Good News and Bad News

Hi Peeps;  I have some good news and some bad news to tell you... the bad news is, as of Jan 1, 2015, I will no longer be selling any of my images in digital format.  I will still be creating new images for the rubber line at Whimsy Stamps.  But Whimsy has had to close the doors to their digital shop.  Here is why in their own words:  

Recently, we have been alerted to new VAT tax laws in the European Union which would require us to charge, collect, and then pay tax on all digital products. Due to this new law, Whimsy Stamps will no longer carry digital products as of January 1st, 2015. This month we will have various sales on digital stamps to allow customers to purchase now at great deals before we close those sections in our store. Thank you to all those who have purchased digital stamps over the years and supported our artists.

The good news is that there will be some awesome final sales on the digi images, so you can at least stock up now before they close for good.  Mine are all on sale right now for 50% off!  The sale runs from today (Dec 8) thru til Dec 22.  So stock up while the doors to the shop are still open!

Thanks to all who supported my digital images through the years.  You helped make it a fun venture. 

blessings,

Crissy

Christmas Dreaming

Hi Peeps! Here's another one of my personal fav. images, "Christmas Dreaming."  I used Copics for the colouring (forgot to make a list) and fussy cut the image out to give it more of a 3D appearance.  By not adding embellishing on the bottom portion of the card, it emphasizes that feeling that this elf is really being suspended by the candy cane.  And by concentrating most of the embellishing on the top portion,  the eye naturally moves down and finds its rest on the elf, which is what I want to be the center of interest on the card.  The bright colours of the elf help draw the eye down there too.  The rocking horse embellishment has a curved line that echoes the arch of the circle and the arch of the candy cane. It repeats that theme but with enough variation to add interest.  Just sharing some of the thoughts that went into the design process.  Just in case anyone was interested.  Have I lost anyone yet? ha ha Bonus points if you read all the way to the bottom.  ha ha  Looks like this elf has been having way too much plumb pudding.  What is plumb pudding anyway, do people still eat that stuff? Ha ha JK

The inspiration for this image came from my son.  He used to curl up in our tub chair and fall asleep just like this - when he was small enough to do so.  Some of his sisters followed suit.  I did manage to capture a few photos of these childhood events.  Brings a warm feeling to remember such times! 

I'm entering this card into the following challenges: 

Crafting For All Seasons: Tis The Season

Simon Says: Christmas/Holiday

Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge: Santa's on His Way

Sweet Stampin: Let It Snow

Holly Jolly Christmas Challenge: Elves

Amusing Challenges: Anything Goes

Whimsy Inspirations: Anything Goes

That Craft Place: Anything Goes

Through the Craft Room Door: Anything Goes

Thank you for looking and for reading if you did so! Take care and God Bless!
PS Don't forget to look at the post below and enter into the draw for the 25$ gift cert. from Whimsy Stamps! Its closing Friday at noon, so get going if you read this on time!!

New Release Blog Hop! 25$ Gift Cert. To Be Won!!

Welcome to the ... Whimsy Stamps December release BLOG HOP!

The Whimsy Stamps DT and GDT have been sharing some amazing creations made with the new stamps and dies over the last couple of days, and today we are celebrating their release with a GRAND BLOG HOP! The hop starts today (Wednesday December 3rd at 12.00PM noon ET) and ends on Friday December 5th at 12.00pm noon ET. If you would like to hop along with us today, please CLICK HERE to start the hop at Louise's blog. For today's project, I inked up my brand new, "Your Love Lifts Me" image, one of two I have created for this release.  The other one is "You've Captured My Heart." 

Here is your close-up:

I coloured the image with the following Copic markers:

Skin: E000, 00, 01, 11, 13, R20, V95

Jeans (Girl): B21, 24, 26, Blender 0, C2

Jeans (Boy): B91, 95, 97, Blender 0,  C2

Shirt (Girl): R20, 21, 22, RV52, BV20, V95

Shirt (Boy): E40, 42, 44, BV20, V95, C2

Boy's Hair: E31, 49

Girl's Hair: E50, 53, 41, Y21, BV20, 23, V95

Boy's Hat: B91, 95, N1, 2, 3 Blender 0

Shoes: E33, 42, BV20, C2

One lucky hopper will win a $25 gift certificate! To enter the draw, simply leave a comment on EVERY Design Team member's blog post from the list below by 12.00pm noon on Friday December 5th.

Louise Roache
Pauline Yates (Guest Design Team-mate)
Ellie Stover
Iris Wiechmann
Shannah Bartle
Linda Levoir (GDT)
  Lizzy Smith (GDT)
  Debbie Eastman
Crissy Armstrong (GDT)

Thanks so much for visiting today. Happy hopping!

