Wednesday, August 8, 2012

SDC260: Sketch Challenge


Hi, it's Kim here and today is my turn to host our next challenge. Anyone that follows my blog knows that I'm a big fan of sketches.  Even if you don't follow the EXACT sketch, it's a great jump start for your mojo and sketches are some of my favorite challenges to participate in.

This week I have created this sketch and we have lots of inspiration from the design team to share.  Please remember we are now doing weekly challenges so you will have until Tuesday, 8/14 to link up below using Inlinkz and play along for your chance to win.  All winners from the challenges from the month will have a chance to win, we will randomly draw 2 winners for a $30 gift certificate for Stampotique stamps.



















There were some fantastic birds & buttons creations, love seeing the mix of birds you chose for your challenges last week.  Kaz's favorites were:
(please e-mail khowardga@gmail.com for favorites badge)

Fiona:
I love the colours and the skates

Laura:
this is so pretty and I love the unique birds!

Annes:
this is so cute and so many stamps have been used.

and the random winner of the $30 gift certificate for Stampotique stamps is:


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Join us this week for our sketch challenge by linking DIRECTLY to your creation using Inlinkz


Tuesday, August 7, 2012

Stampotique is making some Changes

With the big announcement last week of our growing design team we have decided to make a few changes to the way we do our challenges.

  • First we will be going to WEEKLY challenges instead of only the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of the month
  • Challenges will remain on Wednesdays and will remain open until the following Tuesday at 5 p.m. EST
  • Challenges will be open to using ALL stamps, giving everyone the opportunity to win some Stampotique stamps to use
  • Our design team will be posting in two groups, rotating weeks
*edited to addTwo winners will be randomly chosen at the end of the month from all the challenge participants to win a $30 gift certificate for Stampotique stamps.

We look forward to having you play along with our new challenge which will begin tomorrow.

Wednesday, August 1, 2012

Introducing our New Design Team Members

Stampotique had such an outstanding response to our last design team call, we appreciate all of you that took the time to apply. We had such a difficult time choosing our new members, there are so many creative and talented artists out there and we wish we could have chosen all of you.

Without further ado, joining our current design team members are these wonderfully talented ladies:


Hi! My name is Libby Hickson and you can find me blogging at Libby's Little Addiction. I started my creative journey about 13 years ago when I had knee surgery and was hobbling around on crutches for two months and mostly bound to my seat. I decided to try my hand at scrapbooking a trip to Germany my husband and I had gone on just before my surgery and was immediately and hopelessly hooked to everything involving paper and glue. Shortly after that a friend introduced to rubber stamping and the rest, as they say, is history. My favorite thing to do is color, and I'm so excited about all the wonderful images Stampotique has to color!! When I'm not stamping, I'm hanging out and coloring with my two kids, ages 6 and 4. I'm so thankful and honored to be a part of the Stampotique team!



Hi. I’m Claire Boelema aka Happy Days (a long story, but basically there are way too many Claire’s out there in Blogland). I live in a small coastal town in the UK with my ever tolerant hubby and two kids.

I’ve been playing with inks, paints and pieces of paper for approximately two years now and as a result I’m enjoying a second childhood! I don’t really have a set “style”. I simply get up in the mornings and go wherever my mood takes me or whatever inspires me. So my work can vary hugely from day to day or even hour by hour! The only common theme that runs through my projects is that I love to use assorted techniques and add lots of detail, so be warned there’s normally a fair bit of “faffing” and the odd bit of fancy cutting. Well, OK lots of fancy cutting as I don't own one of those fancy electronic cutting machines YET!!!!

I set up my blog at almost the same time as I started stamping/paper crafting and the original intention was for it to be a record of my work. I had no idea that anyone would actually find my ramblings and work of any interest, so I blogged my sucesses and some epic failures! I still blog my failures as I hopefully they will help others to avoid making the same mistakes! This is my blog addy should you wish to pay me a visit http://whatshallimaketoday.blogspot.co.uk/


I have been with my partner Aaron for eight years and we have a beautiful son. My background is in art and art history and currently I am a professional Full Time Glass Artist living in Salt Lake City. I do gallery openings to show my work as well I am commissioned nationally and internationally for  large scale works. I also teach Kilnforming glass classes with the University of Utah as well in my private studio.

I have been "scrapbooking" most of my life in the form of journaling and my sketch pad. I have to say that I enjoy Scraping and tend to have several styles that I work in. After working with glass all day I so look forward to my time to create with paper. I really love making backgrounds in ink and watercolor then applying paint and ink drawings or doodles to the surface. I also love to make pop ups with paper, anything 3D  and such. I believe in teaching, the sharing of ideas and playfulness of creating. Face the brilliance of your most wonderful creations and dwell on your dreams.



Hi there, I am Astrid from the Netherlands, where I live with my husband and son. Since I discovered Art Journaling a couple of years ago, I have been really passionate about it, I can safely say that I simply need it. So my hands are often covered in paint and ink, but it’s all good, it means I had a good day. Of course I do more than Art Journaling ;-) I also love to make cards, ATC’s and tags. 

