I'm late announcing this - I forgot it was a holiday weekend (here in the States) and that we'd be gone all day! I'm so sorry to keep everyone in suspense!
Huge congratulations to Kimberly S -- you've won 4 digital images!! You have 48 hours to contact us to claim your prize :)
And congratulations to Angela, who had the project with the most votes this month! You need to contact us for your prize too!!!
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Friday, May 28, 2010
Holiday Give-away
***SCROLL DOWN FOR THE BLOG HOP VOTE***
Wanna win some mounted rubber stamps from various companies namely Stampin Up! Well check out my personal blog!
Here is a pic of the possible goodies you can win! One lucky person will win all this lovely RUBBAH!
And 4 people will win one of these custom InStyle Stamps Eco-Friendly Tote bags:
What are you waiting for go now! CLICK HERE
Wanna win some mounted rubber stamps from various companies namely Stampin Up! Well check out my personal blog!
Here is a pic of the possible goodies you can win! One lucky person will win all this lovely RUBBAH!
And 4 people will win one of these custom InStyle Stamps Eco-Friendly Tote bags:
What are you waiting for go now! CLICK HERE
We Are Blog Hopping Again!
Another month has passed us by. We are almost halfway done with 2010! We here at InStyle Stamps are having so much fun this year - the images are great, our design team is coming up with amazing samples and projects, and our customers are constantly wowing us too!
Let's just get right to it, shall we? This month's blog hop theme is Father's Day - it's just around the corner you know! Sometimes creations for fathers are so hard to come up with - men just don't love the frills like ladies do ;) But wait until you see what our Design Team has to show you along this hop!! You'll love everything! So quick, go take a peek and then come right back to vote for your favorite (and a chance to win a prize).
Weren't they amazing? It's so tough to pick a favorite! Please vote for your favorite project below, and then leave us a comment (deadline: Saturday, May 29th at 11:59 PM PST) as well. On Sunday, we'll announce the winner!! This month we are giving away 4 digi images from the InStyle Stamps store!!
**Don't forget - to be eligible to win, you have to vote AND comment on this post! If your name is drawn and announced on Sunday, you will have 48 hours to contact us to claim your prize!**
Let's just get right to it, shall we? This month's blog hop theme is Father's Day - it's just around the corner you know! Sometimes creations for fathers are so hard to come up with - men just don't love the frills like ladies do ;) But wait until you see what our Design Team has to show you along this hop!! You'll love everything! So quick, go take a peek and then come right back to vote for your favorite (and a chance to win a prize).
Weren't they amazing? It's so tough to pick a favorite! Please vote for your favorite project below, and then leave us a comment (deadline: Saturday, May 29th at 11:59 PM PST) as well. On Sunday, we'll announce the winner!! This month we are giving away 4 digi images from the InStyle Stamps store!!
**Don't forget - to be eligible to win, you have to vote AND comment on this post! If your name is drawn and announced on Sunday, you will have 48 hours to contact us to claim your prize!**
Thursday, May 27, 2010
How to Color Anime Eyes
One of the things that make anime stamps so appealing is their large, soulful eyes. When InStyle Stamps was preparing to release our line of Anime stamps back in January, I browsed the web and looked at tons of anime images to determine just the right way to color the eyes to show them to their best advantage. I made a little tutorial for our design team, which I am now going to share with you.
For my tutorial, I printed off a card front sized version of the digi image of Lizzie, from InStyle Stamps. (Note Lizzie is also available in red rubber for those of you who haven't jumped on the digital bandwagon.)
STEP ONE
When coloring in the face, leave a white area around the eye going from the tip of the eyelash to the line under the eye as shown. In my sample, E00 is used to color in the face.
STEP TWO
The eyes are going to be colored in layers. Pick 3 shades of marker, a dark, a medium, and a light. I used my darkest blue, BG05 to lay down my first ring of color.
