Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Stamping on Polymer, Blog Candy, and 2 Challenges!

Hi Everyone,

I have some great samples, a cool technique, details on 2 of our current challenges you can participate in and other news. Plus – I’m giving away this beautiful necklace designed and hand stamped with our Fairyland stamps by artist Melanie Kay!

Just post a comment HERE on this blog and tell us your favorite craft, whether it’s card making, painting, beading, photography, knitting or scrapbooking, what do you love to play with and create? Be sure to leave your contact info or check back here. A random winner will be drawn for the necklace and also second winner for a $30.00 gift certificate for any of our products on Monday March 2/09

Melanie Kay is a multi talented artist who has been stamping on polymer clay to create wonderful jewelry pieces that she hand paints. She designed a pretty necklace with our Cherub stamps that I bought from her and wore at the CHA Show last month. So many people asked me about the necklace that I asked Melanie if she would share a few tips and I have a link HERE to her Etsy Store where she sells her creations. Check out her other pieces including her ‘torn paper pet portraits’ like the samples I’ve shown below!
Melanies Tips and Supplies...
I use white Sculpey brand polymer clay to stamp on. I mix in nutmeg to give it kind of a stone like appearance and as an added benefit, it also smells nice! I prefer that look to the plain white, although it would work just fine without it. I've experimented using the regular clay and a product called Ultralight. There are pros and cons to each. Ultralight accepts ink very well once it's baked but it is kind of sticky and very hard to work with. It's also not very strong. The regular clay is much easier to work with but doesn't look as soft and pretty when painted. I paint them using Palette ink pads. Here is the tutorial I learned the coloring technique from on YouTube. After painting and heat setting each piece, I give them several coats of polyurethane gloss varnish.

I love the way Melanie used our Cherub stamps on this necklace and colored the journal angel with dark hair and skin and if you scroll down you will see she the same angel stamped and colored blond and lighter. These necklaces and the other items are all for sale in Melanies Etsy shop.

On this cute necklace Melanie used the little nurse from our Feeling Yucky stamp set. wouldn't she be an adorable gift for a nurse!


She also designs buttons with pin backs and used the cute robin from our Bird Note stamps to stamp the button on this card. The flourishes are from our Cherub stamp set.


Melanie says she loves playing with new materials and surfaces and she has also been creating little muslin bags to stamp on. I love the colors she choose to color the little pixie fairy from our Fairyland stamp set on this bag.


She also admits to loving anything with Kewpies and was first drawn to our stamps when she discovered we had a Kewpie stamp sets. She decorated this wooden tote using a combination of stamps from our large Kewpie stamp set and our medium Fishing Buds Kewpie set. It turned out so cute I had to show you all 4 sides!
* NOTE: This tote is not for sale. She made this one for herself.



As I said earlier, Melanie is multi talented and likes to design and play with all sorts of materials. I was fascinated by these pet portraits she custom designs for people using a photo of their pet - with torn paper! Look at the actual photo of the doggie below and you will see she totally aced this dog! I think I'm going to order one of these for our dog Otis and frame it. He's our company mascot and he is fluffy like this cute dog.
I also want to tell you about a couple of fun challenges! There is still time to enter the 'Spring theme' challenge over at PaperCraftPlanet we are giving away two random $30.00 gift certificates! So far, there are not many entries, so the odds of winning are good! You can get the details HERE. You can also see the gallery HERE.
Marcy is hosting the challenge this week at splitcoaststampers.com. You can get the details HERE and you can see the gallery HERE. Her challenge is to create a single layer card using any of our products.
PLUS - Our wonderful design team is teaming up with the talented Glimmer Mist Tattered Angels Design Team and there will be 4 groups posting samples every Monday next month! Be sure to come back and check out all of the fabulous samples each week!
PLUS - The talented Marlene Bender will be a guest designer next month and I will be sharing some of her great creations as well!
Don't forget to post your favorite craft here and you will be entered to win our random draw for the fairy necklace or the $30.00 gift certificate I'm giving away. Plus, I would love to hear what craft everyone likes!
I will also be giving you a peek at our new Creative Scraps coming in March!

