My work is copyrighted...

Just wanted to post a little warning. According to my Feedjit Live feed, there is a visitor from Klang, Selangor (Malaysia) who spent at least half-an-hour systematically clicking on 47 different images on my blog. The feed will only show a certain number of visits, so I'm sure it was going on for longer than this.  Most of the time there were 15 seconds between clicks.  The feed shows that this person was systematically clicking from June 2009 to July 2009, then each month through to October 2009. I have received NO comments.

I do not want to sound harsh and point fingers, but I am extremely concerned that someone is stealing my photos.

To the person visiting my blog and clicking on my photos - please identify yourself to let me know you are genuine.  If you are, indeed, stealing my photos, please know that every single post is copyrighted and I have kept every copyright email from the copyright service I am registered with.

I know this is a problem for many people, not least some of those who produce digital images/stamps.

Thanks!

New Zealand Earthquake...

I'm sure everyone has heard about, read about and watched the devastation that has hit Christchurch in New Zealand.  Christchurch was my home several years ago, where I lived and worked.  Christchurch is the hometown of my husband.  Christchurch is the current home of my parents-in-law, my sisters-in-law and their families.  Thankfully our NZ family is safe.  My mother-in-law broke her femur and had to have immediate surgery ... but everyone is, at least, breathing.  Seeing the pictures on the news and internet is heart-breaking.  I can only imagine the emotional trauma everyone is going through right now.  Just when the city had almost recovered from Sept 2010 earthquake, Mother Nature does it again... but much worse. 

Although I am British, I have always felt that New Zealand is my natural home - somewhere that even after all these years continues to call to me. I am devastated ... for Christchurch, for New Zealand, for those who call Canterbury their home.  Regular aftershocks continue to hit, 75 have been confirmed dead with over 300 still missing, the city is under curfew with police and army patrolling the streets, 50% of ChCh is without power, around 80% is without water...a national state of emergency has been declared.

If, like us, you want to know how you can help, or want to find out information about friends or family who are in Christchurch, CLICK HERE.  This page has lots of useful information, particularly for New Zealanders who have been affected or want to help out.

The Red Cross has launched a New Zealand Earthquake Appeal.  You should be able to send a donation to this appeal from your country-specific Red Cross website.  If you are in the UK, you can send a one-off donation to the NZ Red Cross HERE through the UK Red Cross website.

The NZ Salvation Army has relaunched its Canterbury Earthquake Appeal - read about it here.  Anyone from any country can donate to this appeal HERE.  But be sure to specify that your donation is for the ‘Canterbury Earthquake Appeal’ in the "Details of Donation - specific use" box.

My thoughts and prayers are with Christchurch ... the survivors, the injured, the families of those who have lost loved ones, the rescuers, the helpers, the volunteers... everyone.

Hugs,

Sketch Saturday #143: Butterfly Love

Happy weekend everyone!

Today I have my Sketch Saturday DT make to share!  We have another fabulous sketch by Jo, and this week we are being sponsored by Stitchy Bear digital stamps who are offering a $10.00 gift certificate to one lucky winner.

The Sketch Saturday DT were very kindly given some Stitchy Bear digi stamps to work with, and I have used Butterfly Love by Stitchy Stamps for my creation.  I had a good old dig through my Basic Grey pads and rediscovered 'Euphoria' which I think goes quite well with fairy images.  However, I don't like the ribbon I have used, but as I don't have any other blue ribbon that matched the paper, I had to go with this one, LOL!

Do hop on over to Sketch Saturday to see what fabulousness my wonderful DT sisters have created this week!
Finally, I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges:

- Bearly Mine #4 Ribbon & Pearls
- Bunny Zoe Crafts #9 Spring / Flowers
- Crafts and Me Wings
- Craft Your Passion #45 Pink
- 4 Crafty Chicks #25 Fairy/Angel/Butterfly
- Creative Cottage #33 Fabulous Florals
- Delicious Doodles #13 Glitz/Glammer/Shimmer & Bling
- Forgotten Scraps #3 Spring / Flowers
- Going Grey with Scrap Creations Spring Fever
- Papertake Weekly Glitz
- Wags n Whiskers #48 Punches

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!  It's the start of the school half-term holiday for us, so we get to spend the whole week together as a family - yippee!!

Hugs,

Sparkle Creations Challenge #30: Paper Piecing

Happy Tuesday everyone! Welcome to a brand new Sparkle Creations Rubber Stamps challenge! This week we want you to do some PAPER PIECING on your challenge entries!

For those of you who pop by my blog regularly, you will know that paper piecing is one of my all-tme favourite technique, so when I saw this challenge theme I thought "yeh baby", LOL! For my challenge card I used one of the brand new release stamps, Sweet Treats Emily, and paper pieced her dress, apron and head-piece.

