gold brads (...you're probably catching on that I'm not really a gold type of gal!), but instead used the gold embossing powder on my silver ones and hey presto, vintagey looking gold brads!

For my second project I really wanted to use Ann's new Winter Seals.  As soon as I saw this stamp set I new they needed to be made into tags.  So I used my nesties, some double-faced satin ribbon, added a few matching pearls for the holly berries, and distressed the edges using some brown chalk ink.  I am really please with how they came out despite them being very labour intensive (running each piece through the Cuttlebug twice to cut and then emboss) and intend to make more using wine-coloured ribbon and pearls, and perhaps black ribbon and pearls. 

I used another stamp from the same Winter Seals set to stamp To and From on the reverse of the tag:

I am really pleased with my new release creations, as I really wanted to not use my Copics and step out of my comfort zone this time around by making something I wouldn't usually create!  I hope you like them too and that they inspire you to use these stamps a little differently!

So now it's time for you to continue the hop by hopping on over to the fabulous Marley's blog where I know she has something uber-amazing to show you!

But before you go I just want to let you know that Ann has created 10 new custom rubber stamp designs that are available to buy in the store from TODAY!!  So much Whimsy goodness!! Yum!

Thanks for hopping with us today, and I hope you enjoy the new releases!

Hugs,

YNS Challenge #29: YNS it!!

Happy Wednesday everyone!  Today we have a brand new challenge over at YNS Challenges and it's the wonderful, sweet, caring and super-talented Crystal who has chosen this fortnight's challenge.  Crystal is challenging us to ... YNS IT!  So we want you to use at least 2 of the following on your creations - the colour Yellow, Nestabilities dies, and/or to add Stickles.

I have chosen Yellow and Stickles for my creation.  I have used the Merry Mouse Candle stamp, and the "Winter Wishes" sentiment is from the Penguin Greetings stamp set:

This fortnight's YNS challenge is being co-sponsored by the Really Reasonable Ribbon company, who are generously offering a $10 gift certificate for one lucky winner!  So we have a couple of the RRR DT joining us for this challenge (Cheryl and Trudy), plus we welcome our November YNS Guest Designer, Kerry Urbatch, and our YNSC29 guest designer, Julie Thornton!  Phew!!  So there is a LOT of eye candy for you to check out over at the challenge blog today!!

As I was saying to Crystal yesterday, I seem to not be able to leave my SU Kraft card alone at the moment, and am using it in EVERY card I make!! LOL!  I don't know why - perhaps it's because it seems to go with everything?  Or perhaps it's because I'm making Christmas cards and it gives a nice warm feeling to them?  I don't know, LOL!  But anyhow, I have used SU Kraft cardstock to make this card and paired it with some yummy Cosmo Cricket 6x6 paper.  I have followed the super sketch SSS81 over at The Sweet Stop, turning it 90 degrees to the right.

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

Thanks, as ever, for dropping by! :o)  Be back tomorrow with my Whimsy Stamps new release blog hop creations!!

Hugs,

Sparkle Creations Challenge #18: Gift Card Holder

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

This week we are challenging you to make a GIFT CARD HOLDER.  I found a tutorial for the one I made on You Tube here. It was so quick and easy, although in the process of making it I have now found out that my SU 1 1/4" circle punch is faulty.  It will punch through one layer of card just about okay (bit sticky), but 2 layers - forget it!!  I tried all my other SU punches and they cut through the 2 layers like butter, so I'll have to investigate how I go about returning it (if I can??).  I have used Sledding Chloe as the focal point on my holder:

and a shot of the inside:

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
Mercy (guest designer)

Thanks for dropping by!

Hugs,

Paper Makeup Stamps: November Release Blog Hop

Hello everyone and welcome to the Paper Makeup Stamps new release blog hop!

If you'd like to participate in the hop and you didn't arrive here from the sweet Danni's blog, please CLICK HERE to return to the start of the hop at the PMS blog.

For my blog hop card I have used the adorable Claire Fairy stamp and followed the great sketch 163 over at Mojo Monday. Sorry the lighting is a bit weird, but I took it early in the morning when the sun was streaming through the window - I'll take another and update later!

The Release Party starts at 9:00pm EST tonight over at the PMS forum. As usual, there will be plenty of fun, perhaps a challenge and a chance to win some prizes, so why not pop on over?

So now it's time to continue the hop to see what gorgeousness Dawn has to show you, but before you go, be sure to grab my letter for the 15% off the entire release code:

Have a wonderful day! I hope you enjoy the hop and the new releases!

Hugs,

Paper Makeup Stamps: November Release Sneak Peek Day 4

Hello PMS fans and welcome to the last day of our Paper Makeup Stamps new release sneak peeks!

Today we are showcasing the brand new Christmas Cheer stamp set that is being released TOMORROW along with all the November release stamps the PMS DT has been sneak peeking over the past few days!! Here is my card using the CUP stamp from this great set.

Do pop along to my PMS DT sistahs' blogs to take a peek at their sneak peek creations for today:

Christi T
Katie
Lisa K
Michelle
Shaela
Tangii

Tina

And don't forget to come back tomorrow for the New Release BLOG HOP (kicking off at 0700 EST at the PMS blog) where you can hop along to grab the 15% off the entire release discount code!!  Plus why not hop on over to the PMS Forum at 2100 EST tomorrow and join us for the Release Party for lots of fun and chat!

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

1. ABC Challenge - G is for Glitter
2. Quixotic Monthly Challeng- Christmas is Coming
3. Paperplay #44 - Circles

Thanks for dropping by!

Hugs,

Paper Makeup Stamps: November Release Sneak Peek Day 1

Hello PMS fans and welcome to the first day of our Paper Makeup Stamps new release sneak peeks!

For the next few days the PMS DT are showing sneak peeks of the fabby new stamps that are going to be released on November 7th! Today we are showcasing the brand new Word Art stamps that are being released this month, and I get to show you the You Make My Life Sparkle sentiment stamp. Rather than pair this sentiment with an image, I decided to simply allow it so shine or 'sparkle' (LOL!) as the main star.

Do pop along to my PMS DT sistahs' blogs to take a peek at their sneak peek creations for today:

Christi S

Christi T
Danni
Lisa K
Michelle
Stephanie

Tina

The stamps will be released on November 7th when the PMS DT will hold a fabby New Release BLOG HOP (kicking off at 0700 EST at the PMS blog) where you can hop along to grab the 15% off the entire release discount code!!  Plus why not hop on over to the PMS Forum at 9pm EST on release day (Nov 7th) and join us for lots of fun and chat at the Release Party!  Be there, or be square ... that is unless you live in the UK like me, when you will most likely be fast asleep as we're 4 hours ahead and therefore it'll be 1am, LOL!

Thanks for dropping by!

Hugs,