Take It, Make It November Challenge: The Winner!

Hello everyone!

Thank you so much to all those who played along with our November challenge - Using a non Christmas stamp to create a Christmas image! We loved how you were all very inventive, turning your regular stamps into all kinds of new shapes!

The standard of the entries was really high this time, but there can only be one winner! That honour goes to.........

Entry number 21: Cornelia

Congratulations Cornelia!
We loved the thought that went into choosing your non Christmas image, perfect for a tree. The colours are beautiful!

The winning entry will be published in Craft Stamper Magazine (I hope you kept it somewhere safe!), and the winner will also receive the fabulous prize from our sponsor  
The Artistic Stamper:

This is your prize....

As well as our worthy winner, we also have the remaining two spots in our Top Three to reveal! In no particular order, they are..... drum roll......

Entry Number 27: Darnell
Entry Number 2: Hermine

Congratulations ladies!

If the Winner could Email me (just click the 'posted by' name at the bottom of the post), then I can pass on all the details about the prize, publication and of course the Guest DT slot! Top Three, please Email me for your winners buttons to display on your blogs!  For anyone else who would like to, please feel free to grab the button below....

 A huge THANK YOU to all those of you that took part in the November challenge!

 The first Friday of every month will see the start of the next challenge.... so check back here next Friday, 5th December to see which technique is next!

A sneak peek at our January issue!

Our January issue goes on sale on Friday 5th December and we thought you'd like a little sneak peek at some of the lovely projects we have in store for you! So here are a few detailed snaps of what's inside...

We hope these sneak peeks have you feeling inspired and excited for what's to come! Happy Stamping! 

Meet the team - Lydia Evans

Hello and welcome to the next in our series turning the spottlight on  some of Craft Stamper's regular contributors. Today's designer is also cover girl for this month's issue - her clean and crisp style will be familiar to many! Here she is in her own words...

 

Hi there I'm Lydia Evans. I'm a wife and mother to two gorgeous (if I do say so myself) Mini-Mes and a messy crafter. I have crafted in some way, shape or form for as long as I can remember, my Aunty calls me sticky fingers as even when I was little I was always gluing and cutting something.

I joined the fantasticly talented Craft Stamper team in November last year... I can't even believe that it has been a year already! I first applied for the Ready, Set, Stamp submission on the Craft Stamper blog, it was for a Valentine's card using teal, pink and red. I couldn't believe it when it was accepted, (red, teal and pink is now one of my favourite colour combos now and always reminds me of this :). A couple of weeks after this there was a DT call and I threw my hat into the ring and it blew my socks off when I had a 'yes' to this!

 

Favourite project #1

Even though there are lots of techniques on this card all of the white space keeps it looking clean and fresh...... Plus how cute is that paper-pieced bear all wrapped up for the snow?!?!?! 

 

 

This project is blogged {here}

I was a scrapbooker before I really got into stamping but after joining a DT (Make The Day Special Stamp Store) that specializes in bringing stamps from the US I fell in love with the super cute images and that I could make a little piece of art with just some stamps, card and ink.

Favourite project #2

I love using stamp sets for a different look that they were made. /This little boat set was definitely made for a guy in mind but I do have a tendency to prettify or girly up images.... oh and pink waves and flowery sails... swoon.

 

 

This project is blogged {here}

Q: Do you have a signature style or favourite technique?

A: I would say that my style is Clean and Simple-ish. I do like to add in lots of different techniques while keeping the look pretty clean. My cards range from cutesy images to florals.... I do have a 'thing' for chintz florals.... obsession may be the word. 

 

Favourite project #3
Mixing girly and graphic is a huge love of mine. I just adore how the striking black and white stripe juxtaposes the soft watercolour flowers made even softer by their white outline.  

 

 

This project is blogged {here}

 

Q:  Where do you look for inspiration before you start on a project?

A:  My inspiration comes from many different sources ... clothes, challenge blogs but mostly when I see I stamp set and I think of all of the things I could do with it. Although I do like and use Pinterest it is not really my 'go-to' when Mr Mojo has packed up to go on a weekend break.

Favourite project #4

There seems to be a trend for night-time sky techniques and this card is one of the favourites I have made using the technique - plus it's just a super cool card!

This project is blogged {here}

A big thank you to Lydia for sharing a little of her stamping story and favourite projects with us - I hope you enjoyed "meeting" her!

Take It, Make It November Challenge: Inspiration!

Hello!

Our current Take It, Make It challenge is all about
taking a regular, every day stamp, and using it to create a Christmas themed project! We have had fun looking at the entries so far, some fabulous imagination there!

The DT have been having loads of fun creating some more more projects for you to feast your eyes upon, brace yourself, there is rather a lot of eye candy on show!

Winner of the September Challenge: Carol Fagg
Carol has used a heart shaped stamp to create the tree.

Anneke De Clerck
Anneke has used leaf shapes to create her tree

 Elina Stromberg
Elina has used a chevron stamp for her evergreen branches

  Elizabeth Robinson
Elizabeth has used a perfume bottle stamp for the wonderfully quirky penguins!

