Week #10 of our 12 Weeks of Inspired Christmas Creations: Puzzled Tags + 50% off !!

Hello friends,
We are getting so close to Christmas!!  We are already on our 10th week of our 12 Weeks of Inspired Christmas Creations and you are going to LOVE what I'm gonna show you today, especially if you are short on time (and money!)!!  We have a coupon code in the online store until Dec 18 only 50% off one stamp set from the online store www.inspiredstamps.com

Ok, for this project you will need to raid your children's toy stash (or run to the dollar store quick) and get a few puzzle pieces!  I used the following products....inking a puzzle piece as shown:

The bottom puzzle piece is the same coloring that the one I inked was before I inked it.  I'm always amazed at the transformation!!
Next I stamp my puzzle pieces using Inspired Stamps and Staz-On permanent ink (most puzzle pieces have a glossy surface that won't take dye based inks well).  Just make sure you have the Staz-On cleaner and us it IMMEDIATELY with your stamps or it can ruin them.  I use it all the time and have yet to ruin one, so just be sure to clean them and you'll be fine!!
After you stamp, use a big Sharpie marker to color the edges (it's not required, but makes a DRAMATIC difference in the finished look of the tag):

Yes, this is the same color of the original puzzle piece, I used caramel and gold inks to get this beautiful coloring!  Isn't it amazing!
Next I punched holes in the ends and added ribbon. The back side is white so you can can your To: From: message there with your Sharpie black marker:

I have also used these to make pins for shirts and jackets and also as card fronts!  I hope you have fun getting some use out of old puzzle pieces!

Of course we are having another GIVEAWAY!!  Next week we will have our BIG GIVEAWAY with all the prizes that went unclaimed and some other goodies!!

This week's winner will have a $10 credit in our online store!!  All you have to do to be entered is leave us a comment to this post and/or on our Facebook page about the Puzzle tags!  Let us know if you are gonna make some!!

Have a blessed weekend and I will announce the winner in Monday's post!
Until then,
Be the blessing!
~Antoinette
www.inspiredstamps.com 

Christmas Cards: Design Team Thursday

Hello friends!
Hope this finds you all well!  We are due some snow here tomorrow (I'm so excited!  I love the snow!).  Sorry this is later than usual, I've got bronchitis that has tuckered me out!  But Kary's coloring of His Little Ones:  Winter Girl just brightened my spirits...wanna see the rest?  They are sure to put a smile on your face and in your heart!  The DT did a really great job this week (as always!
The rest of Kary's card:

Deneen's card

Amber's Card:

Belinda:

Chere used one of the newest stamps below for the trees (and birdhouse)(ASK SEEK KNOCK):

Jenn

And I save this DELICIOUS treat from Jamie for you for last:

Weren't these WONDERFUL?
I am so blessed by each of these talented, creative ladies and I know you are too!

Don't forget, there are email gift cards (e-gift cards) available for you to purchase at the online store to send to your stamping friends!! 

We are all the way up to our 10th week of Inspired Christmas Creations Friday evening!!!  Can you believe we are SO CLOSE to Christmas?  I'm super excited!!
Until then,
Be the blessing,
~Antoinette
www.inspiredstamps.com  (Still shipping the same day as most orders are placed!!)

Thank you cards

Hello friends!
I have made a TON of 4x6 white card stock sheets of the mixed media technique I showed you how to do last Friday!  Today I am making thank you cards with them!
Here are my materials:

Plus the FALL GRATITUDE stamp set from the online Inspired stamps store:

I cut a sheet of the 4x6 in half:

I wish the photos would do this justice...grrrr!...Then I matted and mounted these onto card stock and attached them to the black card bases with some gold ribbon.  I also stamped the sentiment and using Distress Inks I sponged tattered rose and vintage photo around the edge:

The mat color I used behind the mixed media sheets really changed the look of the card!  Next I used pigment ink to stamp the sentiment inside.  I love how crisp the images look!

I hope you enjoyed this and I hope you are inspired to add some art to your cards this week!!
Tomorrow you will be so blessed by the Design Team's Christmas Cards....they are AMAZING (as always!)


Be SURE to go to the online store and register with us....I'm sending out 1" stamps to over 40 of those registered by Dec 15th!

Until tomorrow,
Be the blessing!
~Antoinette
www.inspiredstamps.com   We are busy!  But still shipping out the same day as most orders are placed to get your stamps to you as fast as possible!!  Thanks to all of you for your support!!  We are blessed to be able to offer you Christian stamps!!

Art Journals: Mixed Media Monday

Hello friends!
Today I'd like to share with you some more of the mixed media art I gave you the tutorial on last Friday!  I have decorated several art journals with this method of glue/tape/embellishments/and ink.  Above is a closeup of this one, but the cover is not finished yet.  This watercolor journal will be a place I put Scripture from the book of Matthew along with my journaling about it:

This next one I'm using in a class I'm teaching locally tonight and will contain different techniques I can try out here before 'risking' it in one of my other art journals:

Below is one of the pages I've just begun (not finished either lol) which combines stampingm chalks, and  watercolor techniques (Stamps are Inspired Stamps:  FIR TREES and BIND AND STITCH)

I'll do a before and after once I get it finished so you can see what I'm doing.

Thanks to everyone for the kind comments both here on Facebook!!  I have randomly chosen a winner of the frame and 2 new Winter His Little Ones stamps!  The winner is...

A Scrap Above said... WOW! This is simply amazing! I am so glad I found your blog through the RAK group on FB..
I am going to try and make this, its very pretty!
TFS
Bonnie

Congratulations, Bonnie!!  I'm so glad you found us too!!  Be sure to email me your mailing address  to us at inspiredstamps@gmail.com BY THIS FRIDAY NOON and I'll get this right out to you.  As always, if I don't hear from Bonnie by Friday noon ET, I'll be putting this prize in with our BIG GIVEAWAY that is only 2 weeks away!!  Whew!!  Christmas is almost HERE!!

