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!

Alison's Collage

Supplies

• It’s Always Springtime (2x2 acrylic handle)
• Script Background (4x4 acrylic handle)
• White Glossy Cardstock (you must use glossy cardstock for the full effect)
• Green Cardstock
• Earthtone Brilliance Dew Drop Set
• VersaMagic Four Corners Dew Drop Set
• Willoughby Ribbon
• Antique Spiral Clips
• Adhesive and tape
• Paper trimmer
• Scratch pad

Instructions

1. Begin with the lightest shade of ink from the VersaMagic set, Wheat. Ink up one of the square stamps from the It’s Always Springtime stamp set, and stamp a checkerboard pattern on a white 4”x5.25” glossy panel. Be careful to not to rock the stamp, and be extra careful to use an up and down motion when using glossy paper, since it smears easily. (This project works best on glossy paper, since the chalk ink dries to a nice, matte finish.) Start with a single stamp on the cardstock, and then attach iterations, re-inking each time you stamp the image. Be sure you stamp off the edge of the card as shown in my example.
2. Next, change to another block, and use the next darker color, Niagara Mist. Start in another place and do another checkboard pattern, ignoring the first pattern. You will overlap the first pattern some, but do not cover all your white space.
3. Ink up a final square with Sage ink, and make another checkerboard pattern, beginning in another spot on your card. Your card should be getting fairly densely covered at this point, but you should still have some white showing.
4. Now, switch to Brilliance ink in Pearlescent Olive and the Script Background stamp. Ink up the stamp well, and start stamping in the upper left corner on about a 45 degree angle, as I show in the picture.
5. Continue covering the entire card with the script stamp in columns, re-inking each time. When you finish the first column, you’ll want to continue on to the side columns as well, until the entire card is covered with the script, as shown.
6. Next, ink the outer edges of the card using Coffee Bean Brilliance ink. You can either lightly drag the edges of the card across the ink pad’s surface, or brush the ink lightly across the edge of the card.
7. Set the glossy panel aside to dry.
8. Meanwhile, stamp the sentiment (“Brighter Place” fits nicely) on the small strip (0.5" x 4") of glossy white paper in Sahara Sand ink. It should line up perfectly.
9. Ink the edges of this strip with Coffee Bean ink and let dry.
10. Line up your ribbon about 1/3 of the way across the front of your stamped white card front, or as desired.
11. Turn the card over to the back, holding the ribbon ends. Using tape, tape the ends of the ribbon to the back of the card.
12. Apply adhesive to the back of stamped glossy panel, and attach it to the folded green card base (cut to 8.5" x 5.5"). It is cut slightly smaller than the card base, so it should leave a perfect narrow border.
13. Next, attach the sentiment as desired--I put mine towards the bottom right of the card with the sheer ribbon slightly overlapping the sentiment.
14. Finally, attach a spiral clip as desired for the final touch.

Paper Piecing #2

Supplies

• The Arts rubber stamp set(1x1, 2x4 acrylic handles)
• Catelyn Fly With It™ cardstock kit
• Wine cardstock
• White cardstock
• Brown ink
• Black ink
• Mini File Tab punch
• Black marker
• Gray marker
• Scissors
• Dry adhesive
  
