Tuesday 30 December 2014

February issue out soon!

It may be the shortest month of the year but we still have a jam packed February issue coming up with a feast full of tasty projects, tutorials and treats! And with Valentine's Day just around the corner, romance is in the air so we've lovingly provided you with tons of inspiring cards to show the one you love just how much you really care...


This month includes:
  • Be inspired by Carol Fox by trying out your own Gelli Art from Gelli on a Plate 
  • Make like Georgina Ford and fill a Printers Tray in Floral Frenzy
  • Follow Chris Dark as she shows you the secrets of achieving that fairy-light photo filtered look in Brilliant Bokeh
  • Helen Chilton shows you how to create a layered canvas using Pebeo mixed media range in Parisian Dreams
  • Monster Love with Lydia Brooke Evans helps you transform your Halloween stamps into Valentines Day ready ones! 
  • Use Mod Podge to resist paint with Joanne Allison in The Big Reveal
  • Jenny Marples brings life to a plain lamp using this month's exclusive subscription gift in Stamp a Lamp
The Craft Stamper February issue will be available from 2nd January in WHSmith's and all good craft stores across the UK. Or if you want to make sure that you never miss a copy you can call out friendly Customer Service team on 01684 588599 and subscribe!

Until next month, happy stamping!

Tuesday 23 December 2014

Calling out for reader submissions!

Have you recently made a project that you're really proud of? Here at Craft Stamper we are offering you the chance to see your wonderful work in print! 

All you have to do is send us in a photo to cs@traplet.com and we'll choose one lucky reader to have their project printed in Craft Stamper magazine. If selected you will be required to send your project to us here in Worcester so that we can photograph it in our studio. 


Our last reader submission by Corinne Rollet was this beautifully detailed 'Under the Sea' canvas that was crafted using acrylic paints, masks, stencils and stamps.

If you too have something inspiring that you have made at home using stamps then please don't hesitate to share it with us here at Craft Stamper and get the recognition your fabulous work deserves by getting it printed in your favourite magazine!

Show us what you've got!


Meet the team - Kim Dellow



Hello and welcome to the latest in the regular series introducing some of the designers who contribute regularly to Craft Stamper. Take a wee break from all the Christmas preparations, come on in and meet Kim...

My name is Kim Dellow and I describe myself as an artist – crafter – blogger so I’m covering all my bases! I live in London, UK and I’ve been a Craft Stamper DT member since late 2012, but you might have spotted a couple of my works turning up, on and off, in the magazine before then. 

My arty-crafty story kind of started around 2007 and I’ve dipped my toe in lots of different things from stitchery to model making. Stamping is one of the techniques that I have in my technique tool box and probably my favourite thing about stamping is how flexible a technique it is. 

I think that being creative is in the fibre of my being and I love being able to do it on a regular basis. I adore the constant learning, idea generating and working with my hands that is part of the creative process for me.

Favourite Project #1: Someone Is Watching You. I love the mix of the real and the insubstantial in this ATC with the textural and touchable fabric and the more ethereal stamping of the eyes on the acetate. 

This project is blogged {here}


Q. Do you have a signature style or favourite technique?
A. I don’t really have a favourite technique and I like to try everything. But I do have my comfort zones and when I’m pushed for time, which is often as I am regularly trying to create to deadlines, then I do tend to reach for certain techniques. Things like using stamping to add texture, if I’m colouring I often reach for my pencils and I love clean and simple design.

Favourite Project #2: Inrō-Inspired Altered Dominos. Probably a good example of where inspiration strikes and that is anywhere. These stamping makes were inspired by a museum visit. 
 This project is blogged {here}

Q. Where do you look for inspiration before you start on a project?
A. When I am putting together a Craft Stamper article then it all depends on if I am working around a specific stamp set or if the project is more about a technique or a finished project. My creative process for articles is very deadline and product driven. My own creative process for non-commissioned projects is far more nebulous and the inspiration can come from anywhere. Of course the two processes, deadline creating and no-limits creating, often feed into each other.

Favourite Project #3: Sunshine In A Tin. This is one of my all-time favourite creative themes, making something unexpected like a giant sun in a sardine tin, for example. If there is some repurposing thrown in as well then I’m in creative heaven.

This project is blogged {here}

When I have the time I love to share over at my blog (www.kimdellow.co.uk) where you can also find all the links to the usual social media outlets. I would love to hear about your creative processes so do drop in and say hi.

Thanks for joining us, we hope you've enjoyed meeting Kim and some of the other regulars during 2014. Have a wonderful Christmas and we look forward to introducing you to some more Craft Stamper designers next year!

Monday 22 December 2014

A peek at what's coming up in our February issue!

Our February issue is out on the 2nd January and just in case you're already itching to get your hands on our next issue we thought we'd give you a little peek of the details to keep you guessing at what's instore...



We can't wait for you to see our Valentine infused issue full of gorgeous projects, tutorials and treats! 

Thursday 18 December 2014

Submit your work for July's Ready, Set, Stamp!

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

July
A Jolly Holiday – fun, bright cards to get us in the holiday mood using a beachy colour palette of orange, sandy yellow and bright blue.

Deadline for submission = 23rd March 2015

· 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 of the closing date please try again next time

Guidelines:
· Please make cards only for this gallery
· 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 month
· All cards should be suitable for an intermediate crafter to complete in around 20 minutes including drying time. Please keep your cards simple and remember that you may be a quicker than average worker
· 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
· 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 hearing from you and seeing all of your beautiful designs!

