Stamp Your Art Out: Water Prompt #1

Hello!

Our May 2020 issue Stamp Your Art Out theme was announced yesterday, so we thought we'd pop on here and give you a few ideas that might just get you creating (and submitting to the call!)

Water

Of course, the theme 'water' immediately brings images of oceans, seas and beaches to mind. Of course, we love those ideas, and they're most welcome, but how about thinking about other watery ideas? How about..... Rain?

This fab card was created by Riikka Kovasin for our April 2017 issue:

Not just raindrops, but a rainbow and splashes too! Or, what about rain in a more abstract sense? Helen Alexander used a Visible Image rain stamp to perfection for the background in her project in the June 2017 issue:

We also have water used in the dramatic pink dribbles too, so two lots of water going on!

Water can also mean streams and rivers too, we still absolutely adore the technique Mark Alexander used for his 3D Challenge make in the June 17 issue:

This stunning effect was created using cling film and glossy accents over a blue inky trail, the origami boats are the perfect finishing touch, don't you think?

We are also encouraging you all to submit projects made USING water as well. There are lots of products that react when water is added, Brusho pigment powders being just one. We'd love to see some gorgeous Brusho projects, just like this card Linda Walmsley made for us in the November 2017 issue of the magazine:

There are of course lots of other ways to use water, Riikka shared a stunning masterclass in the October 2017 issue all about tea. She made sprays using teabags and water, and deep dyed fabrics too. All of these tea + water effects came together in her project:

Wonderful!

We could be here all day sharing inspirational eye candy with you, but we'll call it a day for now :) Check back next Wednesday, when we'll have loads more projects to share, full of watery wonderfullness :)

Check out the Art Call post HERE to see how to submit your project to us!

Good luck!

Art Call: Stamp Your Art Out!

Good Afternoon!

We are launching a brand new reader gallery for 2020:

Stamp Your Art Out!

This will take the place of our current Ready Set Stamp feature. 
We want to broaden the scope a little for 2020, so from now on readers can submit ANY type of stamped art for this art call, not just cards. We're keeping a theme, but no colour options. Create with our chosen theme in mind, but with no colour restrictions whatsoever!

We will be sharing some prompts for each art call, some eye candy from our Craft Stamper team, plus some ideas on how to get you started off with each theme.This month, check back here TOMORROW for some fabulous WATER inspired creations!

We are also publishing the themes for the next couple of issues on the Art Call page here (click the tab at the top) Please enter any call that takes your fancy, but PLEASE remember to put the issue and theme in the subject heading of your submission, that way we don't get all confused!

So....What are you waiting for?!
Check out the updated submission guidelines below, then send us a pic of your submission. We can't wait to see and share your art with the readers of Craft Stamper magazine!

 
May 2020 issue theme: Water
Deadline for submissions: 18th February 2020
 

· Please email your submissions to: editor.cs@mytimemedia.com

· Please put 'Stamp Your Art Out' 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 project!

Guidelines:

• Any type of project is welcomed for this gallery. Bear in mind however, that if your project is chosen, you will need to post it to our UK office! Heavy items or very delicate items that might not like our postal system would be best avoided!
• If submitting Art Journal pages, we prefer loose pages NOT an entire Art Journal to be posted to us, if your submission is chosen.
• Please follow the theme when creating your project!
• NEW work only please, we do not accept projects that have been published elsewhere (including online) before submission. 
• All projects MUST feature stamped art work. 
• Any stamps used MUST be branded. Please do not use stamps sold without designer/manufacturer information on the original packaging.
•  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 projects using digital imagery exclusively for this feature. Digital imagery is welcome, but  MUST be used in conjunction with rubber/polymer stamping to qualify.
•  Projects which are selected need to be posted to the Craft Stamper offices in the UK. The projects 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 project is ready.
• 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!  

Take It Make It January Challenge: Inspiration!

Hello!

Our January Take It Make It challenge is well underway... some stunning entries so far, we can't wait to see what else you lovely lot can dream up!

As ever, we have another wonderful selection of inspiration eye candy from our Design Team to share today..... but first a little reminder...

 ALL of our challenges this year are 'Anything Goes' stamping challenges!

So....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. As long as you have stamped somewhere on your project, then you're good to go!

We have two prizes on offer, as always. The first  will be randomly chosen from all the eligible entries of the challenge. To make sure your project is eligible to win, make sure you have followed our challenge guidelines. These can be found on our sidebar over here ---------->

and also in a tab under the banner at the top.

PLEASE REMEMBER: We only want to see ONE project in each individual blog post entry!

A set counts as more than one :)

The amazing prize on offer this month for the randomly chosen winner is..... (drum roll please..........) 

Our Guest Designer this month:
Catherine Carter 

Cheremane Smith 

Elina Stromberg

Ellie Knol

Linda Walmsley 

Mandi Mance

Preeti Datta

STUNNING work :) 

We really hope you've been inspired to enter the challenge! You can find the link up tool on our blog post from last week right HERE!

Take It Make It Blog Challenge: DT Call!

Morning!

We're launching a DT call this morning!

Craft Stamper is looking to expand our Blog Challenge team, do you think you fit the bill?

If you're someone who loves making stamped art work, then this might be right up your street!

We're looking for artists who love stamping, whether it be clean and simple or messy mixed media.

Applicants must have some kind of online presence, so they can share their Craft Stamper Blog Challenge projects.

We welcome applicants from all over the world!