• Paper trimmer
• Scratch pad

Instructions

1. Ink the edges of the 5.25" x 4" large floral print panel with brown ink and let dry.
2. Ink the edges of the 1" x 5.5" striped strip of cardstock and let dry.
3. Stamp the geisha image several times in black ink: first on a 1.75" x 3.25" white cardstock panel, then several partial scraps (she doesn’t need to fit on all the scraps, since you’ll be cutting out pieces of her outfit in a moment). Let these pieces dry.
4. Adhere the large floral print background to the wine card base (8.5" x 5.5").
5. Adhere the striped strip to the floral print base as shown.
6. Begin cutting out pieces of the geisha’s kimono, cutting on the stamped line. Don’t worry about getting it exact--the pieces will fit together perfectly if you cut on that line.
7. Adhere each piece to the white stamped image, being careful to line up the images as you go.
8. Keep cutting out pieces and adding them in layers to the white stamped image as shown. I left the geisha’s hands bare.
9. If you have white edges showing through from scissor cuts, fill them in with black marker. I also colored the geisha’s hair in with black marker.
10. Next, using the broad, brush side of the gray marker, go around the entire image. This gives the image a softer look, and blends the pieces together.
11. Ink the edges of this panel in brown ink, and adhere it to main card as shown.
12. Stamp the “beauty” sentiment in black to the punched tab, ink the edges in brown, and adhere to the card as shown.

April Stamp of the Month

I'm pleased to announce April's Stamp of the Month and Vintage Stamp of the Month specials. To qualify for these specials, you must purchase $30 retail. (Email me before placing your order to get two free Gift with Purchase stamps with your order as well!)

April's Stamp of the Month is called Friendly Greetings. It's just $6.95 with your qualifying $30 purchase. It's a set of 12 cute stamps for any occasion.

The Vintage Stamp of the Month can be yours as well for just $6.95 with the same $30 purchase. Feelin' Buggy is a set of 6 realistic-looking bug stamps, classic TAC™ style.

Spring Supplement is available now!

Check out thirteen new stamp sets available now on our new Spring Supplement. On the TAC™ website you can also see a new feature of our supplements--Project Cards. These clever recipe-sized cards will provide you with inspiration and fun gifts... for free!
Also available April 1, we're thrilled to offer the new Crop-A-Dile II Big Bite for all your hole punching and eyelet-setting needs. You'll love the 6" reach of this easy-to-use effortless and silent eyelet and grommet setter. You'll now even be able to set an eyelet in the center of your 12x12 page, in addition to punching through leather, fabric, plastic, chipboard and thin tin! It's a great deal at just $39.99!

Winchester Soar with It™

Using only a few products, I finally am getting back into card-making. If you like the colors you see here, check out more ideas on my Winchester page. I adore the simple chalk finish of VersaMagic, and I love how it shows up so gently on colored cardstock.

Supplies:

• Winchester SWIC™
• Winchester cardstock
• Ivory Ultrasmooth cardstock
• Simply Divine stamp set
• Keep Smilin' stamp set
• Crystal Stickles glitter glue
• Cognac Palette Hybrid ink
• Eggplant VersaMagic ink
• Aspen Mist VersaMagic ink
• Super Jumbo 2" Circle punch
• Mega 2.5" Scalloped Circle punch
• Pop dots adhesive

February Promotion - Starts Feb 1!

I'm thrilled to announce an upcoming promotion for February, offered by TAC™.  You can get an exclusive Easter-themed stamp set, Happy Everything (retail $15.95) and our Pop Rocks Soar with It™ paper kit (retail $19.95) for just $25.95 (normally $35.90)!  Beginning February 1, you'll be able to order the kit here.

You can make some adorable Easter and spring cards or scrapbook layouts with this fun kit, exploding with bright colors to bring some life to these last few dull winter months.

Also, if you host a FunShop during the month of February, you will receive the Happy Everything stamp set for free.  Contact me for more information!

Inspiring Ideas on TAC™ home age!

I was browsing The Angel Company™ online, and I discovered that Inspiring Ideas is available with three new project ideas.  The image I've attached here uses our new Juliette paper line, a candy tin, the Curls & Swirls and Life Thoughts stamp sets, and other coordinating accessories.  You can see the complete list here.

All the tags are die cut and included with the paper pack.  You could use any of our paper packs to make similar kits.  Make a set for Mother's Day gifts or even Valentine's Day for your significant other.  Use the reverse side of the tag for personalizing the gift and adding hand-written notes.

A tin like this would be a great gift for a teacher, parent or grandparent, or child.  Leave it on the door handle for a thoughtful gift for a special someone.

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!"