Some Never-Before-Used Whimsy!

Hi all - I'm providing inspiration over at Die Cut Divas today with the card below. We're doing Never-Before-Used-Stuff for our January Challenge. My friend Darnell calls it "Schtuff" on her challenge blog NBUS, always using new! She coined the acronym and I play there often, otherwise I'd never use new schtuff - thanks, Darnell!! Here's my card using new Whimsy (not a sponsor but a $15 prize donor - thanks!):

Supplies: Paper - White (brand unk); Acetate;

A2 card from Paper Studio; Sunny Studio Rainbow Bright

Stamps - Whimsy Stamps Comic Book Page

Stamps with Dies - Whimsy Stamps A Bunny Birthday (retired) &

Hey Ostrich (dies HERE)

Dies - A Jillian Vance Design Stitched Dot Rectangle Backdrop Set

Other - Darice sequins; Copic Markers; 

SSS sentiment strip; foam tape; white gel pen

Diva Arlene (A Bit of This and That) sent me some stamp-offs of the Comic page, the ostritches (I used one of the four images here), and the birthday cake (plus some bunnies from the same set for future use). I have plenty of never-before-used Whimsy that I was ready to employ but I was taken with the cute ostriches. I thought one would make a fun birthday card for my friend Debbie.

I diecut the comic book page Arlene had stamped, then fussy cut the center. Inked the edges and colored with Copics, put acetate behind the window and created a shaker with foam tape & another rectangle (dotted paper from Sunny). Shaker mix was mostly sequins but there were some other random things in there like bitty hearts. Added the cake and ostrich, also colored with Copics, & a sentiment strip. Adhered everything to an A2 card - done!

How about a bonus? I love making ATCs (Artist Trading Cards), little works of art to exchange with friends. Years ago on the Hero Arts group, we had many ATC exchanges. I was taken with a group of Whimsy items designed with ATCs in mind & had to add them to the stash. Of course, they went onto Mount NBUS & I'm just finally using them!! First up - a trio of Ostrich ATCs:

Supplies: Paper - Hero Arts Latte (retired) & Bermuda; Neenah White;

Whimsy Ugly Sweater Slimline (retired); MFT Canvas

Stamps with Dies - Whimsy Stamps Hey Ostrich (dies HERE)

Dies - Whimsy Stamps Slimline ATC Windows Die Set;

CAS-ual Fridays Smile (NIB)

Other - Copic Markers; SSS sentiment strips

I love how the ATC die cuts two at a time, plus there are plenty of layering dies. Next, I made an ATC book box for them; here's a shot of the top, plus one of the ATC backs:

Supplies: Paper - Hero Arts Bermuda

Dies - Whimsy Stamps ATC Book Die Set

Stamps - Whimsy Stamps ATC Frames and Signatures

Stencil - Hero Arts Script

Other - Hero Arts Bermuda Ink & 

Ocean Blue+Gold Two-Tone Metallic Spray

Here are a couple more views - side & open:

I like to leave the boxes detatched from the book so you can slide them out without wearing out the clasp & tab. I used some of the pop outs from the top's corners to embellish the label and tab. I'm adding my box to Darnell's January NBUS Challenge since my box die set is newly used, as is the ATC stamp set & die set - so fun!! 

Hope to see you at the Divas January Challenge too! Thanks for stopping & happy crafting!!