Submit your work for June's Ready, Set, Stamp!

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!!!

June

A Life on the Ocean WaveBoats, ships, yachts, seascapes etc. On the sea, NOT under the sea using a mixed colour palette of royal blue, blue, pale blue and aquamarine. 


Deadline for submission = 16th February 2015

· 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 of the closing date please try again next time


Guidelines:
· Please make cards only for this gallery
· 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 month
· All cards should be suitable for an intermediate crafter to complete in around 20 minutes including drying time. Please keep your cards simple and remember that you may be a quicker than average worker

· 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
· 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 hearing from you and seeing all of  your beautiful designs!

Submit your work for May's Ready, Set, Stamp!

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

May
Extra Texture – whether it’s multiple stamped layers or some texture paste, we want to see a bit of depth here whilst working with a colour palette of sage, mauve and rose pink.


Deadline for submission = 19th January 2015

· 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 of the closing date please try again next time

Guidelines:

· Please make cards only for this gallery
· 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 month
· All cards should be suitable for an intermediate crafter to complete in around 20 minutes including drying time. Please keep your cards simple and remember that you may be a quicker than average worker
· 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
· 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 hearing from you and seeing all of your beautiful designs! 

Friday 12 December 2014

Take It, Make It December Challenge: Inspiration

Hello!
Our current Take It, Make It challenge is all about
stamping in white, be it ink, paint, gesso or embossing a stamped image with white embossing powder! We have had fun looking at the entries so far, you lot are very creative!
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 October Challenge: Maarit Persson;
 Elina Stromberg
 Elizabeth Robinson
Jackie Payne 
 Jolande van Oosterhout
 Kymona Tracey
Linda Walmsley
 
 Nikki Killinger
 
 Renee Zarate
Shirley Bampton
 Tracy Easson 
Trish Latimer
 Zoey Scarpelli



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 Rubber Dance Art Stamps
www.rubberdance.com


The Prize:
www.rubberdance.com


 There is also the chance to be published, AND a guest DT slot up for grabs....so why not have a go at stamping in white...we'd love to see your creation!
All the details can be found HERE....
Have fun!

Friday 5 December 2014

Take It, Make It Challenge: December

  Hello!
Welcome to the December Challenge!
We were all very impressed with the entries for the November Challenge,we loved seeing all those ingenious ways of turning a regular stamp into something Christmassy...you're all very clever, you know!
 In the January issue of Craft Stamper, Lydia Brooke Evans has created a gorgeous card, using the minimal Kraft and white colour palette. The white stamping is immaculate, and this is what has inspired our challenge for this month. The theme for the December Challenge is....
White Stamping!

You can stamp away to your hearts content, using white ink, gesso or white paint. You can even stamp an image and then emboss with white powder if you fancy! To be clear, you CAN stamp in other colours too, but we need to see some parts of your project have clearly been stamped in white!
The DT have excelled themselves (again!) and come up with some fabulous ideas for you to share, but before the eye candy, there is the not-so-small matter of the prizes!
We are delighted to be sponsored this month by Rubber Dance!
www.rubberdance.com
Rubber Dance carry an amazing range of wonderful stamps, you really need to check them out if you haven't already!

The prize this month is a voucher to spend in the shop....
www.rubberdance.com


I can see this could be tricky, there are so many fabulous stamps to choose from!

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, £20 worth of rubber 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!



WOW! Now that's what I call eye candy!
We can't wait to see all your white stamping creations!

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! As we're nearing Christmas, the challenge will run a little longer than usual, with the closing date in January. Plenty of time to get stamping!
 Have fun!

Thursday 4 December 2014

Taking It A Little Further With Lydia

By Lydia Brooke Evans


Hi there Craft Stampers! Can you believe ... December already?!?!? I certainly can't, it seems the days are going by quicker and quicker the closer we get to Christmas.

In the December issue of CS! I did a step-by-step on how to add hand stitching to your cards by using a sentiment stamp as a guide..... I have been playing around with this idea and thought it would be fun to do the same but this time using a die cut sentiment.


I cut the sentiment from metal and stitched over it with red thread , the same way I did in the article. I so love that everything on this card is flat but because of all the different textures and layers it looks so dimensional - so great for postage ;)

For more info and details on this card please hop over to my blog.

Hope you have a great Christmas and I'll catch you again in January!

Hugs Lydia xxx




Tuesday 2 December 2014

First issue of 2015!

It's nearing that exciting time where we welcome in the new year and what a better way to say hello to 2015 than with our January issue that's jam packed with creative new stamping ideas!


We've got...
  • Stencil DIY with Helen Chilton where you can make your own stencils
  • Pencil Perfection with Kim Costello combining coloured pencils and stamps for a hand drawn effect
  • On trend Krafty Vellum Stamping techniques by Lydia Brooke Evans 
  • It's a Date making fun, floral calender surrounds with Georgina Ford
  • Soul Stamping with Ellen Schrik layering up mixed media to help create depth and interest
  • Rings with WOW by Trish Latimer using embossing powders and moulds to make cocktail rings

The Craft Stamper January issue will be available from the 5th December in WHSmith's and all good craft stores across the UK. Or 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!

Friday 28 November 2014

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
http://fun-stamping.blogspot.co.uk/2014/11/christmas-card-with-non-christmas-stamp.html

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:
www.theartisticstamper.com

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......
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!