Wishing you joy & creativity
Sandy Redburn
owner

Our Online Store Locator
Our Shopatron Store


Crafty Secrets
Toll Free Phone or Fax 1-888 597-8898
Local Phone 604 597-8817

Head Office
15430 78 A Ave., Surrey, BC V3S 8R4

62 comments:

Pricousins said...

Cardmaking is my FAVE!!

Jan Hennings said...

Card making is one of my favorites but I love altering too!
WOWZA..the projects are amazing, her painting is beautiful but the dog she made is about the sweetest little thing I seen!

Laurie said...

I LOVE rubber stamping on cards using watercolour techniques. It never gets boring!

Debby said...

Anything stamping!!!!

smiln60 said...

Did I hear Blog Candy, with Nutmeg??? Yes, I was paying attention! This sounds wonderful. I don't have a favorite yet, but I seem to collect a lot of things to get me started...tee hee. I have started many scrapbooks and like to make cards, but Polymer sounds like fun too.
I just purchased a few Copic Markers to play with.

carpediem said...

I love card making! I especially like the card you made with the robin button....it's just beautiful!

Joyce said...

Card Making is my favorite. So many avenue's to take. Atleast you don't get bored! Thanks for the chance at blog candy!

StampinCathy said...

My favorite is stamping on cards and altered items. WoW this necklace is AWESOME!!!
All the projects are just so creative and inspiring. Thanks for a chance.

The Rambling Papercrafter said...

I do lots of different crafts but I love working with paper. Cardmaking, scrapbooking altering pieces, you name it!

Julia said...

Card making is my all time favorite thing to do. Couldn't count how many hours I spend each week playing with my stamps. I'm addicted!

annemk said...

I love altered art.

Unknown said...

My favorite is a tie-papercrafts and stained glass!

Georgia said...

h

Pegg S said...

My favorite craft is cardmaking! I love to stamp cards for friends and family. I hope to start scrapbooking as well!

Anonymous said...

Card making is my favorite but I just got started in easy beading projects like earrings and bookmarks ... but even those gifts still need a card! Thanks for the chance to win.

Cheri said...

I truly love making cards but I am really interested in felting. Betz White has a fantastic book out where she makes such cute things out of old wool sweaters that I think I may have to give it a try!

Cassi said...

I'll stamp on anything -- just dare me :) My favorite hobby is papercrafts and that encompasses so many media and techniques -- I pretty much do all of them.

So much inspiration on today's post, I love the necklaces.

Thanks for the chance to win!

Anonymous said...

After fabric crafting for many years, I have now gotten into making cards for family and friends. I just finished my first scrapbook project and enjoyed that too. So think paper crafting is my new "love".

Anonymous said...

I love love my scrapbooking and card making. I recently bought my first stamp from Crafty Secrets. I bought the vintage kitchen stamp and I love it!! Thanks for all the CUTE and ADORABLE stamp sets!

Grace Rune

stampgirl123@yahoo.com

Anonymous said...

More Inspiration.....Wonderful polymer clay necklaces. Thanks for the reminder to step beyond paper and explore our creativity.
I love textures, fibers, ribbons, cloth, paper, painting, buttons, beads, found objects and sewing. I guess I'm drawn to Paper crafting because it has the ability to encompass them all.

Rachael said...

I love, love, LOVE the adorable necklace you're giving away as a prize!

I love trying new things constantly! I go back and forth between crafts all the time. Right now my favorite is probably card making! :)

Sarah said...

At the moment I am into card making. With all of the techniques out there, the possibilities are endless.

Debbie said...

My favorite craft right now is stamping. I love stamping cards, ATC,etc. If it does not move I will stamp it. Right now stamping with collage sheets is fun.