Four Calling Birds

Hi Peeps!  How is it going with Christmas preparations? I have most of my cards done which is unusual for me this early in the game.  Although it really helped that I started last January! This is actually my personal favourite card from this year's stash.  It is an image I did for Whimsy last year called, "Four Calling Birds" and it is also one of my fav. images I've created for them.  One of the reasons I love it is because my husband came up with the idea, so it was a joint effort between us.  That just makes it more special to me! I just giggled when he suggested I do four birds on cell phones. That does make them "calling birds" you know, heh-heh!  I also did a couple of other related images from the same Christmas carol, "ChristmasTurtle & Dove" and "Three French Hens." Maybe for next year I should do a partridge in a pear tree!

I've coloured Four Calling Birds with the following Copics: 

Bird bodies: E30, R02, BV20, 23

Snow: B60, E50, B00, BG000, C0, B60, 66, C4, B41

Branch greens: G43, 28, browns: 15, 18, 44

Hats: R20, 35, 56, 59, Blender 0

Beaks: YR27, Y17, E39

Here's your close-up:

I'm entering into the following challenges: 

Pile It On: Sprinkle It (I have sprinkled two types of loose glitter on the snow, although the photo didn't pick up the sparkle!)
Sparkle N Sprinkle: Anything Goes (2 types of loose glitter on the snow!)

613 Avenue Create: Anything Goes wi optional twist - make a calendar
The Stamping Boutique: Sparkle (on the snow)
Clear It Out: Circles (hat pom-poms!) and Glitter (on the snow)

Party Time Tuesdays: Anything Goes

Digi Sketch Challenge: Die Cuts/Punches
Inspiration Destination: Anything Goes
Crafty Sentiments Designs: Anything Goes
The Pink Elephant: Inspiration photo
Thanks for stopping by to have a look at my creation!
Come back tomorrow because there's a blog hop on with a chance to enter and win a 25$ gift certificate for Whimsy stamps!  See you then!

Cyber Monday sale coming!

Click HERE to go right to the store. 

Grand Blog Hop and a chance to win a 25$ Gift Cert.!!

Welcome to the ... Whimsy Stamps November release BLOG HOP!

The Whimsy Stamps DT and GDT have been sharing some amazing creations made with the new stamps and dies over the last couple of days that are now all available for purchase in the Whimsy Store, and today we are celebrating their release with a GRAND BLOG HOP! The hop starts today (Wednesday November 5th at 12.00PM noon ET) and ends on Friday November 7th at 12.00pm noon ET. If you would like to hop along with us today, please CLICK HERE to start the hop at Louise's blog. Her blog will have a full list of all the names (with links) of the blogs you must visit and comment on in order to be eligible for the draw.  I also posted a full list of the blogs for your convenience (scroll down to see). For today's project, I inked up my new image, "Reindeer In Training"

Here is your close-up: 

Other Whimsy Products on this card: 

Christmas Stocking Sentiments (similar)

Holly Vine Die

People were asking what I used for my fake snow on yesterday's card, so I thought I would add that detail in today's post.  For the snow on the holly and berries, I used "Snow Tex" by Deco Art, a fake snow that looks like white pudding; you paint it on and it dries within an hour.  While it was still wet and right after painting the embellishments with it, I dipped them into my crushed glass glitter so that the snow would "sparkle."  It does look sparkly IRL.  The edges of the papers were painted with Copic White to add to the snowy effect without adding the bulk that the Snow Tex would have given. 

Copic colours used on the image:

Deer: E11, 13, 15, 37, 50, 71, 74

R20, 21 and BV20 in his ear, and BV20 to shade the white furry parts

Bear: E21, 23, R20, 21

Gift greens: G05, 43, 46, FYG2

Sleigh reds: R20, 21, 24, 27, 46, 59

Snow: BV20, 23, BG000

Bell and gold trim on sleigh: Y00, 15, 17, YR14, E39

Sky: BG000

Flag: R20, 0 Blender

One lucky hopper will win a $25 gift certificate! To enter the draw, simply leave a comment at EVERY stop along the hop by 12.00pm noon on Friday November 7th. Here is the hop list so that you can make sure you have gone to every stop on the hop: 

Louise Roache
Crissy Armstrong (GDT)
Jacque Beddingfield
Iris Wiechmann
Olivia Marmara (GDT)
Ellie Stover
Lizzy Smith (GDT)
Danni Bindel
Shannah Bartle

Thanks so much for visiting today. Happy hopping!

November Release Hop! Prizes to be won!!

Welcome to Day 2 of the Whimsy Stamps ... November 2014 Release!

I am thrilled to join Whimsy Stamps as a guest designer this week to help showcase their November release! This week Whimsy is releasing 19 *BRAND NEW* red rubber stamps/stamp sets and 4 *BRAND NEW* coordinating die/die sets, and they will be available to buy from the Whimsy Stamps store and selected Whimsy Stamps retailers TOMORROW. Whimsy is thrilled to welcome Olivia Marmara, Lizzy Smith, Mi Ran and Crissy Armstrong (yours truly!) as Guest Designers for this release. Here are all the images I'm contributing to this release: 

 For a full reveal of all the new stamps, hop on over to the Whimsy blog! For today's project, I inked up "Penguin Oops!"

