Guest Designer :: Jen Wills

 

Happy November!

 

We're here today with a very special post from our new Guest Designer,

Jen Wills!

 

 

Hi there! My name is Jen Wills and I am so excited to be the November Guest Designer for Market Street Stamps! I live in Bermuda with my hubby, Luis, and our dog, Atticus. I've been blogging at JENerally Speaking since December 2010 and love being a part of this crafty community.

 

I discovered Market Street Stamps about a year ago and have built up quite a collection of their stamps. For my cards today I was inspired by the card that won me the GD position to begin with, specifically by the triangles and the rainbow colours.
 

 

On this first card I used the triangles from Nuts About Nature. This time I used the open triangle, stamped it on patterned paper, fussy cut and created a flower! I used Bit of Burlap to give the card base some texture (this really is a must have stamp!) and a sentiment from Great Big Greetings which is one of my favourite recent releases.
 

On this second card I created a rainbow of sentiments (from Great Big Greetings) and paired them with the adorable phone from Teacher Notes. I also used the Candy Stripe background to add a little pizzazz!

 

Hope you've enjoyed my cards today and I'll be back on November 30th with some more!

Distress Stain Tutorial: DoBea Alberts

Hello! This is DoBea here from Plum Poppy Studio and I have a great little tutorial to share with you. I have been using the June release of stamps like crazy since we received them, and I just keep coming up with more and more ideas.

Today, I will show you one of the newest techniques that I have using on cards a lot lately.

Here is a picture of the supplies I used to make the card. {I will have a detailed list on my blog.}

I chose three different Distress Stains to make a variegated look on the paper.

First, you use choose one color and rub it on the specialty paper. I started with the lightest color and worked my way to the darkest. You will want to get it good and covered, the stain really soaks into the paper.

Then I used the Heat It tool to dry a good portion of the stain. 

Since the stain will pool in some areas, I used a paper towel to blot off the excess, and then went back and used the Heat It tool again, making sure that most of the stain was dry.

I repeated the above steps two more times, first staining, then partial drying, then, blotting and back to drying. I used only three colors here, but have used more than that on other cards and ended up with wonderful results. 

Here is the look after all three colors are dry.

Next, I used Black Archival Ink on my the Candy Stripe background and stamped it onto the variegated paper.

I then cut down the paper for what I wanted to use it for and added the rest of the items for my card. I added on to it with the Grow set, also released last month.

I hope that you have found this technique useful!

Gettin' Trendy :: Brenda Weaver

Happy Friday, everyone! Thanks for joining me (Brenda) here on the Market Street Stamps blog.
Today I have a fun little card that uses some of the latest trends right now in the paper crafting world, water color and travel themes.

I began by stamping the Candy Stripe background on white card stock and embossed it in white embossing powder. Or you could use clear or, really, any color of embossing powder will do. Get creative! 

I just can't seem to stop using the Candy Stripe background! So help me, it's my favorite one right now and my fingers just seem to reach for it almost on their own! I love it and I'm here to convince you that you need it too!!  By the way- don't forget about the sale going on right now!  You can get this fab stamp, and any of the other great background stamps,  for only $9.50!  PLUS everything else is on sale too!!

OK, where were we?  Oh yes, after I stamped and embossed those pretty little stripes I added in some color with some distress stains.  I love that they add just a wee smidge of color, not too bright and overwhelming, and that you can just splotch it on to your heart's content.  I spritzed it with a little water to help the colors to blend together a little more to create more of a watercolor look.  You can choose to do that or not, depending on the look you're going for. The stains come in a bottle with a little dauber on the tip, so you can just rub it on. I used blue and green so it looks a little like the blue and green you'd find on a globe. Perfect for using to compliment the globe stamp from the It Takes Love set I used as a focal image.  

To finish it off I used a little sentiment banner from the Amy Tangerine Sketchbook collection, which has lots of great watercolor designs in it.  So not only does the sentiment fit well with the focal image, but the watercolor effects compliment each other as well. Putting a little thought into the techniques you use and the designs you choose will make the end result so much more cohesive. 

Thanks so much for stopping by!  And don't forget about the sale!  That little Candy Stripe is calling your name :)

March Reveal + Release!

REVEAL DAY! 

I hope you're ready - 

I have been dying to show you this release for weeks!!

This is such a versatile collection of stamps, and I think you're going to really enjoy the value we've packed into each set.

If you've joined us for our Reveal Days before, you know we always list our stamps together as a special bundle - for one week only, you can snag all of the new releases for just $37.12!! 

That's 25% OFF retail!

Rather just snag your favorite set? No problem. They're 15% off for a week, too! 

 

Check below each new set to see if you're one of our lucky winners this week!!

{SHOP} our March Bundle!

BEST VALUE!!! 

• Includes all four sets released this month: Daily Grind, Simple Salutations, Blessings in Disguise, and Candy Stripe!
• Special savings of 25% off if you purchase this limited-time bundle (available through 4/3 only!)
• Regular Retail Price for all 4 sets: $49.50 / On Sale for $37.12!

{SHOP} Daily Grind

This large 5.5" x 8.5" stamp set is versatile coffee set will surprise you with the many sentiment and occassion possibilities! Create a card for everything from a retirement (Say Goodbye to the Daily Grind..) to a get well card (Perk Up!). This is a set you will turn to again and again. Mix and match the retro-inspired sentiments with any of the twelve images included! 26 stamps total.