  Jackie Payne 
Jackie created her own dotty triangle stamp for her ornament

  Jolande van Oosterhout
Jolande has used flower stamps to create her hanging decoration

  Kymona Tracey
Kymona has used a large circle stamp to create her baubles

  Linda Walmsley
Linda has turned a regular bird stamp into a festive robin

 Nikki Killinger
Nikki has used doily stamps on her Christmas card

 Renee Zarate
Renee has used feather stamps (amongst others!) for her gratitude mandala

 Shirley Bampton
Shirley has used lots of border stamps to create the tree

 Tracy Easson 
Tracy has used a scribble border stamp for her tree

Trish Latimer
Trish has used a star shaped stamp to create the layers of her tree

 Zoey Scarpelli
Zoey has used a lightbulb shaped stamp for the warm woolly gloves (or are they baubles?!)

 Wow! Now THAT'S what I call inspiration!

Why not have a go, then enter your creation into our challenge?

We are sponsored this month by The Artistic Stamper

The Prize:

 There is also the chance to be published, AND a guest DT slot up for grabs....so why not take another look at your stamps and see if you can turn them into something Christmassy?

All the details can be found HERE....

Have fun!

Erratum

In our December issue (on sale today!) on page 23 (Stamping Contrasts) we have incorrectly labelled the card at the top of the page stating that it was made by Christine Dark when it was actually made by Chrissie Stokes. Our apologies for this error.

Take It, Make It Challenge: November

Hello!

Welcome to the November Challenge!

We were all very impressed with the entries for the October Challenge, you all really outdid yourselves! Can't wait to see how you tackle the theme for this month!

 In the December issue of Craft Stamper, Georgina Ford has created a georgeous Christmas card. Some of the stamps she has used are not exactly Christmas themed, but she has turned them into some stunning Christmas imagery! This is the theme for the November Challenge....

Use a non Christmas stamp to create a Christmas themed image!

 This may sound complicated, but once you get thinking, I'm sure you will dream up all manner of wonderful creations. To give you a head start, the DT have excelled themselves and come up with some fabulous ideas for you to share!

Before the eye candy though, there is the not-so-small matter of the prizes!

We are delighted to be sponsored this month by The Artistic Stamper

The Artistic Stamper is a shop full to bursting with fabulous stamps, stash and ideas galore!

The prize this month is this set of stamps..

Wonderful design, and so useful for all manner of projects!

PLUS:The Design Team will have a look at all your gorgeous work, and choose their Top Three..... and the overall Winner will get published in Craft Stamper magazine! Yes, the winning entry will appear in the UK's number one stamping magazine! AND: The Challenge winner will be offered a Guest Designer spot for an upcoming challenge!
 

So, a fab set of stamps, publication AND a guest DT slot? What are you waiting for?!

Oh yes, the eye candy!

If you click on each artists name, it will take you to their blogs where there may well be more pictures and instructions for these gorgeous creations!

From the December issue: Georgina Ford

Georgina has used a cog shaped stamp to create a poinsettia style flower

Chrissie Stokes

Chrissie has used a leaf shaped stamp to create a sweet penguin!

Elina Stromberg 
Elina has used circle stamps to create the wreath on her card

  Elizabeth Robinson

Elizabeth has used a wing shaped stamp to create the tree

Georgina Ford
Georgina has used flower stamps to create the Christmas floral design

 Jackie Payne

Jackie has used a circle stamp in her wreath design

Jolande van Oosterhout

Jolande has used a circle stamp to create baubles

Kymona Tracey
Kymona has used a circle stamp to create the tree

 Linda Walmsley

Linda has used a text circle stamp for the baubles on her card

Nikki Killinger
Nikki has used butterfly stamps to create the tree on her project

 Renee Zarate
Renee has used a circle stamp to create the snowman on her card

 Shirley Bampton

Shirley has used a scribble heart shaped stamp to create the tree

Tracy Easson

Tracy has used a scribbled circle stamp for her robin

Trish Latimer

Trish has used a flower stamp to create the dress for the Christmas fairy

Zoey Scarpelli

Zoey has used a geotag and branch stamps for her quirky reindeer

 Flowers, circles, wings, hearts, leaves, branches.....loads of non Christmas stamps used to create some Christmas projects! We really hope that gives you some ideas, and we can't wait to see what else you come up with!

All the Challenge guidelines are now over on the right hand sidebar, please have a quick read before entering, we would hate for your project to be ineligible to win the prize!

 Have fun!

December Issue out this Friday!

Are you looking forward to Christmas already? Well if you're looking for some Christmas stamping ideas, then look no further than our December issue, on sale this Friday 7th November!

We've got:

• Adding warmth and texture to your cards using stitching with Lydia Brooke Evans
• Creating a wreath for all seasons with Elizabeth Borer 
• A flurry of snowflake makes in this month's snowy Stamping Contrasts
• Part 6 of our fantastic Scenic Stamping series with Anna-Karin Evaldsson
• Using year-round stamps to create original floral Christmas cards with Georgina Ford
• Create Christmas cards with speed using Helen Chilton's inspiring masterboard tutorial.

All this and much more, plus our adorable seasonal Free Stamp, this month designed for us by Visible Image. Don't forget to check out our Free Stamp Makes feature for inspiring ideas on how to use it! Until then here's a little sneaky peek...

The November issue of Craft Stamper is available in WHSmiths and all good craft stores across the UK from Friday 7th November. If you want to subscribe so you never miss a copy, call our friendly Customer Service team on 01684 588599 to put in your order now.

Until next month, happy stamping!