I so {heart} the Stampotique stamps. They’re cute but not sweet, they’re adorable in their own special way :-D I love using them on my journal pages, they’re a great way to tell my story. Well, they’re just great on any project ;-)

As I am a big fan, I’m so happy and honored to be part of the Stampotique Design team! 


I’m France… from Belgium, where I live with my hubby, our 2 kiddos and our 2 white mares. I’ve always been artistically creative for as long as I can remember, but my very first scrapping was for our wedding invitations, in 2000. Since 2010, after a very serious accident, I had all the time I wanted to get creative. That’s when the ball started rolling and I became a mixed media stamping scrappaholic, with a serious tendency to inky fingers.

My favorite toys are rubber stamps, spray inks, masks, acrylic paint and oil pastels. Art journaling makes my heart sing and making boxes seems to be my specialty: from oval shaped boxes containing spray inks to little cubes filled with drawers for embellishments.

Though I only discovered Stampotique stamps quite recently, I fell deeply in love with the designs, the versatility and the humor. I do hope to contaminate all Belgian scrapbooking/mixed media stores with my love, so that they will be available everywhere! Meanwhile, I’m looking forward meeting you all Stampotique fans, here and on my blog www.france-papillon.com


Roc Nicholas is an artist, instructor, and writer who lives in Florida.  She loves to journal, doodle, use rubber stamps, make cards, collage, mixed media, and use recyclable objects in her art.  She is married to a wonderfully supportive man and has 2 grown boys and 2 grandchildren.


My name is Sue, I'm married with 2 (almost) grown up children and a cat! I've been crafting for around 5 years..  I'm a collector of ink, paint, and things that sparkle.  I cannot draw or even doodle, so yay for rubber stamps, the quirkier the better.  I love making inky backgrounds, and when it comes to stamping more is definitely more, - yes I'm terrified of white space! I also have an ever growing (has my DH often says) 'That's nice but what are you going to do with it' pile!



Hi- My name is Polly and I live on the east coast in the UK.  I have always been involved with some type of crafting- I remember cutting out those little paper dolls and dressing them with the paper dresses when I was a little girl.  Nowadays my hobbies include Photography, Scrapbooking and Stamping- can't think of a better way to spend 'me' time then spritzing, spraying and inking up stamps in my own little craft room.



To say I am super excited to join the Stampotique Design Team here is putting in mildly :O) - the range of stamps are just so different - very funky and extremely quirky. My very first Stampotique stamp bought was Karin in 2010 and to-date now own 14  - my favourites just have to be the Mermaids - Smushallaum, Smushasha and Smumanha - so versatile :O)


Hi! My name is Magda. I'm Polish but live in the UK. I've been interested in scrapbooking since 2009. Since than I learn a lot. I experiment with mediums, papers and paints. I like mixing colours with a drop of a good sense of humour. Mostly I use papers and mediums with not many embellishments. Usually I make cards and notebooks. I've started playing with layouts a few days ago. Still I feel thirsty for knowledge about scrapbooking and mixed media techniques.

I'm so happy to have the possibility to join Stampotique team!


Hello. I am Carol fox, AKA Ginger, both in the real world and online. I have been crafting in one form or another since I was tiny. It started the summer I realised I was tall enough to reach the treadle on my mum’s old sewing machine, and I haven’t stopped since. I have tried most things, and still do most of the crafts I have learnt over the years, but now my real loves are Mixed Media,  Altered Art and Rubber Stamping, as absolutely anything goes. I love nothing more than a good rummage around a junk shop for old bits and pieces to use in altered art projects, I can usually be found either in my craft room or on my allotment.


Hi! I'm Jenn
I AM- a mother, a card maker, scrapbook teacher, a chef, nature lover, a recycler, A COLORADO GIRL, Copic lover, designer paper hoarder, stamp collector, flower keeper, rhinestone organizer! I LOVE crafts and hope you will enjoy seeing my Stampotique creations.


 I live in the Vale of Evesham with Poppy, she's a wonderful Miniature Schnauzer, my best friend and muse. I find inspiration for projects whilst out walking her in the beautiful English countryside on my doorstep. I also get a lot of inspiration from childhood memories, particularly time spent with my dad and songs often get my creative juices flowing and I love anything to do with moon!

My absolute paper passion is rubber stamping.  I've been fascinated by stamps since I was a child, I'd be captivated by the lady at the post office stamping letters.  My spare bedroom has become my studio and is filled with literally hundreds of stamps!  My favourite and most inked stamps are Moongirl and Head by Stampotique.

Though my creations are often described as quirky, whimsical even cute, I can't say I have a particular style because I'm still experimenting and finding out what it is.
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Make sure to stop over and visit our new designers, I'm sure they all would love to hear from you and don't forget about our current challenge running through next Tuesday evening, Birds & Buttons

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

SDC59: Birds & Buttons

Welcome back to our 59th challenge!  Hope you all had fun playing with your sentiments this past challenge?


This week our hostess, Kaz Boughton has given us a fun theme to work with and I think you'll love to see how the design team used their stamps.


