Monday, May 28, 2012

Jump For Joy!!

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

On Wednesday 23 May Whimsy Stamps released this month's new rubber designs and new Shapeology dies together with some new 'Shape EZ by TLC' cut files. From then until 29 May the Whimsy Stamps DT and Special Guests are showcasing these fabulous new goodies 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 blog on 30 May.

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


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


Well, here's my now finished project, got those little details and paper additives on there, woohoo!! I've used the new Frisbee Dog by Crissy Armstrong as well as a new Summer Oval Letter Seal by Ann Vento. I've painted in distress inks and the papers are My Minds Eye. I distressed the papers in Walnut Stain and added machine stitching as well as some buttons and bakers twine, ribbon and rick-rack, oh, and the best multitasking decoration ever: staples!!



Thanks for stopping by and don't forget to pop back here to the Whimsy blog tomorrow for the next mini blog hop list showcasing more amazing new release creations!

Saturday, May 26, 2012

On an Adventure

Hello Whimsy Friends, 
welcome back!!!
We're on Day 4 of our Release Party with mini blog hops each day to celebrate!!


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 blog on 30 May.

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


Michele Roos - Special Guest 

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


Today, I've used the adorable Jack and Bobbin Gone Fishing designed by Elisabeth Bell for Whimsy Stamps, as well as a sentiment designed by Raindrop Echo Designs from the newly released Oval Summer Letter Seals. I painted in distress inks, not surprisingly, and the papers are by My Minds Eye. I used Fiskars Scallop paper edgers on the red CS around the image and the other treasures are from my stash.

I'm going to add this in at:

Craft Catz Card for a man, do boys count?

Charisma Cardz No Flowers Allowed

PaperTake Weekly True Colours

Paper Play Summer Lovin'


Thanks for stopping by and don't forget to pop back here to the Whimsy blog tomorrow for the next mini blog hop list showcasing more amazing new release creations!

hugs, stephanne

Friday, May 25, 2012

Whimsy May Release Sample, Love Bugs




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

On Wednesday 23 May Whimsy Stamps released this month's new rubber designs and new Shapeology dies together with some new 'Shape EZ by TLC' cut files. From then until 29 May the Whimsy Stamps DT and Special Guests are showcasing these fabulous new goodies 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 blog on 30 May.

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


Beate Johns - Special Guest
Bev Rochester - Special Guest
Colleen Schaan - Special Guest
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 pop back here to the Whimsy blog tomorrow for the next mini blog hop list showcasing more amazing new release creations!

And here is my sample featuring the overly-cute Love Trip stamp created by Sylvia Zet, as well as a smashing sentiment from the Always and Forever set by Ann Vento.


I painted in distress inks, big shock, I know. The papers are My Minds Eye, I used parts of a square doily to make the border for my purple polka dot paper, the flowers are from I Am Roses and the punch used is by Martha Stewart. I sanded the edges of my papers and distressed the white paper in Walnut Stain.


and here's a close up of the bugs in their little hot air balloon, which is fascinating to think about because, proportionately, it would only have to be as large as say, a thimble or an itty bitty saucer. Yeah, I think too much.

I'm going to add this to the entries at Sketch Saturday and Bunny Zoe's Anything Goes Challenge.

Thanks for stopping by today!! I'll be seeing you soon with some more cute Whimsy goodness!!

Big Hugs, stephanne

Wednesday, May 16, 2012







Welcome to Denise's birthday party hop!



If you've come here from Alberto Gava's blog 
then you're on the right track. 


If not, start at Iris's blog so you don't miss a thing!


Today (May 16) we are celebrating the birthday of one of the best stamp company owners out there: Denise Lynn of Whimsy Stamps! To show our appreciation for Denise's kindness, the Whimsy family and previous guest designers are holding a birthday party blog hop using some of the amazing Whimsy Stamps products that we have grown to love.  Thank you, Denise, for giving us the opportunity to represent a company with great products, wonderful customer service, and most of all, an owner who truly cares about its artists and designers.  You are the best!




To show some appreciation to the Whimsy customers for helping us celebrate Denise's birthday, we are giving away a $25 Gift Certificate to Whimsy Stamps store.  Just hop along, leave a comment on the birthday blog posts by May 21, and a random winner from the comments left on participating blogs will be chosen to win the gift certificate.  The winner will be posted on the Whimsy Stamps blog on May 22.