Other Whimsy products on this card: 

Winter Letter Seals

Layered Snowflake Dies

Snowflake Background (rubber stamp)

Copic colours used on this image:

Penguin black: C0, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

Penguin white: E40, BV01

Sky: BG000

Icicles and snow: B60, BG000, BV01, BV20, 23, E49, Blender 0

Feet and Beaks: YR21, 23, E97, 99

Tongue: R20, 21, 22

Reds on scarf and ear muffs: R35, 56, 59

sorry I forgot to write out the greens I used!!

PRIZE ALERT ... We have hidden a fabulous prize of a $15 GIFT CERTIFICATE at one of the stops on today’s hop! We will draw the lucky winner from the comments left on today’s design team posts (listed below), so be sure to visit everyone and leave a comment at every stop to be entered into the draw.

Debbie Eastman
Olivia Marmara (GDT)
Shannah Bartle
Jacque Beddingfield
Lizzy Smith (GDT)
Shelby Thomas
Crissy Armstrong  - that's me! (GDT)
  Bev Rochester

Be sure to visit the Whimsy blog again tomorrow for the release day grand hop! Thanks so much for visiting today. Happy hopping!

Penguins Hang A Wreath!

Another version of my newly released image, "Penguins Hang A Wreath".  

I coloured this image with the following Copics: 

Wreath: G29, 43, 46, YG99, Blender 0

Penguins: C2, 4, 5, 7, N10

Door: R27, 39, Blender 0

Siding: E51, 53, 55, Blender 0

Red Bow: R29, 46, 39, 89, RV69

Bells: E39, 99, YR14, 23, Y15

Doorstep: W1, 4, Blender 0

Snow: BV20, BV0000, BG000

Blue Hat: BG000, 01, 72, BV20

Berries: R22, 24, 39, 46

Green Scarf: YG23, 25, BV20

I'm entering the following challenges: 

ABC Christmas Challenge: T for Tree Ornament (candy cane, bow, bells)

Completely Christmas: Anything Goes (optional Tag)

Crafty Girls: Anything Goes (their last challenge)

613 Avenue Create: Anything Goes

Sister Act Card Challenge: Anything Goes

Papertake Weekly: Anything Goes

The Crafty Bloggers Network: Christmas

Creative Knockouts: Lace or Ribbon

Crafting From the Heart: Anything Goes

Sunshine Mail: Anything Goes

Crafty Sentiments Designs: Anything Goes

Treasured Times: Anything Goes

Inky Impressions: Flowers and Leaves

Thanks for coming by!!

2 Cards! Grand Blog Hop!

Welcome to the ... Whimsy Stamps October release BLOG HOP!

The Whimsy Stamps Design Team and Guest Designers have been sharing some amazing creations made with the new stamps and dies over the last couple of days, and today we are celebrating their release with a GRAND BLOG HOP! The hop starts today (Wednesday October 8th at 12.00PM noon ET) and ends on Friday October 10th at 12.00pm noon ET. If you would like to hop along with us today, please CLICK HERE to start the hop at Iris’ blog. Click HERE to go to the Whimsy Store and see all the newly released images!  I have inked up two images.  Firstly, I'm showing off "Three French Hens," one of my three new Christmas images this month: 

Here is your close-up: 

I have coloured "Three
French Hens" with the following Copics: 

French Maid frock: B32, 34, 37, 39, 41, Blender 0

Whites: BV20, 23, B000, Blender 0

Beaks: Y32, 35, 38, 39, YR14, 27

Waddles: R21, 22, 24, 27, 39

Feet: E93, 95, 97

Hen feathers: E20, 21, 23, BV20, 23

Artist Beret: C1, 3, 6, 7, 8

Scarf: R20, 22, 24, 27

Holly Green: G21, 24, 28

Background: BG0000

For my second card, I have used, "O Holey Night."

 Here is your close-up (the little dots throughout are from the sparkles I used on the snow - should'a brushed those away, oops!):

Here is the Copic list: 

Reds: R22, 22, 24, 27, 46, 59, RV69, 99

Cheese: E50, YR30, RV20

Whites: BV20

Mice: C1, 2, 3

Bow: YG05, 07, 09, G17

Ground: G20, E30

Blue background: BG000

One lucky hopper will win a $25 gift certificate! To enter the draw, simply leave a comment at EVERY stop along the hop by 12.00pm noon on Friday October 10th. Here is a complete blog hop list in hopping order:

Donna Rudy (GDT)
  Debbie Eastman
Vicki Parson (GDT)
  Crissy Armstrong (GDT) (that's me!)
  Ellie Stover
Louise Roache
Danni Bindel
Shelby Thomas
Denise Griffith (GDT)
  Shannah Bartle
Bev Rochester

Thanks so much for visiting today. Happy hopping!

