you're the best

Hey Everyone!  I've been busy with family stuff and haven't made any cards for a week or so now.  I thought I would share this card that I made for the Stampavie Creations newsletter.  It's a free magazine publication filled with beautiful samples from the design team.  You can download it here and subscribe to get an email when future issues are released.

I used the adorable Giddy Up image from Tina Wenke along with a sentiment from her Sweet Wishes set.  I stamped the image on copic x-press it cardstock with tuxedo black memento ink.  I colored it with copic markers (the marker colors are listed in the newsletter).  I used some patterned papers from Cosmo Cricket's Wanted paper pad.  I sponged some antique linen, tea dye, and walnut stain distress inks around my papers before stitching and assembling.

Have a wonderful day!

Niki

Whimsy Stamps Elisabeth Bell Stamp Release Blog Hop

Welcome to the Elisabeth Bell for Whimsy Stamps BLOG HOP!

On Monday, we announced the wonderful news that Whimsy Stamps has welcomed the amazing Elisabeth Bell to our family of Whimsy Stamps artists. Whimsy Stamps is releasing 4 new Elisabeth Bell Little Cottage Cuties rubber 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 previewing these beautiful stamps for the past 2 days, and today we are celebrating their release with a BLOG HOP! The hop starts today (Wednesday March 7th at 12.00PM EST) and ends on Wednesday March 14th at 12.00PM EST.

For this hop we have five different prize draws! One lucky hopper will win the entire new release of ALL four stamps. We also have four mini candy stops throughout the hop where you can enter to win a new release stamp! We're not telling you where they are, so be sure to complete the hop to find them!

For my card today, I decided to use the adorable Apple Blossom image.  They are all so cute so it was difficult to choose which one to use next, but eventually this little darling won out.  I stamped the image on copic x-press it cardstock with tuxedo black memento ink and colored it with copic markers.  I die cut the image and kraft layer behind it with Labels One and Labels One Small nestability dies.  I used some patterned papers from Echo Park's This and That Graceful paper pad.

Sometimes, I like to get out supplies I haven't used in a while and just play.  I love the look of white paint on kraft cardstock.  So, I dabbed some white paint (blank canvas from Claudine Hellmuth) on the edges of my kraft cardstocks using one of the Claudine Hellmuth paint brushes (great quality) before stitching my layers.  I used a red copic marker and my air compressor to spray the white crocheted lace from May Arts.  (I wanted it to stand out a little more against the patterned paper.)  Like on my card yesterday, I used a sentiment from the Summer Letter Seals stamp set.  I finished off my card with some tiny pearls and flowers from Wild Orchid Crafts (20mm red open roses, 25mm red open roses, 15mm red open roses, and 4mm red closer rose buds).  I'm also entering this card in the Wild Orchid Crafts Get in Shape challenge.

If you would like to hop along with us today, please CLICK HERE to start the hop at Debbie's blog. Finally, here is a complete blog hop list in hopping order:

Debbie Eastman

Alberto Gava {Guest Designer}

Ann Vento

Beate Johns {Special Guest}

Ellie Stover

Dena Concienne {Special Guest}

Bev Rochester {Special Guest}

Erin Bailey

Deb Routledge {Special Guest}

Heidy Blom

Mariska van der Veer {Special Guest}

Niki Estes (you're here)

Jacque Beddingfield {Special Guest}

Iris Wiechmann

Pops Morfitt {Special Guest}

Stephanne Maraver

Tammy Louise Cunliffe

Elisabeth Bell {Artist} 

Thank you also for the sweet comments you left on my card yesterday.  They made me smile when I read each one.  Thank you!

My blog was one of the hidden prizes yesterday.  Karen Q., I'll send you an email so you can contact Denise to get your free stamp.  Congratulations!

Have a wonderful day, Everyone!

Niki

Elisabeth Bell Debut Release at Whimsy Stamps Day 2

Hi everyone! Yesterday we announced the exciting news that the amazing Elisabeth Bell has joined the Whimsy Stamps family of artists. Elisabeth’s debut release for Whimsy Stamps is the Little Cottage Cuties line of rubber stamps and will be available to buy from the Whimsy store tomorrow (7 March 2012).

