Last Call For Copics *GONE*

They were all sold out! Thanks

Happy Birthday Jan!!!

Please join us in wishing a very Happy Birthday to Jan, one of our wonderfully creative design team members. We hope you have a terrific day!!

Help Us Welcome Some New Designers!

We are so excited to welcome several new designers to our team! Just wait until you see the amazing creativity these ladies are bringing to the table - you are going to looooove them! Some of these names you may recognize - a few new designers have actually come to this team from our Promotional Team.

Let me introduce you to our newest members!

Kimme Leach, from The Life of a Princess

Dawn Knight, from Dawn's Rubber Room

Patti Stigsell, from Design U

Simone Pursiful, from Fashionable Cards

How lucky are we here at InStyle Stamps? We are so fortunate to have so many amazingly talented people who love to work with our images. We are SO glad to have everyone on our team!

And don't forget, we still have our Design Team Call open. So if you'd like to add your name to our talented list of designers, be sure to check out the details!

We Have a Winner!

Please pardon my lateness - I'm so sorry! I went out of town on a family trip and just didn't get back in time to announce the winner of our Blog Hop voters! I let random.org draw me a number, and that number corresponded to a comment from...

A big congratulations to Pattie, from The Pampered Paper Patch! You have 48 hours to contact us to claim your prize :)

And our DT member who garnered the most votes was Robin - way to go girl! Shoot us an email to get your goodies too!

Let's Blog Hop!

Don't forget to check out the details of our Design Team Call!!

It's monthly blog hop time again with the InStyle Stamps ladies!! Every month our blog hops have a theme - this month we have two! We just couldn't decide between Outdoors and Patriotic. And they kind of go together, so we figured, why not? So some of the ladies have outdoorsy cards, and some of the ladies have Patriotic cards. Fun, huh?

Here is our list of marvelously talented blog hoppers today:

Robin
Janelle
Cyndi
Jan
Genevieve
Taylor
Angelique
Angela
Kimme
Tina
Jodi
Kerry
Raquel

Now that you've been to see everyone - how fabulous were those?!?!?! Be sure to vote for your favorite project below, and then leave us a comment. We'll draw a winner and on Sunday we'll make the big announcement! Comments will close Saturday night at 11:59 PM PST.

Wanna know what you can win?? 7 Spica Glitter Pens!! What a terrific prize! Thanks for hopping along with us this month.

Copics

If anyone is interested in purchasing brand new Copic Markers for almost $3.00 off retail price please email me.

I have a list of markers that will be avaiable shortly and I'M NOT SELLING THEM ON THE WEBSITE.

I will send you a list of the ones available. It is huge. All my design team is ordering so we have a lot left. I have already posted this on Facebook and my personal blog. First come first serve.

Getting to Know You....

It's time again to introduce you to two of our very talented Design Team Members. But before I do, I just wanted to remind you that we are currently holding a Design Team Call - wouldn't you love to be part of our team?? Show us what you've got!

Now, let's get to know Angela a little better.....

How long have you been stamping? 4yrs

Do you prefer to make cards or other projects? That’s a hard question, I love stamping, making cards and coloring, but my first love started with scrapbooking 10 yrs ago. And once I found images to color and copics I was hooked and haven’t looked back since.

If you were a Copic marker/Prismacolor marker which color would you be? I would for sure be a copic, but I have many favorite colors that I just love – E79(Cashew), BG49(Duck Blue),E13(Mint Green- more of and ocean aqua color), G94(Grayish Green) and G21(Lime Green). These are a handful of my favorite colors so they feel like me when I look at them.

Which of your InStyle Stamps projects was your favorite? Probably my Easter Blog Hop project, or my Fathers Day Milkman creation and My first creation that I created for my project for the DT call, the creations I made for my daughters room (I really love this one and so does she).


You are stranded in a craft store, which aisle do you sleep in? Oh it would be for sure the paper aisle. I have so much paper now and I just love looking at it. Up until the last year I would not use my favorite papers. I was always afraid I would run out or mess them up and I would had never used them on a card. But all that has changed now, I’m not afraid to cut it up.