For today's birthday hop I've incorporated the adorable Dandelion Girl by Sylvia Zet, coloured in distress inks, into a sample for CLP Sketch challenge!! Our reminder post went live on the 15th, so I am a tad behind where that is concerned.


So Denise, here's wishing you a bundle of sweetness on your birthday, and heck, every day for that matter!!



This hop is rather large, so here's the hop order in case you get lost:
But hey, good news, if you made it this far, you're practically done, as this girl here is the caboose on our Happy Birthday Train!! Toot toot!!

































Thanks for joining us today!  Feel free to head over to Denise's blog to wish her a happy birthday :)


hugs, stephanne

Monday, May 14, 2012

Winner of my blogoversary candy!!

Hi there blogging friends!! The time has come for me to draw a winner from the comments left under this post!! Thank you to all who entered for sharing your stories with me!! Animals bring such a joy to me, and apparently, a lot of you all too!!! So thank you thank you thank you all for dropping by and leaving me your stories!!

So without further ado, random number generator popped out 30, so that means that Anreda is the lucky lady in todays drawing!! And I hope you don't mind my sharing your answer to the required question: tell me your favorite animal and why!!


My favorite animals are cats and of course especially my cat "Tiger".

Unfortunately it is not such a big hero as the name suggests, but she is extra nice to us.

The many birds in our garden already know her and know that they can feel free by eating. "Tiger" goes (before the "attack") first sitting. Than in the attack position with her ​​ass back, tail to high and then a little jump and then.... she walks all mewing to the birds.
The birds therefore have more than enough chance to fly away and come back later quietly.

Her friends, the fish in the pond, pulling really nothing of her, because if they come too close to swimming to "Tiger", she runs away screaming ...

She is no hero, not a real "Tiger" ... but owww ... w hat is she sweet, loved and
pendent and what will I miss her when she is no longer among us.

My little girl, my little "Tiger"

But of course I want to just state why I have become a follower of your blog. I'm through, through, through ended up on your blog and I love your creations.
Especially the stamp with TuTu Sweet is very cute.
I hope you get lots of inspiration and will certainly often just come to "visit".

Regards, Anreda
Excellent answer, my friend!! Please get in touch with me through my email at
eatwblimpy@yahoo.com to claim your prize, and please write BLOG PRIZE in the subject line, so I can recognize your email from the loads of spam I get!!

Thanks again to all who entered!!

Big Hugs, stephanne

Blogoversary Candy!!

**this post is pinned up until my candy ends, 
please scroll down for new posts**

Hi there friends,
as promised, I have put together a little candy
to celebrate my 3rd year of blogging!!
Through the year, I've had lots of fun on Design Teams
and entering challenges, and hey, occasionally winning them, 
so I think it's time to give something back!!




So here's what I'm asking of you in order to be in for a chance at winning my candy.

Firstly, please pop this image and a link back to my blog in your sidebar and

Secondly, and this I will be checking on, tell me what your favorite animal is and why.
Just a brief little description, unless, of course, you want to write an essay answer, that's up to you!!!
An example, I LOVE sea otters because they seem to be a combination of several cute animals and they get to swim around all day!!

On May 14th, I will draw a winner from the comments left on this post.

Thanks to all of you for your continued support and friendship through the years!!

hugs, stephanne

Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Final sample for Whimsy's April Release, a Wee Snippet at play!!



Good day to you all!!
So you're here on our last day of showcasings of our new release Whimsy Stamps for April!!
Yes, I am afraid that all good things must end...
So I have used the fantastically cute
Wee Snippets Bubbles by the talented Crissy Armstrong!! She's coloured in distress inks, of course, with Star Dust stickles on her wings and 3d Crystal Lacquer to give the bubbles some sheen. I've also used a sentiment from the new Everyday Notables collection by Raindrop Echo Designs, very versatile!!




Within the next hour or so I will get the full card published here, just wanted to make sure there was something to see in the short term, I am feverishly hungry and need to eat before I can finish, yes, always bumbling in at the last minute or later....



So I FINALLY finished up, but not without incident, I decided to slice my left index finger open with an exacto knife, yarg!!! Not easy to place things with a stinkin' wound on that finger!! Anyhoo, my papers are by October Afternoon, the buttons are Basic Grey, the flowers are a mixture of different companies, and I've added in our lovely vine die cut because I just love it to bits!! Staples, laces, some sewing and distressing and we're done!!




