A FAIRLY traditional Christmas card

Hello and welcome to the final day of our October Rubber Die Release Showcase!

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 12.00 PM EST tomorrow. All winners will be announced on the Whimsy Inspirations blog after 12.00 PM EST on 19 October.

Today is also the day you can finally have a look at 4th issue of Whimsy Inspirations Magazine - and seriously, it would be SO worth your time to check it out. Ideas and talent and tutorials galore!!


Here is my last showcase card - I have utterly LOVEDthis release and I have seen the next release and I love it even MORE. I have no idea how I am going to be able to choose the stamps!!!

Anyway, without boring you any further - I am using this lil' minx called Mistloetoe on my card. She was fun to colour, let me tell you that (and I did the combo of Copics, Spectrum Noirs & Flexmarkers as seems to be my latest thing, lol). Once again I used purples and blues for desaturating colours in skin shadows.

The papers are from Prima North Country pad, edged with chalk inks and Gelly Roll pens. The beautiful vines are new die by Whimsy. The flowers are from Wild Orchid Crafts.
I got that lush twill ribbon from Ann who is utterly amazing and almost omnipotent. Seriously, there's pretty much nothing that woman can NOT do!!

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

Annika Ryan
Debbie Eastman
Erin Bailey
Simonne Clay
Stephanne Maraver
Sylvia Blum

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 the Whimsy Inspirations blog tomorrow for more new release creations!

Challenges:
My Time To Craft - C3, JFF - #162 Punches & Dies
Heart Song Inspirations - 1E, SIO - Flowers and/or Felt
Wild Orchid Challenge - 2W, C3, (must have at least one WOC product) - (2nd week) Christmas Fun (ends 23rd Oct) 

Hugs

Simple and fast

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

On Wednesday (12 October), Whimsy Stamps released this month's rubber designs and new shapeology dies. From then until 19 October 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 12.00 PM EST tomorrow. All winners will be announced on the Whimsy Inspirations blog after 12.00 PM EST on 19 October.

This is a really simple card which I have kinda pre-designed for those pre-Christmas panic moments when you have about 12 cards missing...

I am using new Christmas Ornaments sentiment set with matching dies.

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

Annika Ryan (meeee)
Erin Bailey
Sylvia Blum
Tammy Louise Cunliffe

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 the Whimsy Inspirations blog tomorrow for more new release creations!

Disregarding the traditions

Hello and welcome to Day 4 of our October Rubber Die Release Showcase!

On Wednesday (12 October), Whimsy Stamps released this month's rubber designs and new shapeology dies. From then until 19 October 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 12.00 PM EST tomorrow. All winners will be announced on the Whimsy Inspirations blog after 12.00 PM EST on 19 October.

The stamps I am using:
Lady Victoria
Postcard To Santa background stamp
Holiday Mini Postage Sentiments set

I am also using  a Cloud Die Set - cut them out from kraft, stamped with a crackle background and distressed with chalk ink and acrylic paint. All the papers, fabric and ribbons are altered with dark brown chalk ink, linen acrylic paint and copper ultra fine glitter.

 

The image is coloured with Copics, using entine E40-ies, E79, V99 & 100 (black)

The snowflakes and gears are Make It Crafty chipboard, altered with pearlescent felt tip pens & gold gel pen.

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

Alberto Gava {Special Guest}
Annika Ryan (meeeeee)
Debbie Eastman
Minna Paajanen
Tammy Louise Cunliffe

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 the Whimsy Inspirations blog tomorrow for more new release creations!

Challenges:Altered Alice -  Use Something that Twinkles or Shines AND/OR you can bring some Spookiness (ends 28th Oct) 
Crafting When We Can - 2W, 2E, C5 - (1st week) Christmas 
The Crafty Pad - SIO - Monochromatic 
Creatalicious Challenges - M, P15 - Distress your Edges
Crafty Ann's - 2W, SIO - Inspired by a Christmas Song (Santa Claus Is Coming To Town - yes, I know my mind is twisted..)
Fabulous Friday - A Fancy Trim
Aud Sentiments Challenge - 2W - (1st week)  Use any Sentiment (Winter Theme)
ABC Christmas Challenge - 2W, Christmas - use your old stash (all the metal bits, acrylic paint, fabric, glitter
Ribbon Carousel Challenge - must include spooled item -Sparkle & Bling

 Thanks for popping by!!

