Tuesday 29 September 2015

Our spook infused November issue is out on Friday!

As we bring you this issue at the beginning of October, it also doubles up as our Halloween issue! We have lots of suitably spooky projects to inspire you this month, as well as plenty of amazing non-ghoulish art for those who prefer not to be scared when crafting! Order your copy from our online SHOP or download your instant copy from POCKETMAGS!


Our 3D challenge this month is part of the spooky theme and our designers have really outdone themselves this time! The sheer level of variation you can get from the same substrates is amazing, from the wonderfully quirkyness of Clare Lloyd's vibrant green creation to the downright, spine chilling horror of the amazing art by Lesley Walters! There's truly something for everyone!


We also have more ‘new to Craft Stamper’ designers to introduce you to this month! We take a look at the work of some inspirational international artists, including the sweet owl canvas by Mona Pendleton from the USA and the wonderfully Autumnal project created by the talented Giovanna Zara from Australia!


I’m sure you won’t have missed the truly stunning cover art by Ana Kavcic too! Everyone in the office was simply stunned by this...beautiful work Ana!


We also are welcoming back Louise Crosbie in this issue. Queen of all things altered, Louise has outdone herself with the most amazing apothecary assemblage. No matter how many times you stare at this you will still find intricate new details that you missed first, second or even third time around!


We have a very special feature to share this month with you all. The entire crafting community was in a state of shock when we learned of the untimely death of Lily Chilvers. Just 21, Lily was such an amazing, talented and beautiful person, inside and out, and so we have created a tribute to Lily and her stunning Octopode Factory images.
There are also some very useful tutorials for you to have a go at in this issue! Sizzix Ink sheets, Mica, foil and how to colour a bunny, to name a few! We hope you enjoy our November issue! And don't forget to share your makes inspired by any of our issues with us via our Twitter @CraftStamperMag or Facebook page! 

Happy Crafting!

Friday 25 September 2015

Take It Make It Challenge: September Winners!

Hello!
It's Winners time!
What a fabulous response to our September 'Take A Stamp' challenge!
You lot are all so talented, we just loved looking through all the entries!
So...on to the important stuff, the winners!
As you will remember, from now on we will have TWO winners from each challenge, the Design Winner and the randomly selected Prize Winner. First up, I am thrilled to announce our Design Winner..

Entry Number 112: Amanda


 Congratulations Amanda! We loved the myriad of details in this piece, so much texture! Amanda will win a Guest Designer slot, a Winners Profile and of course her gorgeous project will be published in Craft Stamper Magazine.

As always, we have the remaining two slots in our Design Top Three to reveal! This month however, we have a tie in the voting so we actually have a top 4! They are in no particular order :)


Congrats ladies! 


Next...the randomly selected Prize Winner! This winner will be the lucky recipient of the prize provided by out wonderful sponsor, 

STAMPlorations!

http://www.stamplorations.auctivacommerce.com/


The prize is this wonderful stamp plate:

http://www.stamplorations.auctivacommerce.com/
and also these fabulous stencils:
http://www.stamplorations.auctivacommerce.com/

http://www.stamplorations.auctivacommerce.com/



 The randomly drawn winner is:



Congratulations Christine! I think you'll have many happy hours stamping  and stencilling with your prize!

Now the important bit!
  Winners, you need to need to get in touch with me in order to claim your prize! 
Please email me at: cs@traplet.com , and put TIMI Winner in the subject line, then I'll be sure to spot it!
Top Three Design Winners, also please contact me if you wish to receive a button to display on your blog.

Please check back next Friday for the launch of our October Challenge!

Tuesday 22 September 2015

Reader Submissions Wanted: February Ready Set Stamp!

We are looking for submissions for our Ready, Set, Stamp feature on the following theme for our February issue of Craft Stamper. If you've always wanted to see YOUR card in print, now is your chance!!




Colours: Violet, Fuchsia, Steel Blue,Silver/Gray

****Please do NOT create Christmas cards for this art call! ****


Deadline for submission: 20th October 2015

· Please email your submissions to cs@traplet.com
· Please put 'Ready Set Stamp' followed by the theme in the subject line
· Please note that due to the number of submissions it's not possible to contact every entrant individually - if you have not heard from us within one week, your submission has not been successful. Please try again with a different card!