STEP THREE
Now add in a second layer of color in a lighter shade than the first, in this case BG01. Go over the BG05 color layer with the BG01 marker to start blending the two colors together. Notice that while there is some definite blending where they overlap, each color is still distinct.
STEP FOUR
Add in your lightest color, BG000 in the sample, for your third layer of color. You will again go over the previous layers of color to blend. Leave a small area at the bottom of the eye uncolored. This adds depth by showing where the light is hitting the eye.
STEP FIVE
Add a layer of the lightest color, in this case BG000, to the ring at the top of the eye where light is being reflected.
FINISHED EYE
See how easy it is to get a fabulous looking eye? Now what are you waiting for, whip out those Copics, and get coloring!
**Edited to add*** This image was printed very large so that you can see how many bands of color you can use. The most important part of coloring our eyes is the white space left around the eye. As long as you leave some white space, not a lot, but enough to see it, then it doesn't really matter how many bands you use of color in the eye. :)
**This tutorial was developed by Melissa Earnest**
For my tutorial, I printed off a card front sized version of the digi image of Lizzie, from InStyle Stamps. (Note Lizzie is also available in red rubber for those of you who haven't jumped on the digital bandwagon.)
STEP ONE
When coloring in the face, leave a white area around the eye going from the tip of the eyelash to the line under the eye as shown. In my sample, E00 is used to color in the face.
STEP TWO
The eyes are going to be colored in layers. Pick 3 shades of marker, a dark, a medium, and a light. I used my darkest blue, BG05 to lay down my first ring of color.
STEP THREE
Now add in a second layer of color in a lighter shade than the first, in this case BG01. Go over the BG05 color layer with the BG01 marker to start blending the two colors together. Notice that while there is some definite blending where they overlap, each color is still distinct.
STEP FOUR
Add in your lightest color, BG000 in the sample, for your third layer of color. You will again go over the previous layers of color to blend. Leave a small area at the bottom of the eye uncolored. This adds depth by showing where the light is hitting the eye.
STEP FIVE
Add a layer of the lightest color, in this case BG000, to the ring at the top of the eye where light is being reflected.
FINISHED EYE
See how easy it is to get a fabulous looking eye? Now what are you waiting for, whip out those Copics, and get coloring!
**Edited to add*** This image was printed very large so that you can see how many bands of color you can use. The most important part of coloring our eyes is the white space left around the eye. As long as you leave some white space, not a lot, but enough to see it, then it doesn't really matter how many bands you use of color in the eye. :)
**This tutorial was developed by Melissa Earnest**
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Why Craft?
Save Your Sanity – Crafting During Hard Economic Times
When the recession hit, Americans put their hobbies on hold in order to squeeze out every last dime—to save for rainy days and to pay bills. But did you know that creative types need a creative outlet to stay sane; especially during difficult times?
Just because you cannot afford to spend a fortune on your hobby doesn’t mean you should give it up completely.
You can use what you have on hand to turn something old into something new. You can purchase arts and crafts supplies at discount rates by shopping sales or buying digital. And you can swap out supplies that no longer hold your interest for new supplies by trading with your artsy friends or joining groups like Swap-bot.com.
Here at InStyle Stamps, we believe in the healing powers of crafting. Done correctly, we believe crafting can be a very cheap form of therapy and entertainment and actually save your budget!
•Feeling lonely, depressed, or stressed? Don’t charge up your credit cards looking for a way to fill up the void. Pull out your craft supplies and within an hour, you’ll instantly feel your mood improve.
Our owner, Virginia, has been crafting her entire life and swears by the healing powers of crafting: “When I feel a mood coming on that is definitely not going to be beneficial to me or my family, the first thing I do is go into my scrap space and work on a project. Sometimes it’s finishing up a project, other times it’s coloring an image to add to a project, and sometimes it’s starting a completely new piece. Whatever it is, crafting is my sanctuary.”
•Need a gift but cannot afford to splurge on one? Look around your house for a few items you can “upcycle”, then pull out your craft supplies.
