By LORI Designs: Little Beans Olive

Hi everyone!

I have some awesome news to share with you ... I am honoured and beyond excited to now be a By LORI Designs design team member!  Woo-hoo!! A big shout out to the wonderful Lori Boyd for inviting me to work with her adorable images - thank you so much sweet girl (...and I don't mind admitting that I'm quite nervous - have you seen the talent on the BLD team?).

So to mark this very momentus occasion, I have a card to share using one of the brand new released BLD digi stamps called "Little Beans Olive".  I chose Olive to colour up first as I just couldn't resist her beaming smile - she looks SO happy!  I paired her with some yummy papers from the Echo Park Country Drive line and followed Karen's Sweet Sketch Sunday Challenge 150.  I also made some  roses from Sew Sweet felt using my MFT Die-namics mini rolled roses dies (still having problems rolling these, lol!).

Supplies

Stamp: BLD Little Beans - Olive *new*

Copic markers

Echo Park 12x12 'Country Drive' paper (CD16004, CD16005, CD16008)

Kraft cardstock

Felt and Baker's Twine (from Sew Sweet)

MFT Die-namics: Branches with Leaves and Mini Rolled Roses (from MMSC)

Spellbinders Nestabilities Eyelet Circles

Thanks so much for dropping by and I hope you have a wonderful day!

Hugs,

London 2012 and new SEW SWEET products!

Happy Saturday everyone!

I'm such a muppet - I had this post drafted and ready to go over 2 weeks ago and then didn't post it! Sorry! *rolls eyes* But better late than never, eh? ;)

Soooo, what I was going to share with you is my excitement about the fabulous new products that have just arrived at http://www.sewsweet.co.uk 

As some of you know, my brother is part of the Team GB Men's Archery team and this year he will be competing in his 3rd consecutive Olympic Games!  I'm already thinking about this very momentus occasion in terms of crafting, even though it's a few months away yet!  Papermania have just released a new line called "Portobello Road" which I'm sure you'll agree is rather suitable, so I've already grabbed a 6x6 pack of this paper.

And look what Emma has now uploaded to the SEW SWEET store:

*NEW* Berisfords Vintage Union Jack ribbon


*NEW* Red, White & Blue Mixed buttons


*NEW* Berisfords Printed Natural Charm Ribbons

She also has TONNES of other red, white and blue products!  One of my faves is ...

15mm tiny check red gingham ribbon

I also would like to do another little shout out for the gorgeous Double Faced satin ribbon Emma stocks. It is my most favourite satin ribbon ever and I cannot recommend it highly enough. It makes the most gorgeous bows and comes in all my favourite colours. Emma, if you're reading this, you must ALWAYS stock this ribbon, okay? LOL! 

Finally, as you all know I am very lucky to be on Emma's DT, but I want to make it clear that I would never personally recommend products that I don't love.  And I ADORE every single one of the products Emma sells at Sew Sweet. :)

Check out the Sew Sweet blog for lots of ideas, new products and customer makes!

Hope you have a wonderful weekend!

Hugs,

Crazy Whimsical Blog Hop!

Happy Friday everyon!

Today I am participating in a joint company blog hop! Whimsy Stamps is joining One Crazy Stamper to bring you a Crazy Whimsical blog hop filled with lots of inspiration and of course some yummy PRIZES!

Here's a little about both companies:

Whimsy Stamps is a family owned rubber stamp company located in the United States. We carry a large variety of exclusive rubber and digital stamps, custom rubber and digital designs, our Shapeology metal crafting dies, and many different crafting embellishments. We have new releases each month for both rubber stamps and dies as well as new digital images. Hop by the shop and the Whimsy Stamps Inspirations blog to see what's new!




One Crazy Stamper is a fantastic Canadian crafting store with an online site as well as a brick and mortar store located in Bolton, Ontario! One Crazy Stamper has the latest products you are looking for! Be sure to check out the One Crazy Stamper shop as well as the OCS blog for your daily inspiration.

The theme of our hop is a fabulous sketch by my wonderful Whimsy Stamps DT sister, Iris. Thank you Iris for such an awesome sketch to work with!

