Throwback Thursday!

It's Thursday... time for a little Throwback! Every Thursday we will be sharing a wonderful project from a past issue of Craft Stamper Magazine.... a full step by step tutorial for you to feast your eyes upon! As a new project for our newer readers, or a reminder for those who have been with us a while... it's sure to inspire!

Our fabulous project today was created by Jenny Marples, and was first published in December 2014! Distress paints are still just as popular, so why not have a go at creating this simply goegeous card?

Jenny Says:

“When I first used this technique I was reminded of the faded glamour of old Victorian parlours, but they tended to use darker, richer colours. By opting for softer, paler shades I was able to achieve a look more suitable for the modern era.”

Distress Paints are fluid water-based acrylic paints which can be used on multiple surfaces. These special paints have been designed specifically to be reactive with water (just like Distress Inks and Distress Stains) so they are perfect for accomplishing a wide variety of artistic techniques.

This technique, used previously by Tim Holtz, is the perfect way to give your projects a vintage style, reminiscent of aged fabrics and wallpapers. Originally demonstrated using black card, here I’ve shown a way of using coordinated Distress Paints to produce subtle, chalky coloured versions.

MATERIALS

Stamps Jenny used...
Stampers Anonymous Tim Holtz Collection: Distress Damask; Simple Sayings

Other materials…

Square white card blank

Thick card

Distress Paints: Wild Honey; Antique Linen; Peeled Paint; Bundled Sage; Aged Mahogany; Victorian Velvet

Distress Inks: Seedless Preserves; Shabby Shutters; Frayed Burlap

Ranger Archival Ink: Jet Black; Fern Green

Distress Embossing Ink

Ranger Embossing Powder: Clear

Tim Holtz Idea-Ology: Linen Ribbon; Long Fasteners; Heart Charms; Mini Fasteners

Sizzix Tim Holtz Bigz XL Die: Jumbo Tattered Florals

Sizzix Tim Holtz Alterations Strip Die: Tattered Floral Garland

Sizzix Tim Holtz Framelits Die: Tag Collection

Sizzix Tim Holtz Movers & Shapers Dies: Mini Branch & Leaf

Nylon net fabric

Cotton thread

Heat gun

Sewing machine

Step-by-step… Shabby Chic Paint Technique

1 Begin by covering several squares of thick card with a coat of dark coloured Distress Paint, and allow to dry completely.

 

2 Using one of the Distress Damask stamps, embossing ink and clear embossing powder, stamp and heat-emboss the painted squares as shown.

3 Dab on some of the lighter coloured Distress Paint and sponge an even layer over the whole card.

4 When touch-dry, wipe over the embossed areas with a slightly damp cloth to remove some of the paint.

To Finish The Project:

Repeat the technique using three colour combinations on nine 4.5cm square pieces of thick card. Mat and layer the squares onto white card blended at the edges with Frayed Burlap Distress Ink. Sew zigzag stitches between some of the squares with coordinating cotton thread. Glue two pieces of Linen Ribbon across the card. Stamp the Simple Sentiment using the Archival Inks and cut using the coordinating die from the Framelits set. Die-cut some flowers and leaves, colour with Distress Inks and shape them. Having cut smaller flowers from nylon net fabric, layer and attach to the card using Long Fasteners. Finally attach the Heart Charm using a Mini Fastener.

We love the shabby chic look...

       
Thank you so much Jenny, wonderful inspiration!
Check back next Thursday for another blast from the past project! 

Take It Make It Challenge: November Inspiration

Hello!

Our current Take It Make It challenge is in full swing, with some amazing entries so far!

Just in case you need a little more inspiration, the DT have come up with some more amazing projects to share today :) First though, a bit of a reminder.....

  This month is:
Take A Stamp:
Anything Goes!
(as long as you have stamped 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 colour you want... Just make aure you stamp somewhere, then you're good to go!

We have two prizes on offer, as always. The first is the Sponsor Prize, and the winner of this 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.

We are proud to announce our sponsor this month is....

The Artistic Stamper

The Artistic Stamper is a UK based bricks and mortar craft shop based in Kent. They stock a wide variety of craft srash, loads and loads of wonderful stamps ans much much more! The Artistic Stamper also hosts plenty of workshops, with wonderful tutors, so be sure to check out the timetable :) There is also an extensive online shop for those who live too far away to have a browse in person!

The prize this month is this fabulous stamp set:

Pre cut and already mounted on cling foam, these mushrooms would work wonderfully in all mannerof mixed media creations.. so many possibilities, and a wonderful prize!  

