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Thursday 7 May 2015

...Be Strong! and Big News!


Morning! I have a watercolour card for you today. I was playing around with some paints one night and made the centre panel - the green watery background colours looked eminently suitable for a nautical sentiment and so I dug out my Safe Harbour and stamped a sentiment. I inked the sentiment up with 2-3 tones of blues and greens - I use Versacolour small cubes for this - they are foam pads and so easy to mix on the stamp.

The panel hung around on my desk for a long time and then I finally got time to finish it up this week. I added a patterned paper panel behind the main sentiment  and then another embossed panel behind that- the card is watercolour paper that I buy cheap at 'The Works' which is the next best thing to a craft store in my town. I don't have a plethora of embossing folders either, this Spellbinders woodgrain one was the most appropriate I thought. I added some of the small images form the Ocean bound set - which were die cut with the matching dies. I love that blue ink - it's a Tsukineko Versacolour - called Neptune - lovely rich blue - and great for details. I felt it needed a little something else tho' so I added some tiny green stars (also form the works) and a couple of blue pennants in the top left - these were pieces of watercolour card inked with Neptune and cut in a pennant shape with a tiny banner die from the Spellbinders Banners set.



Inside is very straight forward - an anchor and sentiment from Ocean Bound. I popped the anchor up on foam after die cutting it. A trio of stars to match the front - done!

Big News!

I feel a bit tempted to hand this card to myself, the advice is pretty appropriate at the moment. In May WMS will be marking it's 6th year of business. It has certainly not been plain sailing all the while - we had some pretty bumpy weather a number of years back with supplier issues and there have been losses on the personal front, we have lost three members of our family within that time, yes it has been a stormy 6 years behind the scenes here at WMS.

The bit that tickles me though is that we are still here! We've made it this far and that's all thanks to you - yes you ladies who still come and visit (you know who you are), who still pop into the shop and who still take time to send encouragement here on the blog and on facebook and sometimes cold and flu remedies in the post and sometimes cards and sometimes other little gifts of wisdom and kindness and understanding - I treasure you. You folks and my DT ladies have all been lanterns on dark nights.

Well WMS is still here and we are still growing - we're about to embark on something that is pretty big for us - we are launching a Wholesale facility. Our goodies are going to become available in selected outlets! Pop back here tomorrow to learn more!

Stuff I used:

57 comments:

  1. What a gorgeous card. I so love when you have time to show off your products!!! And congratulations on the wholesale front. I hope that provides you the time to create more. And sell more. hugs!

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    1. cheers Joan! yep keep your fingers crossed for us! and tell all your friends LOL!!!

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  2. Oh Wow! Now that really is big news Clare. Best of luck with that!

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  3. Congratulations Claire and best of luck with your new venture! I'm sure you'll make a big splash!!

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  4. Here's to many more years and much plainer sailing! Good luck as you launch into wholesale!
    Tara
    x

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  5. Whoa, that's exciting! Congrats on six years and the next big step! I remember when it all started and I bought those first two gingerbread sets from you. I've been following Waltzingmouse ever since. Here's to many more years! :)

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    1. I have so appreciated the support Annheidel! thank you so much!

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  6. Love that watercolour card! And best wishes with the wholesale adventure!!

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  7. So excited for you to hear this news, Claire - you're an inspiration to have come through all that and still be running such a fabulous company with great products and a wonderful personal touch! I hope this new opportunity will be a real growing burst for you - happy 6th birthday! xx

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    1. Hugs Bridget - thank you so much for the kind words - you're swelling my head tho' LOL!

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  8. Brilliant news on the wholesale front Claire, let's hope it brings WMS to a whole new audience! Congrats on the six years so far, keeping it going through the tough times is a huge achievement.

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  9. Your card is gorgeous Claire - I do love a bit of nautical! It's also nice in these difficult financial times to see that you can make good use of some less expensive supplies and still create something stunning. Congratulations on your big news! I shall miss you at Port Sunlight on Saturday, but now I understand why you are too busy to come this time :) Wishing you every success x

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    1. with any luck we might get asked in October Lynn, if so we'll catch up then! Hugs to you!