New Christmas Images! Hop On For Blog Candy!

I am thrilled to join Whimsy Stamps as a guest designer this week to help showcase their October release! So without further ado …

Welcome to Day 1 of the Whimsy Stamps ... 2014 Holiday Release - Part 2

A few weeks ago Whimsy Stamps released Part 1 of their 2014 Holiday Collection. Today, the DT and GDT are extremely excited to start sneak peeks for the second part of their 2014 Holiday Collection! Over the next 3 days, the team will reveal 18 *BRAND NEW* red rubber stamps/stamp sets and 6 *BRAND NEW* coordinating die/die sets. They will be available to buy from the Whimsy Stamps store and selected Whimsy Stamps retailers on Wednesday. Whimsy is thrilled to welcome Stephanne Maraver, Vicki Parson, Denise Griffith, Debbie Jennett, Donna Rudy and Crissy Armstrong (that's me!) as Guest Designers for this release. Today we are excited to show you the brand new Art by Mi Ran, Crissy Armstrong and SC Design stamps and dies being released this month. For a full reveal of these stamps, hop on over to the Whimsy blog! But here are the images I'm contributing to this release:

 For today's project, I inked up "Penguins Hang A Wreath." I hope you like these little guys!  Here is your close-up:

I coloured this image with the following Copics: 

Wreath: G29, 43, 46, YG99, Blender 0

Penguins: C2, 4, 5, 7, N10

Door Frame: E00, 04, 50

Door: YG05, 06, 67, Blender 0

Red Bow and scarf: R29, 46, 39, 89, RV69

Bells: E39, 99, YR14, 23, Y15

Doorstep: W1, 4, Blender 0

Snow: BV20, BV0000, BG000

Door Handle: E04, 50

Blue Hat: B000, 01, BV20

Berries: R22, 24, 39, 46

Siding: R01, 02, C4, Blender 0

PRIZE ALERT ... We have hidden a fabulous prize of a $15 GIFT CERTIFICATE at one of the stops on today’s hop! We will draw the lucky winner from the comments left on today’s design team posts (listed below), so be sure to visit everyone and leave a comment at every stop to be entered into the draw.

Bev Rochester
Debbie Jennett (GDT)
  Crissy Armstrong (GDT) (you are here!)
  Ellie Stover
Denise Griffith (GDT)
  Iris Wiechmann
Stephanne Maraver (GDT)
  Jacque Beddingfield
Louise Roache
Shelby Thomas
Simonne Clay

Be sure to visit the Whimsy blog again tomorrow for the second day of sneak peeks. Thanks so much for visiting today. Happy hopping!

Jungle Bells Three: Giraffe

Hi Peeps!  Here is another card made with another one of my new "Jungle Bells" images, this one with the giraffe.  Find it at Whimsy HERE. 

I coloured the image entirely with Copics and here is the list for those who are interested: 

Reds: R20, 21, 22, 24, 27, 39, 46, 59, RV00, Blender 0

For the red sleigh, I started with E07, just to give it a slightly different red from Santa's coat and hat. 

Golds: Y00, 15, 17, 35 YR14, 23, 24, E39

Giraffe: E50, 51, 53, 55 (lighter parts) E35, 37, 39, 44, 59 (brown spots) R20 for his muzzle with B60 to shade the muzzle, then BV20 as the shadows on the lighter parts

Greens: G20, 40, 43, 82, 94, YG61, BG99

Whites: BV20, 23, B000, B60, 63, W00, 2

Sack: E81, 84, 87, Blender 0

Boots: N0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, B60

Flesh: E000, 00, 01, 11, 95, B60, R20

Ground Shadows: BV20, 23

Background: BG0000, 000, 10, B000

I wrote the sentiment by hand.  

I'd like to enter the following challenges: 

Dream It Up!: Christmas

Pile It On: Shiny

ABC Christmas Challenge: S for Something festive

Completely Christmas: Sketch

Ruby's Rainbow: Anything Goes

Crafty Girls: Anything Goes

613 Avenue Create: Anything Goes

Ladybug Crafts: Anything Goes

Add A Little Dazzle: Anything Goes

Thanks for stopping by!

Angels Wings

 Hi Peeps!  Something a little different today. The image on this card is not my own illustration, but is found at Whimsy by Ashlan Valor Tangles.  It is called, "Angels Wings".  Isn't she a beauty? So much detail on this gorgeous image. 

I'm entering the following challenges: 

Sister Act Card Challenge: Anything Goes

613 Avenue Create: Anything Goes (with optional twist)

Alphabet Challenge: P for petals