Last Call for January Sketches!

Have you played along with our January sketch challenge yet? There's still time! Submissions are open until Tuesday, Feb 1st at 11:59 PM PST. This is a great sketch, because you can dress it up or keep it clean and simple. Take a look:

We would love to have you play along with us this month! The keyword for this challenge is ISSSC01. You have until Tuesday, February 1, 2011 at 11:59 PM PST to enter. Leave your link below (directly to your entry, please) and remember to comment after you play! You could win TWO digi images from our store if you play along and use an InStyle Stamps image. If you don't use one of our images, you could win ONE digi image from us.

Here are the rules:

• Make a new card or project using our sketch (you are welcome to combine with other challenges)
• Post it on your blog or in an online gallery, using the keyword ISSSC01. Then link below, directly to your post
• Mention our challenge, or use the picture of our sketch, on your post (with a link back here)

Have fun!! We can't wait to see what you come up with. Be sure to let us know if you have any problems adding your entry :) Happy Crafting!

Ballet is InStyle!

Today we are showing you more projects with the second set we are releasing at CHA this weekend! We first showed you Gracie and Twirla here. It's an adorable rubber stamp set that's all about ballet, and girly-girl things. Take a look at a few projects from our talented designers:

Jennifer Greco

Cathy Wallington

Taylor Usry

Kimme Leach

Taylor Usry

Kristine Reynolds

Kristine Reynolds

Gracie and Twirla will be available for purchase in the store on Saturday, February 5th. It will retail for $21.95.

If you happen to be at CHA right now, stop by and see us at Booth #5023!

We Love Fairy Tales

We are releasing two brand new rubber stamp sets for CHA! The first is Fairy Tales, and we gave you a sneak peek of it here. Today we are back with a few more projects using this set!

Sandie Dunne

Jacquie Chapman

Taylor Usry

Cathy Wallington

Cathy Wallington

Taylor Usry

  And here is another look at the whole set:

Fairy Tales will retail for $21.95, and will be available for purchase in the store on Saturday, February 5th.  And if you happen to be at CHA right now, we're in booth #5023, so stop by to see us!

Be My Valentine Blog Hop

Today, while many of our design team members are getting on planes to meet up at CHA, their blogs are hopping for Valentine's Day! Everyone created some wonderful projects to share with you, all involving that extra sweet holiday coming up. Go take a look at what the team came up with, and come back here to leave some love (don't forget to leave some along the way).

Kristine 

Cathy 
Sandie
Taylor 
Jessica 
Axa 
Angelique 
Kimme 
Jacquie 
Karin 
Kerry 
Jennifer

So much awesomeness from our talented designers! Did you have a favorite? You don't have to tell who made it, but please do share your favorite new stamp set (or specific image) from this month! Leave a comment below (and make sure to tell us your favorite new stamp set or image from a set) and we'll draw a random winner to receive a $25 goodie bag!

You have until Sunday January 30th at 12:00 PM PST to leave your comments. Happy hopping!

Mom Love

We introduced a new digi image in February, but we didn't give enough fanfare, so today we are highlighting her again! This is Mom Love, and she is a darling anime image, isn't she? She's available in the store right now! Take a peek at what a few of our Chickies have done with her:

Suzi McKenzie

Wendy Price

Ashley Newell

Allison Fillo

We'll be at CHA this weekend, in Booth #5023 - will you be there? Stop by to see us if you are!

Monthly Challenge Round-Up

We've thrown out three great challenges this month and today we are going to recap them all for you! So you know our schedule, the first three Wednesdays of each month always have a new challenge, and although you are always welcome to play along, you are only eligible to win a prize from us if you link up your project by the Tuesday night before the next challenge. We also introduced a new format this month, to make playing along much easier!