Welp, I'm going to enter this in at PaperTake Weekly since I used their sketch and Stampin' for the Weekends Sparkle and Shine challenge



Please take a moment to visit my DT pals and see what loveliness they've created with these fantabulous stamps!!!


                                                                                                      Ann Vento
Stephanne Maraver that's me!!
Mariska van der Veer 






Thanks for stopping by!!
hugs, stephanne

Saturday, April 21, 2012

A Fairy Fun Saturday with Whimsy Stamps

Well hello hello helloooo, welcome to day 4 of our April Release Event at Whimsy Stamps Inspirations Blog!! We'll be showing you all 6 days of samples all feauturing images from the latest release, and for those who join us in leaving comments each day, they are being entered into a daily secret prize draw!! So you're gonna want to visit each of us because this months release is just precious!!!


I've used the adorable TuTu Sweet image by MelJen coloured in distress inks, of course, along with the newly released Vertical Ticket Notes by Raindrop Echo Designs, and last but not least, you can spot, peeping out of the upper right corner our new Swirly Tree Die that I have used as more of a cloud than a tree, it just looked like a cool detail when I was putting this card together so I left it!!


Now here is a list of the other DT members and special guests joining us today, I hope you will stop by to visit!!


hugs, stephanne

Wednesday, April 18, 2012

Whimsy Stamps April Release Sample


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


Whimsy Stamps is releasing 18 gorgeous new rubber stamps and 4 fabulous new Shapeology dies today! These new goodies are available to buy right now from the Whimsy Stamps store along with all your Whimsy favourites.

From today until 24 April the Whimsy DT and Special Guests will be showcasing these wonderful 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.

And here is my creation for todays showcase, I've used the amazingly sweet April Sunshine image by Elisabeth Bell along with a vertical ticket sentiment by Ann Vento!!



I've painted with my distress ink pads to bring this pretty little girly to life!! She looks so much like a friend of mines daughter, my heart just melted when I laid eyes on her!! The papers are Three Bugs in a Rug and the other treasures are from my stash!!


I'm going to pop this in over at:
Bearly Mine Crafts Tootie Fruity challenge
Sketch Saturday Sketch
The Pink Elephant Colour Inspiration challenge


At the end of release week (Wednesday 25 April) we will post a Release Round-Up here on the Whimsy blog. This will include a selection of new release DT work from the past week together with a complete list of winners from the daily mini blog hops.

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:


Beate Johns {Special Guest}
Bev Rochester {Special Guest}
Ellie Stover
Jacque Beddingfield {Special Guest}
Stephanne Maraver


Here is a full reveal of the wonderful April release:


4 Crissy Armstrong rubber stamps
Double Scoop ~ Good Pony ~ Look Hoo's Graduating ~ Wee Snippet's Bubbles





2 Elisabeth Bell rubber stamps
April Sunshine ~ Ginger Meadows




4 Kenny K rubber stamps
Fireman ~ Chef ~ Home Improvement ~ Policeman




3 Meljen's Designs rubber stamps
Sunflower Buggies ~ Sweet Little Donkey ~ Tutu Sweet




2 Wee Stamps rubber stamps
Goldie ~ Mr and Mrs Teddy




3 Raindrop Echo Designs rubber stamp sets
For The Women In Our Lives ~ Vertical Tickets ~ Everyday Sayings Notables 4





3 Raindrop Echo Designs Shapeology dies
Notables 4 ~ Swirly Tree ~ Fancy Ticket




1 TLC Shapeology die
Wedding Dress Tag




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 here tomorrow for the next list of showcase posts!

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

Saturday, April 14, 2012

April Showers CLP sample

Hi there blogging buddies,
how has life been lately?
Some wacky weather we're having in the Plains States today,
tonight we're under a Severe Storm/tornado warning,
a 9 on the TorCon scale,
definitely feeling the anxiety with this one, eek!!

On the bright side, I have my sample card for CLP Challenges to share, the lovely sketch can be found in my sidebar, or by simply clicking the link above.


I thought I'd use this adorable Tilda, as it looks like she may very well be in my area today lol!! The lovely ladies at Magnolia Down Under sent her to me along with some other fun stuff after I won a recent challenge of theirs!! Thank you ladies!! She's painted in distress inks and the papers are My Minds Eye.