Sparkle Creations is sponsoring Corrosive Challenge for the month of February, and so I thought I'd combine my SCRSC DT card with this week's Corrosive challenge #103 because it's a sketch .. and you all know I LOVE sketches!! Corrosive Challenge posts a new challenge every Sunday but has one sponsor for the whole of the month. They draw a winner from all weeks of participation, so the more times you enter during the month, the more chances you have to win the monthly prize! The prize for February is the brand new and just released Chef Oliver and Sweet Treats Emily SCRS rubber stamps! Here is the sketch:

So why not join in both challenges, or even combine them like I have, and give yourself double the chance to win some brand new SCRS rubber!

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 the rest of the SCRS DT's blogs to take a peek at their awesome challenge creations:

Amber Hight {February Guest Designer}
Alice Wertz
Kim Yu
Shaela Odd
Simonne Clay
Sparkle Smith
Stephanie Kraft

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

- Corrosive Challenge #103 Sketch
- Stamptacular #98 Lovin' from the Oven
- Our Creative Corner Cut it Out
- Simply Create #37 Bold & Bright colours
- Fussy & Fancy Friday Sweet Treats
- Crafts 4 Eternity Recipe #6 Photo Inspiration
- Colour Create #64 Chocolate, Strawberry & Cream
- DYSU #6 Ribbon
- Stamp-n-Doodle Red/Pink, White + 1 other colour (my other colour is brown)

Thanks for dropping by!

Hugs,


Supplies
Stamp: SCRS Sweet Treats Emily rubber stamp
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black Ink Pad; Versamagic Chalk Ink Pink Petunia
Card: Core'dinations ColorCore French Roast CC040
Paper: Echo Park Life is Good 12x12 Collection Kit
Tools: Nesties Labels 1 & Labels 4; Bow Easy bow tying template
Embellies: Ribbon & 5mm flatback pearls from stash
Copic Markers: E000 E00 E11 R20 E55 E53 E51 E50 C3 C1 0 R35 R32

SS#142 & Sparkle Creations Release Day!

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

Today, the DT (along with our February guest designer Amber Hight) are showcasing the second and final February new release SCRS stamp .... SWEET TREATS EMILY!   And the best bit is that both Chef Oliver and Sweet Treats Emily are available to buy from today in the SCRS store - YIPPEE! :o)

As it's Saturday, and so time for a new sketch over at Sketch Saturday, I thought I'd combine my DT makes and so followed Jo's fabby sketch #142 (sponsored by Simon Says Stamp) for my SCRS new release card.

Sparkle will be giving away Sweet Treats Emily to one lucky person - yippee! For a chance to win, you need to visit and comment on all of the designer's Sweet Treats Emily blog posts (links listed below). Then head on over to the SCRS blog and comment on the Sweet Treats Emily post. You have until midnight EST today to comment and the lucky winner will be announced tomorrow!

Amber Hight {February Guest Designer}
Alice Wertz
Kim Yu
Peggy Toole
Shaela Odd
YOU ARE HERE ---> Simonne Clay <--- YOU ARE HERE
Sparkle Smith
Stephanie Kraft
Sparkle Creations Rubber Stamps Blog

And that's not all!  To celebrate Valentine's Day, Sparkle is holding a weekend-long SALE at the SCRS store!!  The sale is from today (Jan 12th) through January 14th, and all you need to do is use the code LOVE15 when checking out to receive a whopping 15% off your entire order!  So that means you can order the brand new release for $6.80 per stamp!!  Bargain!!!

Thanks for dropping by! I hope you enjoy our new release and don't forget to check out the fabulous Sketch Saturday creations too!

Hugs,

Sparkle Creations: Introducing Chef Oliver

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

Today, the DT (along with our February guest designer Amber Hight), are showcasing the first of 2 brand new SCRS stamps that will be released tomorrow. So without further ado, I am pleased to introduce ... CHEF OLIVER ...

It's he adorable?  This cute stamp also comes with the sentiment I used "whatcha got cookin'?" I followed thie week's Mojo Monday Sketch #177 and used a combination of October Afternoon 12x12 papers and Pink Paislee Bayberry Cottage 6x6 papers (I love this pad, and got it from Quixotic Paperie!)

Sparkle will be giving away Chef Oliver to one lucky person! For a chance to WIN, you need to visit and comment on all of the designer's Chef Oliver blog posts (links listed below). Then head on over to the SCRS blog and comment on the Chef Oliver post there. You have until midnight EST today to comment and the lucky winner will be announced tomorrow!

