Honestly, I don't like it.
As you said Tom, it looks like crap.
I find MSPaint to be my best friend, it is the only thing I pixel in.
On pixelation there was a Chibi Template that everyone did their own interpretation of...if I can find it I will throw it up here.
******EDIT*******
Here it is...
Template:
An Example of What a Friend of Mine Did With It:
