Saturday, December 29, 2012

Rose Hat (Linda Phinney)




Elegant Rose Hat
by Linda Phinney

This card is a wonderful example of Clean and Simple stamping, aka CAS. Linda used a simple layout, lots of white space, and just a splash of color in this fabulous card featuring the Rose Hat stamp from FranticStamper. The card is perfect for nearly any occasion with its simple elegance, don't you agree?


Products used:
  • FranticStamper Rose Hat cling-mounted rubber stamp


Friday, December 28, 2012

Butterfly Bouquet (DT Project by Sharon Jeffs)



Butterfly Bouquet

by Sharon Jeffs


I love the idea of attaching a stamped image to my card as a dimensional object but I really hate the fine, intricate cutting that often goes hand in hand with this. Some of the new die/stamp combo’s are really making this so much easier and so I wanted to have a go at creating a card using one of these amazing sets.

For my card I used the following …
  • Butterflies #3 Stamp Set
  • Teal cardstock cut to a 5 ½ inch square card size.
  • Vintage Timeless 6x6 patterned piece of paper
  • Viola Polka Dot Paper
  • White cardstock
  • Ribbon
  • Black Archival ink
  • Distress Stains – Broken China and Mustard Seed
  • Diamond Stickles
  • Distress Stickles – Antique Linen
  • Copic markers – Y19 Napoli Yelow and B00 Frost Blue

I began by cutting two pieces of the white cardstock into sections large enough to stamp the large flower bouquet on one and the two larger butterflies together on the other. I then used the ink stains to colour in this second piece of card and once dried, stamped the two butterflies over this.

I found cutting both of these butterflies out a breeze with this set. I simply had to layer the appropriate die over the top of each stamped image, centering the image within the die before running it through my diecut machine.

I repeated this same process of cutting with the flower and it corresponding die then used the copics to color the flowers in. As a final touch, I dabbed the Diamond Stickles over the wings of the butterflies and dabbed the Antique Linen stickles onto the flower centres.

To finish my card I layered the Timeless patterned paper over the base of my card then a piece of the Polka Dot paper and a piece of white onto the centre front before adding my ribbon layers and my stamped images.


Thursday, December 27, 2012

Dove Card (DT Project by Linda Phinney)




This simple but pretty card was made with the FranticStamper Marble Background Stamp, a FranticStamper Dove Cameo, and a FranticStamper Precision 1.25" base Single Square Die. The card can be made in mere minutes but who would ever guess?

Wednesday, December 26, 2012

Warehouse Wednesday: Year-End Clearance Sale!


Frantic Stamper
 
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
 
Year-End Clearance Sale!!
Save 15% to 40% off selected items in the store
Now until December 31st
.

Precision Dies 

 
Sale prices good for in-stock items.  Once items on the year-end clearance pages sell out, we will not be reordering them.  Quan! tities are limited to stock on hand.
 
Thank you for your continued patronage.  Wishing you a happy and healthy new year for 2013!
 
Shop online at www.franticstamper.com




Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Christmas Kitty (DT Coloring Project by Lis Whiting)



Christmas Kitty

by Lis Whiting


Hi everyone!  Lis here with a coloring piece for you.  I really love this little kitty stamp from Stampendous.

For the Hat: Red and White gel pens
For the Holly: Green and Red metallic gel pends
For the Kitty: Distress Pens in Spiced Marmalade, Scattered Straw
For the Kitty's Paws, mouth and chest: Picket Fence
For the Kitty's Nose: Spun Sugar

I colored the kitty all over with Scattered Straw,leaving the paws, chest and mouth alone. I then used the Spiced Marmalade to color the stripes of the kitty.

I hope you enjoyed my little Christmas Kitty.

-Lis

Friday, December 14, 2012

Butterfly Mobile (DT Decor Project by Sharon Jeffs)




Butterfly Mobile

by Sharon Jeffs


I have a real thing for butterflies at the moment; I think it must be the freedom the freedom that they represent. When I was at a nearby antiques store and found this old key, I decided it would be perfect to use to make a butterfly mobile.

I began  by stamping the Frantic Stamper Large Butterfly onto a sheet of Shrink film using Black Stazon ink. Once the ink completely dried, I turned it over and coloured the reverse side using Copic Markers then cut around each butterfly making sure to leave an edge.

Shrink plastic is really easy to use, so long as you pre-cut everything you want before shrinking.  I decided to punch holes in my butterflies, one at the top and two at the base of each wing.  After shrinking my butterflies and letting them cool, I tied a long piece of ribbon to the top of each and then to the key, staggering the lengths of the ribbon so that my butterflies each hung at different heights. Finally I added some beading to finish off my mobile and a ribbon bow to the key to finish my project.

Here is a close-up of one of my butterflies:

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Warehouse Wednesday: A very UNmerry Christmas



A very UNmerry Christmas for a small business owner

Today, I'm really really sad..... After more than 16 years in business, Frantic Stamper has fallen victim to internet fraud. Yep, no matter how careful you are, the thieves sneak by and when they do, it hurts big time.

The story starts last month. We received a decent size order (around $600, which is not unseen for us) from a lady in San Diego, shipping to her "friend" in London England. This sort of thing happens all the time, so I thought nothing of it. I remember one of my employees making the comment of "I want to be her friend". About a week later, another order, this time from a lady in Apple Valley California, also shipping to England (this one for about $650) but shipping to a different recipient. Again, I thought nothing of it, other than "nice order". Another week goes by, and this time a $715 order from another person in California (San Diego), but delivering to the same person as the San Diego lady. Seemed strange, but not out of the ordinary.

It wasn't until the 4th such order came through my desk that I started questioning. This 4th order was $737, and ordered from someone in Puyallup Washington, and shipping to one of the 2 above London England addresses. This time, I looked at it a little closer and something, I don't know what, but something told me there was something wrong about it. So I decided to do a little research. Looking back at earlier transaction, there was yet another big order ($470) a week before the above 4 orders..... so we're at 5 fishy orders now. Looking at this most recent one closer, I see the email address is a Hotmail address as were the other 4 (Hotmail or gmail on all). I then tried to call the phone number provided, only to get a recording from a defunct bank stating the phone number was invalid (still connected, but a recording stating it was invalid and the bank had closed).

Now my heebee-jeebies are really going off. I tried to email "Barbara" asking her to call me because I had a question about her order. She emailed back stating she couldn't call me because she was in Puerto Rico. I'm pretty sure they have phones in Puerto Rico..... something's not right. She tells me her "scrapfriend" needs the items urgently and to please send the order without the missing item. Hmmmmmm.... Something is not right..... so I stall her a bit. I emailed her the next day and told her we would ship the order "Monday". Meanwhile, I contacted my account rep at PayPal (who handles all our merchant services transactions .... i.e. credit card payments). I gave our account rep all the details of all 5 transactions and after 24 hours of investigating, his answer was 1 word: fraud.

We were advised to "refund" the latest transaction (the $737 order), and to just "wait and see" for the other 4. Well, this morning, the bombshell that was expected came. The first transaction was indeed reversed by the "buyer's" credit card company as an unauthorized transaction. F.R.A.U.D. It's just a matter of time for 3 more big "payments" to be reversed.

So what happens in these cases?
-The thieves somehow get their hands on a victim's cc info and address.
-They place orders online with unsuspecting businesses such as ours.
-Credit cards are run automatically behind the scenes by Paypal using address verification. It's all encrypted so we don't see anything but an authorization number.
-We fill the order and ship it.
-A month goes by and the victim gets their credit card statement with fraudulent charges.
-Victim contact their credit card company and says "I didn't buy anything from so-and-so"
-Credit Card company files a "chargeback" with the merchant processing service (in our case PayPal)
-Paypal contacts us and TAKES the money back.

In the end, the thieves have the merchandise, and we have zippo. We can show that we shipped the package, but that means nothing. Since the thieves are overseas, we can't very well travel to London to press charges, or throw a rock through their window. All we can do is cry.

Today, I am crying......


Hugs,
-Fran
www.franticstamper.com

Friday, December 07, 2012

Rose Card (DT Project by Sharon Jeffs)



Rose Card

by Sharon Jeffs


I've been enjoying working through the varied techniques that are available on YouTube. This card features one created by Tim Holtz where you ink a piece of card using Distress ink (I used Broken China) then cover a background stamp with the Picket Fence Distress Stain and stamp the card. When it dries, it leaves a faded image of the stamp. I used a Frantic Stamper Lace Background for mine.

To finish my card, I tore an edge off and adhered it to a card base with a ribbon strip and a colored image. I chose to use the Frantic Stamper Rose square no. 4 stamp, which I shared yesterday.

Thursday, December 06, 2012

Rose Square #4 (DT colouring project by Sharon Jeffs)



Rose Square

by Sharon Jeffs

I love roses; everything about them is just so pretty.  This particular image appealed to me because of the frame around it which makes cutting it out really simple.

I stamped my Rose Square No.4 image using a Distress ink called Chipped Sapphire then used the ink and a waterbrush to shade the edges of the frame gently lighting up towards the centre, making the rose stand out.

I then coloured my rose in using Distress markers and a waterbrush to soften and blend the colouring.  I used Peeled Paint for the leaves and the stem and a combination of Barn Door and Worn Lipstick to colour the rose itself.

Thanks for visiting my project today!

Tuesday, December 04, 2012

Warehouse Wednesday: Stella and Rose Gertie Stamps



EXCITING PRODUCT NEWS -- GERTIE CLEAR STAMP

After much negotiation with My Mind's Eye, Frantic Stamper has secured an exclusive re-run of the much sought after Stella & Rose Gertie Clear Stamps.

Featuring 8 beautiful doily stamps, this set has been featured in many stamping magazines. Unfortunately, My Mind's Eye sold out over a year ago with no plans to manufacture them again.

GOOD NEWS! We talked them into producing 1 more run, and we bought them all! We have just received 600 of this gorgeous stamp set.



We anticipate these to sell out quickly! Place your order now!

Friday, November 30, 2012

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Bon Voyage! (DT Project by Jane Larsson)



Bon Voyage

by Jane Larsson


On this card I used the background stamp "Clouds" from Hero Arts (Stamped with Memento "Summer sky") and "French Ship" from Fran´s own collection (Stamped with Memento "Tuxedo black")

We really love the Pirates of the Caribbean movies here, and this breathes just that! In addition to the stamp I used white, black and kraft-cardstock, and one piece of Prima En Francais Wood Ticket. By the way: those wood tickets is one of their best ideas ever (according to me). They are SO unbelievably beautiful! I also used one half of Primas Almanac Lace and Crystals Border that I think made a perfect wild sea! What do you think?

Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Dogwood Hat (DT Coloring Project by Sharon Jeffs)



Dogwood Hat

by Sharon Jeffs


This gorgeousDogwood Hat cling mounted stamp by FranticStamper is such a great stamp to use for that special feminine card you need to give.  I stamped mine using Jet Black Archival Ink then colored the image using a water-brush and the following Distress Ink markers ...
  • Antique Linen – coloring the skin sections of the lady.
  • Stormy Sky – for the hat.
  • Spiced Marmalade – the hat tie.
  • Fired Brick – the flowers.
  • Peeled Paint – for the leaves.
I then wanted to add a few extra details to my stamped image.  I started with dabs of Barn Door Distress Stickles to the flower centres and White Opal Liquid Pearls along the necklace and earring dots in the stamped image. Once everything was dry, I cut out my image and used it to finish off my card ...

Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Warehouse Wednesday: Mills Rep Co Blog.


Mills Rep Co Blog

Today, I’d like to share with you a blog put together by one of our rep companies.
A “rep company” represents many manufacturers. They act as a go-between for us to place orders, handle customer service issues, and show us new products.

Little did I know, this particular rep company also has a terrific blog with great card ideas!!

We carry MOST of the items shown in these projects… so enjoy!

(click on the image below to be taken to the blog)


Hugs,
-Fran
www.franticstamper.com
541-826-2500

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Thanks Card (DT Project by Sharon Jeffs)


Thanks Card

by Sharon Jeffs


This card was created with  Coordinations card, I love the distressed feel it creates and the different shades it shows.  I wanted this card to be fairly basic which is why I chose to cut out a shield shape to add to the front of my card.  I also added a ribbon ruffle around this for a touch of glamour.

I created the focal part of my card by stamping the Frantic Stamper cling mounted stampFeather Mask then cutting it out, including the stamped feathers.  Once the mask was coloured, I adhered feathers and a few beaded strings to the back of the mask to decorate.  I used a single foam pop dot to adhere the mask to my card, curving the mask slightly to give a more realistic feel to it.

Monday, November 12, 2012

Guest Artist - Marcelle Roberts

Today we have a very special guest joining us on the blog. Marcelle Roberts, AKA Moz. Marcelle was the winner of a set of the new FranticStamper Precision dies in our recent blog hop, and was generous enough to share some of her artwork with us as a bit of a thank you. We are amazed by her beautiful work, created with the FranticStamper Precision ides, and we are sure you will be, too!

So without further ado, let us present our interview with Marcelle, and some of her wonderful work.



Where do you live?

Pietermaritzburg in Kwa-Zulu Natal, South Africa

Do you have family members/pets you would like to tell us about?

I am married to a darling man and we have our 40th anniversary coming up next month. We have two amazing sons, who both live in Cape Town in South Africa. One is married and we hope to be grandparents soon - they are working on it!!! Lol!
My furbaby is Jain, a black labrador, who spends her days with me in my craft room. She too has a sweet tooth and at 10am every morning, she insists I follow her to the kitchen where she stops at the kettle and waits for me to switch it on and then walks over to the cupboard where to cookie jar lives and sits down, and waits for her cookie! I am deaf and wear hearing aids and often don't hear the doorbell, so she fetches me and walks me to the door to see who is there when someone rings. My very special companion who loves my craft room as much as I do.


How did you get the nickname "Moz"?

My husband once commented that I buzzed around him like a mosquito, and started calling me "Mozzie" which is a nick-name for a mosquito in our country. Well, it was not long before everyone was calling me Mozzie and has shortened to Moz over the years. Most find my name, Marcelle, a jawfull, so I have stayed with Moz and all my crafting friends know me as that.



How long have you been stamping/card-making?

Around 30 years! When my sons were little, they attended so many birthday parties that needed birthday cards that I decided, to save money, (Big Joke!)I would make them cards. So I purchased a Colorbox Multi-Color pad and a butterfly stamp - which I still have - and made the cards with this rainbow looking butterfly. All went well until a year later they refused to give the same card to friends as they already had one, so I started looking for more stamps.

Back then in this country there was so little available, so I started making the 3-D type cards using gift wrap and doing an enormous amount of fussy cutting. Well, I started looking for stamps and pads and found a few. My stamping hit a lull for a few years as life was hectic with growing boys, working full time and a husband who was on shift work.

It was about 10 years ago that I started getting involved again and found a group of ladies who enjoyed it and we formed a club and met once a month. I converted so many friends to stamping and cardmaking that it was not long and I found myself sharing all I knew. I have an insatiable quest to learn everything, in all crafts that interest me and I have been most active since I got the internet. I follow heaps of blogs and Pinterest and have learnt so much from all my cyber crafters. I also belong to an online South African group of stampers and have had several of my swaps through this group, published in a South African crafting magazine. The RSA Group of girls initiate swaps and through that we learn more from each other as well as being in constant touch via email. It is so great to be able to share with fellow stampers.

Of course, with the internet came online shopping! Well, I think most of my salary used to go on my craft shopping and I have been buying from Fran for several years. Great excitement when the post box has a slip in to collect an overseas parcel. Sadly, we pay dearly for our crafting goodies since our currency is so weak against the US$ and we get caught at our customs and excise as well. Even that has not discouraged us and most of the group shop with Fran - a testemony of great service and a fabulous choice of products to buy!




Do you have a favorite stamping or card-making technique?

I have no particular lean towards any particular type of technique. I do however have to try everything once, and then decided if it stays or goes. Most times, it stays and I will use a technique if it suits the project. I am a huge fan of Dies as my quest for perfect cuts/cutting was only satisfied when Dies became available. I have just received a Cameo Sillhouette for my birthday and am trying to get into using it. It is just so easy to run a Die through the 'Bug, that I'm hoping I don't forget about the Cameo! I also love Distress Inks/Pads/Markers and am working on honing my Copic skills.


Do you have any other hobbies?

I have dabbled in almost every craft available to me but only a few have become my favorites. Stamping and card making is number one, with making miniature teddy bears entirely by hand, a close second. I also knit socks - passionate about my socks - crochet, embroider, do beading when the whim takes me and love to color with most mediums. Passionate about my watercolor pencils, getting much better at shading with my Copics and Prisma pencils and have just added the Derwent Artbars to my arsenel of 'color' mediums. I keep stamped images or printed digis available for working on at a moments notice. I also knit for charity. We have so many orphaned children in our country due to HIV Aids that there is a constant need for premature babies knitted caps and tops and of course squares for blankets.




Do you work outside the home?

I have just retired after 22 years with an Engineering company where I was the senior bookkeeper. I am totally responsible for turning my working collegues into crafting addicts, and still craft with some of them. Since I have retired, I have started teaching card making and stamping at a local paper shop. I have had the opportunity to help many ladies overcome all sorts of problems, through my crafting and for that I am so grateful!


Are you part of any design teams for any crafting company?

The opportunity to belong to any team has never presented itself to me. (FranticStamper: Well, we are thrilled to have you as an honorary DT member for the day!)




How did you hear about the FranticStamper Blog Hop?

I think I picked it up from the shop updates?? I seem to remember Fran sending out news about a blog and I hurried over to sign up for updates and have been on board since day one, even entering a weekly sketch or two!)


You were offered a choice of either Series 1 or Series 3 dies when you won the Blog Candy. Which did you choose, and why?

I chose Series # 2 as I reasoned, I have punches for the 1" squares and if I used it in conjunction with Series 2 (1 1/4"), I would be able to have a frame around my square and then the die framing that. It would give me a 3 level look and that is what I used in my card I send to Fran.)


How are you enjoying the dies? Would you recommend them to others?

I am loving my set and have shared the news via my blog and with all I have met and seen and showed them my lovely gift.


Which die is your favorite die so far?

The 6 block die, as I use it as windows. It won't be long before I'm into them all and it will be hard to choose a favorite!)




Have you tried the dies in combinations yet?

Truthfully, no. I have not had the time to play, but it is on my 'urgent' list.


Do you plan to purchase other dies in the series, like the rectangles set to go with the square set you won? Why or why not?

Absolutely! I intend buying the set that is 1" squares first so that I can team it up with the set I have. I have some ideas I would like to try out. That is my next purchase from Frantic Stamper. The Rectangles will be next on the list.



Sunday, November 11, 2012

Sketch Sunday - November 11, 2012



Sorry that the blog has been a little neglected of late. Kathy had another surgery in late August and has had trouble keeping up with the pace of things. We hope that there will be improvement on that front, and on her front, soon!

Today we have a little sketch for you that Kathy gave the team a while back. We hope you will enjoy it, and perhaps create something with it. If you do, and you want to share your creation, please just email it to FranticStamperSketchPhotos@yahoo.com and we will add it to this post.



Here is a card from DT Member Sharon Jeffs using this sketch.


And here is another card, this time from Jennifer Willis, using FranticStamper cling mount stamp dragonfly post.


Wednesday, October 31, 2012

A Valentine Rose (Linda Phinney)




A Valentine Rose
by Linda Phinney

This rose, perfect for a Valentine, is FranticStamper's Cling-mounted Rose Block rubber stamp. It is colored with various Tombow markers and a water brush. Isn't it pretty?



Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Halloween/Dia De Los Muertos (DT Project by Linda Phinney)





Happy Dia De Los Muertos!!!

by Linda Phinney


This layout is made using the Authentique Glowing Collection - papers and embellishments, some black rhinestone bling and some black brads.

Monday, October 29, 2012

Halloween Scrapbook Page (DT Project by Lis Whiting





Halloween Scrapbook Page

by Lis Whiting


Hi everyone! I want to share a scrapbook page that I made using Graphic 45 Happy Haunting (Jolly Jack o Lantern) and Authentique Enchanted (Glowing) Lines carried by Frantic Stamper.

I know you love Graphic 45 as much as I do. I love their old fashioned designs - lots of blues and oranges – just lovely! The colors really went well together!

Normally when I tear paper I add it to the bottom of my page but this time I added a starry sky. I added my clock and witch with mounting tape and I punched out a spooky fence in blue glitter paper.

I hope you like my page. Now for the close-up pictures!





-Lis