A very merry card

Hello and welcome to Day 3 of our October Rubber Die Release Showcase!

On Wednesday (12 October), Whimsy Stamps released this month's rubber designs and new shapeology dies. From then until 19 October 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 12.00 PM EST tomorrow. All winners will be announced on the Whimsy Inspirations blog after 12.00 PM EST on 19 October.

I used Bart Loves Christmas on my card, along with Holiday Postage Stamps sentiment set.

The image was coloured with Copics, then smothered in glitter and Glossy Accents.

I made the pins with pearls I got from Quixotic Paperie. The paper is by Crate Paper. I also used vintage seam binding and cute stocking charm from Whimsy.

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

Annika Ryan
Debbie Eastman
Ellie Stover
Simonne Clay
Sylvia Blum
Tammy Louise Cunliffe

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 the Whimsy Inspirations blog tomorrow for more new release creations!

Challenges:
Crafty Ribbons - 2W, SIO - (1st week) Ribbon and Lace
Ribbon Carousel Challenge - must include spooled item -Sparkle & Bling
Bunny Zoe's Crafts - M, 1E - (October) Lace (ends 13th Nov)
Cards For Men - 2W, must be masculine - (1st week) Make us Laugh
Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps - SIO - #99 Sparkle and Shine
Secret Crafter - #155 Anything goes as long as it sparkles
 

Blog Candy Winner!

Every good thing has to end some time and Make It Crafty blog hop is now officially over.

I know, sad...

But on a positive note it's time to announce the winner of my little candy.
So, who is the owner of those goodies??

The Hat has spoken and it's GEA from Gea's Hobbyblogg!

Congratulations, Gea and please contact me with your address so I can send you the sweet stuff! :)

Whimsy October Release - Little Santa Claws

Welcome to Whimsy Stamps October rubber stamp and die RELEASE DAY!

Whimsy Stamps has released 15 fabulous new rubber stamps and 2 wonderful new Shapeology die sets today. These new goodies are available to buy right now from the Whimsy Stamps store along with all your Whimsy favourites.

From today until 19 October, the Whimsy DT and Special Guests will be 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 will have 24hrs to enter each prize draw by ensuring you leave a comment on every blog listed for that day.

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 morning. All winners will be announced on the Whimsy Inspirations blog after 12.00PM on 19 October.

And there's even more fabulous news!  Issue #4 of the Whimsy Stamps Inspirations Magazine will be releasing on October 19th!  It's a full issue with never-before-seen creations from the Whimsy Stamps design team and guest designers.

I am using Little Santa Claws image by Crissy Armstrong on my card, along with  Stockings sentiment set (there is a compatible die available too but I was silly enough not to get it).

I used a combination of different pencils to colour in that adorable pup - mainly Derwent Drawing Pencils which are great for colouring skin and fur.

The sentiment stockings are stamped with red and green Memento ink and coloured quickly with Copics. Then I sprinkled on some Flowersoft to create furry borders.

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

Annika Ryan (me)
Debbie Eastman
Stephanne Maraver
Tammy Louise Cunliffe
Ellie Stover

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

4 Crissy Armstrong rubber stamps
Bart Loves Christmas ~ Christmas Dreaming ~ Jolly Little Santa ~ Little Santa Claws




4 Kenny K rubber stamps
Drama Queen ~ Lady Victoria ~ Mistletoe ~ Mrs Claus




7 Raindrop Echo Designs rubber stamp sets
Holiday Mini Postage Stamps ~ Holiday Pennants ~ Postcard to Santa ~ Seasonal Ornaments (compatible die available) ~ Stockings (compatible die available) ~ Advent Calendar ~ Holiday Postage Stamps




2 Raindrop Echo Designs Shapeology dies
Stockings Dies ~ Ornaments Dies

Don't forget to visit today's DT and leave a comment on their blog posts to be entered into the draw to win a new release stamp, then pop by the Whimsy Inspirations blog tomorrow for the next list of showcase posts!

