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Tuesday 5 October 2010

...say hello to Big Blooms - Poinsettias

ED - we've been doing some work to the store regarding payment options. We are setting it up to take credit card payments, via a secure process. There may be the odd disruption to our service there wile we do that, so please bear with us if you have had any problems in store this evening, I am hoping all will be smooth by tomorrow. Thank you.


Good morning and welcome to the second day of previews! On Thursday we'll be releasing 5 new clear photopolymer stamp sets!! Between now and then we're showing samples!!! Today we also have a wee competition - it's at the bottom, you gotta scroll all the way down...LOL!

Before I get into my samples for today, here are the links to the DT ladies also previewing today:

Lisa
Anya
Bonnie
Belinda
Joan
Julia
Mona
Jennifer
Lynn
Sandie
Laurie

Today's first card features a 3D poinsettia. I made it using a medium sized Poinsettia outline stamp from the new Big Blooms - Poinsettias set. Directions are below. I mounted the flower on a Spellbinders Label 14 die cut which I had stamped with one of the frame stamps from Holiday labels No. 14, also due out Thursday.

The sentiment is from another new set, Compliments of the Season. I love vintage Christmas greetings! They are hard to find so I made some to suit myself! Gorgeous old fonts set in interesting layouts these sentiments are quite suitable as focal points in them selves.

I used versacolour inks for this, burgundy and pinecone on the label, sponged with a little antique linen...lol


This flower is so easy to make with the medium sized Poinsettia stamp from Big Blooms - Poinsettias, here's how:

Stamp the image 3 times onto coloured paper, I used Basic Gray, I think it was from the fruitcake collection...loved that line, but any red will do. trim out one whole flower, a craft knife is fast for this. Trim out two partial flowers, one with only the front 3 leaves/petals and one with a little more.



Take a deep red copic marker and add a wee bit of shading, you don't need to spend ages on this, mine was very rough.


Gently fold the leaves along the main centre line, you won't be able to do them all the way down, but that's ok, also maybe bend them a little as you fold. You're aiming to give a little body to the flat paper cut outs.


Layer the 3 cut outs on top of each other, I made sure mine were in the same position, on top of each other. When you're happy you can glue them.


At this point I roughly rubbed a little glue along the cut edges and sprinkled on some glitter. What you can't see is the step where i put some wee wooden beads in the centre and poured glue liberally over them, I left it to set for a while. Once set you can stick it to your card.


For my next card I used a technique I saw in blogland recently, I'm sorry if it was you, but I forget where exactly! The largest of the Poinsettia outline stamps was stamped in versamark and clear embossed onto the front of a large square card, this card is 5.5 by 5.5 inches. The large poinsettia is a really BIG stamp!!

Once dry, I lightly sponged white ink into the flower shape, I used versacolour white. Once it was dry I went back over with a little Barn door red distress ink, just a smidge.

I used two scraps of post it note to shield the side of my flower while I stamped the square frame from Frame-it, (Also due Thursday). Versamark and clear embossing powder on the frame and again for the sentiment, which comes from Teeny Trees. Rubbed a wee bit of white over the sentiment just to bring it out. Oooh and a wee smidge of honey distress ink in the centre of the flower.


This little quick card uses the small square frame from Frame-it to surround the smallest Poinsettia outline stamp. I stamped it 3 times in 3 different reddy, pink shades, one of which was Rhubarb memento Ink. I use the rhubarb to stamp the flower and then I used copics to colour. I love how this turned out, I especially wanted a brighter version of the flower after the rich dark red of the first card! This one and the next card really pop!

Big Blooms - Poinsettia contains 3 sizes of Poinsettia outline stamps that you've seen here but also lots of little stylized versions of poinsettias for more graphic projects, there are a total of 14 stamps in this set.

The sentiment comes from Frame-It, it is one of 18 interchangeable sentiments for year round use. All sentiments fit both the square frame you see here and the rectangular frame. The Frame-it set also contains a couple of little mini motif stamps, cupcakes and a little graphic leaf stamp, a total of 26 stamps.