For my blog hop creation I flipped the sketch and used it in its mirror-image. I used the brand *new* and just released Whimsy Stamps Mad Skillz rubber stamp (available HERE from the Whimsy Stamps store) and paired her with some yummy Echo Park Yours Truly 6x6 paper (available HERE at One Crazy Stamper):

Supplies
Whimsy Stamps Mad Skillz rubber stamp
Whimsy Stamps Shapeology Die - Country Heart
Echo Park Yours Truly 6x6 paper
Memento Tuxedo Black ink; Copics
MFT Die-namics Musical Notes
Black double-faced ribbon and Baker's Twine (from Sew Sweet)
4mm black pearls

We would love for you to join us in our hop featuring projects from the Whimsy Stamps and One Crazy Stamper Design Teams. We have hidden some prizes along the way, so be sure to hop around from blog to blog and leave a comment at each stop to be in with a chance to win some crafty goodies! You have 24hrs to enter the draws.

Finally here is a complete list in hopping order:

One Crazy Stamper Blog
Jacilynn
Debbie Eastman
Michelle
Alberto Gava
Sue
Heidy Blom
Joni
YOU ARE HERE --- > Simonne Clay <--- YOU ARE HERE
Madge
Iris Wiechmann
Sharon
Beate Johns
Lisa
Tammy Louise Cunliffe
Lora

Thank you for stopping by today and I hop you enjoy our join hop!

Hugs,

Whimsy Stamps January Release: Showcase Day 6

For my Sparkle Creations Challenge card, please scroll down or CLICK HERE

Hello and welcome to Day 6 of our January Rubber Die Release Showcase!

On Wednesday (18 January) Whimsy Stamps released this month's rubber designs and new shapeology dies. From then until 25 January the Whimsy Stamps DT and Special Guests are showcasing these fabulous new stamps and dies with a daily mini blog hop.

Each mini blog hop has a new release prize hidden somewhere along the way and you have 24hrs to enter each prize draw.

To be entered into today's mini blog hop prize draw, be sure to leave a comment on ALL of the DT's posts listed below by 12.00PM EST tomorrow. All winners will be announced on the Whimsy Inspirations blog after 12.00PM EST on 25 January.

To take a peek at today's fabulous new release creations, please click on the links below...

Ann Vento
Deb Routledge {Special Guest}
Debbie Eastman
YOU ARE HERE ---> Simonne Clay <-- YOU ARE HERE
Stephanne Maraver
Tammy Louise Cunliffe

For today's creation I used the *new* Whimsy Stamps Bird Swing stamp and paired it with some Basic Grey Piccadilly papers.  My feelings about this card?  Well, let's just say it didn't quite turned out as I had envisaged it in my head, lol!  But we all have our off days! ;)

Remember that the entire new release is available to buy right now from the Whimsy Stamps store along with all your Whimsy favourites.

Thanks for stopping by and don't forget to check back at the Whimsy Inspirations blog tomorrow for more new release creations and the list of mini hop winners!

Hugs,

SCRSC71B: Tea Set Rin

Hi everyone and welcome to Week 2 of Sparkle Creations Rubber Stamps Challenge #71! This week we have a fabulous sketch by Kim to follow and you have until Sunday 29 January @ 9.00PM PST to play along.

For my challenge creation I used Tea Set Rin.  As you may remember, I was unhappy with my Tea Set Rin release card and even though I already had a card ready for today's challenge, I decided to make a new one using this adorable stamp from our newest release.  I'm pleased to report that I am much happier with this attempt! :)

Supplies
SCRS Tea Set Rin rubber stamp
Memento Tuxedo Black ink pad
Copic markers
Basic Grey 'Picadilly' 6x6 paper
Spellbinders Nestabilities 'Wonky Rectangles' (S4-306)
15mm Double Faced Satin Ribbon - Old Gold (from Sew Sweet @ 35p/yd)
15mm Sheer Ruffle Ribbon - Gold (from Sweet @ 49p/yd)

Yesterday (23 January) was Chinese New Year and even though I wasn't consciously thinking about it, I can see now that it definitely influenced my choice of red and gold colour scheme, lol!  I made some ruffly ribbon flowers (first time ever!) using some of the gorgeous 15mm Sheer Gold Ruffle Ribbon from Sew Sweet.  Super easy - all you need is a needle and thread!  The 15mm Double Faced Satin Ribbon - Old Gold is also from Sew Sweet and is a BARGAIN at only 35p a yard!!  I have to say that the 15mm Double Faced Satin Ribbon that Emma stocks at Sew Sweet is the most beautiful and best satin ribbon I have ever used.  It is such amazing quality and there are 25 different colours to choose from.  I also love the width of it and it makes the most gorgeous bows!