Some challenges I thought I'd enter are:
Bunny Zoe's Ribbon or Twine challenge
Crafty Creations Flower Power challenge
Creative Inspirations Colour Scheme
Cupcake Crafts Spring is in the Air
Cute Card Thursday Spring Flowers
Everybody Art Spring
Just Magnolia Lovely Lace
Magnolia Down Under Use Flags or Banners
PaperTake Weekly April Showers

Thanks so much for popping in today!!
Enjoy the rest of your weekend!!
stephanne

Wednesday, April 4, 2012

Hippo Birthday to you....

Hi there blogging buddies,
today I have a card to share that I created for our
Whimsy Rewind on our Inspirations Blog.


I've used the super cute Birthday Hippo by Crissy Armstrong along with a sentiment and coordinating die cut from the Celebrations Circle Pennants set by Raindrop Echo Designs.


I'm going to pop this in over at Bunny Zoe's Shabby Chic challenge, PaperTake's Anything Goes challenge, Stamp With Fun's No Easter Card challenge and Truly Scrumptious' Use Lace challenge.

Well, I have an Easter Tilda card that I hope to post some time BEFORE Easter, we'll just see how that goes. I suppose I can just wait til next year to post it lol!!

Thanks for stopping by!!
stephanne

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

CLP Design Team Call and hey hey hey, it's my Blogoversary!!!

Hello my stamping pals,
I hope all is going well and you are out enjoying that sunshine!!!
I wanted to post about the Design Team call going on over at
CLP Sketch Challenges, we're looking for a couple new teamies,
so please read the info below for all the details!!!

Also, today is my blogoversary!!
Yep, it's been 3 years since I first started stamping,
and boy, it shows!!! I took a trip back to look at my first project
and wow, I have certainly learned a lot in the past few years lol!!
I didn't hide in the shadows practicing, getting good, then busting out into blogland with awesome skills, as you can see!! I still continue to learn and every project is like practice, even still!!
I hope to continue to learn and grow as a crafter so that one day,
maybe I can call myself an artist. We'll see about that hehehe.
So anyhoo, soon I will be posting a bit of candy to celebrate, so do keep your eyes peeled for that, especially my animal loving friends!!!

Now, about that DT call:


Crafting Life’s Pieces (CLP) Designer Search

Ends: April 17, 2012

Term: One Year


Hi crafty friends! Our team is searching for the next creative, enthusiastic, and committed artists to join our sweet group.

This call is only open once a year, so here is your chance to be apart of the kindest and most laid back Sketch challenge group.

Its a monthly Sketch challenge, so if you love blogging your creativity in the world of crafting ... we want you!







  • We are looking for 5 inspirational designers.

  • Designers are required to submit one project a month using the Sketch provided.

  • Projects need to meet deadline on the 1st OR 15th of the month.

  • Designers must take part in our group activities (message board, leaving comments, Top 3 pick ...)

  • Deadline is April 17th




  1. Name, and blog address

  2. Tell us about yourself…your crafting style, favorite stamp line, preferred coloring medium and anything else you would like to share with us

  3. Please tell us if you prefer posting on the 1st or 15th of the month

  4. Send us at least 3 of your best work (card, scrapbook, altered projects…)



  • New Designers will be notify before April 24th


We’d love to hear from you…email Chelsea!(crafty.pieces@gmail.com)


Don't forget...there's still time to enter CLP-45 challenge.






Have a good one!!
stephanne

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Final Whimsy Mini Hop Sample for March

Hi there Whimsy Fans,
So have you got your favourite stamps from this release narrowed down yet? It's hard to do that when everything is so stinkin' cute!!! This month's release samples are winding down and I just want to take a moment to thank everyone who's been stopping by and visiting my projects, your sweet words are very encouraging!! Thanks again!!

So without further ado, here is my sample for today:



I've used the adorable Darling Dalmation by Melissa Jenkins, and of course, again with the Picket Fence Die hehe. I've coloured in distress inks and I'd like to point you in the direction of Beates wonderful tutorial for these corner bookmarks, this one has the dimensions of 5.5, just mentioning it so that there's no confusion as to the size of the stamp.


I've also used one of the dies from the Corner Die Set on both sides of the bookmark and ran a string through it for hanging or yanking purposes lol!! My workmanship with lining up the border punch in the back isn't spot on, but hey, that's part of the charm of handmade, right? I'm going to pop this in at Fussy and Fancy's Anything But a Square challenge!

