Take It Make It Challenge: July

Welcome to the Craft Stamper July Take it Make It Challenge!

TAKE a stamp, then MAKE something amazing!

All our challenges are stamping challenges, with an

Anything Goes!

theme. So, show us how unique you can be and create anything your imagination cares to dream up!

Share your cards, journal pages, layouts, 3D assemblage, planner pages, jewellery items... anything at all! If you have stamped somewhere on your project, then you're good to go!

We have two prizes on offer as always this month. One prize will go to our Design Winner. Our DT will look at all the eligible entries once the challenge has closed, and vote for their favourite 3 projects. The project with the most votes wins! The Design Winner of the challenge will have their project featured in Craft Stamper magazine, along with a profile and a GDT slot here on the blog. What a fab opportunity to get you and your art noticed!

The second winner will win the prize provided by our wonderful sponsor. This prize is chosen at random from all eligible entries of the challenge.

In order to be eligible to win either prize, the project submitted must abide by our challenge guidelines. These guidelines can be found under a tab at the top of the page, or to the right on our sidebar. PLEASE read before submitting, we would hate to have to declare a wonderful project ineligible!

The amazing prize on offer this month for the randomly chosen winner is Faith Journaling: For the Inspired Artist by Stephanie Ackerman, along with 2 sheets of Documented Faith stickers! The book is an amazing resource for all things journaling, with tips and hints on doodling and drawing, and a multitude of inspirational words to use in your work. 
Plenty to inspire every journaler, not just those with an interest in Faith Journaling!

We hope the prize has inspired you to enter the challenge! We have some amazing eye candy from our Launch team to inspire you further!

   Amy Almeida

Cheetarah Cheda

 

Elizabeth Robinson

Linda Walmsley

Majo Wybranietz

Preeti Datta

Sarah Gray

Suz Humphreys

                                                        

WOW!! 

Wonderful projects from the DT this week :)

So... fancy playing along? All you need to do is double check all the guidelines, then link up using the linking tool below.

GOOD LUCK! 

An InLinkz Link-up

Our Amazing August issue hits the shops on Friday!

Hello!
The August issue of Craft Stamper magazine hits the shops this Friday, July 6th. Subscribers have been enjoying the issue already :)

Our August issue is jam packed with inspiration, I’m even inspired to use my sewing machine for an actual
sewing project which is unheard of!

Debbie von Grabler Crozier is the talented designer responsible for my new found sewing enthusiasm, her

instructions for creating the stamped fabric pouch are fab! Check out the feature on page 44:

Don’t forget to download your template from our blog when we publish it here on July 7th!

We are welcoming the inspirational Kay Halliwell Sutton to the Craft Stamper Family in this issue. You will all 

know Kay from the TV, demonstrating her amazing art for her company, IndigoBlu. We’re so thrilled to have 

Kay sharing her work with you, and this is only the beginning. We can’t wait!

In this issue we also have a colourful journal cover, Anneke De Clerck style:

 and some fun jewellery designs (and a couple of non wearable art pieces!) in our 3D gallery featuring wooden

bangles:

 Lots for you all to experiment with, and don’t forget, I would love to see what you create! Email me, or share

on our Facebook page!

For subscriptions, please go to: www.craftstamper.com

For single print, and back issues : www.mags-uk.com

For digital issues, both subscriptions and single issues: www.pocketmags.com

Have a wonderfully crafty month everyone!

Take It Make It Challenge: June Winners

Hello everyone!

We are so pleased to announce the winners of our June Challenge!

As you all know, we have two winners to announce today, so without further ado, let me introduce you to the Design Winner.....

Entry Number 17: Ksenija

We loved this beautiful project by Ksenija! The stunning flower sits pefectly alongside the embossed die cut greeting. So elegant! Ksenija will win a Guest Designer slot here on the blog, her very own Winners Profile, and of course her amazing art will be featured in it's own 2 page spread in Craft Stamper magazine! Congrats!

We also have the remaining top slots to announce!

The remaining Top Five (we had a few ties in the voting this month!) are:

Entry Number 47: Emma
 Entry Number 49: Amanda
Entry Number 22: Bonnie 
Entry number 91: Sharon



Wonderful projects ladies!

We now need to share the randomly chosen winner with you all!

This winner will receive the prize offered by our sponsor this month:



Uniko

Uniko is a one stop shop for amazing clear stamps! Wonderful designs, made from a superb quality photpolymer.  The owner and designer, Beverley Brown, is an avid paper crafter and has been a stamp addict for many years. After completing a BA (Hons) in Textiles & Surface Design she decided back in February 2012 to combine her passions and launch her own range of stamps, designer dies & digital paper collections. The result is a shop full of stunning designs! Be sure to check them out!
The prize on offer for the randomly chosen winner this month is this set of three stamps and a fabulous stencil!:

Congratulations to our winner:

Entry Number 90: Gerrina

      Congrats! I think you'll have a wonderful time  playing with your new goodies!

Winners, you need to need to get in touch with me in order to claim your prize!  Please email me at: editor.cs@mytimemedia.com , and put TIMI Winner in the subject line, then I'll be sure to spot it! 

Top Five Design Winners, also please contact me if you wish to receive a button to display on your blog.