Let's start with out Sketch Challenge. The keyword for this challenge is ISSSC01, and the original post can be found here. Check out these samples from our designers:

Jen Greco (rubber stamps used: Gracie and Twirla, to be released at CHA)

Cathy Wallington (digi image used: Dandelion Chloe)

 Next up: the Color Challenge. The keyword for this challenge is ISSCC01.You can find the original post about it here. This one really stretched our designers! Here's a quick peek at some of their projects:

Jen Greco (rubber stamps used: Gracie and Twirla, to be released at CHA)

Kimme Leach (rubber stamps used: Gracie and Twirla, to be released at CHA)

Lastly, we had our Inspiration challenge. The keyword for this challenge is ISSIC01, and it's original post is here. Look at these adorable projects:

Axa Lima (rubber stamps used: Patty Love)

Karin Martin (rubber stamps used: Tia and Cuddles)

Dont forget - we'll be at CHA this weekend! If you are going, make plans to stop by Booth #5023 to say hi!

Showing Off

We are showing off some more amazing work today, from our Chickies and Chicklets. In case you weren't aware, we have three talented teams of designers. The Chicks work with our high quality rubber stamps, and the Chickies and Chicklets work with our huge selection of digi images. 

Take a look at what a few of our fabulous designers have showcased recently:

Anki Bargman, Chickie (image use, Asia)

Patricia Hays, Chickie (image used: Heart 3)

Patty Chalas, Chicklet (image used: Natalie)

We are headed to CHA this week! If you are going to be there, be sure to stop by and see us. We'll be in Booth 5023!

Method Monday: Simple Wine Tags

Hi Everyone,

It's Karin, hosting my first Method Monday here at the InStyle Stamps blog.  I have some crazy simple wine tags that are great for your next party, or packaged up to give as a little gift along with a bottle of wine.  I have made these before and sold them at a craft fair, but they we larger and cut out with Nesties. Very time consuming.  Since they are a one time use item, why not make them simpler and quicker?  This idea was born from that thought.

Here are the supplies you will need:

Favorite InStyle Stamp (I used the yarn image from the new set Tia & Cuddles)

Any Scrap Paper (Mine is so old, I have no idea of the manufacturer ;) )

1" Punch (EK Success)

2" Scallop Punch (Marvy)

1/2" Punch (McGill)

Copic Markers (Photo detail below)

Scissors

Tape runner (Tombow)

Start with any kind of paper you have on hand. Like I said, mine is scraps from my (big) pile ;)

Use your 1" punch and punch out some holes, leaving some space in between the punches.

Next, take your 2" scallop punch and center the 1" circle in the middle and punch it out.

Here are the rings you end up with.

Take your favorite image (I used the yarn from Tia and Cuddles; great for my knitting friend!)

and color them in using Copics to match your chosen paper. Then use your 1/2" punch to cut them out.

These are the specific colors I used.

Take the rings, and snip with scissors in between the scallops

Add a bit of tape runner along one side of the snip and attach the image to cover the slit.

Now you are ready to have your guests add their names and the party can begin!

I told you they were easy! 

If you give this little project a try we would love to see your results :)



She's on Stage

We have a fabulous project to share with you today, from one of our illustrators. That's right, the talented lady who drew this set for us was inspired to make this stunning creation. Ready to see?

stamps used: Gracie and Twirla

Esme used Gracie and Twirla, a set being released at CHA next week, and created this whole scene from scratch. She created the stage from scratch, hand drew the floral background, and colored it all with colored pencils. Isn't it amazing? The curtains are absolutely darling, aren't they? What little girl wouldn't want a scene like this? It has really inspired me to create something fun for my daughter, and opened up so many new possibilities with this set!

Check Out What's Coming!

We have a fun surprise today! We wanted to share some amazing projects featuring some soon released rubber stamps and digital images. Enjoy the eye candy, and start making your wishlists :)

Virginia Villasenor (rubber stamps used: Rain or Shine, coming in February)

Amber Hillman (digi image used: Girls Night Out, available next week)

Sherry Campbell (digi image used: Bralyn, available next week)

Sally Kendall (digi image used: Whimsy Bug, available next week)

Let's Get Inspired

Ready for a very tasty bit of inspiration? We've got it for you today! This is a beautiful table full of delightful treats. The picture lends itself well to all sorts of inspiration...shapes, colors, trees, white space. Let's take a look!

