Thursday, November 7, 2013

15 BRAND NEW STAMPS in the online store + 20% off Coupon on your entire purchase!

Hello friends!
We are celebrating 3 years as a company and what a blessing it has been!!  We want to start off by THANKING YOU...for without YOU supporting us and sharing our company with your friends, our stamp company would not exist!  To thank you, we have a coupon code for you to use when shopping with us the next couple of weeks:
And we have 15 BRAND NEW STAMPS to help you use that coupon!  Let me introduce you to the newest clear stamp members of the Inspired Stamps family:

First up, is His Little Ones: Shepherd Boy ($4.99):
 And we have 2 new $3.99 Single Stamps in the form of sheep:  This one below is Laying Sheep
 And the one below her is Standing Sheep:
Deneen created what can only be described as a masterpiece with these stamps and the new Single Scripture Stamp,Luke 2:11


Patty also did such a beautiful job with LUKE 2:11 and also another one of our new $3.99 Single Stamp additions, Merry Christmas tree below one of the Single Stamps that didn't get artwork this time around, Oh Holy Night tree (also in the online store as of today for $3.99):
 




Belinda did a gorgeous job with the 3rd of our new Single Stamps that are sentiments:  Happy New Year, which goes so well with our current TIME stamp set (she used TIME with it):





Next up is one of my personal favorite His Little Ones of all times:  His Little Ones: Angel and Kary did such a fabulous job with both this stamp and the next new stamp in our line up, a Single Scripture Stamp ($3.99): Luke 2:13-14:


The next stamp set is our largest stamp set size.  At 6x8 this stamp set sells for $23.99 (you will save quite a bit with your 20% off coupon on this one).  This set is ME AND MY HOUSE and is PERFECT for Art Journals, Home Decor projects, Scrapbooking, and Cards alike...I am IN LOVE with Chere's card:





This next stamp is a tribute to my sweet nephew, Zach, who plays the drums now for his high school band. But I remember when he was about 18 months old and I gave him all my pots and pans and spoons to use to bang around on. He loved it so much and it's such a sweet memory for me!  We had a Facebook Friend recommend this as a stamp set in our last contest:  His Little Ones: Drummer Boy (and he has his warm hat on for this colder air!).  Following this is a 4x6 set called WINTER SKETCHES that is perfect for card making and scrapbooking this time of year:








Here is Gaby's STUNNING card (love the colors and the coloring of the stamps!!) using the above stamps as well as our 6x8 BACKGROUND STAMPS for the musical distressing on the brown paper---so smart!:
I know you all have been waiting for the revised characters in our NEW NATIVITY set and Jamie made a FANTASTIC wall display with it:







And last, but certainly not least, are two new stamps that will be appearing in the 2 12 Weeks of Christmas Tutorials this weekend!  First up is a 3x4 inch set, but His Little Ones: Sincerely Girl is a perfect little 1.5" x 1.25" cutie pie!  I created her to use on the backs of your cards or as a signing stamp inside your cards but I have had more fun placing her in all kinds of jewelry and other art (don't want to give too much away for this weekend!).  She's in the store and as with all our 3x4 size stamps she is just $4.99:
 And this little cutie will be a great one to hold anything you want to put into her sweet little hands!  She is called Scripture-Holding Girl with pigtails (more of these Scripture-Holders are in the works!).  She was made to 'hold' our Scripture stamped images as an adorable added feature to cards and other paper projects!  I'll be showing her off more this weekend, but wanted you to know at $3.99, fitting on our 2x2 size acetate carrier sheet, she is ready and waiting in the online store now for you to take her home!
I want to say a BIG BIG BIG thank you to the Design Team for the absolutely incredible work they put into showcasing our newest stamps!  I honestly thought each and every design was just brilliant and enjoyed getting to see them all!!

Friday we have CHERE'S tutorial in honor of our Birthday Month so be sure to come back for that! 

Before you head over to the online store, please leave us a comment here and let us know what you think of the new stamps and the artwork the DT did!  We so appreciate your feedback!

Blessings,
Antoinette and the most talented Design Team Artists I could ask for!
                                                      Shop at the online store and use your coupon code:



Wednesday, November 6, 2013

EMBOSSING TUTORIAL: Deneen's INSPIRED STAMPS BIRTHDAY celebration with tutorials!

Inspired Stamps: Embossing Techniques using the Cuttlebug...with photos!

Hello and welcome here!  This month is a busy month over at Inspired Stamps, the DT are sharing some Tutorials and there is a New Release to enjoy.  I'm sharing a Tutorial today, there is a New Release tomorrow, and Chere is sharing a Tutorial on Thursday!  So grab a cup of coffee and enjoy today's Tutorial.

