The Stamp Stimulus

From now through December 30, previously only available to hostesses, are available to all. With every $30 in purchases, you can order one each of the following sets:

Code	Stamp Set	Retail Value	Special Price
T-3212	Reindeer Food	$8.95	$6.75
T-3210	Love & Friendship	$12.95	$9.75
T-3211	Sweet Friend	$12.95	$9.75
T-3120	God Bless America	$17.95	$13.50
T-3189	Christmas Doodles	$21.95	$16.50
T-3180	Tea Talk	$21.95	$16.50 $16.50

Please note: $30 is before tax and shipping. No other discounts may apply. Orders must be received by TAC office before 5 PM December 30, 2009. Please expect some shipping delays for this promotion.

Garage Sale Stamps

These are cut stamps, and used--from previous catalog years. You will probably want to assume you will need to a) clean the stamps and possibly b) buy new Creative Cling foam for them also, since some may be undercut (hence the bargain bin prices). I'm getting rid of these because I'm out of storage space and I can't demo these stamps at my workshops anymore--since we don't sell them anymore.

I have a website of photos of the actual stamps. CD case is included in all purchases, and this is my first batch of uploads (I have lots of the eclectic style from several years ago, and I'll be taking more photos within the next week). Here's the pricing:

Single CD case stamps-- one set $3
two to four sets $2 per set
five or more sets, $1 each set

Two-CD case stamps-- one set $4,
two to three sets, $3 per set
four or more sets, $2 per set

The website:

http://gallery.me.com/alington#100366

I will ship via USPS priority mail, so I can use flat-rate shipping and track your packages (and ship online). I'd like to accept Paypal only (credit cards or funded/bank transactions are fine), though if you'd prefer to pay by check (and I've accepted a check or money order from you before, that's OK, too.

First come, first serve basis--I will go by when I receive the email. Payment expected same day, so please don't email me if you won't be able to pay that day. Please include your zip code with your order, so I can include shipping charges, and please include your Paypal address. Thanks so much!

Email your order to me at alington@mac.com. Thanks for shopping!

Limited Time Promotion - 50% off!

Spec-TAC-ular saving from The Angel Company™, never before seen: 

From January 6-26, choose any T-coded merchandise from the Fall/Winter catalog for 50% off the regular retail price.  You can choose a single item, or even 20 items--every item is half off!

You can start 2009 with a fresh supply of stamp sets that have been on your wish list!

Online prices already reflect the 50% savings.  No other special discounts or promotions apply with this special offer.  Stamp set packaging type and quantity may vary from typical packaging.

Orders must be received by midnight January 26, 2009 for online orders.

Promotional discount does not apply toward stamp of the month or vintage stamps.

A new drawing from TAC™

I'm pleased to announce another new drawing offered this month by TAC™ home office.  Enter in your name and info by October 31, 2008 at their website to be eligible (check out the main site for details).  You could win $53.80 in products:

• Miss Moxie™ Soar With It Collection
• Rockin' Roxie™ Soar With It Collection
• Miss Moxie™ Coordinating Cardstock
• Miss Moxie™ Hardware
• Miss Moxie™ Ribbon
• Glitter Goblins stamp set

Paper Piecing Tutorial

Supplies

• Kallioppe (2x2, 2x4 acrylic handles)
• Uptown Girl Wing It™ Kit
• White cardstock
  
• Black ink
  
• Mega rectangle punch (or you can trim pieces to 1-1/8” x 2-1/4”)
• Silver leafing pen
• Silver Stickles
• Black marker
• Gray marker
• Scissors
• Dry adhesive
• Pop dots
• Paper trimmer
• Scratch pad

Instructions

1. Shake the leafing pen well with the cap on. Remove cap, and press the marker tip up and down several times on scratch paper to start the paint flowing.
2. Place a 4” x 5.25” panel from the Uptown Girl paper on the scratchpad. Line up the flat side of the leafing pen with about half the marker tip on the edge of panel and half on the scratch paper. Draw a straight line along the edge of the panel. You should have an even silver border. Pick up the panel and turn it to do the next side, till all four sides are complete. Let dry.
3. Ink the lady holding the purse from the Kallioppe stamp set with black ink and stamp her once on a 2” x 3” white rectangle, and once on the dot/stripe print from Uptown Girl. Let dry.
4. Stamp the shoe greeting on a rectangle punched from Uptown Girl. Let dry.
5. Being careful to cut directly on the black stamped line, cut out just the dress from the dot/stripe stamped image. Don’t worry about the curls on the design. You’ll want just the dress as shown. For best results, turn the paper and keep the scissors straight as you cut.
6. Apply a bit of adhesive to the printed dress and adhere it to the stamped image on the white cardstock. It should line up perfectly. If you have any scissor marks showing, fill them in with black marker.
7. Outline the entire image with the brush side of the gray marker.
8. As in step 2, use the silver leafing pen to outline the white stamped image and the greeting. Let dry.
9. Adhere the 4” x 5.25” to the white card base, leaving an even border around all sides.
10. Adhere the white image to the card as shown.
11. Use pop dots to adhere the greeting as shown.
12. Add silver Stickles glitter glue (up and down motion makes dots, or smear slightly for more coverage) to accent your card. I added glitter to the woman’s flowers, shoes, nails and purse, the letters on the words “shoes” and “skinny,” and finally the horizontal line that goes across the card on the printed panel. Be sure to let the Stickles dry completely.
    