In the lead up to their release, the Whimsy DT and Special Guests are excited to share with you 2 days packed full of previews of these gorgeous stamps. Today we are sharing projects made with Chloe and Picked Sweet, and we are holding a 24hr mini blog hop to celebrate! (You can see the new images on the Whimsy Stamps blog here.)

We have hidden one Chloe rubber stamp and one Picked Sweet rubber stamp somewhere along the way, so be sure to leave a comment on ALL of the DT's posts listed below by 12.00PM EST tomorrow to be entered into the prize draws.

For my card today, I had to use the adorable new Chloe image (available for purchase tomorrow).  I think she has to be my favorite from the new release (although they are all so cute!).    I absolutely adore this image!  I stamped the image on copic x-press it cardstock with tuxedo black memento ink and colored it with copic markers.  I also sponged some antique linen and brushed corduroy distress inks around the edges of my cream cardstocks.   I used some patterned papers from the Stella & Rose paper pad from My Mind's Eye.  The sentiment is from the Summer Letter Seals stamp set.  I sprayed it with a blue copic marker while it was still in the petite oval nestability die.  I finished my card off with some flowers from Wild Orchid Crafts (pale pink poppies, 4mm baby pink closed rose buds, and 15mm pink tone roses set B).

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

Alberto Gava {Guest Designer}

Dena Concienne {Special Guest}

Ellie Stover

Erin Bailey

Heidy Blom

Iris Wiechmann

Niki Estes (you're here)

Pops Morfitt {Special Guest}

Tammy Louise Cunliffe

Thank you for stopping by and don't forget to pop back to the Whimsy Inspirations blog tomorrow for our new release BLOG HOP!!

Have a great day!

Niki

Happy Easter: Whimsy Release Showcase Day 7

Hello and welcome to Day 7 of our February Rubber Die Release Showcase!

On Wednesday (22 February) Whimsy Stamps released this month's rubber designs and new Shapeology dies. From then until 28 February 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 have24hrs 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 on 29 February.

For my card today, I pulled out the adorable Easter Bunny image from Sylvia Zet's Wee Stamps line.  I just love her images and this one is so cute!  I stamped the image on copic x-press it cardstock with tuxedo black memento ink.  Then, I colored it with copic markers that coordinate with the patterned papers I chose from October Afternoon's Sidewalks paper pad.  I love the colors and papers in this line.  They just seem perfect for spring images.  I used these copic markers to color my image: Y35, YR20, YR21, YR23, R20, R21, R22, R30, BG72, W1, W3, W5, W7, R24, R27, R46, E19, E31, E33, E35, BG11, YG63, YG67, colorless blender.

I die cut the image with a Labels Eight nestability die and then, while the image was still in the die, I masked the image with some Eclipse Masking Tape and used a copic marker (BG11) to spray the sky.  I also sprayed the ground after I added the grass flicks.  (I forgot again about the overspray I get with some colors and ended up with the green overspray.  It looks kind of neat so I just embraced the look and went with it.  It was too late to change it by the time I remembered I should have masked the sky before doing the grass.)

Anyway, I finished my card with some stitching, buttons, May Arts crocheted lace, some Flax baker's twine, and a sentiment from Waltzingmouse Stamps'  Spring Baskets stamp set.

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

Bev Rochester {Special Guest}
Erin Bailey
Niki Estes (you're here)
Tammy Louise Cunliffe
Mariska van der Veer {Special Guest}
Simonne Clay
Heidy Blom

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

Thanks for stopping by and don't forget to check the Whimsy Inspirations blog tomorrow for the blog candy winners!

Niki

I Love You Now Until Forever: Whimsy Release Showcase Day 3

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

On Wednesday (22 February) Whimsy Stamps released this month's rubber designs and new Shapeology dies. From then until 28 February 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 have24hrs 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 on 29 February.

For my card today, I used the adorable new Bud bunny image from Crissy Armstrong.  I stamped the image on copic x-press it cardstock with tuxedo black memento ink.  Then, I colored it with copic markers that coordinate with the patterned papers I chose from My Mind's Eye's Everyday Flair paper pad.  I colored the image with these copic markers: R30, R32, R35, R24, R27, R46, E19, R00, R02, E31, E33, E35, E37, E29, BG0000, BG000, YG61, YG63, YG67, YG97, colorless blender.  I masked the image with some Eclipse Masking Tape and sponged some antique linen and tea dye distress inks around the edge of the image while it was still in the oval nestability die.