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


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!!
stephanne

Saturday, March 24, 2012

Whimsy Stamps Day 4 sample!!


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

On Wednesday (21 March) Whimsy Stamps released this month's rubber designs, new Shapeology dies and new Shape EZ templates. From then until 27 March the Whimsy Stamps DT and Special Guests are showcasing these fabulous new goodies 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 here on the Whimsy Inspirations blog on 28 March.

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


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


Alrighty, seems we are back in business over here where the electricity is concerned. I suspect that one of our neighbors had a little incident while trimming their trees, hopefully nothing more than a branch or two, yikes!!


SO I have used the darling Amy created by Sylvia Zet along with, and coloured her up with distress ink pads. I have also paired her with a newly released sentiment by Raindrop Echo Designs, this one is from the Vintage Birthday Tabs 1 set, and our fabulous new Picket Fence die as well as yet another use of our Vines Dies, gotta love those!! The papers are MME and the distressing was done in Vintage Photo. I have used the brilliant sketch from CLP Sketch Challenges that I should have had ready by the 15th for our reminder post but goofed that up pretty badly!!
I'm also going to pop this in over at Cute Card Thursdays Anything Goes challenge as well as Stampin' For The Weekend's Anything Goes challenge and at Simon Says Challenges they are playing Bingo, so I'm going straight down the middle with a bit o' Glitter, Lace, and Punches and/or Die Cuts, and being an opportunist, I'm going to pop this in at PaperPlay's Bingo challenge as well, once again going straight down the middle with Die Cut, *free* and glitter, hey hey hey!!

Thanks for stopping by and don't forget to check back at the Whimsy Blog for new creations tomorrow!!
hugs, stephanne

Power Surges

Hi Whimsy Fans!!!
My power keeps surging here in the great plains of Kansas, so as soon as I can get this post up without things shutting off, I will!!
Sorry for the delay and Happy Hopping!!
hugs, stephanne

Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Whimsy Stamps March Release Info and sample!!



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

Whimsy Stamps is releasing 20 fantastic new rubber stamps and 7 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.

From today until 27 March 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.

At the end of release week (Wednesday 28 March) we will post a Release Round-Up here on the Whimsy blog. This will include a selection of new release DT work from the past week together with a complete list of winners from the daily mini blog hops.


Alrighty, I had previously posted a not-quite done creation, so now I have gone and garnished this one, lol, and can now call it complete!!


I have used the ADORABLE Lemon Pepper image by Elisabeth Bell for we lucky duckies at Whimsy Stamps, as well as our newly released awesome Fence Die Cut and sentiment from the newly released Celebration Circle Pennants AND coordinating die cut by creative mastermind Ann Vento!! I painted the image in distress ink PADS, the papers are Basic Grey (yellow) and Simple Stories (plaid) and my vines can be found in store HERE and they are decorated with flowers from I Am Roses, the gemstones are Kaiser.


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:



Here is a full reveal of the wonderful March release:

4 Crissy Armstrong rubber stamps
Balloon Bouquet ~ Birthday Hippo ~ Birthday Pile-up ~ Wee Snippet's Cake




2 Elisabeth Bell rubber stamps
Cinnamon Sugar ~ Lemon Pepper



4 Kenny K rubber stamps
Football ~ Soccer ~ Fabby Farrah ~ Sassy Sadie



3 Meljen's Designs rubber stamps
Birthday Cupcake ~ Darling Dalmatian ~ Pixie Dust Fairy



3 Wee Stamps rubber stamps
Amy Whimsy ~ Angel Cody ~ Angie Whimsy



4 Raindrop Echo Designs rubber stamp sets
Aged To Perfection Notables 3 (coordinating die available) ~ Celebration Circle Pennants (*new* coordinating die available) ~ Party Hat Sentiments (*new* coordinating die available) ~ Vintage Birthday Tabs 1 (coordinating die available)




5 Raindrop Echo Designs Shapeology dies
Birthday Sentiments ~ Fence ~ Party Hats Die set ~ Circle Pennants Die set ~ Party Time Notables 3





2 TLC Shapeology die
Cherry Cake ~ Egg Tag


Shape EZ by TLC
Cherry Cake ~ Gradient Wedding Dress


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 here tomorrow for the next list of showcase posts!

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