Thanks for stopping by and I hope you enjoy our new release!

Challenges:
Cards und More - 2W, must stamp - #38 Lace & Buttons 2nd Week
Crafty Cardmakers - 2W, C15 - (2nd week) Anything Goes
Karens Doodles - 1E, SIO - Distress It
Mojo Monday - Sketch
Card Cupids - Use a Decorative Punch of Some Type
Crafty Emma - E3 - #57 Seeing Red
Raise The Bar - furry friends
C.R.A.F.T. - 5E - Bright Colours  

And we're hopping...

Hello and welcome to the Wee Stamps for Whimsy Stamps BLOG HOP!

On Sunday we announced the wonderful news that Whimsy Stamps is exclusively releasing Sylvia Zet's beautiful wee stamps collection in rubber! Whimsy Stamps is releasing 6 new Wee Stamps for Whimsy Stamps today and these new goodies are available to buy right now from the Whimsy Stamps store along with all your Whimsy favourites. The Whimsy Stamps DT and Special Guests have been showcasing these fabulous stamps for the past 3 days, and today we are celebrating their release with a BLOG HOP!

We are delighted to welcome our wonderful special guests who are joining the Whimsy DT for this hop - 

Alberto Gava,  

Mariska van der Veer, 

Jacque Beddingfield, 

Dena Concienne, 

Tab Robinson 

and Sylvia Zet herself! 

The hop starts today (Wednesday October 5th at noon EST) and ends on Tuesday October 11th at noon EST.
For this hop we have 5 different prize draws! One lucky hopper will win the entire new release of 6 stamps. We also 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*
If you would like to hop along with us today and haven’t arrived from Simonne’s blog, please CLICK HERE to return to the beginning of the hop at Ann’s blog.

For my card I used Silver Fairy - isn't she just delightfully charming and serene!  I also used Winter Letter Seals set.

I used a combination of markers here - her hair, wings, shoes and dress are done with Spectrum Noir markers. I got two sets (browns and turquoises) as a test and was seriously unimpressed at first, especially with that bullet nib thingy and with a way they seem to squirt out the ink. I was thinking about getting rid of them but then had a I WILL NOT BE BEATEN BY A FLIPPIN' MARKER moment and, well, got crackin, lol

The skin is done with Copics, I used a bit pinker and cooler tones as it IS supposed to be a wintery picture and methinks a fairy should have given it a bit thought before she wandered out so scantily clad. I am at the moment experimenting using strong purples as my shadow colours, still in early stages but I already like it better than using grays.

Oh, and that cool webbed ribbon is a pressie from our fabulous ANN, thank you SO much - I am a lucky gal to have friends like yourself!!
So now it’s time for you to continue the hop by hopping over to Tab’s blog. Finally, here is a complete blog hop list in hopping order:

Ann Vento
Chris Olsen
Tammy Louise Cunliffe
Debbie Eastman
Dena Concienne
Stephanne Maraver
Sylvia Blum
Jacque Beddingfield
Erin Bailey
Ellie Stover
Mariska van der Veer
Alberto Gava
Simonne Clay
Annika Ryan
Tab Robinson
Sylvia Zet

Here are the challenge I wish to enter:
Paper Take Weekly - Anything Goes
 Heart Song Inspirations - 1E, SIO - Anything Goes
Touch Twin Markers and more - C5, 2W, SIO - (2nd week) Color Challenge* (ends 8th Oct) 
Emerald Faerie Garden - 2W, 3E, SIO, P1/15 - Challenge #10: Punches/ Dies 
Sparkles Forum Christmas - M, Christmas, P1 - Christmas Songs
A Gem of a Challenge - 2W - 1stW - #31 With love at Christmas (with a heart) (big doily heart)
Wee memories - C4,  #70 Use your favourite technique(s) (distressed edges, paper piercing, marker colouring
Crafts 4 Eternity Recipe Challenge - 3E - Anything goes
Crafty Catz - 1E - Things with Wings
Jingle Belles - Christmas - Peace on Earth
Meljens Designs - SIO -  Shapes: Use a circle and a square in the same creation
Samuel Taylor's Challenge - M, C3 - (September) Create a Christmas card using any rubber stamp
 
Thank you so much for hopping with us today and I hope you enjoy the new release!
 Hugs

This is as autumnal as I can get..