What 5 words describe you? Creative, loving, big hearted, procrastinator(I’m a last minute girl, I work better that way. The more time I have the longer it takes me to get anything done and as my kids say a worry wart!! I worry and think about things way to much. That’s part of being a MOM!! Especially when I have a 16 yr old daughter.


What’s your crafting style? That’s a hard question as all my creations, I think look so different. I love the vintage style but I tend to color all my creations vivid with a lot of ink. So I guess my style is more in the way I color than anything.

Messy or clean scrap room? MESSY, I can make the biggest mess just making the smallest and easiest creation. I have to pull out way too much stuff and it never gets put up right away… I may need it for the next project.

What tool or embellishment can you not live without? My Copics and my paper cutter, as long as I have those 2 things I can make anything.

What is your favorite stamping technique? Coloring with copics!!! I would be lost without them.

And now it is Kerry's turn...

How long have you been stamping? I have been stamping for about 3 years

Do you prefer to make cards or other projects? I love card making, but I also love scrapbooking.

If you were a Copic marker/Prismacolor marker which color would you be? Hmmm... that's wicked tough! I love them all, but if I really have to pick just one... 100% PINK! Copic RV34 dark pink

Which of your InStyle Stamps projects was your favorite? How many can I pick, LOL? I have lots of favorites... but my #1 answer is the karate kids Trent and Justin (because I'm into karate!)

You are stranded in a craft store, which aisle do you sleep in? The aisle with all the designer paper ;) But I would probably try to find an excuse to be stranded there for a few more nights. Haha!

What 5 words describe you? cheery, goofy, geeky, creativity, strong

What’s your crafting style? simple, everything cute, anime, lots of blings and shimmer

Messy or clean scrap room? clean but with lots of goodies around me :)


What tool or embellishment can you not live without? Well, I would have to say my stardust pen... but without the paper trimmer, I can't cut a straight line. Paper trimmer is the winner!

What is your favorite stamping technique? Just go for it! Stamp and color away... LOL!

Thank you, ladies, for being such an invaluable part of our team! We are SO lucky to have both of you!

Method Monday: Joy Fold Card

Happy Monday Everyone! before you get to Cyndi's great tutorial today, I wanted to remind you to check out the details of our design team call! Would you like to join our team? See this post, which will tell you everything you need to know!

Now, it's Cyndi's turn!

Today I want to share with you one of my favorite types of specialty fold cards...what Splitcoast Stampers has dubbed the "Joy Card". First you want to gather all of your supplies: cardstock, stamped or digitally printed image, embellishments, a trimmer and a scoring tool.

Above are all of my pieces pre-cut. My bottom base card is 4.25" x 9.75". My top base card measures 3.75" x 7.5". To embellish the front of the bottom base my layer is 4 x 4. The layer atop my top base card is 3.5" x 3.5". (My main image I chose to run through my Cuttlebug with a Layers 4 Nestabilties, but it could be any size square smaller than about 3.75" x 3.75".)

Using a scoring tool you want to score the bottom base card along the long side at 5.5" and fold. The top base card will be scored at 3.75" and folded. I used a Scor-Pal for my sample but there are many other ways to score a card.

Lay the 2 card bases out so that the larger is on the left, and both openings are to the center. If you want a layer on the inside back of your card add that now. Layer the open top base over the open bottom base so that the bottoms are adhered together. The left edge of the top base should be about 1/2 inch or slightly more in from the edge of the bottom base. First fold the bottom card closed, then the top one is closed to overlap the bottom.

This is a picture of how the top card is opened up leaving the bottom card still closed. I used a button attached only to the bottom card so that I can tuck the top card under (see last photo of card) The top card opens to the left (backwards)

Then the bottom card will open to the left as usual. A sentiment or message can be added to the inside. I used the Trent and Justin (who is available in digi format also) images, which can be purchased from the InStyle Stamps store.

