Our amazing March issue is out on Friday!

The March issue of Craft Stamper is due to hit the shelves on Friday 5th February... you lucky subscribers may have your copies already!

We're very proud of this issue, loads of tutorials and inspiration for you all. We really hope you love it as much as we do!

You can order your copy from our online SHOP, or download a digital copy from POCKETMAGS!

So.... shall we share some sneaky peeks to tempt you? I think so!

 Ingrid Vichova is sharing a fabulous piece of wall art with us, created using the ‘Bleeding Tissue’ technique. This looks amazing, something we'll be trying out for sure!

Asia King shares a tutorial, all about how to achieve an etched glass effect using your stamps in the March issue This is a stunning piece of art! Such a professional look, but something you can create yourself at home.

Our March issue is filled to the brim with cards...

ink spray inspiration....

 canvases...

 shadow boxes...

 and of course lots of stamping! 

I really hope you see something you love, something that makes you get your stash out and have a play!

Have a fabulously crafty month!

New DVD/Downloads released today!

Hello!

I can't tell you how excited I am today... I can FINALLY reveal the secret project some of the Craft Stamper desingers have been working on for the last couple of months!

A new DVD/Blu Ray/ Streaming Download is released today! 

Have you ever fancied having a go at creating a face? 

Or perhaps you would like to try a different style of face?

 There are so many ways to create a mixed media face. Sketching, fine detail, realistic portraiture, whimsical proportioning of the features… the list can go on and on!

In this programme, four designers will share with you, in real time, just how they create a face in their own unique way. Watch and learn how to sketch out a face, how to add in features and then colour! With a multitude of techniques ranging from line drawings, to watercolouring and detailed paint shading, each artist will take the viewer through their process from start to finish.

Why not have a go, try out all the different techniques demonstrated, and then develop your own style of creating faces!

You can watch Kim Dellow, Clare Lloyd, Tracy Scott and Trish Latimer show you just how they create the whimsical faces you may have seen in their art work!

The DVD etc is available to buy NOW from the Craft Stamper website HERE

We are also running a giveaway over on our Facebook page, so be sure to check that out as well! 

 

Take It Make It Challenge: January Winners!

Hello!
It's Winners time!

So many fabulous entries, this was a really tricky job choosing a winner!

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 108: Susanne

 Congratulations Susanne! We loved the meticulous layering done with the stamping, and the subtle colours are fabulous. The metallic sheen sets off the card to perfection! Susanne 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 slots in our Design Top Three to reveal!  They are in no particular order :)

Entry Number 5: Amanda

Entry Number 75: Corinne

Congrats ladies! 

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

DaliArt

  
The prize is this fabulous selection of goodies:

From left to right:  

  Assorted Indian ribbon and self adhesive Bindi embellishments, self adhesive gems in 5 colours and two sizes (the winner will receive all the gems in the pic!) Indian Butterfly stamp.

The randomly drawn winner is:

Entry number 59: Vicky

Congratulations Vicky! We hope you have fun 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.

Our Febuary challenge will be launched next Friday, the 5th!

Ready Set Stamp: Reader Submissions wanted!

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

Theme ideas: Sketchy styles, scripty text, Eiffel Tower, French fashion, Macarons, perfume bottles.
Colours: Mint Green, Butter Yellow, Raspberry Pink, Buff. 

     Deadline for submission: 16th February 2016

· 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.
. We do not accept cards ONLY created with digital stamps 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!

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 December 2015 challenge is

 Alison Bomber

From: http://alisonbomber.blogspot.co.uk/

Alison won the challenge with this amazing project! We loved the attention to detail in this piece. If you have a moment, click on the picture and you will be taken on the most amazing journey...... Alison has created a fabulous narrative to go alongside the book! We adored finding out all about the characters!

We asked Alison 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 since February 2012 - a whole new area of creativity for me.  I helped out with a scrapbook for my mother’s 70th birthday, and while having a look online for some bits and bobs to decorate pages I found Tim Holtz and his stamps and Distress Inks. It was love at first sight, and I haven’t looked back!

Q: What are your favourite kinds of stamps, and do you have a favourite stamp company?

A: Oh, well, that’s difficult, because it depends what mood I’m in.  I love background and texture stamps, vintage and/or grungy, so I’ve got many, many, many Tim Holtz stamps as well as lots of PaperArtsy Hot Picks and Lynne Perrella stamps.  I’ll dabble in kooky and quirky - so I enjoy Stampotique and some of the PaperArtsy Eclectica ranges.  But it’s the wild grasses, meadow flowers, tree branches, birds, and script stamps that I can’t live without... whoever they’re made by!
 

Q: Describe your style, are you a messy kind of stamper or a more ‘clean and simple’ kind of person?

A: Texture and layers.  Then more texture and more layers!

Q:What kind of projects do you like creating the most?