Thanks for the chance to win.

debbie peysen

Nancy said...

Great projects! Love the necklace! I like to try that! My favorite craft is card making, and lately I have been getting interested in paper sewing. Thank you for the chance to win.

Miss Shawn said...

I don't think I can pick just one! I like to learn as many new things as possibe and combine techinques. :)

Anonymous said...

Altering stuff! cigar boxes, furnature you name it! my contact info is: artstudiosofbangor (at) yahoo (dot) com

Anonymous said...

My favorite craft is card making. I love stamping but I also have a large collection of vintage post card images that I love to use on projects. I just love all your products.

Mel said...

I'm so excited to find your blog...what wonderful ideas...I would have never thought of stamping on jewelry, but I'm off to give it a whirl!

Anonymous said...

Cardmaking is at the top of my list, next would be scrapbooking and jewelry making. I love the way Melaine has incorporated stamping and jewelry making.

Erin Glee said...

Papercrafts! Scrapbooking and stamping are my favorite crafts, but I'm inspired to get my Sculpy out again after seeing Melanie's work. I'm off to watch the YouTube link~ thank you!

Lynne Phelps said...

Rubberstamping on just about anything. I like making cards, but I also love collage and altered items, shrink jewelry, etc. This post about stamping on clay is right up my ally!

Anonymous said...

I can never decide on a favorite activity. Knitting and Cardmaking are both so much fun and a love the different aspects of both paper and fibers.
What fun little necklaces and thanks for all the great info!

Bev J. said...

In my 70 years I have done a little of everything. I love paper crafts and am fairly new to stamping. Love doing paper pieced quilted wallhangings and have one I need to finish. Not enough time!!

Love the torn paper technique for that cute dog-amazing!!

Mary Anne in NJ said...

Cardmaking is my favorite, but I really want to do some altered projects..I keep looking at Vicki's blog and I'm dying to try something new...

Karenladd said...

I am a rubber stamper and scrapbooker and I make almost all of my scrapbooking embellishments by hand, using stamps and other techniques!

SHartl said...

I love stamping as my favorite craft but I also love all papercrafting. My favorite thing to stamp is cards and gift tags. I actually hand-stamped 75 thank you cards for my wedding gifts!

Elaine A said...

I really don't have a favorite. I dabble in lots of different crafts and a lot of them cross over. I love rubber stamping, paper making, card making, collage, mixed media, altered items, lampwork, PMC, beading. And the list goes on and on - maybe its because I'm a Gemini? LOL

Elaine Allen

Gail S. said...

My favorite craft is scrapbooking then cardmaking and quilting is third! I love all three so much. Thank you for a chance to win beautiful art!! Gail S.

Anonymous said...

Cardmaking is number 1 right now, but I like beading, needlepoint, baking and working in the garden also.

dr.fine
pakathome@aol.com

Marlis said...

My favorite craft??!! that's like asking a chocoholic her favorite chocolate. I've been crafting since I was a little girl on my grandmother's knees. And I've done so many different things. But I've fallen in love with inks. Inks for fabric, paper, stamps, home dec anything, things to wear and the list goes on.

Unknown said...

ILove all types of crafs, especially anything with Vintage or Victorian allure!! Lately I have been working with crepe paper and dresden trims, cotton batting, wool felt and freyed trims! The necklaces are soooo adorable!! If I don't win one I Will have to make it!!

Anonymous said...

Boy I love Melanie's creations -it was fun to look in her shop! Thanks for the link. I love papercrafting/stamping! There are so many different elements you can you use with it not to mention all the variety of things you can make!
Thanks for the chance to play!

Anonymous said...

Ah hah...these past few years I've really been focusing on card stamping, but I truly enjoy all sorts of crafts...hmmm I think it all started back in second grade when I made pencil eraser covers from felt! Thanks for the blog candy!

lmb27 said...