Upcycling is about repurposing something you already own and breathing new life into it. It’s about saving the environment and saving money, too.
Just by taking a single digital image, from InStyle Stamps, for instance, you can create 11 amazing, budget-friendly gifts.
Aside from creating the basic greeting card, announcement, invitation, or scrapbook page, you can take scrap papers, digital images, old photographs, and an old book, and turn them into stunning gift books.
You can also create several 3-D projects. You can turn an old coffee can into a decorative pencil holder, a pitcher into a flower pot, and scrap fabric into a beautiful lap quilt—just transfer the digital image onto your material and color with Copic markers or paints.
Finally, you can embroider an image onto a hand towel, burn an image into a piece of wood, and trace an image onto black paper to create silhouette-style wall art.
•Need a little extra cash but don’t have the time for a second job? Turn your craft into a wonderful side-business. You can sell your creations at local craft fairs, through hosting a garage sale, or by opening up a shop online. And places like Etsy, eBay, and Zazzle make it both easy and cost-effective.
Thanks for stopping by! Have a great week!
******Stamps used in this article were Trish and Ava. Ava is also now available in Rubber!******
When the recession hit, Americans put their hobbies on hold in order to squeeze out every last dime—to save for rainy days and to pay bills. But did you know that creative types need a creative outlet to stay sane; especially during difficult times?
Just because you cannot afford to spend a fortune on your hobby doesn’t mean you should give it up completely.
You can use what you have on hand to turn something old into something new. You can purchase arts and crafts supplies at discount rates by shopping sales or buying digital. And you can swap out supplies that no longer hold your interest for new supplies by trading with your artsy friends or joining groups like Swap-bot.com.
Here at InStyle Stamps, we believe in the healing powers of crafting. Done correctly, we believe crafting can be a very cheap form of therapy and entertainment and actually save your budget!
•Feeling lonely, depressed, or stressed? Don’t charge up your credit cards looking for a way to fill up the void. Pull out your craft supplies and within an hour, you’ll instantly feel your mood improve.
Our owner, Virginia, has been crafting her entire life and swears by the healing powers of crafting: “When I feel a mood coming on that is definitely not going to be beneficial to me or my family, the first thing I do is go into my scrap space and work on a project. Sometimes it’s finishing up a project, other times it’s coloring an image to add to a project, and sometimes it’s starting a completely new piece. Whatever it is, crafting is my sanctuary.”
•Need a gift but cannot afford to splurge on one? Look around your house for a few items you can “upcycle”, then pull out your craft supplies.
Upcycling is about repurposing something you already own and breathing new life into it. It’s about saving the environment and saving money, too.
Just by taking a single digital image, from InStyle Stamps, for instance, you can create 11 amazing, budget-friendly gifts.
Aside from creating the basic greeting card, announcement, invitation, or scrapbook page, you can take scrap papers, digital images, old photographs, and an old book, and turn them into stunning gift books.
You can also create several 3-D projects. You can turn an old coffee can into a decorative pencil holder, a pitcher into a flower pot, and scrap fabric into a beautiful lap quilt—just transfer the digital image onto your material and color with Copic markers or paints.
Finally, you can embroider an image onto a hand towel, burn an image into a piece of wood, and trace an image onto black paper to create silhouette-style wall art.
•Need a little extra cash but don’t have the time for a second job? Turn your craft into a wonderful side-business. You can sell your creations at local craft fairs, through hosting a garage sale, or by opening up a shop online. And places like Etsy, eBay, and Zazzle make it both easy and cost-effective.
Thanks for stopping by! Have a great week!
******Stamps used in this article were Trish and Ava. Ava is also now available in Rubber!******
We got a celebrity in the house!
I'm sooo excited and proud of our design team member Janelle! Did you see the new tutorial on Splitcoast Stampers? Yep we know that woman! Way to go Janelle. Sending you a big huge thank you for using ISS in your project.
That date night kit is awesome. That is such a great idea. The possibilities are endless. Coupons, coupons coupons. :) Janelle you rawk! Go girl!
Stop by her blog and congratulate her!
That date night kit is awesome. That is such a great idea. The possibilities are endless. Coupons, coupons coupons. :) Janelle you rawk! Go girl!
Stop by her blog and congratulate her!
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
It's Spotlight Time!
This month we are spotlighting two of our amazingly talented Design Team members - so you are getting a double dose of fabulousness!
First up is Cyndi Bundy. Her blog, The Scrappy Chick, is full of amazing inspiration and eye candy so be sure to check it out! Here is a little about Cyndi, and a look at some of her wonderful projects:
How long have you been stamping? About 16 years
Do you prefer to make cards or other projects? I prefer to scrapbook…that is my true love, but right now I am addicted to coloring with Copics and therefore have been doing way more cardmaking!
If you were a Copic marker/Prismacolor marker which color would you be? Well I am definitely “Toronto” Bazzill, but lets see…Copic probably YG23
Which of your InStyle Stamps projects was your favorite? “Ramie” (see picture below)
You are stranded in a craft store, which aisle do you sleep in? the pattern papers of course!
What 5 words describe you? Off-beat, hyper, creative, loyal, giving
What’s your crafting style? It's all over the board but usually bright and a bit funky
Messy or clean scrap room? Mega-messy…how else can one create?
What tool or embellishment can you not live without? My cuttlebug
What is your favorite stamping technique? I’ve probably tried it all… but prefer simple outline images to color and I love lots of layers & the layout process
And now it's time to learn a little about Robin McKinley, who has another terrific blog - Stamper Extraordinaire. We asked the same questions of Robin. Here's what she shared with us:
How long have you been stamping? I have been stamping since about 2003. I was introduced to it by my sister-in-law, then I was completely addicted! Prior to that, I did a lot of scrapbooking, but I now know that stamping is my true love. LOL
Do you prefer to make cards or other projects? I absolutely love making cards! They are usually quicker than some other types of projects, so the satisfaction of accomplishment comes to me more quickly! I do dabble with other projects, but card-making is just the best!
If you were a Copic marker/Prismacolor marker which color would you be? I would definitely be a Copic marker, and specifically, the R02 color...I just love that one!
Which of your InStyle Stamps projects was your favorite? Hmmmmm, I think my favorite is the wedding card I made for wedding week! It was all white and gold, with Mylie on the front. (see picture below)
You are stranded in a craft store, which aisle do you sleep in? I think the Martha Stewart aisle would give me the sweetest dreams! I could spend forever in that section!
What 5 words describe you? Perfectionist, fun-loving, crafty, mathematical, and courteous.
What’s your crafting style? I wish I knew! I don't really have a style, but when I look back at all my projects, I usually like my project to be symmetrical and balanced.
Messy or clean scrap room? Very messy!
What tool or embellishment can you not live without? My Big Shot...I use it on almost every project, whether it be with Nesties or embossing folders or die cuts!
What is your favorite stamping technique? I would have to say embossing (dry or heat). When I feel like a paper is too plain, that's the technique I always turn to!
Ladies, thank you SO much for being part of our team - we couldn't do this without you! You both bring so much talent to the table, and you both make truly inspiring art with our images!
First up is Cyndi Bundy. Her blog, The Scrappy Chick, is full of amazing inspiration and eye candy so be sure to check it out! Here is a little about Cyndi, and a look at some of her wonderful projects:
How long have you been stamping? About 16 years
Do you prefer to make cards or other projects? I prefer to scrapbook…that is my true love, but right now I am addicted to coloring with Copics and therefore have been doing way more cardmaking!