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  10. Congrats on six years and very good news for increased opportunities!
    Linda in Tennessee

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    1. Many thanks Linda, thanks for stopping by!

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  11. Congratulations on the 6 year anniversary....and commiserations on losing 3 family members......I, like Joan B, hope this means you will have more time for making cards to show us exactly how your stamps and dies can be used better....I know I have missed seeing your creative talents on your blog so looking forward to the future....onward and upward!

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    1. Thank you Joyce - I appreciate that, and yep I got a couple of big things out of the way recently so hopefully I'll be on here a bit more! Also, it is FABBY being able to reply to comments!!! can't believe I never figured this out before!

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  12. Congratulations! What a great milestone and exciting times ahead!

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  13. Love this card! And I'm excited to hear about the wholesale business. I hope this next year is your happiest one, yet!

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    1. Thank you Kathryn - yep, fingers crossed!

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  14. Same here Claire - hope it's plain sailing from here on, but that said it's the storms now and then that make us what we are.

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  15. Exciting news about the wholesale business, Claire! Best of luck, but I'm sure you won't need it. Congrats on the 6 year anniversary!

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  16. Beautiful card Claire, and I hope you have much success in this new venture!! You deserve great rewards after all your hard work! Hugs, H

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  17. Any chance that wholesale business can get to Australia Claire?! Good luck!

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    1. every chance Claire - I am open to everywhere - you just need to pester your local stamp store to drop us a line! :)

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  18. That's some really exciting news, and six years, wow! Wonderful!

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  19. I see more drawing, designing and PLAYing in your future once you get the new supply chain sorted. And that means more stamps for us. Yay! Sorry we will soon be sharing you and all your WMS awesomeness with the rest of the world, but I guess that is being selfish! Congrats on your growth. Very excited for you.

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    1. LOL, Charmaine we will see - I just want to get back to doing what I do better than ironing...more drawing and more making!

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  20. Congrats!! Wishing you well! As the song says, 'The best is yet to come' May it be true for you!!

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  21. Congrats. This is so exciting!

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    1. thanks for stopping by Christine - it is!

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  22. Exciting news, Claire! Everyone should be able to enjoy your fabulous stamps :) I hope this next phase is a big success and congrats on 6 years! Love your nautical card - those blues and greens are yummy and it is one of my fave sets :)

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    1. Och thanks Sarah! thanks for such a lovely message! :)

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  23. I have enjoyed watching your company grow over the last 6 yrs. I wish you many more successful years. You deserve it Claire! :-)

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    1. Cheers Mary - and I am so glad you still check in - love seeing how your little dude is doing! He's a honey!

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  24. Oh my gosh , that is wonderful news! So happy to hear you are going to keep WMS going! I am truly sorry for your losses . Many blessing with this new part of WMS , Claire ! Xo

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    1. Hugs Marybeth - thank YOU for being a part of it!

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  25. Firstly congratulations on your first 6 years and here's to many more successful years for you. The new project sounds very exciting. Somehow I missed this stunning card when you posted it! (Might have been shopping at Mega Meet). It's absolutely gorgeous and I just love the soft shades of blues and greens, perfect for the nautical theme.

    Congratulations Clarie and good luck xxxx

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    1. LOL, yep I saw pics of the mega meet - soooo jealous! Hugs Deborah - thank YOU for everything!

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  26. Such a lovely card Claire. Good luck with your new venture, I hope it leaves you more time to do the things you enjoy - which will mean more stamping loveliness for us to enjoy.

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    1. Hope so Kate - been bogged down in the back end of it all for too long, really need to get more 'makin' time!

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  27. All this success couldn't happen to a nicer person. We have never met but you shine through your posts and brighten my days. Wishing you continued success with the business and blessings to you and your loved ones.

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  28. Congrats on 6 years!! I'm really excited to hear more details of your wholesale news!

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  29. Izabel and Rebecca - thank you ladies so much for stopping by and for such nice comments - for some reason I was not able to reply directly - but hopefully you'll see this. Hugs ladies!

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Thanks for taking the time to comment, :) I read them all and I appreciate you taking time to visit!