I love making cards or anything else with paper. The necklace is sooo cute; I love cherubs, angels, and fairies. Thanks for the chance to win. lmb27_81@yahoo.com

Anonymous said...

I love needlework but I certainly enjoy cardmaking, stamping, etc. I have been known to alter some things as well as make a couple mini albums. I am trying to combine some of these passions into one project. That dog is stunning! I enjoy reading these blogs esp for all the ideas but I do not have a blog myself. The necklaces are pretty cool as well.

Anonymous said...

Duh, I was dork who couldn't put a name with anomymous regarding needlwork etc.

Chris R. from Iowa

Francine Cronos said...

The necklace is so darling! I love altered art.

Anonymous said...

I love to use my Clear Crafty Secrets stamps on shrink art paper. I color them with chalks or colored pencils. I then use my circle, square and oval punches to cut them out, bake them and use as charms on charm bracelets. My favorites are the Bugs Life, and Bird Notes stamps. I hope to have ALL the sets someday!

Amy Johnson said...

Paper Crafting, especially cards, is my FAVORITE!

ameliasfleurs@nelson-tel.net

Anonymous said...

I love ALL crafts!

carmenv@grp4.com

Unknown said...

Cardmaking is #1
Beaded crosses is #2
woodworking #3
scrapbooking IS #4
I could go on and on...
I really like giving my cards to someone and they know I was really
thinking of them by how I designed my card!
Pam Malaer

card crafted said...

Wow, nice prizes! Good luck to everyone who enters :)

I'm a bit of a craft butterfly....I flit from lots of different crafts on any given day. I like stamping, knitting, crochet, cross stitch, scrapbooking, quilting, and, and, and.....

My favourite at the moment is cardmaking though. I just can't seem to get enough of it!

Shelley said...

I used to be primarily a quilter. Now that I've discovered card making, it has taken over my life. Still, I try all kinds of crafts and enjoy them all. I just like the immediate satisfaction of completing a card.

Thanks for the chance to win these goodies!

Pat V. said...

The card with the robin button is too cute. I haven't used vintage images much in the past, just starting to expand my horizons in that direction...

Lyneen said...

http://dreamingofcastles.blogspot.com/

I am putting a link on my newest addition to my blog.... MY CANDY BAR...

I love ATC's THanks for another awesome giveaway!!!

Nikki said...

Altering Parts for my cards and boxes that I make :) And your Pendants are fantastic such detail

thanks for the chance
Nikki

Altered Annie said...

I love making anything and everything with paper. Paper crafts are useful and fill a need I have to create, and everyone has access to paper in one way or another. Bags, boxes, cards, cones, and folders all look better when you stamp, color, and add doo dads such as charms, beads, and fibers. There are so many things that can be made for gifts or decorations, the list is endless. I would be lost if I could not create!

d'Dragon said...

I love most crafts, but lately I've been hooked mostly on paper crafting - cardmaking, scrapbooking & altered art. With all of these my favorite thing is stamping! I've been learning all kinds of new techniques & just love what you've shown of Melanie's - she's so talented - thanks for sharing!

Aimeslee Winans said...

I love using vintage images and clipart in anything! My faves right now are the Campbells Kids (the Grace Drayton dolls), and so I am eyeing a few of your stamp sets and saving up to buy them! I love combining doillies with cut-outs of these vintage images for cards or ATC's or anything they look good on...even decoupage!

Joyce Joneschiet said...

I love to make cards and using stamps! The tips using clay is wonderful, especially with the nutmeg. I'll have to try it. Thanks for sharing the great art and tips!

Anonymous said...

I love making cards, but wedding favours are also a favourite pasttime.

Anonymous said...

Melanie is actually my friend and we live only about 6 miles from each other. She is an amazing Artist!
She truly does enjoy her crafts. cardmaking etc, and makes such amazing things!

I enjoy making cards. scrapbooking, and other crafts. Although I am not nearly as good as Melanie.
Its fun to get togethor and craft!