Guidelines:
· Please make cards only for this gallery.
 . Please do not use stamps that are discontinued for this article. Also please only use stamps that are available to buy in the UK (the exception is stamps from advertisers e.g. Art Journey, De Stempelwinkel).
. We do not accept cards created with digital stamps ONLY for this feature. Digital stamps MUST be used in conjunction with real stamping to qualify.
· Cards which are selected need to be posted to the Craft Stamper offices in the UK.
· This call IS open internationally.
· Note that we do choose artwork as it arrives, so please don't wait until the last minute to submit if your cards are ready.
· Cards will be returned at our expense, along with a complimentary copy of the magazine in which your card features. Note this can take approx. three months.
· Please follow both the theme AND the colour scheme when creating your cards. You can add black, white and metallics to any of the schemes. The ideas given are simply that, ideas, and do not have to be followed to the letter!
· Text for this article is required (don't worry - it is short!) and should be entered into the document provided – this will be sent to you if you are selected.


We look forward to seeing all of your beautiful designs!

Friday 18 September 2015

Take It Make It Challenge; Winners Profile

                                                                           Hello!
Welcome to our Winners Profile, showcasing the Design Winner of our last Blog Challenge!
The very talented Design Winner of our August 2015 challenge is

 Kim Makortoff

Kim won the challenge with this beautiful card. We thought the balloons were fabulous, so bright and vibrant! We loved it!





We asked Kim a few questions all about stamping (well, we are Craft Stamper after all!)

Q: How long have you been a stamper, and how did you get started?
A: I’ve been stamping for just over 15 years.  I was first introduced to stamping by a friend in University.  I have always been drawn to arts and crafts which is why I was majoring in Fine Arts.  When my friend showed me her cards and how she made them I was instantly hooked!

Q: What are your favourite kinds of stamps, and do you have a favourite stamp company?
A: In terms of actual stamp material I love the clear photopolymer stamps best.  I like being able to see where I’m stamping and they are usually less expensive.  But when talking about actual images, I love sketchy, artsy stamps.  I’m attracted to all kinds of different images, whether it’s floral or cute animals, grunge or clean graphics.  As for a favourite stamp company, there’s no way I could just pick one!  So, I’ll name a few of my top favs instead.  STAMPlorations, Hero Arts, Clearly Besotted and Penny Black.

 
Q: Describe your style, are you a messy kind of stamper or a more ‘clean and simple’ kind of person?
A: It took me quite a while to discover what my style was.  I would say that I’ve only had a style for about 3 years.  Before, I was all over the place.  Now, I’m definitely clean and simple (although the state of my craft area would disagree!  LOL).  However, I like to challenge myself and I’ll often try something new just for fun.  When I deviate from the CAS style I often like to play around with what I like to call collage stamping.  This is just a layering of stamp images, sponging and/or splattering.

Q:What kind of projects do you like creating the most?
A: While I have made 3 dimensional crafts (ie: jewellery box, shelf) using stamps and have dabbled in scrapbooking, my true passion is for creating cards.  I haven’t given anyone a store-bought card for over 10 years!  My all time favourite cards to make are Christmas cards and I’m one of those crazy people that make them all year round.

Q: Apart from stamps, what is the one product you wouldn’t be without when you craft?
A:  That’s a tough one.  I could say my Fiskars rotary paper cutter because really it’s been invaluable and has lasted for years but more recently I would have to say it’s the Tim Holtz Distress inks.  I have really only started using them in the past year or so and I’m slowly getting a nice collection of colours.  These inks are amazing!  You can simply stamp with them, or spray water on them to get cool blending effects, or use them like watercolours.  I just love them!

We also asked Kim to show us a couple of her favourite stamped creations,  and share why she likes them so much. Here are the gorgeous projects she has chosen:


"I think that this card really epitomizes my CAS style.  It is simple yet effective.  I love to add little bits of embellishments that can make a card special.  It was quite well received too and, to date, it’s the most visited post on my blog" - Kim




"This is a good example of what I mean by collage stamping.  It was one of the first times I dabbled in this style and I loved how it turned out.  There are layers of, at least, four stamps, sponging, splatters and coloring" - Kim


Congratulations on being our August Design Winner Kim , and it was lovely to learn a little more about you!