If you were a Copic marker/Prismacolor marker which color would you be? Well I am definitely “Toronto” Bazzill, but lets see…Copic probably YG23Which of your InStyle Stamps projects was your favorite? “Ramie” (see picture below)
You are stranded in a craft store, which aisle do you sleep in? the pattern papers of course!What 5 words describe you? Off-beat, hyper, creative, loyal, giving
What’s your crafting style? It's all over the board but usually bright and a bit funky
Messy or clean scrap room? Mega-messy…how else can one create?What tool or embellishment can you not live without? My cuttlebug
What is your favorite stamping technique? I’ve probably tried it all… but prefer simple outline images to color and I love lots of layers & the layout process
And now it's time to learn a little about Robin McKinley, who has another terrific blog - Stamper Extraordinaire. We asked the same questions of Robin. Here's what she shared with us:
How long have you been stamping? I have been stamping since about 2003. I was introduced to it by my sister-in-law, then I was completely addicted! Prior to that, I did a lot of scrapbooking, but I now know that stamping is my true love. LOL
Do you prefer to make cards or other projects? I absolutely love making cards! They are usually quicker than some other types of projects, so the satisfaction of accomplishment comes to me more quickly! I do dabble with other projects, but card-making is just the best!
If you were a Copic marker/Prismacolor marker which color would you be? I would definitely be a Copic marker, and specifically, the R02 color...I just love that one!
Which of your InStyle Stamps projects was your favorite? Hmmmmm, I think my favorite is the wedding card I made for wedding week! It was all white and gold, with Mylie on the front. (see picture below)
You are stranded in a craft store, which aisle do you sleep in? I think the Martha Stewart aisle would give me the sweetest dreams! I could spend forever in that section!What 5 words describe you? Perfectionist, fun-loving, crafty, mathematical, and courteous.
What’s your crafting style? I wish I knew! I don't really have a style, but when I look back at all my projects, I usually like my project to be symmetrical and balanced.
Messy or clean scrap room? Very messy!
What tool or embellishment can you not live without? My Big Shot...I use it on almost every project, whether it be with Nesties or embossing folders or die cuts!What is your favorite stamping technique? I would have to say embossing (dry or heat). When I feel like a paper is too plain, that's the technique I always turn to!
Ladies, thank you SO much for being part of our team - we couldn't do this without you! You both bring so much talent to the table, and you both make truly inspiring art with our images!
Saturday, May 22, 2010
It's Another Color Challenge!
Hello everyone! It's time again for another color challenge - how fun! Before we get to the details of this month's colors and amazing samples, let's find out who won last month's challenge!
Random.org selected Shelley Riffle as the winner! LOOK at her adorable creation she made to enter the contest! Congrats Shelley, and don't forget you have 48 hours to contact us to claim your goodie bag!
Now, onto this month's gorgeousness: I found this amazing photo at the Decor8 blog, in a post full of other drool-worthy photos. It makes for great inspiration doesn't it?
And here are the wonderful samples our super talented design team has come up with, using images from the "A Day in the Life" collection.
Random.org selected Shelley Riffle as the winner! LOOK at her adorable creation she made to enter the contest! Congrats Shelley, and don't forget you have 48 hours to contact us to claim your goodie bag!
Now, onto this month's gorgeousness: I found this amazing photo at the Decor8 blog, in a post full of other drool-worthy photos. It makes for great inspiration doesn't it?
And here are the wonderful samples our super talented design team has come up with, using images from the "A Day in the Life" collection.
Raquel
Want to play alomg with us? Please do! You could win 5 yards of ribbon, a paper pack, and a stamp from us! What do you have to do to win? Just make a card using our color inspiration (using our stamps/images is encouraged, but not required) and link it here no later than Friday, June 11th at 11:59 PM PST and we'll announce a winner on Saturday, June 12th! Be sure to leave your link in Mr. Linky directly to the card - not just a general blog link!
Monday, May 17, 2010
Method Monday - Coordinated Buttons
Hi and welcome to another Method Monday!
I'm Lana and today I'm going to be showing you how to make your own perfectly coordinating buttons for all your crafting projects after seeing a tutorial some while ago by a lady called Sonja.
They are very simple and quick to make and here are the few supplies you will need.