Big on Fun Promotion #2

We're on our second batch of limited edition Big on Fun sets!
From May 9 through June 16, 2008, when you spend $30 or more (before shipping and handling), you can purchase up to one of each of these limited edition miniature sets for just $2.95 per set. It's a great deal. And I adore the new Small Sentiments set--so sweet!
These sets are perfect additions to your stamp collection--you can use them for scrapbook page embellishments, tags or envelopes. Enjoy!
Click here for a full-size flyer.

Perfect Palette Promotion

Available only while supplies last, our retired Soar With It™ cardstock collection Bella Flor is available for just $10.  You save 50% off the original retail price of $19.95.

Each pack includes one of each heavy-weight 12x12 sheet of printed cardstock (16 total), plus one sheet of small alphabet stickers and one sheet of large monograms, and a sheet of die cut tags and embellishments.

There's never been a better time to invest in scrapbook or cardmaking supplies for spring, summer and mother's day themes.  Buy two for extra scrapbook supplies.  But don't wait!  Stock will not last long, so get yours today!

Need ideas as to how to use this kit?  Check out Mischelle's latest project idea and make a mini album using this kit (or any other of your choosing) paper in a snap!

Stamping on a budget

Some people consider stamping an expensive hobby.  While any hobby is bound to have some start-up costs, this post will go into how to stamp on a budget.  I have more information on what you need to get started, an introduction to stamping, and ink types available on my techniques page.

• Limit your rubber stamp collection. (As if any of my customers want to take this advice!)  I recommend my customers have a greetings set that includes a variety of sentiments, and then a few sets of their choice in a style they like.  The stamps can be in any style or subject--as long as you like them.  You can often turn a general image into a variety of seasonal themes using color, ink, and accessories.  For example, a favorite set of mine is Diva Dresses. You can use these images for thank you and birthday cards, plus use them on a red and green palette to create a Christmas image, red for Valentine's day and so forth.
  
• Limit your ink (at least when you're starting).  Every stamper needs basic black. You can always color in your stamp (or stamped image) with markers.  I also recommend a nice neutral metallic.  My current favorite is Starlight Silver Brilliance.  This ink will stamp beautifully on dark and light cardstock, plus it's a juicy pigment ink for crisper images on textured cardstock.  I'd also recommend you have a nice medium gray or light blue on hand.  You would use these to stamp your image a second time, as a shadow or halo image.  TAC™ carries a single gray Tombow marker that also works well.  Use the brush end to trace the outside of your stamped image for extra dimension and shadows.  I confess I love stamping with colored ink.  I recommend the Palette Hybrid ink spots or VersaMagic and Brilliance Dew Drop packs. You get a four coordinating colors in each set, and it really saves you money.
• Use techniques that require few tools.  A few I can recommend are paper tearing, paper piecing, crumpling, and retiform stamping.  The idea is to use basic tools for many different techniques.  Paper piecing can be fun with stamps.  Here's a sample.  You'll stamp once on your background paper, and the same image on at least one printed background.  Cut out the image (or items from the image) from the printed paper, staying right on the stamped line, and then layer them over your background image for instant pop.  Outline the image in gray to blend any white edges, and you're done!
• Use tools from other hobbies to help you with your cards.  If you sew, use your sewing machine, fabric or buttons and thread.  If you draw or paint, use those supplies.  Needle crafts are great for fibers and yarn.  If you do floral arranging, use pressed or silk flowers in your stamping.  If you bake or cook, use cookie cutters or other items from your kitchen.  The great thing about stamping is that you can use just about anything. You don't need to worry about your supplies being acid-free.
• Use your budget for smaller ticket purchases.  A few great deals I can recommend are Stickles glitter glue, brads, and printed paper packs.  Also, chalk is a minimal investment that lasts a long time and is very versatile.
• Share your supplies or trade at stamp camps.  Often you will have supplies that you don't need, and you can swap them with other stamping buddies.
• Host a FunShop, either online or in person.  You can earn lots of great supplies for free and half price, plus you'll learn fun techniques to make the most out of what you have.

The idea here is to use what you have, or what you can easily afford, and work it your art.  In the words of one of my idols, Tim Gunn, "Make it work!"