This is the final card. Pictured below are the Copics that I used and you can head to my blog for more details on other supplies if you wish.

Thanks so much for joining us today for Method Monday at InStyle Stamps! We would love for you to show us your version of a Joy Fold card if you create one! And don't forget to stop back in this Friday for our June Blog Hop!

Design Team Call

InStyle Stamps is looking for a new Design Team! If you love papercrafting, working with digital images and high quality rubber stamps, and enjoy sharing your creativity with others, then we are looking for you!

This is an open design team call for anyone in the United States (we currently have an international team as well - a new call will be held for that team later this year) to join our InStyle Stamps team! You must have an actively maintained blog and be willing to share your InStyle Stamps creations at least once a week. This DT term will run from August 1, 2010 through January 31, 2011 -- that is a six month commitment! This call will be open until July 16, 2010 at 11:59 PM PST. At that time, we will email a free InStyle image to all of the finalists, and you will have until July 21, 2010 at 11:59 PM PST to submit a project using that InStyle image to us.From those submissions we will choose the next design team. New members will be notified via email no later than July 23, 2010!

Before submitting your application to join our team, please read through the requirements listed below. If you are not prepared to meet all of these obligations for the full term, please do not apply.

InStyle Stamps Design Team Requirements:

• Design Team duties will last for a period of six months and will include at least one InStyle Stamps related project per week on your blog.
• You will be required to create six (6) projects per month with InStyle Stamps images.
  
• You will be required to participate in four (4) company-sponsored challenges each month (these include a sketch challenge, a color challenge, an inspiration challenge, and a blog hop).
• You will be required to submit a tutorial or project to the company blog at least once a month - this is a separate project from posts that go on your personal blog; each designer will be assigned a specific date for these.
  
• As a team member, you will be expected to maintain up to date online galleries (such as Splitcoast Stampers, Papercraft Planet, SNR's Card Universe) that reflect your current work for InStyle Stamps. This helps keep our images visible and increases our exposure.
  
• You must be able to take quality photographs of your work.
• You must be able to complete projects in a timely manner. Schedules are given out well in advance so everyone has ample time to prepare their projects.

InStyle Stamps Designer Benefits:

• Six (6) free digital images to work with each month (to complete required projects)
  
• An additional two (2) free images for your own personal use per month
• The opportunity to work with sneak peek and new release images
• Opportunity to work with images not sold online (images that are available only in retail stores)
• 50% discount on in-stock rubber stamps
• 5% discount on digital images
• Other product discounts and perks
  
• You will be granted access to our Yahoo group
• You will receive a badge to display on your blog noting that you are a designer for InStyle Stamps
• You will receive a custom made watermark for your InStyle Stamps projects
  
• All images you receive during your term with InStyle Stamps are yours to keep forever

What Are We Looking for in a Designer?

• You must be able to properly color eyes on an anime image. We have a tutorial here. Not all of our images are anime, but quite a lot of them are.
• All images must be well colored (i.e. not outside of the image lines)
• Designers must demonstrate a good use of colors (ability to match, contrast, and complement), papers, and embellishments. We want cards and projects that are well balanced and focus on our images.
  

To be considered for a position on our Design Team, please do the following:

• Send an email to us at instylestampsdt(at)yahoo(dot)com with the following information: your name, a link to your blog, and three (3) examples of your best work NOT published on your blog.

**Remember - this call is open to anyone in the United States. You have until July 16th at 11:59 PM PST to apply. We look forward to seeing your work!

Welcome to Wednesday!

It's a mid-month Wednesday, and you know what that means - a fun batch of projects from our talented Design Team and some blog candy! This month our theme is Graduation, since it is that time of year. Just wait until you see what we have to show you today!

But first - our winner from last month. We couldn't let that go by without an announcement, could we? Congratulations to Sheng, from Live, Laugh, Love...Tomorrow May Never Come! You made an adorable card :) Don't forget to contact us within 48 hours to claim your prize!
And now on to our Design Team's fabulous projects!