I will be back soon with some more Inspired Artwork...
Until then,
Be the Blessing!
~Antoinette 
www.inspiredstamps.com  We are still getting most orders out the SAME DAY as they are placed!!  Don't forget we have E-gift cards that you can purchase for your friends and it will show up directly into their email addresses!!  Save on postage and make someone's day!!

Week #9 of our 12 Weeks of Inspired Christmas Creations Tutorial + giveaway!

Hello friends!
What a day!  We just released the new December stamps into the Inspired Stamps Online store and they are flying off the 'shelf'!!  All orders placed by 5pm are on their way to you!

Today I have one of the MOST fun gifts you will ever make!  It is a mixed media photo frame and starts off like this:

I got a bunch of these at Hobby Lobby and I love the solid particle board frame!  I painted it white with the acrylic paint show.  I also used copic markers, distress inks and distress ink pads, plus assorted embellishments and these items:

Did I mention this is SUPER fun to make?!?
Ok first thing is to tear masking tape and put it around your frame.  You can use clear tape too.  I put the blue painters tape on the glass where the photo will go to protect it from all the stuff:

Then I glue down the pieces of fibers, cheesecloth, sequins, and other goodies to get this:

Ok at this point it looks like something a kindergarten child would toss in the trash and move on to something else, but hang in there!  It's like the ugly duckling that hasn't grown into a swan yet.  Put another thick layer of the glue and seal over it (you can use mod podge, but I prefer the glue and seal product by Tim Holz).

NOW let it dry (you need a few hours but overnight is best).

Next comes the ink:

make sure you are pouncing the ink and turning your ink applicator in different directions.  Once its done it will look somewhat like this:

Honestly, this is the big WOW THATS COOL moment when you are creating, but seeing it in a photo may not be as powerful LOL.
This dries so fast and you are ready to take off the tape, add some embellishments and you are almost done:

and here's the final frame with some close ups:

Can you see how amazing the texture of the cheese cloth looks?  I just LOVE this!  Here's another color combo for you so you can see how dramatically different your ink choices make the finished product:

Do you notice there is more white in this one?  I used craft glue and it resisted the ink more than the glue and seal did.  But still a neat look.

Ok, so tell me what you think about this project?  Anyone gonna give it a try?  Leave your comment here and I will choose someone who will win one of the new particle board frames just like the one I used for these projects PLUS the 2 new His Little Ones: Winter Boy and Winter Girl stamp sets.  You have until midnight Sunday!!  Let your friends know...if they come comment and mention your name, then I choose them as a winner...you'll win the same prize they do, too, as a THANK YOU for sharing about us!!

Have a blessed weekend and I'll see you Monday!!
Be the Blessing,
~Antoinette
www.inspiredstamps.com  (We ship every day but Sunday!  We ship most orders the same day they are placed!)

New Releases live www.inspiredstamps.com!! Check them out here!

Hello, friends!
Today the 3 new stamp sets are in the online store!!  Here's each one:

                                                        ASK, SEEK, Knock!  $13.99

                                                    His Little Ones:  Winter Boy $4.99

                                                       HIS LITTLE ONES:  WINTER GIRL  $4.99

and the winner from yesterday's comments for HLO: Winter Girl is...
Renee Stuck!!
Email us to claim your prize!!

I have a great #8 of our 12 Weeks of Inspired Christmas Creations for you tonight, so be sure to stop back by to check it out!!

Blessings,
Antoinette
www.inspiredstamps.com (shipping same day most orders are placed!)

Sneak Peek #3: 40+ stamps to give away!!

Hello friends!
It's that time of year again!  Secret Stamp Giveaway time!  All you have to do is register on our store and you are entered (There is a REGISTER button at the top of the first page at www.inspiredstamps.com).  This makes it faster for you when you come to Inspired Stamps to order, so if you haven't registered yet...go do that today!  Last year we sent out all of THESE cards with the 1" snowmen:

This year is a different brand new 1" set of images (not telling what kind...part of the SECRET) that we are cutting up and sending out!  You are going to LOVE them! 

Ok, before we get to the Sneak Peek for today, we have a winner of His Little Ones:  Winter Boy that was debuted yesterday.  She was chosen at random from all the comments left in yesterdays post (remember, comment today and you can win today's sneak peek stamp...
and if you've followed the blog for any amount of time you may recognize her....
she's the uber talented...

Lynn Miller!!

lynn said...

awesome cards, ladies:) sweet winter boy, antoinette!

December 1, 2011 8:24 AM

 

CONGRATULATIONS, Lynn...just email me your mailing address by Friday noon and I'll ship him right out to you!

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Sneak Peek #3 is the last of our new releases this month!  And she certainly will not be last on my list of stamps to use this week:  His Little Ones: Winter Girl is just a sweetheart!  She'll be in the Inspired Stamps store FRIDAY at noon ET and is sure to be a favorite!!

Chere and Jamie have created BEAUTIFUL artwork showcasing her with her fuzzy earmuffs and hand warmer:

How sweet is she in Jamie's card?:

and Chere's work is ever so beautiful:

You are sure to see many new creations over the next few weeks with her showcased!!

So don't forget, we have a GIVEAWAY with her for SOMEONE who leaves us a COMMENT here before I put up tomorrow's post (Week #9 of our 12 Weeks of Inspired Christmas Creations!)

Until then,

Be the Blessing!

~Antoinette

www.inspiredstamps.com   (Register on our site to be entered into the drawing; we ship most orders the same day as they are placed!!)