Kaz says:
'I know that birds are a frequent theme on many crafty projects, but I still love them. I'd like you to use buttons with your birds for this next challenge.'


Please link up using Inlinkz below directly to your creation using Stampotique stamps.  Only one entry per person to be eligible for the $30 gift certificate for Stampotique stamps.


Onto the wonderful creations from the design team and our last week with our awesome guest designer, Gay.  She's provided us with some fantastic creations this month and we hope to continue to see her work through the challenges and on her blog.  Thanks Gay!


Gay Peplow- July Guest Designer










Hope you will join us and show us your birds & buttons by linking directly to your creation using InLinkz below.  Reminder that you must use Stampotique stamps and only one entry per person.

Wow!  You all did some wonders with the sentiments this past challenge.

Jane's top 3 favorites from the sentiment challenge are:
(please e-mail khowardga@gmail.com for badge to display)


#14 Kristen Catalano...for a first attempt she said "trying something out of the box" it was awesome
 -great image choice :)

 #12 Sarinda Jones...yummy brown, love it        



 #6 Sue the Iron...wow, fab creation!


Our random winner for the $30 gift certificate for Stampotique stamps is:
(please e-mail Carol@stampotique.com with SDC58 winner in subject line)

#16 Sam21ski


Congratulations to our top picks and our random winner!


Wednesday, July 11, 2012

SDC58: Sentiments

Jane here:  I am hosting the newbie challenge here for my first time  :)   

So, we all know that Stampotique has many fun images....how about all the very cool sentiments??  Since I have fallen deep for art journaling I have found that my Stampotique images and sentiments/quotes go perfect in my journals.  

Below I used some stencils, acrylics and magazine cut outs to create this art page.  The quote is called " Lying in bed" (by sark) and it is perfectly the way I feel!  lol   Sometimes I wonder about my addiction!  I cut it out in sentence pieces and put it on some painty scraps and then popped them on the page.  I also used "squiggle arms" by Roc Nicholas on the left side.  If you happen to be looking for art journal inspiration...look no further then some of the artists and dt members for Stampotique!  Lots here!  

Hope you will join us using one of your Stampotique sentiments for this challenge and maybe be the winner of a $30.00 gift certificate for stamps to the Stampotique store! Please remember you must use STAMPOTIQUE stamps to qualify to win and only one entry per person.














Please link up directly to your creation using InLinkz below.
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We always enjoy seeing how you think "out of the box".  We know it's not always easy to step out of your comfort zone, but you all made it LOOK easy with your beautiful creations!   

Valerie had a very hard time selecting just 3 favorites, but she finally settled on these lovely pieces to highlight this week:
(please e-mail khowardga@gmail.com for badge to display)

This beautiful Butterfly Easel ATC incorporates a number of elements that are out of the box for Aisling and result in a unique and artistic piece.


This fabulous welcome decor took France off the pages of her art journal and into the world of home decor - simply brilliant!! 

Polly stepped away from her usual media and created this mouthwatering 8" canvas with a distinct summer appeal!

Our random winner for the $30 gift certificate for Stampotique stamps is:
(please e-mail Carol@stampotique.com with SDC57 winner in subject line)



Sunday, July 1, 2012

July Guest Designer: Gay Peplow

We want to say a big thank you to our June Guest Designer Claire Boelema, she shared so many wonderful projects.  

You may recognize our next guest designer- she plays frequently in our challenges and always has fun stuff to share.  We welcome Gay Peplow as our July Guest Designer here at Stampotique.


You may recognize our next guest designer- she plays frequently in our challenges and always has fun stuff to share.  We welcome Gay Peplow as our July Guest Designer here at Stampotique.

Here's a little more info on Gay that she has shared with me:


Hello there! I was so excited when Kim invited me to do a guest designer spot for Stampotique for a month, what an honour! Having lusted after Stampotique stamps for years and entering the challenge a few times I have been so impressed by the talent of the design team every week, so I'm sure you can imagine how it felt! Yes fantastic!
I am married with 2 grown up sons and two beautiful grand daughters, live in Surrey in the UK but I was born in Egypt, sounds exotic but my father was in the R.A.F so it was just a lucky chance really and we were home before I was even 6months old! So I remember nothing.


I have crafted literally all my life but just for my family and myself until last year when I decided to take a chance that someone would like my work. Luckily I was offered a position at the Craft Barn on their design team. That has been such a lovely experience and I've tried lots of interesting products and expanded my knowledge. Having a blog, entering challenges and visiting wonderful crafty people is such a great way to share knowledge, inspiration and fun!


My style has changed dramatically over the years from fussy all over the page to the barest minimum and less is more style, which I love. I would be very sad if I had to choose a specific style it's so much fun playing. Now I stay up late (sorry mum!) and craft into the wee small hours! I really hope you enjoy my efforts. Gay x My blog is Crafty Musings come visit I would love to see you :0)

And don't forget if you are interested in being part of our design team, we have a current design team call going on.  This is your last week to submit your application.  For more information please see this post.