I decided to share some photos of:
How to emboss a design using a Spellbinders die, 
How to partially emboss frames using an embossing folder,
How to emboss a Spellbinders shape using an embossing folder.
These are not by any means new techniques but I've had a few emails lately asking how I emboss, so I thought I would do a short Tutorial for all of you to enjoy.  I like sharing photo tutorials instead of doing a video tutorial because you can save an image or 2 along the way to help you remember certain steps, so feel free to 'Save' along the way.  There may be other ways out there on the same embossing techniques, the following methods are what work for me. These Techniques will work in other machines, I just happen to have a Cuttlebug...I unfortunately don't know the 'sandwiches' or Plates you would need for other matchines. Great, so let's get started!!
How To Emboss A Design Using Spellbinders Dies
Card Size:  4.25" x 5.5"
This is an example of using your Spellbinders die to emboss your card rather than using it to cut out the shape.  I have made a couple of different card versions of the embossed snowflake over the years, they make for quick, yet beautiful Christmas cards.  I have used Inspired Stamps Blessed Little Christmas sentiment to finish off the front.

First you are going to want to line up your die where you want to emboss your snowflake.  I embossed it in the lower left-hand corner.  (I used a small piece of Post-It Note to hold my 2 dies together.
Carefully turn over your paper and die to emboss in the Cuttlebug.
To emboss the snowflake you use the same 'sandwich' you would use when embossing after you die-cut your shape.  NOTE:  You don't want to over-shim your Cuttlebug, if it is too tight you will end up cutting through your cardstock instead of embossing.  (A shim is 1 or 2 pieces of cardstock to keep your Cuttlebug cutting or embossing correctly.  If you find that delicate dies are not cutting properly or all the way through, try adding a shim between the A Plate and C/B Plate.)
Here's a photo of the 'sandwich' to use:
(This is NOT how you will emboss your cardstock but just a photo illustration of the 'sandwich')
Stacking from the bottom up: (see photo)
A Plate
Shim (if needed)
B Plate
Spellbinders die
Cardstock you want embossed
Embossing Mat
B Plate
This is what you should have once you've embossed:
Inside:
Recipe:  Inspired Stamps SS-Blessed Little Christmas, Bazzill CS-blue, CTMH White Daisy CS, CTMH Ink-Moonstruck, Black & Buttercup, Spellbinders-Snowflake Pendant, Rhinestones.
Of course this technique will work with other dies that use the same 'sandwich' as Spellbinders...Memory Box, Cheery Lynn, Marianne Designs etc.
How To Partial Emboss - 
Making Frames Using An Embossing Folder
Card Sizes:  4.25" x 5.5"
There are embossing folders out there that have an embossed frame but we all have our favourite folders that we wished we could use.  Partial embossing is one way that you can use all your folders as frames.  I used Inspired Stamps Isaiah 41:10 for the front of my card.
Before I show you how partial embossing is done I need to show you a couple of different ways to achieve this.
Tim Holtz sells Embossing Diffusers, they come 3 in a pack.

You can also make your own using chipboard...I used chipboard that came with my Elmer's Glue sticks. If you make your own you will need a few shims because the homemade ones will probably be thinner than a B Plate.
The first thing you do is put the piece of cardstock you want to emboss in the embossing folder...don't forget to center it.  Then you are going to center the Diffuser on top of the folder.
Centered:
NOT centered:
Now you are going to put it through the Cuttlebug.  
Here's the 'sandwich':
(This is NOT how you will emboss your cardstock but just a photo illustration of the 'sandwich')
Stacking from the bottom up:
A Plate
Shim (if needed)
B Plate
Embossing Folder with cardstock inside
Embossing Diffuser
The Embossing Diffuser takes the place of the 2nd B Plate.
This is what you will have once you've embossed your cardstock.
I added a border using a fine black felt tip pen and pierced holes around it.
Inside:
Recipe:  Inspired Stamps SS-Isaiah 41:10, CTMH White Daisy CS, CTMH Black Ink, Bazzill CS-pink & light green, Craft Concepts Budding Vine EF, Tim Holtz Embossing Diffusers, Marianne Designs Flourish-LR0116, Martha Stewart Scroll Lace Border Punch, White Grosgrain Ribbon, Black Felt Pen, (Inside: Inspired Stamps SS-Spring Sketches, CTMH Inks-Black & Baby Pink).
Is there a way to add a border using a Spellbinders die?  Yes, again this is how I did it, there may be different methods out there.
Before you use the Diffuser, you are going to emboss your frame using the same method that we used in the very first example - How to emboss a design using a Spellbinders die.  Center your die, carefully turn your cardstock and die over and emboss. 