Wonderful stamps, and a wonderful prize!  

As always, we will also have a Design Winner this month!

This winner is chosen by our DT, who all vote for their favourite design from all of the eligible 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! 

Cheremane Smith

Elina Stromberg

Elizabeth Robinson

Ellie Knol

Jolande van Oosterhout

Kymona Tracey

Linda Walmsley

Mandi Mance

Nikki Killinger

Shirley Bampton

 
I hope you are all inspired to join in! The link up can be found in last Fridays blog post, HERE!

Throwback Thursday!

It's Thursday... time for a little Throwback! Every Thursday we will be sharing a wonderful project from a past issue of Craft Stamper Magazine.... a full step by step tutorial for you to feast your eyes upon! As a new project for our newer readers, or a reminder for those who have been with us a while... it's sure to inspire!
This week, we are sharing a fabulous creation from the talented Chris Dark, first published in  June 2014. Chris is sharing how to use angelina fibre to create a wonderful background!

Chris says:
Add great texture to backgrounds and 3D items with some items you may already have in your crafty stash. Soft Gel medium and Angelina Fibres are transformed into organic textural backdrops for some pretty stamped and cut out flowers. The same technique with a change of colour will work equally well for a cobweb effect at Halloween or a frosty finish to Christmas projects!

MATERIALS LIST

Stamps Chris used..Woodware: Mini Flowers, Geometric Leaves.

Other materials.

Angelina Fibres: Shimmering Blue Pearl

Golden: Soft Gel Matte Medium

Hinged Wooden Icon

DecoArt: Americana Acrylic Paint – Spa Blue, Ocean Blue, Celery Green, Carousel Pink

Versafine: Ink - Onyx Black

First Edition: 12 x 12 Paper pad – Floral Pavilion

Pebeo: Gutta – Black

Rub ‘n Buff: Antique White

Tim Holtz Ideology Findings: Alpha Parts - Newsprint

Self adhesive pearls 

Step By Step:

1. Paint the wooden icon with Spa Blue paint and then add a thick coat of gel medium making sure to try and keep it even over the whole panel.

2. Tease out some strands of Angelina Fibres and arrange them over the gel medium layer dabbing them gently into the medium and working quickly before the gel dries.

3. Heat the fibres with a heat gun until they fuse and shrink down. Any stray fibres at the edges should disappear into the layer but any untidy areas can be trimmed with scissors when dry.

4. Apply the Celery Green paint to the bottom half of the icon working it well into fibres for a good coverage a second coat may be needed but it’s best not to overload as the texture may be lost.

5. Add a line of the Ocean Blue paint followed while it’s still wet by Spa Blue to the top of the icon. Stipple the lighter colour into the darker for a good transition of colour.

6. When the paint is dry highlight the fibrous texture with white rub ‘n buff and apply around the edges of the icon for some definition.

To Finish: Add stamped flowers and leaves to the background, then some plastic letters. Colour the letters by dry brushing them with paint, and adding extra rub n buff.

Thanks so much Chris!

See you next week for some more Throwback Thursday fun!       

Take It Make It Challenge: November!

Hello!

Welcome to the Craft Stamper November Take It, Make It challenge!

Take the theme, and then Make it your own :)

This month is a 'Take A Stamp' month, and so the theme is:

Anything Goes!
(just remember to 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. Ss long as you have stamped somewhere, then you're good to go!

We have two prizes on offer, as always. The first is the Sponsor Prize, and the winner of this 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 :)
 

We are proud to announce our sponsor this month is....

The Artistic Stamper

The Artistic Stamper is a UK based bricks and mortar craft shop based in Kent. They stock a wide variety of craft srash, loads and loads of wonderful stamps ans much much more! The Artistic Stamper also hosts plenty of workshops, with wonderful tutors, so be sure to check out the timetable :) There is also an extensive online shop for those who live too far away to have a browse in person!

The prize this month is this fabulous stamp set:

Pre cut and already mounted on cling foam, these mushrooms would work wonderfully in all mannerof mixed media creations.. so many possibilities, and a wonderful prize!  

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

Cheremane Smith

Elina Stromberg

Elizabeth Robinson

Ellie Knol

Jolande van Oosterhout

Kymona Tracey

 Linda Walmsley

Mandi Mance

Nikki Killinger

Shirley Bampton

Wow!

Amazing inspiration from the DT!

Fancy joining in with us this month? You have to be in it to win it, as they say :)

All you need to do is double check you are familiar with all the guidelines, then get linking up using the InLinkz tool below!

  We can't wait to see what you create!