Taylor
Genevieve

Jan

Cyndi

Kerry


Angela

Janelle

Angélique

Jodi

Tina

Raquel

Virginia
And don't forget - play along with us and leave us a link below - you'll be entered to win a great prize next month when we draw a winner! You don't have to use an image from In Style Stamps, but if you've got one we would certainly love to see it! Entries are open until July 13, 2010 at 11:59 PM PST. Have fun and thanks for playing!

A Fresh and Yummy Color Challenge!

It's color challenge time again - and this month we've got a super tasty group of colors to share! It's just about time for the tomatoes to start coming in in gardens all over the place, and I for one can't wait. So I found this delicious photo of heirloom tomatoes to share with you, and give you some juicy color inspiration this month! I think that is my favorite thing about summer - the fresh fruits and vegetables from the garden. I could seriously eat tomato sandwiches (with a side of fresh cucumbers) all summer long. In fact, I probably will!

I know you are dying to see last month's winning customer project - here it is! Lena, from Scrapbutterfly, made this beautiful card using Love Couple, one of our images from the "A Day in the Life" collection. Isn't it great?? Congrats, Lena, and don't forget to contact us within 48 hours to claim your prize!

Now, here is our color inspiration for this month:

Take a look at what our amazing design team has done with these colors:

Jan

Genevieve

Kerry

Jodi

Angela

Janelle

Raquel

Robin

Angélique

Taylor

Cyndi

Please feel free to play along with us - we'd love to see what you create using these freshh summer colors! Add your link to this post before Friday, July 9th at 11:59 PM PST and you'll be entered to win a super fun prize from us! A $20.00 gift certificate for our store! Please be sure to link directly to your post or upload - not just to your general blog or gallery. Thanks so much, and we can't wait to see your projects!

We're trying a new link system with this challenge, so if you notice something not working, please leave us a comment so we can get it fixed!

25% off

We are having a 25% off sale until the 20th of this month. We listed a ton of new rubbah! Go and take a peek. PLEASE USE CODE ISS2010J2025 in the shopping cart. You may forward to your friend. ENDS JUNE 20th, 2010

Method Monday - Mix it Up!

Janelle here, and I'll be your Method Monday host today. We are going to mix it up with coloring. A lot of good coloring can happen when you mix up your coloring tools, so I'm going to show you how I mix illustrator markers and colored pencils to make some drastic changes in colors.

No need for a supplies list, just grab an InStyle Stamp image and begin this technique with any color choice.

(This image is colored with gray markers so that you can see the background we'll be creating.)

It's easy-peasy. Let's get started.

Step ONE: Create a wet canvas using a colorless blender pen on the background area. Now with a colored marker make quick marks from the outer edge of the wet canvas towards the center.  (Tip: if you tend to work slow, as I do, you can always rewet the canvas with the blender pen.)

Step TWO: Switch to your colored pencils and lightly color in the area that you previously used the blender pen. In this sample I'm using two shades of yellow. Now you can go over the pencils marks with the blender pen to smooth out the color and blend pencil into the marker color.

Keep working the colored pencil until you have it just the way you want it.

Thanks for stopping by InStyle Stamps today and hope you'll give the Mix it Up method a try.

June's Sketch Challenge

It's already time for another monthly sketch challenge today! Before I share this month's sketch and the fabulous samples from our Design Team, let me tell you who our winner from last month was!

It's Divya Rao, The Craft Angel! Be sure to contact us within 48 hours to claim your prize - 4 rubber stamps from our amazing catalog!

A big thanks to everyone who played along with us!

And now for this month's sketch:

And the DT creations, which are stunning:

Kerry

Raquel

Jodi

Janelle

Angela

Genevieve

Lana

Taylor

Robin

Jan

Angélique

Cyndi

Please play along with us, and link your creation (not to your general blog, but to the specific post or gallery upload) below using Mr. Linky. You have until July 1st to enter, and we'll announce the winner of a surprise fabulous prize on July 2nd!