What do you think? As with our other challenges so far this year, you'll see our new format with this one too. The keyword for this challenge is ISSIC01. If you upload to an online gallery, please use that keyword so we can find your awesome project to leave some love! Wait until you see what our designers made to share with you today.

Pam Hornschu (stamps used: Tia and Cuddles)

Kristine Reynolds (stamps used: Gracie and Twirla, to be released after CHA)

We'd love to have you play along with us this month! You have until Tuesday, February 15th at 11:59 PM PST to enter. Leave your link below (directly to your entry, please) and remember to comment after you play! You could win TWO digi images from our store if you play along and use an InStyle Stamps image. If you don't use one of our images, you could win ONE digi image from us.

Here are the rules:

• Make a new card using our InSpiration photo (you are welcome to combine with other challenges, but these challenge MUST be the focus of your card)
• Link below, directly to your post
• Mention our challenge on your post (with a link back here), or use our photo (again, with a link back here)

We had fewer than five entries for our December challenge, so we will combine those entries with the entries for this challenge and draw one winner next month! Thanks to everyone who did play along - December was a busy month!

Q & A Tuesday With Karin Martin

Today you are getting the chance to know Karin Martin a little bit better - it's very exciting! This is Karin's first term with us, and we could not be more thrilled with the amazing samples she is putting out.

You'll also get to see some of Karin's favorite projects so far - you'll love them too!

How long have you been stamping, and do you prefer to make cards or other projects? I've been stamping for approximately four years. Cards would be my project of choice. You always need a card, and the more you send or give away, the more you can make!


What's your crafting style? Do you have a messy or clean craft space? I'm not sure if I have just one style - it depends on the stamps I'm using. I love to try everything. My style is messy and clean - it's not spotless, but it's not a disaster either.

stamps used: Tia and Cuddles

What five words best describe you? Funny, dependable, tall (I'm 5'10"), organized and loyal

What tool or embellishment can you not live without? My Cuttlebug!

stamps used: Tia and Cuddles

What is your favorite stamping technique? I'm still amazed by heat embossing. I oooh and aaaah every time I turn on the heat gun.


Which of your favorite InStyle Stamps projects is your favorite? My card for the upcoming blog hop on January 28th. You'll have to hop along with us to see it!

Method Monday: An Easel Card With a Twist

Hello, everyone! It's Kerry here. I'm your host for this week's Method Monday. I love making easel cards. But I always worry whether or not the card will stand (whether my ribbon is strong enough or not, etc. ). I came across this idea from surfing the amazing blog land a few weeks ago, so I figured out the measurement to work with a 5 1/2" x 4 1/4" card. It's super easy, let's get started!

You will need:

• your base cardstock, measure 9 3/4' and 4 1/4"
• main card, solid cardstock (green) 5 1/2" x 4 1/4"and pattern paper 5 1/4" x 4"
• Border punch
• Scoring tool
• Heart punch or nestabilities (optional)

On the base cardstock (9 3/4" x 4 1/4").

On the longer side (9 3/4"), score at 2 3/4", 5 1/2", 8 1/2".

Please note: 2 3/4" if you are using a Scor Pal, you can shift the cardstock to 1/4" and score at 3". :)

Then add adhesive on the first 2 3/4" block and on the 1 1/2" block, you can use any border punch to create your border.

Attach your card on the adhesive area. :) And Viola!!

Now, to finish up the project with the brand new Tia and Cuddles set. And here is the sideview.

Goodies that I used:

Stamps: Tia and Cuddles

Paper: Bazzill, Basic Grey Wander paper pad

Copics: BG0000, BG000, BG11, E000, E00, E02, E04, E07, E 15, E17, E27, E41, E42, E55, G09, G17, R20, W0, W2, W4, Y28, 110

Others: sentiment is typed out from the computer, Martha Stewart border punch, Creative Memories mini heart punch, and Spica pen

I hope you enjoy this tutorial and give it a try! If you do, be sure to leave us a link of your project so that we can see it!