Our challenge is open to all players. Each week a random winner will be chosen, and challenge 71's winner will receive Snow Angel Ruby. In order to qualify for a prize, you must use a Sparkle Creations image on your creation.

Thanks so much for dropping by today and I hope you have a fabulous Tuesday!

Hugs,

SCRS Preview & Release Day: Tea Set Rin

Hi everyone and welcome to Sparkle Creations Rubber Stamps January RELEASE DAY!

Today we are showcasing the fabulous Tea Set Rin - I so {heart} this stamp! All new release stamps are available to buy from the Sparkle Creations Rubber Stamps Store RIGHT NOW, yay!

Ingredients

SCRS Tea Set Rin rubber stamp

Bitter Chocolate Bazzill cardstock

MME 6x6 pad - All Spice (from MMSC)

Chocolate Brown Seam Binding (currently 25% off from Sew Sweet)

4mm black gems

Unfortunately I'm not veyr pleased with my card. :( I ADORE the stamp and I'm happy with my colouring and paper choices, but after that it went a bit "blah".  I won't tell you how long I sat fiddling around with layouts when I was working on this card! I think my mojo was on holiday, lol! In the end I resorted to an old layout I used a while ago (I think it was one of Jen's 2011 SFYTT) ... and once I'd stuck everything down I started having ideas like "I could have used my new wonky rectangles nesties" - doh!!  I may try adding some "Lori Boyd" style multi-coloured dots around her to take your eye away from the expanse of white. Anyhoo, the rest of the DT have done a superb job with their cards, so do hop on over to their blogs to take a peek!

Sparkle will be giving away Tea Set Rin to one lucky person! For a chance to WIN, you need to visit and comment on all of the designer's Tea Set Rin blog posts (links listed below), then head on over to the SCRS blog and comment on the Tea Set Rin post there. You have until midnight EST tonight to comment.

Alice Wertz
Danielle Lounds
Debbie Carriere {January Guest Designer}
Kerri Michaud
Kim Yu
Shaela Odd
Simonne Clay
Sparkle Smith
Stephanie Kraft
SCRS blog

Thanks for dropping by! I promise I'll do better for my SCRS challenge card on Tuesday!

Hugs,

SCRS Preview: Nurse Lucy

Hi everyone and welcome to the first day of our Sparkle Creations Rubber Stamps January release previews.

Today we are showcasing the adorable Nurse Lucy who comes with the "get better soon" sentiment. All new release will be available to buy from the Sparkle Creations Rubber Stamps Store on Saturday 14 January.

ETA: The eagle-eyed amongst you who are hopping in order would have spotted that Margie's and my card are extremely similar, even down to the choice of paper we used for paper-piecing!  I can assure you that no copying has taken place on my part, lol! I hadn't seen Margie's card until I hopped around myself this morning. Great minds think alike, eh? LOL :)

I used some yummy new MME Love Me 6x6 paper (from My Mum's Craft Shop), some delicious 10mm *new* double-faced satin ribbon (from Sew Sweet) and the fab Sweet Sketch Sunday sketch #149 (in its mirror image).  Sparkle is sponsoring the Sweet Sketch Sunday challenge with 2 adorable stamps, and you still have a day or so to get your entries in for a chance to win!

Be sure to visit all the rest of the SCRS designers for more peeks of Hockey Oliver. Sparkle will be giving away Nurse Lucy to one lucky person! For a chance to WIN, you need to visit and comment on all of the designer's Nurse Lucy blog posts (links listed below), then head on over to the SCRS blog and comment on the Nurse Lucy post there. You have until midnight EST tonight to comment.

Alice Wertz
Amber Hight
Debbie Carriere {January Guest Designer}
Kim Yu
Margie Cortina
Savannah O'Gwynn
Shaela Odd
YOU ARE HERE ---> Simonne Clay <--- YOU ARE HERE
Stephanie Kraft
Sparkle Creation Rubber Stamps blog

I hope you have a great Thursday! Thanks, as always, for popping by!

Hugs,

SCRSC70B: Something New

Happy Tuesday everyone!

Today I have my Sparkle Creations Rubber Stamps challenge 70 creation to share with you.  Well, actually I have a very quick substitute creation to share with you as I made a boo-boo! Sorry! I will be back later with my proper challenge card which follows Karen's Sweet Sunday Sketch #149 which Sparkle is sponsoring.