After you've embossed the oval remove the die and place your cardstock into your folder making sure it's centered.  Place the Diffuser on top making sure that the embossed oval is centered in Diffuser oval. Emboss in your Cuttlebug.
After you've removed your double embossed cardstock from the folder the intial oval embossing will be flattened slightly.  Place the oval die back onto the lines and use your fingers to re-imboss the oval.
Here's what your cardstock piece will look like after all the steps are completed:
Recipe:  Inspired Stamps SS-Isaiah 41:10, CTMH White Daisy CS, CTMH Black Ink, Bazzill CS-pink & light green, Craft Concepts Budding Vine EF, Tim Holtz Embossing Diffusers, Marianne Designs Flourish-LR0116, Martha Stewart Scroll Lace Border Punch, White Grosgrain Ribbon, Spellbinders Petite Ovals Lg.
NOTE:  Basic shapes work better as Diffusers.  Making and using Diffusers with detailed shapes like a scalloped oval or a lacy circle won't translate very well to your cardstock...although the finer your embossing folder pattern the more detailed the shape may be.

How To Emboss Spellbinders Using Embossing Folders
Card Size:  4.25" x 5.5"
Have you ever wanted to emboss your Spellbinder dies and still keep a nice smooth edge?  I'll show you how you too can master this technique.  I used Inspired Stamps Tags 'Merry Christmas' sentiment for my card. 
The trick to embossing (or debossing - when the pattern goes INTO the cardstock instead of  'popping' out, and is easier to achieve a crisp look for this technique) is to use your folder AND the embossing mat.  You may wonder why not just use the folder like normal?  You'll ruin your folder if you try to emboss a Spellbinder in it.  
First you'll want to die-cut the shape you plan to use...leave the cardstock IN the die.
Next you're going to emboss your design in the Cuttlebug.
Here's the 'sandwich':
(This is NOT how you will emboss your cardstock but just a photo illustration of the 'sandwich')
Stacking from the bottom up:
A Plate
Shim (if needed)
Embossing Folder - Opened*
Spellbinders Die with cardstock already die-cut
Embossing Mat
C Plate
*It is very important to remember to leave your folder open or you will ruin it.
This is what you should have when you're done embossing
Here you can see that the Spellbinder 'protects' the fancy edges from being embossed by the folder.
Why don't you emboss the pattern like you normally would do?  I find that the smaller the pattern, the less detail the embossing mat can achieve - the mat is thicker and cannot 'push' into each hole.  Normally the embossing folder is closed and will 'push' the cardstock into each hole and achieve a very crisp emboss.
Here's the final piece without the die.

Inside:
Recipe:  Inspired Stamps SS-Tags, PP-BoBunny Elf Magic Mischief, CTMH CS-White Daisy, Kraft CS, CTMH Black Ink, Spellbinders-Floral Ovals & Create-a-Flake 5, Cuttlebug Swiss Dots EF, Paper Studio Snowflake Felt Brads, (Inside:  Inspired Stamps SS-Blessed Little Christmas, CTMH Black Ink).
This week I posted which Inspired Stamps stamp sets I used under each card, I decided it was easier that way since this is such a long post...I have the links there as well!
Inspired Stamps STORE.

Inspired Stamps BLOG.

Blessings from DENEEN, DT Inspired Stamps!

Tuesday, November 5, 2013

Sneak Peek #2: NEW Nativity stamp set!

Hello friends!
We are celebrating our BIRTHDAY MONTH (We are turning 3 years old this month as a company!!) and will be having great tutorials all month long starting Wednesday!  Be sure to tune in Thursday at our New Release of all the great new stamps to see a very special coupon surprise for you!!

Today is a sneak peek of one of the character stamps in our new 4x6 Nativity stamp set!  There is great Scripture and other items you will just love in this set that is scheduled to arrive in the online store on Thursday, along with all the other great releases!

We will be doubling up on our 12 Weeks of Christmas Tutorials this weekend, as our preparation for this new release has been center stage at the Inspired Stamps office!!

Have a blessed day and we'll be back tomorrow for another sneak peek!
Antoinette

Monday, November 4, 2013

Nov/Dec new stamps will be released THURSDAY: Sneak Peek #1!

Hello Friends!
We have a HUGE new release of clear stamps coming to the online store THIS THURSDAY and we can't WAIT to share them with you!  Above is our first 'SNEAK PEEK' of the week and she begins not only our week of Sneak Peeks but also our very first single 2x2 stamp that is an animal!  We know you will love her as much as we do (our designers have had a LOT OF FUN playing with this stamp set!).

All the new releases will be in the online store on Thursday evening!  Be sure to come back each day this week to see all of our sneak peeks!  We'd love to hear what you think so be sure to leave us a message!
Until tomorrow,
Blessings,
Antoinette
 **shipping is running about one day after you place your order due to the large number of clearance sets ordered over the weekend (so within 48 hours of placing your order, it will be on its way!)**

Sunday, November 3, 2013

Thru NOON EST Monday ONLY: Retiring/Clearance Stamps IN ONLINE STORE!!

ALL CLEARANCE/RETIRING multi-stamp packs are in the store through NOON EST MONDAY then they are GONE!  See all below then shop at:



Our BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION post and our 12 Weeks of Christmas Posts will both be up on TUESDAY AFTERNOON!!!  NEW STAMP RELEASE is THURSDAY!!

Blessings and thank you for stopping by today and for your support of Inspired Stamps!
Antoinette