Amber Hight {February Guest Designer}
Alice Wertz
Kim Yu
Peggy Toole
Shaela Odd
YOU ARE HERE ---> Simonne Clay <--- YOU ARE HERE
Sparkle Smith
Stephanie Kraft
Sparkle Creations Rubber Stamps Blog

Before I go, I want to give you the heads up about a SALE Sparkle is holding at the SCRS store this weekend!!  The sale is from tomorrow (Jan 12th) through January 14th, and all you need to do is use the code LOVE15 when checking out to receive a whopping 15% off your entire order!  So that means you can order the brand new release for $6.80 per stamp!!  Bargain!!!

Thanks for dropping by and 'see' you tomorrow for release day!

Hugs,

Whimsy Stamps new rubber release BLOG HOP!!!!

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

We have 16 gorgeous new Whimsy Stamps plus 2 new fantastic 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 some wonderful special guests joining us for this hop - Beate Johns, Deb Routledge, Chris Dark, Jacque Beddingfield, Tracy Payne, and Elaine Hughes!

The Whimsy Stamps DT have been sneak peeking these fabulous stamps for the past 5 days, so if you missed them be sure to hop on over to the Whimsy Inspirations Blog for some more fabulousness!

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

5 stamps / stamp sets from Crissy Armstrong
Fragrant Rose ~ Darling Daisies ~ Smell the Flowers ~Valerie's Spring Rain ~ Fancy Bench

3 stamps from Meljen's Designs
Balloon Mouse ~ Baby Bunny's Bottle ~ Spring Sitter Bunny

4 stamps from Kenny K
Uptown Angel ~ Star ~ Lady Raven ~ Vicki LeeVicious

4 stamps / stamp sets from Raindrop Echo Designs
Postage Stamps ~ Birthday Postage Stamps ~ Balloon Sentiments ~ Birthday Wish List

2 dies
Postage Stamp Die ~ Balloon Set Dies

If you would like to participate in the hop and you didn't arrive here from one of my crafting and artist idols Crissy's blog, please CLICK HERE to return to the beginning of the hop at my beautiful friend Chris's blog.

The hop starts today (Wednesday February 9th at noon EST) and ends on Wednesday February 16th 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 have stepped out of my comfort zone somewhat - lots of distressing, loads of embellishments and not a Copic marker in sight! Eek!!  In fact, I didn't actually do any colouring for this piece!!  Instead I stamped the single rose stamp from the *new stamp set* FRAGRANT ROSE (isn't it beautiful - Crissy has done it again!!) and one of Ann's fab *new* POSTAGE STAMPS in dark brown chalk ink onto kraft cardstock.  I cut out the rose using my scissors, but used the brand *new* POSTAGE STAMP DIE to cut out the Postage Stamp.  I then got to work with inking and distressing and eventually came up with this tag (click on the pics to enlarge them):

See, told you it is VERY different from my usual style, LOL!  I have to say that I loved making it, but if it was to use on a present, I'd need to buy a rather large one to attach it to, as it's pretty big (9cm x 15cm)!

This rubber release is gobsmackingly AMAZING!!!!  I hope you've been saving your pennies as I just know you're going to want to buy a tonne of these new releases!  I predict that the *new* POSTAGE STAMPS (there are 2 different sets) and the *new* POSTAGE DIE will sell out very quickly, so be sure to place your orders after finishing the hop - seriously, don't wait! 

I can see so many possibilities for these postage stamps - one being dressing up envelopes.  All my cards are popped into a plain, white envelope (unless they need a box...and then it's still plain white, LOL!) and so these stamps are going to be perfect for making each envelope special and unique.  Ooh, I may even stamp it in a coordinating colour to the card and then use some clear embossing powder to give it texture (must buy some first though, LOL!).  I can also see these POSTAGE STAMPS being a huge hit with scrapbookers as well as cardmakers ... well, every type of papercrafter really!  As I said, I ADORE every single stamp/die of the new release, but Ann, I tip my hat to you ... these postage stamps and coordinating dies are genuis!!

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

- Simon Says Stamp Anything but a card
- ColourQ #71  Kraft, peachy Pinks, White
- Try it on Tuesday Tag with Hearts & Flowers (although my tag doesn't have any actual hearts on it, it has been make with love for a friend, but it this doesn't count, please scrub me off the list of entries)
- Kaboodle Doodle #53 Ribbon
- Craft Your Passion #44 Anything Goes
- Scrap it with a Song #42 My Life Would Suck Without You
- Totally Papercrafts Friendship

So now it's time for you to continue the hop by hopping on over to the amazingly talented Deb's blog who I know has something fabulous to show you!