So, our very first SCRS challenge of the New Year is rather appropriately to "Use something new"! It may shock some of you to hear that I didn't have any new crafty stash in my Christmas stocking this year (I was extremely lucky to win some a while back!). Instead I had some Debussy piano music, lots of new novels (I love to read!) and some beautiful new Wedgwood tea cups among a few other small things (including the new Glee DVD - yes I'm a huge GLEEK, lol!).

Unfortunately we had to buy a lot of new electrical appliances in the week before Christmas as our toaster, kettle, iron, electric mixer and DVD player all decided to go kaput! It is rather awesome to finally have a Blu-Ray player, yay! And I do love our new kettle and toaster - they are a gorgeous coppery colour (we've got a bit of a neutral + orange tones theme going on in our house, lol!) - but it did mean that our Christmas gift budget got used up!

I did buy myself some more Moleskine Cahiers before Christmas (got them from Amazon this time as the supplier I used when I first bought them doesn't sell them anymore and of course they are now double in price!). So once I'd realised my boo-boo, I stamped up Sweet Treats Emily in Vintage Photo Ink straight onto the front and voila, an (almost!) instand book to jot down recipes!

As I said, I'll be back later today with my proper challenge creation! :)

Our challenge is open to all players. Each challenge a random winner will be chosen, and this challenge one lucky winner will receive Daffodil Charlotte . In order to qualify for a prize, you must use a Sparkle Creations image on your creation.

Do visit the rest of the 'Team B' DT to see their beautiful challenge creations:

Kerri Michaud
Margie Cortina
Savannah O'Gwynn
Simonne Clay
Sparkle Smith
Stephanie Kraft
Sparkle Creations Rubber Stamps Store
Sparkle Creations Rubber Stamps Blog

Thanks for stopping by today and hope to see you later!

Hugs,

TGF Release Day!

HAPPY NEW YEAR everyone!!!

2012 is already off to an awesome start because it's RELEASE DAY at The Greeting Farm! Can I hear a "woo-hoo"?

We are SO excited because not only are there a tonne of new releases available in the store today, there are a TONNE of new faces being introduced on the TGF BLOG! We are welcoming 8 new Design Team members to our "SHOWCASE" team, the team that will be carrying you through until our next round of previews in March.   Our new SHOWCASE team will be bringing you lots of fresh ideas using our new releases and some fun tutorials and other special posts along the way.

The fabulous SIX new releases we have been previewing for the last week or so are now available to buy in the TGF Store! And if you fancy being popped into the draw to WIN all six of them, simply hop around and say hello to our new PREMIERE and SHOWCASE teams.

For my new release creations I decorated a Moleskine Notebook and made a Gable Box.

This is the first time I have coloured an actual image properly on kraft using Copics - eek!!!  It was SO different - you have to choose your colours very carefully, lol! I stamped CC Madden in Memento Tuxedo Black ink and then coloured with Copics as per usual. I found that this paper soaked up the ink a lot so I had to use a lot more that I would normally do when colouring on white card. If you missed the 2 preview cards I made with CC Madden last week, please CLICK HERE to take a peek.

For my second project I decided to make a Gable Box (again, first time I have made one of these - super easy!).  This is actually my 2nd attempt. I made the first from purple card and was going to go down a gothic, dark kind of road with it but once I'd made the box I couldn't find any paper that worked - oops!! So I started again with good old kraft cardstock and voila:

I really wanted to use the larger of the sentiments from the Lucky Bunnies stamp set (LOVE the font!). So I stamped it twice onto kraft cardstock using Vintage Photo ink and doodled around the edges with a brown fineliner.  If you would like to see the card and corner bookmark I made with the other stamps in this fab clear set, please CLICK HERE for my preview post.

Myself and the rest of the TGF team hope you've enjoyed the last week or so of previews, announcements and are SO grateful that you are sharing in our excitement as TGF rings in the NEW YEAR!

HAPPY 2012 everyone!  Now be sure to head over to The Greeting Farm Blog to check out all of the FUN!

Thanks so much for popping by!

Hugs,


Supplies
Stamps: TGF CC Madden; TGF Lucky Bunnies
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black; Tim Holtz Vintage Photo
Moleskine Notebook
Copics
Embellishments: Sew Sweet - Seam Binding; Sew Sweet - Kraft Button Twine; 4mm flatback pearls
Tools: Inverted Corner Rounder punch; Oval and Scalloped Oval punches