An InLinkz Link-up

Throwback Thursday!

Welcome to the Craft Stamper Throwback Thursday! Every Thursday we showcase a tutorial from a vintage Craft Stamper... sharing wonderful inspiration from one of our back issues. Something new for our recent readers, and a nice reminder for those who have been with us a while!
This week we are showcasing a project by our Editor Trish! This first appeared in the November 2014 issue. Enjoy! 

Trish says:

Paint is my go-to product each time I craft, and I enjoy stamping with it as well as using it for backgrounds! I love the texture that is created as well as the design, something you just don’t get with ink!

Paint, obviously, has different properties to ink, and it makes sense that paint stamped images will look different to ink stamped ones! Paint is thicker, so it is tricky to get the very fine detail in a stamped image. Bear this in mind, and steer away from any tiny text or photographic-type images when using the paint for stamping.

Because of its thickness, paint will leave a texture when stamped as the paint ‘pulls up’ slightly when you lift off the stamp. I love this, and it is more noticeable if you are using stamped designs with a larger solid area. Paint can also be more opaque than ink. This will depend on the brand or colour of paint you use, but I find with some colours a paint stamped design is much bolder and gives deeper coverage than an ink stamped one. White is the perfect example of this, I have yet to find a white ink that stamps as beautifully as white paint. Even if I have stamped black details on a background using ink, I will ALWAYS get out the paint for the white bits!  

MATERIALS

Stamps Trish used...

IndigoBlu: Itsy Bitsy Backgrounds

Bo Bunny: Jazmyne Clear Stamps

Technique Tuesday: Polka Dots

Other materials...

Artemio wood plaque

Book pages

Acrylic paint: red; brown; white; turquoise

Gel medium

Wire

Wooden chopstick

Black alphabet stickers

 How to stamp with paint:
1 Prepare your paint. I squeeze a tiny amount onto a bit of acetate that I can then use as a palette. 

2 Gently sponge on the paint. Try to make sure you have a fairly thin, even layer. 

3 Stamp. As this is an unmounted stamp, I can bend the design and just stamp parts of it.

4 This step is very important! Clean the paint from the stamp immediately after using it!

5 A brayer can also be used to get a thin, even layer of paint on your stamp. In this case, it is easier to use the stamp on an acrylic block to stop it moving when you brayer.

6 Stamp, using the acrylic block. You can clearly see the texture of the image through the block.

To Create the 'Wish' Plaque:
Cover the wooden plaque with book pages, using gel medium. Once dry, smear on some red paint, along with a little white. Stamp background imagery using brown and white paint. Stamp the flower head using white paint. Print some lines using red, white and turquoise paints. Add a wire ‘stem’ to the flower, then stick on letters to form the word. To create the hanger, cover a wooden chopstick with book pages. Twist wire around the chopstick to secure, then glue the wire to the back of the plaque.      

Thanks Trish!

See you next week for another Throwback blast from the past!

 

Our delicious December issue hits the shops on Friday!

The December issue of Craft Stamper Magazine hits the shops this Friday (2nd)!
Our fabulous subscribers may have their copies already, they are arriving as I type :)

This issue has a decidedly seasonal feel! Our talented designers have created some gorgeous stamped projects (as usual!), lots of snow, ice and wintery projects for you to feast your eyes upon.

Tracy Evans is sharing the most AMAZING tutorial with us on page 14! She used a salad spinner, of all things, to create the fabulous background for her Wintery Penguin pieces. Such a great effect!

For a bit more of a colourful twist on your Christmas cards, why not take inspiration from Florence Langley on page 60? The tutorial Flo has shared with us shows a wonderful layering technique, definitely one to try!

Our free images this month are available in digital format. We have a nice and seasonal variety of 4 images for you,  two of which are a Santa figure (who looks just a touch like Dumbledore perhaps?!) 

and a wonderful girl image by the talented Clare Lloyd. Clare creates her girls in rubber for PaperArtsy, so we are thrilled and honoured she has shared an exclusive digital design with us!

 All information about the digital images can be found on page 38.

Our Readers Gallery on page 54 is all about Christmas Ornaments. Congratulations to those chosen to feature, the projects are just stunning! This fabulous snow filled bauble was created by Jannet Blay:

We also have an wonderful stencilled project by Gio Zara..

Some fab ideas for Christmas themed shrines in our 3D Challenge, such as this wonderful creation by Shirley Bampton:

and an inspiring Masterclass featuring PanPastels by Riikka Kovasin in this issue!

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!

Have a wonderfully crafty month everyone!

Trish x