Challenge #111 week of 25th November 2013

It's our birthdays this week!

Well, mine was at the end of last week and Pam's will be at the end of this week. As fate would have it, we are exactly a week apart (eh hem and a "few" years! LOL).

I've tried to come up with a birthday prompt but with a whimsical touch the last two years. After all, as you know, we are ALL about the whimsy round here ;-)

So let me think. We had prompt #16 - be inspired by an aspect of your birthday not usually considered, and prompt #66 - be inspired by star signs....

Now, I happen to know that Pam will be celebrating a particularly noteable birthday this year so that is where I am going to take you with this prompt.

Be inspired by a "special" birthday - be it a round number; one that stands out in your memory from your childhood; finding out you share your birthday with someone famous or exceptional; a birthday when you received an extraordinary present; the year your day fell on a particularly rare date combination.... I could go on but the choice it yours. But it has to be especially remarkable!

We'd love to see your birthday creations over at our Flickr gallery (here) with the tag WM#111.

Challenge #110 week of 18th November 2013

I'm not doing very well at the actual creation of layouts right now - even my own prompts!

But I hope you can forgive me. I will get better... soon. That's the plan anyway.

Welcome to another Monday and another challenge.

We've been going a little deeper the last few weeks so why don't we change things up a bit and be inspired by something gorgeous!

Every month I put a mini-round up of internet inspiration together for the Counterfeit Kit Challenge. This month, I decided we needed a little sparkle. But I'm saving sparkle for a particularly dark and dreary Monday so not this week :-)

Instead, I'm going to suggest you be inspired by this stunning, glimmery image I found:

I don't know what I love more. The whimsy, the colours, the design, the fact that it's a wreath! I love every tiny square centimeter of it! I'm not sure it would go down too well on my own front door, perhaps a little girlie for that, but I love it and find it all so inspirational.

I hope you do too.

If this gives you the nudge to create this week, I hope you will share over at Flickr (here) with the tag WM#110. I'd love to see you over there. :-)

Challenge #109 week of 11th November 2013

Today, across many parts of the world, people took a moment (2 minutes in fact) at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month to reflect and remember those lost through conflict. Remembrance Day has become more important to many of us over the years and today I wore my red poppy with pride and carried out my own little act of remembrance even amongst the hustle and bustle of my regular work day.

Of course, the poppy reminds us of one of the most famous poems from the time of WW1 by John McRea:

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

This week, I'd like you to be inspired in some way by Remembrance Day. If that's a little deep for you, take inspiration from the beautiful poppy, its delicate design or its intense deep red colour.

A somewhat more serious prompt for us this week but yours to take in whichever direction you'd like.

If you'd like to share, be sure to link up at the Flickr Gallery (here) with the tag WM#109.

Challenge #108 week of 4th November 2013

Having missed another week :-( I want to get this week's out early enough and keep it short enough that I have a chance of starting and finishing the post before I need to get up and made dinner. Yes, I'm having "one of those days" LOL.

You know that we like to change things up here and going through my Pinterest pins, I came across this fantastic Etsy listing {check out the original listing here} - I LOVE Etsy and am happy these days to find many shops listed that are this side of the ocean. Funny that the one I pick out today is in fact, ALL the way over there in Australia. Even the name "TheLoveShop" is perfect.

Such a simple concept, so beautifully made and perfect for a bit of everyday dreaming. I'd order this if the shop was local. And I love that it starts with sleep - yes, I can relate to that one.

So, this week, let's be inspired what what "more"s you'd like in your life and get creating. Whether it's more scrapping, more BasicGrey (oh sorry, that's just me!), more time to think, more inspiration, more smiles, more product on your pages, more light in the day now that most of us are moving into winter. Just more.

Don't forget to share over at the Flickr Gallery (here) with the tag WM#108.

Check out the Whimsical Musings Pinterest board here and my boards here for an eclectic look into what's catching our eye at the moment.