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

Hugs,


Supply List
STAMPS & DIE: Whimsy Stamps
CARDSTOCK: SU Kraft, Coredinations French Roast
PAPER: DCWV Garden Party 8x8 stack
INK: Dark Brown chalk ink
EMBELLIES: Roses from Wild Orchid Crafts (inked), ribbon from stash, SU linen thread, Prima pink flower, SU glitter, flatback pearls
TOOLS: Corner rounder punch, TH edge distresser, Sander, Martha Stewart border punch, mini x-cut butterfly punch

Chloe Scooting through Pixie Meadow

Happy Tuesday everyone and welcome to a brand new Sparkle Creations Rubber Stamps challenge! This week we have a fabulous sketch by Kim!  Thank you Kim - I adore your sketches! {grin}

Unfortunately I had to sit out of last week's challenge due to personal reasons, so I didn't get chance to tell you all about the changes here at SCRS. Sadly we bid a fond farewell to both Lisa and Laurel at the end of January.  I was SO sad to see these amazingly-talented gals go, but I know we won't be strangers!  But that means we have two fabulous new teamies to welcome to our little SCRS family... the uber-talented Shaela Odd and Alice Wertz!  Yippee!!  Welcome girls - I'm SO looking forward to working with you both!

A little side note here that may make you chuckle....  Shaela's blog is called "Yellow Umbrella Designs".  One of the TV shows I watch is "How I met your mother" and one of the recurring themes is that the mother had a yellow umbrella.  So every time I watch that show Shaela always pops into my thoughts!!  A silly little useless fact, but one to make you smile!! :o)

We also have the gorgeous Peggy Toole joining our SCRS team as our Sponsorship Coordinator.  Welcome Peggy! It's SO wonderful to finally be on a DT with you, girl!  So if you want Sparkle Creations Rubber Stamps to sponsor your challenge, you know who to get in touch with!

I also want to send a shout out to our February guest, Amber Hight.  Welcome to SCRS Amber!

Okay, so onto my challenge creation.  I decided to use Scooter Chloe for my card today.  The weather is so miserable at the moment, that I really wanted to make a bright and cheerful card, so finally cut into my Cosmo Cricket Pixie-licious mini deck:

Ingredients

Cosmo Cricket Pixie-licious mini deck ~ Coredinations cardstock Mantis GG020 & Harlequin LL040 ~ Copic markers ~ 5mm flatback pearls ~ Inverted corner punch

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.]

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

- Catch the Bug Anything Goes
- Copic Creations #43 Use cool colours
- Sweet Stampin Spring Flowers (one of my DPs has flowers all over it, but if it doesn't count, scrub me off)
- Daring Cardmakers Flowers for February (I have taken inspiration from Violets)
- Totally Papercrafts Friendship (Happy 1st Birthday TPC gals!)
- PaperPlay #5 Stamp it Out (use a stamp)

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

Amber Hight {February Guest Designer}
Alice Wertz
Kim Yu
Shaela Odd
Simonne Clay
Sparkle Smith
Stephanie Kraft

Thanks for dropping by!

Hugs,

Tickled Pink Saturday .. nope, Sunday!

Ingredients

Coredinations cardstock Nightfall FB040 ~ Pink Paislee 6x6 paper pad 'Bayberry Cottage' ~ Martha Stewart border punch & corner punch ~ Versamagic chalk ink 'Tea Leaves GD60' & 'M Black GD91' ~ Prima Pearls & Crystals #300722 ~ Wild Orchid Crafts & Prima flowers

Hey everyone!  Sorry I'm a day late posting my Sketch Saturday card, but it's been one of those weekends!  I ended up going out to the emergency out-of-hours docs last night at our local hospital.  I don't want to go into what's wrong with my health here on a public forum as it's very personal, but it looks like I'm going to be referred to some specialists after suffering for over 6 months, which is certainly a step in the right direction.

Anyway, so back to my DT card.  This week our wonderful leader Jo gets to have a rest and one of DT provides the sketch!  It's Maya's turn this week, and what a FABULOUS sketch she's given us to play with.

The amazing Tickled Pink Stamps is sponsoring this challenge and the SS DT were very lucky to be given one of the TPS digi stamps to work with for this challenge - thank you Kellie!  I have drooled over the gorgeous Lil Lolita Kellita stamp for ages, and so just had to pick it to use on my card.

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

- Tickled Pink Stamps Challenge #5  Punches
- CCEE1105 Punches
- Copic Creations #43  Cool colours from colour wheel (I have used green)
- Digital Tuesday Challenge #96 Shades of Grey plus one other colour (I hope my dark shade of grey, i.e. black counts, and my other colour is green). I have used a digi stamp.
- Little Claire's #1 Anything Goes
- Papertake Weekly Anything Goes + Flowers
- Sew Many Cards #42 Anything Goes
- Sisterhood of Crafters Anything Goes
- Stamp Something Use a digi stamp
- Stamping with the Dragon  Anything Goes

Do pop on over to the Sketch Saturday blog to see what amazingness my DT sistahs have created!

Til next time!

Hugs,