Our Blog Challenge Team requirements:
Create ONE stamped piece of art per month, and share it via social media with links back to the main challenge post on the blog.
We organise the team via a Facebook Group, so applicants must be able to access Facebook!
Team members are also required to vote for the winners of each challenge, so need to commit to looking at all of the entries. We don't insist on team members leaving comments on every entry, but in order to vote we need you to have at least looked at them all :) 

Whilst the Blog Challenge DT is not a paid position, Blog Challenge DT members automatically become part of the wider Craft Stamper design team and therefore can be called upon to create projects for publication in the magazine. If team members choose to accept commissions such as these, they will of course be paid at the regular magazine rate. These details will become more specific as and when designers accept any commissions.


Application details:
Send us an email: editor.cs@mytimemedia.com
Please put 'CS Blog Challenge DT Call' in the subject header.
Please attach three pictures of stamped artwork you are particularly proud of, so we can see your style!
Include links to your social media pages.
Let us know if you're a DT member anywhere else. This could be your first or hundred and first DT position, we don't mind :)

The DT call will run until midnight UK time on JANUARY 31ST 2020.
We'll let you know that we have received your application successfully.
We will notify successful candidates on Monday February 3rd.
New team members will start their new jobs (!) with the March 2020 challenge.
Once you're in, you can stay as long as you want to. The DT term runs until members wish to leave, but we'd rather you stay for 6 months at least :)



So.... what are you waiting for?
We can't wait to welcome some new teamies!

Take It Make It Challenge: January!

Welcome to the January Take It Make It stamping challenge!

Take a stamp and make something amazing!

All our challenges have an 

Anything Goes theme.

That means you can create whatever your imagination dreams up, as long as you have used a hand stamped image on your creation somewhere!

We would love to see cards, art journal pages, ATC's, ATCoins, canvas, 3D projects, layouts, jewellery, planner pages etc etc. The list is endless, create something you love and then share it with us!

Any themes, any styles, any colours. You may use whatever brands and products you wish.

We have TWO winners each month. Firstly, we have our Design Winner. This winner is chosen by our design team, who vote for their top three favourites from all eliglible entries. Whichever design gets the most votes is declared the winner!

The Design Winner of the challenge will be featured across a double page spread in Craft Stamper magazine, will recieve a winner's profile post here on the blog, and will have a Guest Designer slot in an upcoming challenge. Such a nice way to get you and your art noticed!

The second winner is our randomly chosen winner. This winner is selected at random from all eligible entries, and wins the Blog Challenge prize. This month, the prize is.....

Donna Gray

Elizabeth Robinson

Majo Wybranietz

Melina Dahl

Shirley Bampton 

Suz Humphreys

LOVE the wonderful array of projects! Thank you Design Team :) 

So.... have a read of the guidelines, create something amazing and upload it so we all can see. Can't wait!

Take It Make It Challenge: December Winners!

Hello everyone!

We are thrilled to announce the winners of our December challenge!

As you all know, we have two winners to annouce today, so without further ado let me introduce you to our Design Winner:

Entry number 30: Sari/Granne

We loved this wonderful project! Such wonderful colouring, so atmospheric. Sari/Granne will win a Guest Designer slot here on the blog, her very own Winner's Profile, and of course her amazing art will be featured in a two page spread in Craft Stamper magazine! Congratulations!

We also have the remaining top slots to announce!

The rest of the top three Design Winners are:

Entry number 28: Lehtipollo

Entry number 49: Ingunnsinekort

Congratulations, it was such a hard choice this month!

We now need to share the random winner of our challenge. This winner will receive the amazing prize on offer....

Congratulations to....

Entry number 29: Gerrina

I'm sure you've love the prize Gerrina! 

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

Our January challenge will be launched next Friday, January 10th.

We can't wait to see all the wonderful art you will all be sharing!

Take It Make It Challenge: Winner's Profile!

Hello!

Welcome to our Winners Profile, showcasing the Design Winner of last month's Take It Make It challenge!

The very talented winner of the November 2019 challenge is:

Catherine Carter

find her here:

www.catherinessparemoment.blogspot.com

Catherine won the challenge with this fabulous ATC holder. We loved the bright zingy colours, the background collage stamping is wonderful too!

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

How long have you been a stamper, and how did you get started?

I have been stamping for nearly 18 years now after I first discovered card making.

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

I love all stamps with patterns which I can include as background stamps especially onto my art journal pages. I feel they are an important part of my art journal page process. I also love quirky people/ animal and monster stamps. I love lots of different stamp companies designs but I have a large collection of Stampers Anonymous Stamps and Carabelle.

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

I would definitely say I am happy as a messy stamper and just love adding random parts of stamps to my art journal pages or projects in the backgrounds which often then become focal points for me.

What kind of projects do you like creating the most?

Art Journalling has been a big love for me now for about 8 years. It's a place where I feel I can be artistic and try lots of different techniques and products.

Can you remember the first stamp you ever bought? And do you still use it?

I don't remember the first ever stamp I bought, but the first ever stamp by Penny Black that I bought is still a favourite! I used it for the first project below.

We also asked Catherine to share a favourite stamped creation with us, and to tell us why she likes it so much. Here is the works of art she has chosen:

"I like this type of card because I think it is unique that there is a hidden tag inside and that the person receiving this will have a lovely surprise when they open it. I especially love the warm orange colours and the big stamped butterfly on this project. I love the versatility of this type of card and how it can be made for any occasion" - Catherine

Congratulations on being our November Design Winner Catherine, 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!