I also sponged the distress inks around the edges of my patterned papers before stitching them.  I die cut a doily using a MFT die and sponged the distress inks around the edges of it as well.  I stitched some red buttons in place and added some crocheted lace and maraschino baker's twine before adhering my patterned papers to my card base.  I used a sentiment from the new I Heart You Tabs 2 stamp set and stapled it to my image using the Tim Holtz Tiny Attacher stapler.  I adhered my image with foam adhesive.  Then, I finished my card off with some flowers from Wild Orchid Crafts (20mm deep red open roses, 15mm deep red open roses, and 4mm deep red closed rose buds).

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

Debbie Eastman
Ellie Stover
Niki Estes (you are here)
Stephanne Maraver
Dena Concienne {Special Guest}
Heidy Blom

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

Thanks for stopping by and don't forget to check the Whimsy Inspirations blog tomorrow for more new release creations!

Niki

Whimsy Stamps February Release

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

Whimsy Stamps is releasing 19 fantastic new rubber stamps and 5 wonderful new Shapeology dies today together with 2 brand new Shape EZ templates! These new goodies are available to buy right now from the Whimsy Stamps store along with all your Whimsy favourites. (NB All Raindrop Echo Designs February stamps and 2 of this month's Shapeology dies were released last week as part of the ‘3 Companies’ blog hop).

From today until 28 February 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 leaving a comment on every blog listed for that day.

From this release onwards we are doing things a little differently. At the end of release week (Wednesday 29 January) a special Release Round-Up will be posted on the Whimsy blog. This post will include a selection of new release DT work from the previous week together with a complete list of winners from the daily mini blog hops.

For my card today, I decided to use the cute new Party Time Cat image from Meljen's Designs.  It's perfect to celebrate the new release!  I stamped the image on copic x-press it cardstock with tuxedo black memento ink.  Then, I colored it with copic markers that coordinate with the patterned papers I chose from My Mind's Eye's Lime Twist: Fly a Kite paper pad.  I used these marker colors: YG61, YG63, YG67, YG97, YG99, YG03, YG05, YG07, YG09, YR14, YR16, YR18, E43, E44, E47, E49, R30, R32, R24, R27, R46, E19, E31, BG53, BG75, colorless blender.  I masked the image with some Eclipse Masking Tape and used my air compressor to spray the sky.

I added some stitching to my layers, some Maraschino red baker's twine, and red buttons before assembling everything.  I used a sentiment from the Retro Bottle Cap Sentiments set along with the Bottle Cap Die.


You can see a full list of all of the new images over on the Whimsy Stamps Inspirations Blog.
To be entered into today's mini blog hop prize draw, be sure to leave a comment on ALL of the DT posts listed below by 12:00PM EST tomorrow:

Ann Vento
Bev Rochester {Special Guest}
Debbie Eastman
Ellie Stover
Erin Bailey
Jacque Beddingfield {Special Guest}
Niki Estes (you're here)
Stephanne Maraver
Tammy Louise Cunliffe

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 back to the Whimsy blog tomorrow for the next list of showcase posts!

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

Niki

Happiness is in the Little Things

Hi Everyone!  It’s almost time for a new release over at Whimsy Stamps.  Before inking up some of the new stamps, I had to ink up another one of the images from the last release that I hadn’t had a chance to play with yet.

I used the beautiful Bird Swing image from Sylvia Zet’s Wee Stamps line.  Sylvia has such a way with illustrating.  Her images are just beautiful.  I stamped the image on copic x-press it cardstock with tuxedo black memento ink and colored it with copic markers.  I used these marker colors: YG61, YG63, YG67, E31, E33, E35, B12, B14, B16, B32, B34, B37, YR20, YR23, YR24, YR30, YR31, R24, R27, R46, E19, colorless blender. I used some patterned paper from the October Afternoon 5 & Dime paper pad.

I sponged some antique linen distress ink around my image while it was in the oval nestability die.  I also sponged some antique linen and around the edges of my patterned papers, sentiment, and cream card base.  I used a sentiment from the Magical Mini Letter Seals stamp set.  I added some stitching and crocheted lace.  I colored some pearls with a red copic marker to match my red accents.  Then, I finished my card off with some roses from Wild Orchid Crafts (15mm deep red open roses, 20mm deep red open roses, and 4mm deep red closed rose buds).

Have a great week!

Niki