Hello Whimsy fans! On Sunday, Whimsy Stamps announced that we will now be releasing Sylvia Zet's adorable wee collection exclusively in Whimsy rubber! How exciting! This month Whimsy Stamps will be releasing six Wee Stamps for Whimsy Stamps rubber stamps on 5 October: Autumn Happiness ~ Rose's Bike Ride ~ Silver Fairy ~ Sweet Blossom ~ Wee Suzi ~ Winter Fairy. The Whimsy Stamps DT have been sharing some fabulous sneak peeks of these darling stamps in the lead up to their release tomorrow (Wednesday 5 October). We will be holding a fantastic BLOG HOP tomorrow to celebrate the new release, so be sure to join the fun at 12.00PM (EST) as we will be giving away the entire release to one lucky hopper as well as having a few secret prize draws scattered throughout the hop.

And here is my take on Autumn Happiness - plenty of mucking with watercolours for sure!! I have to say my hubby loved the coloured-up image so I don't really know if I should be real happy or slightly alarmed, lol.

I love those papers though - they are from Authentique Halloween pad and I think I might get addicted to that line of papers as well. Do NOT tell my hubby!! 

To take a peek at today's amazing sneak peek projects, please visit the DT listed below...

Chris Olsen
Debbie Eastman
Erin Bailey
Simonne Clay
Stephanne Maraver
Sylvia Blum
Tammy Louise Cunliffe

Thanks for stopping by and don't forget to check back tomorrow for our fabulous new release blog hop!
Hugs!

A Wee Taster

Hello Whimsy fans! We are super excited to announce that from October, Whimsy Stamps will be releasing Sylvia Zet's adorable wee collection exclusively in Whimsy rubber! Whimsy Stamps will be releasing six Wee Stamps for Whimsy Stamps rubber stamps this month on 5 October:

Autumn Happiness ~ Rose's Bike Ride ~ Silver Fairy ~ Sweet Blossom ~ Wee Suzi ~ Winter Fairy

The Whimsy Stamps DT are going to be sharing some fabulous sneak peeks of these darling stamps over the next 3 days in the lead up to their release on Wednesday 5 October! We will be holding a fantastic BLOG HOP on 5 October to celebrate the new release, so be sure to join us then as we will be giving away the entire release to one lucky hopper as well as having a few secret prize draws scattered throughout the hop. To take a peek at today's amazing sneak peek projects, please visit the DT listed below...

Debbie Eastman
  Ellie Stover
Simonne Clay
Stephanne Maraver
  Tammy Louise Cunliffe
Iris Wiechman

I am using a Winter Fairy on my card - I stamped her in gray Versafine ink and coloured with watercolours keeping it very soft. The papers are old Christmas papers from OA and Papermania, all brushed with white acrylic paint and sprinkled with a bit of aqua glitter while the paint was still wet. The filigree corners and medallion are a chipboard by Make It Crafty.

The sentiment is from Peace On Earth set.

Thanks for stopping by and don't forget to check back on Tuesday for another sneak peek!

Hugs

Tutorial - Cloudy Watercolour Sky

I have been promising to do couple of watercolour sky tutorials for a while - here's finally the first one for that sky:

Things you need:
Watercolour card - the sturdier the better
Kitchen paper or tissue
pre-mixed washes (diluted paints or inks) in blue, red and grey. This technique gives the best results with watercolours but is totally possible with distress inks too.
Medium brush (round or filbert - I like filbert but that's personal preference)

If you want to use that technique as a backdrop for the image, cover the image with masking fluid first. NOTE - never use masking fluid on top of painted area - it will pull off paint when you try to remove it. Guess how I know that...

I recorded this tutorial very late after recording two other ones, as a result I seem to have lost the gift of remotely coherent speech. Fair play to you if you manage to understand anything!!

Thank you for popping by!
Hugs