Our July challenge will be launched next Friday, July 6th
We can't wait to see all the wonderful art you will all be sharing!

Blog Exclusive: Charlotte Kristensen

Good Morning!
We have a special treat for you today, a wonderful tutorial from the talented Charlotte Kristensen!
I know all of us at Craft Stamper HQ have a deep fondness for washi tape, and I have a feeling lots of you do too :)
Charloote is very kindly sharing a great technique for creating your own bespoke tape, such a wonderful idea!
Over to Charlotte.........

You might very well have  a roll of masking tape lying about, so try this fun project to make your own

washi tape - you can co-ordinate colours and themes to go exactly with the project you're doing!

Step 1: Cut lengths of masking tape and stick down onto a piece of acetate or non stick paper

(I used the backing sheet from some EZ mount).

Step 2: On a craft sheet, put down the Oxide Distress Inks and mist very lightly - you don't want to

get the masking tape too wet! I used antique linen, peeled paint, faded jeans, frayed burlap and

peacock feathers. Dry between each colour application. You can obviously also just dry sponge inks

onto tape, blending the colours well as you go along.

Step 3: I found the result a little bit too pale, so added some Distress Spray - stormy sky, as well as

mermaid lagoon (not shown - bottle was camera shy!) Leave to dry completely.

Step 4: Once dry, I stamped images all over using Archival Ink Pad Potting Soil.

Step 5: Then a smaller amount of images using Archival Ink Pad Sienna.

Step 6: Next, images in Versafine Blue Lagoon. Now all the background is done.

Step 7: The foreground images are stamped in Versafine Black Onyx. I used a mixture of words and

images.

Step 8: Finally, a bit of doodling using a white gel ink pen.

Step 9: Close up of finished project.

Masking tape is not archival quality, so be careful not to use it with anything that is supposed to last a

very long time!

I used a mix of stamps - this is a great opportunity to use everything you've got, as the background

stamping is simply to provide texture and pattern. Amongst the stamps used are Impression

Obsesssion Seth Apter, Carabelle, PaperArtsy, Viva Las Vegas and AAL & Create.

Thanks so much Charlotte, such a fab tutorial!
Why not check out more of Charlotte's work on her blog:
http://aliceoverground.blogspot.com/

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 May 2018 challenge is

Jenny Martin

 From: 

My Paper Epiphany

Jenny won the challenge with this fabulous card!We loved the fabulous alcohol inked background, simply perfect as an ocean for the cute whale!

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

Q: Do you think your stamping/mixed media style has changed since you began stamping? And if so, how?

A: Yes, thank goodness! My earlier cards had a lot more layers and usually incorporated patterned paper, ribbons and an embellishment or 2! Now I make more CAS cards and usually concentrate on a technique or media.

Q: Do you have a ‘go to’ technique that you love to use?

A: I go through phases, for instance I was addicted to Alcohol Inks for a few weeks, until my asthma flared up. Before that I was using Copics on most of my cards for a month or so and now I’m back to watercolour, which is my favourite.

 

Q: Do you have a favourite colour combo?

A:Definitely blues and greens. That too has changed, because I used to use a lot of red, pinks and purples.

Q: Inks or paints? Or both?!

A:Both. I often use Zig Markers for watercolour as it’s so easy , but I love practising with real watercolour paints, such as Daniel Smiths. I recently did an online mixed media class and that was using Acrylic and Indian Inks and I found that lots of fun.

Q: Can you remember the first stamp you ever bought…. And do you still use it?

A:I have kept  my favourite wood block stamps and display them in a vintage glass fronted cabinet in my craft space.  I occasionally use them! I think my first was a butterfly from PSX.

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

"This is using one of my favourite Penny Black Stamps. I love making watercolour cards with their brushstroke stamps" - Jenny

"This was my first mixed media project on Ampersand Aquaboard as part of the online class. I was happy because I used colours that I normally would never put together, so I felt I learnt from this exercise" -Jenny

"This is one of my favourite Alcohol Ink cards" - Jenny

Congratulations on being our May Design Winner Jenny, 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!

Art Call; Ready Set Stamp

Ready Set Stamp: Reader Submissions Wanted!

THANK YOU so much for all the fabulous cards submitted for our last art call, it was so hard to choose just a few to publish! We can now announce the next theme.....

We are looking for submissions for our Ready, Set, Stamp feature on the following theme for our October 2018 issue of Craft Stamper. If you've always wanted to see YOUR card in print, now is your chance!

Colours: Sage Green, Pale Leaf Green, Bark, Rich Burgundy

Deadline for submission: 17th July 2018

· Please email your submissions to: editor.cs@mytimemedia.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 follow both the theme AND the colour scheme when creating your cards!
• NEW work only please, we do not accept cards that have been published elsewhere (including online) before submission.  
•  Stamps used MUST be available to buy currently, either from a UK stockist or a stockist with an international shipping policy that ships to the UK.
• We do not accept cards ONLY created with digital imagery for this feature. Digital imagery is welcome, but  MUST be used in conjunction with rubber/polymer stamping to qualify.
•  Cards which are selected need to be posted to the Craft Stamper offices in the UK. The cards will be returned, along with a complimentary issue of the magazine.
• 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.
•  Black, white and metallics can be added 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 can't wait to see your fabulous creations!