Supplies:
Scrap pieces of card stock
Designer paper
Punch or any die cut
Clear Gloss Finish / Glossy Accents
Eyelet setter / paper piercer
Thread
Glue
Right first you will need to punch out or use a die cut of your chosen shape 4 times using scrap pieces of card. It doesn't matter what the card looks like because you will be covering it with designer paper.
You then need to cut out the same shape again but this time using designer paper to match your card.
Glue each shape and place one on top of the other making sure the designer paper one is on the top.
Once your button is dry add some thread to complete your handmade button.
You could try other options too like colouring your top shape with copics instead of using designer paper allowing you to get a perfectly coordinating button for all your crafting projects.
Here is my card with the 3 buttons I have made.
Hugs
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Rubber Stamp Poll Drawing
We were supposed to do this last week, but it got right by me. So now without further delay, we are announcing the winner for our exclusive store rubbah! You will receive 3 new rubbah stamps just for leaving a comment on our Rubber Stamp poll post.
The winner is???????
Random Integer Generator
Here are your random numbers:
11
Timestamp: 2010-05-12 09:20:27 UTC
Still haven't figured out how to add it directly to the page but you get the number anyway!
The winner is Penni! You have 48 hours to contact us via the contact tab above to claim your prize. Congratulations!!!!
Thanks to everyone that participated!
The winner is???????
Random Integer Generator
Here are your random numbers:
11
Timestamp: 2010-05-12 09:20:27 UTC
Still haven't figured out how to add it directly to the page but you get the number anyway!
The winner is Penni! You have 48 hours to contact us via the contact tab above to claim your prize. Congratulations!!!!
Thanks to everyone that participated!
OHDBCGA
We want to send Taylor Usry our DT Coordinator some happy Mommy Vibes!!! She had her little one. Welcome baby Owen. We can't wait to see you! Get some rest T. We love you and miss you already!
Before we get into the deets for this month's festivities, let's announce last month's winner. And her name is LENA. Congratulations! You have 48 hours to contact me to claim your prize. Please use the contact tab above to send your email. Woot woot!
And now onto this month's fun-ness!It's all about Father's this challenge. We have some great Dad images to show off today, so make sure you take a look at all of them. The design team did a great job. All of the images will be available by Friday, May 14th if they are not already in the store. There is even a cute truck to go with Mr. Milk Man!
This month's prize is 4 digital images from our April and May releases. You get to select any 4 images you like that will be available on the website for April and May. That even goes for the Chloe's that will be released on the 14th as well. Too cute!You have almost a full month of to complete a project with a father's day theme. That is a long time, you could probably do a few projects *wink*. Simply link to your project by no later than 11:59 pm PST on June 15th via Mr. Linky. The winner will be announced on OHBDCGA, June 16th!Come on and play with us. We can't wait to see your creativity!
Angélique
Geneviève
Kerry
Jodi
Raquel
Friday, May 7, 2010
It's Time to Get Sketchy Again! ISS Sketch #9
Thanks for joining us for our monthly Sketch Challenge. I'm glad you were able to stop by. This months challenge is great! And the prize is something to make you drool over.
Before we get to it, we need to announce our winner from last month. And the winner is.......GINI CAGLE. Congratulations! You have 48 hours to email me (click on contact in our banner) and claim your prize. :) I enjoyed your entry very much. In fact, everyone did a marvelous job, let's give them all a round of applause.
Now onto this months challenge. I'm very excited about our new releases this month. Chloe is the cutest little thing I've seen in a while. She is soo dang sweet. Check her out in action with this month's sketch!
The prize for this month is 4 rubber stamps from our exclusive store images! I will send you the catalog and let you choose 4 images! They are super duper cute. You won't be disappointed.
To be considered for this prize, you must use the sketch below and link to your creative project via Mr. Linky, no later than June 1st, by 11:59 pm PST. The winner will be announced on June 2nd.
You have almost one month to complete your project, so you have plenty of time to come up with something fun!
Taylor
Lana
Kerry
Genevieve
Janelle
Jodi
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