Do YOU fancy having a winners profile all about you on the CS blog? 
The profile is part of the prize package for each Design Winner of our challenges. All you need to do is enter a creation into the challenge, then if you are voted Design Winner everyone will be reading all about you before you know it!

Our current challenge 'Take A Stamp" is still open for a little while! All the details can be found HERE.

See you next Friday for the announcement of our September Winners! 

Friday 11 September 2015

Take It Make It September Challenge- Inspiration!

Hello!
Our current Take It, Make It challenge is a 'Take A Stamp' challenge, and so this months theme is:

 September Challenge:
'Take A Stamp' 
Anything Goes
(as long as you have used a stamp somewhere! )


We have had fun looking at the entries so far, and can't wait to see loads more!

The DT have created some more stamped projects for you to feast your eyes upon, brace yourself, there is rather a lot of eye candy on show!

Winner of the July Challenge: Sara Emily Barker



Elina Stromberg


 Elizabeth Robinson



Why not have a go, then enter your creation into our challenge?
We are sponsored this month by 

STAMPlorations




This months randomly chosen entry will win this fabulous stamp plate, and both stencils:





How wonderful is that?!

***ALSO***
 As a very special offer for Craft Stamper blog readers, Shery has created a coupon code just for us.... a coupon that will entitle the user to FREE international shipping on any order over $20 (which works out to around £12.90)!
The code to enter is: CSTAKEITMAKEIT , and is good throughout the whole month of September (and you can use it with other STAMPlorations coupons too)
THANK YOU Shery, we appreciate your generosity!



 The Design Winner, voted for by our DT, will have their project published in a 2 page spread in Craft Stamper Magazine, will have a guest DT slot for an upcoming challenge, and ALSO gets their very own winners profile here on the blog....so why not get your stamps out and share your creation?
All the details can be found HERE....
Have fun!

Friday 4 September 2015

Take It Make It Challenge: September

Hello!
Welcome to the launch of our September Challenge!

As you might remember, this year our challenge is alternating between 'Take A Stamp', and 'Take A Technique'....and this month our challenge is 'Take A Stamp'!
So that means..

September Challenge:
'Take A Stamp' 
Anything Goes
(as long as you have used a stamp somewhere!)

 Show us how unique you can be, create anything your imagination cares to dream up! Share your cards, journal pages, layouts, 3D assemblage or whatever else takes your fancy. Your project can be any theme, any colour you want... as long as you've stamped somewhere,  then you're good to go!


We have two prizes on offer this month, the first is our sponsor prize. This winner will be chosen randomly from all of the entries in the challenge! The sponsor for September is

STAMPlorations



STAMPlorations create and stock the most fabulous selection of stamps and stencils, soooo many to choose from, and such wonderful quality. A nice long browse through the selection on offer is thoroughly recommended!

 The prize this month is this wonderful stamp plate:


And also these two great stencils:



How cool are those stamps and stencils? So very very useful for all manner of projects! ? Our randomly drawn winner will be one lucky person! 
***ALSO***
 As a very special offer for Craft Stamper blog readers, Shery has created a coupon code just for us.... a coupon that will entitle the user to FREE international shipping on any order over $20 (which works out to around £12.90)!
The code to enter is: CSTAKEITMAKEIT , and is good throughout the whole month of September (and you can use it with other STAMPlorations coupons too)
THANK YOU Shery, we appreciate your generosity!




Our second winner is our Design Winner. This winner is chosen by our DT, who all vote for their favourite design from all of the entries. This winner will have their winning project published in Craft Stamper Magazine, (with a 2 page spread of their very own!), they will have a GDT slot for an upcoming challenge, and will also feature in their very own Winners Profile blog post! 

I hope the prizes have given you all an incentive to win...... and how about some eye candy from the DT to give you some beautifully stamped  inspiration!















 


                                          






WOW! 
I have to say...there are some STUNNERS there, that's what I call inspiration!

 Want to enter?!
Then simply link up using the Linky Tool below! 
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE have a read of our challenge rules before you link up. Any entry that does not comply with all the rules will not be considered for either of the two prizes on offer. All rules can be found by clicking the link at the top of the page, under the banner!

We can't wait to see your creations.....
Good luck!