• Set measures 5.5" x 8.5"
• Regular retail price: $19.50 (15% off thru 4/5/12)
• Includes 26 individual stamps (each size listed in detail on our website)
• Images illustrated by Angelica Suarez

Daily Grind WINNER:

Carol's Ink Spot 

 

{SHOP} Simple Salutations

Finally! You asked for it, and we listened! A sentiment-only set featuring one of Angelica's favorite fonts. Choose from a variety of phrases for all occasions and mix and match with your favorite backgrounds for a clean and simple look! Includes SIXTEEN different phrases and sentiments to fit any occasion.

•  Set measures 4.25" x 5.5"
• Regular retail price: $12.50 (15% off thru 4/5/12)
• Includes 16 individual stamps (each size listed in detail on our website)
• Sentiments designed by Angelica Suarez

Simple Salutations WINNER:

Jennifer Ashley DeGough

{SHOP}Blessings in Disguise
Our Market Minis are a popular way to create beautiful handmade card at a great price! "Blessings in Disguise" is a great value with great design - two swash elements in different sizes, and a classic quote for inspirational cards or art journaling projects.

• Set measures 2.5" x 4"
• Regular retail price: $5.00 (15% off thru 4/5/12)
• Includes 3 individual stamps (each size listed in detail on our website)
• Images designed by Angelica Suarez

Blessings in Disguise WINNER:

Sonia A.

{SHOP} Candy Stripe 

Whether you're trying to create a perfectly matched pattern paper, or want to add a wash of color to your card background, our background stamps have you covered. Generously sized to fit an A2 card perfectly, you don't even need a block to use them! Check out this awesome tutorial by Design Team member Stephanie for stamping these (big) babies right from the acetate sheet!

• Set measures 4.25" x 5.5"
• Regular retail price: $12.50 (15% off thru 4/5/12)
• Includes 1 background stamp
• Image illustrated by Angelica Suarez

Candy Stripe WINNER: 

Lisa's Creative Niche

Winners - please email:

 jorge at marketstreetstamps dot com 

and include the following info:

First and Last Name

Address, City, State, Zip Code (country if not USA)

Set you won

Winners: please contact us within 15 days to contact us to claim your prize.

We will attempt to contact all winners that we have not heard from within that time frame.

Thank you SO much for joining us this week - as always, you guys are the fuel that keeps this fire going!!! Happy Stamping!
Angelica

March Sneak Peek :: Candy Stripe and Blessings in Disguise

HAPPY WEDNESDAY!

Tonight is our last night of sneak peeks and your last chance to enter to win one of each set showcased this week!! Tomorrow we will be revealing the sets at 7 pm CDT and announcing our 4 lucky winners!

Tonight, we're peeking "Candy Stripe" (a background requested by our very own Brenda Weaver), and "Blessings in Disguise" (our mini this month). 

Would you love a chance to win? Check out our giveaway details below!

GIVEAWAY DETAILS

Each month, we give away one of each set showcased to one LUCKY commenter!

• Earn ONE entry for each comment you leave across ALL of our designers' blogs tonight. {p.s. if, for any reason, a designer does not have a new release post up don't worry!! Winners will be chosen only amongst posts that are published. :)}
• Earn TWO entries for following us on Facebook OR Twitter (be sure to let us know if you do in a separate comment on this post)
• Earn THREE bonus entries for sharing this giveaway on your Facebook page OR Twitter account (be sure to let us know if you do in a separate comment on this post)!
• You have through Wednesday, March 28th to enter to win each set. 

Be sure to enter to win 

Daily Grind

+

Simple Salutations

from earlier this week, too!

DESIGN TEAM SAMPLES

Be sure to visit each blog for a chance to win this set!You might even spy some additional *bonus* inspiration along the way!

 

Amy Kolling: Amy's gorgeous "simply elegant" style makes its way to her third card which pairs beautiful embossing with subtle pattern, allowing the sentiment to take center stage.

Brenda Weaver: Pretty in pink, and a dash of shabby chic, Brenda's card is absolutely perfect for a girlfriend or relative going through a hard time.

DoBea Alberts: DoBea used the flourish in this set as a design element, and it's just so perfect! I love the ruffle she created to offset the brown, too!

Samantha Casey: Samantha masked areas of the sentiment to make a truly unique card. And I know I'm not the only one who think a little caffeine really is a 'blessing in disguise'! hehe Check out the flourish she used for steam! So clever!

Stephanie Muzzulin: Stephanie created this gorgeous mini which could also serve as a journal. I just love adding big, bold sentiments like this to my art journals - they are a great reminder whenever I'm having a tough day.

Stephanie Washburn: How awesome is this? Create your own customized herringbone pattern using Candy Stripe!! Stephanie will show you how to get this fun look on her blog! 

Tifany DeGough:  Tifany's serene card looks lovely with a wash of color on the hydrangeas from Comforting Florals. The sentiment is from our new Simple Salutations set  and the background is the new Candy Stripe background - available tomorrow at 7 pm CDT!

***********************

Love seeing so much variations in the same set! Don't you? Be sure to let us know what you think in the comments below before you hop over to our DT's blogs!! Have a great night, and I'll see you back here tomorrow for the reveal and release!! Yayyy!!