A:  Two different sorts make me happiest - either a tag with Distress Ink techniques and stamping (the simplest I go), or full-on mixed media with texture pastes, crackle, layers, stamping, collaging... the lot.  I love altering books, or art journalling in old books either with the simple inking and stamping or the mixed media route.

Q: Apart from stamps, what is the one product you wouldn’t be without when you craft?

A: Ouch... only one?  Please, please can I have some Distress Inks AND some crackle medium (the DecoArt Crackle Glaze or Crackle Paint if forced to choose). 

We also asked Alison to show us a favourite stamped creation,  and share why she likes it so much. Here is the gorgeous project she has chosen:

"Since the project I won with was one of the busy sort, I’m sharing a simpler pair of tags with you today.  These were pure play... At the time, I wanted to try out my newly arrived Ground Espresso Distress Ink, so I just did some of my favourite wrinkle-free distress technique and then let what happened happen.  These make me very happy!! - Alison

Congratulations on being our December Design Winner Alison , 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' Anything Goes (as long as you have stamped somewhere!) is open until next Wednesday, so still time to enter!
  All the details can be found HERE.

 See you back here on Friday 29th January 2016
for the announcement of the January challenge Winners! 

Take It Make It January Challenge: Inspiration

Hello!

Our current Take It, Make It challenge is a 'Take A Stamp' challenge...

  So.. ANYTHING GOES (as long as you have used a stamp somewhere!)

January 2016
Take A Stamp


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 November Challenge: Dot Leathbridge

Elina Stromberg

 Elizabeth Robinson

Ellie Knol

Gio Zara 

 Jolande van Oosterhout

 Kymona Tracey

Linda Walmsley

Mandi Mance

Nikki Killinger 

Shirley Bampton

Zoey Scarpelli

Wow! Now THAT'S what I call inspiration!

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

The sponsor for January is

DaliART

The prize this month for our randomly chosen winner is:

From left to right:  

  Assorted Indian ribbon and self adhesive Bindi embellishments, self adhesive gems in 5 colours and two sizes (the winner will receive all the gems in the pic!) Indian Butterfly stamp.

How fabulous is that!

 Our randomly drawn winner will be one lucky person!

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?

More eye candy, and the post to link your creations up to can be found HERE....
Have fun!

It's a New Year Giveaway!

Hello!

We thought all you lovely readers would like a chance to be in with winning a HUGE box of gooodies from us at Craft Stamper Magazine!

Here is a pic of all you could win...

As you can see... there is so much some of the packaging didn't fit into our light tent when we took the picture!

The box looks like this....

Just jam packed full of wonderful things!
Here is the full list of the prize on offer:

1. 'The Artful Sewer Iron-On Braid Kit' - including 12 iron-on threads and instructions on how to make an embellished laptop case. 

2. 'The Artful Sewer Iron-On Ribbon Kit' - 13 iron-on threads and embellished laptop case project.

3. 2 x 3 small 'Acrylic Misting Ink' bottles. One set is 'Breeze Blush' the other is 'Summer Twist'. 

4. An 8 piece set of 'Decorative Wood Embellishments' in the form of clocks and tickets by Prima Marketing Inc. 

5. An Imagination Crafts butterflies stamp. 

6. 2 x Tando Creative laser cut board pieces set. One set clocks, the other a birdcage. 

7. 2 x Crafty Individuals craft masks - floral edge masks. 

8. Stash Panache 'Boutique Buttons' set.

9. IndigoBlu 'Grand Tour III' stamp set. 

10. Lavinia Stamps 'Beautiful Background Papers'.

11. Docrafts Xcut small butterfly die. 

12. 3 x Squidgy Pins Wooden Shapes and Stencils - 'Mini Hearts', 'Cloud, Rain Drops and Umbrellas' and 'Mini Stars'. 

13. 2 x Prima Marketing Inc mini stamp set - 6 piece mini sentiment stamp set and 3 piece mini postcard, scroll and lace stamp set. 

14. 4 x Stamposaurus Stamps by Amanda Loverseed - 'Out of this World', 'Greenhouse Sidelong', 'Greenhouse Door', 'Ice Cream Van'. 

15. 2 x large Tando Creative craft masks - 'Sequin Waste', 'Clock'. 

16. 5 x Crafty Individuals stamps - CI-365, CI-303, CI-384, CI-335, CI-407.

17. 2 x Joanna Sheen Pressed Flower stamp set - 'Roses', 'Daisy'.

PHEW! :)

So.... how do you win the prize? 

This is a a FACEBOOK based giveaway, so to enter you will need to hop on over to our Facebook page here:

https://www.facebook.com/craftstamper/

Once you get there, you should see the post about the giveaway! Simply make sure you have liked our FB page, shared the actual giveaway post, and then (this is the important bit!) LEAVE A COMMENT ON THE FB POST! 

The winner will be drawn at random from all the comments left on the FB post, at NOON on TUESDAY 19TH JANUARY. So, you have a full week to like, share and comment!

Good Luck!