I love the Frame-it set but I can't claim the idea! The concept came to me from Joan Bardee way back earlier in the year!! Joan is adept at spotting trends, I think she picked a cracking idea, I have had so much fun and one of the best things bout the Frame-it set is how easy it is to produce simple CAS finished cards in record time! No ruling!



My last card today is just a simply stamped and coloured card. I love the drama of the largest poinsettia stamp and once I had stamped it in Memento rhubarb I set to with the pink copics! I loved the wee tiny flower from the previous card so much I wanted to see what it would be like on the larger flower! LOVE it, such impact!!

A poinsettia flower has many, many veins and I drew them all in on this flower, it adds such a lot of detail, and I have found that the more detail there is in a large stamp, the easier it is to colour. You don't really need to worry about much except for obvious shading. I do like to colour but I don't want to spend half a day on one image, so I'm happy to report that this takes mere minutes!!


The little sentiment was from Compliments of the Season.


Hope they tickle!

The Competition

If you're still with me, pat yourself on the back! Then, leave a comment telling me which sorts of stamps you like best, stamps to colour in, or stamps that don't require colouring, I have days when I prefer one more than the other, I bet you do too, but let's just go with what you fancy today!! LOL!

I'll draw a random winner on Wednesday night! You could win a set from the new release!

149 comments:

  1. Oh, I love all your cards! I'm not one for colouring, but nice easy big ones that don't require too much fuss I can cope with. I'm a simple soul.

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  2. that's a hard question. i too like stamps to color in some days and stamps that you don't have to color on others. i think i like to color in more character images...and like to stamp the other kinds of stamps for background or patterns. hope that made sense, hee hee. thanks for the wonderful previews. love the 3-D poinsettia! so gorgeous! *hugs* steph :)

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  3. Your dimensional Poinsettia is awesome! and I love the glittered edges too! I'm a very CAS stamper and prefer not to have to colour in.

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  4. adore this stamp,
    so much can be done with it,
    I do love a good flower stamp,
    Hugs
    Angie

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  5. Goodmorning Claire
    Could not wait to look what you made!
    This is so beautiful love al the different colors the red is amzing but the pink is so soft..would not know which to choose.
    I too do feel like only stamping and other days love the coloring ...its a good thing we can do both with your stamps!

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  6. I'm really into big sentiments at the moment that take the place of an image. I can't wait to see all the "Compliments of the Season" stamps.
    Clare x

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  7. Wow Claire, these look great. Can't wait till Thursday!
    My preference, at the mo, is for stamps that I don't need to colour. Of course, that could change!

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  8. I am terrible at colouring, so stamps where I can avoid it are my favourites. Judith :)

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  9. These were so beautifull cards! And just as you told - preference for stamps depends on my mood, but today I guess I would choose the ones which do not need any colouring.
    But most of all I do love stamps which can be turned into 3D shapes (especially flowers) so this poinstiettia would be just the perfect stamp for me - LOL!

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  10. Well, yes I do like both types of stamps but since I discovered Copics last year I really like colouring as they make it so easy to colour quickly and smoothly - love them.

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  11. For me, I prefer one's that you don't have to colour. That's probably because I haven't got a stash of markers yet mind!

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  12. Amazing work. You are KILLING me.

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  13. No matter how many tutorials I read I still can't colour in for toffee! I'll keep on trying though. :o)

    Sooooooo looking forward to Thursday.

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  14. Your cards--and stamps--are so lovely! I think I prefer stamps I don't have to color in, because I'm not artistic enough to know exactly where to place the light and shadows. So I prefer stamps that have separate elements for what would be different colors--e.g., flower petals separate from leaves. And clear stamps make it so easy to place. I am excited to see everything in this release!

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  15. Sometimes I like to color, sometimes not!! Loeve all your cards!! Great peeks!!

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  16. I love poinsettias so this is a stampset made for me!
    Beautiful work.
    Eveline.

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  17. Wow stunning. You could use that stamp to create label toppers for presents too... wow, stunning.

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  18. wow! your 3D poinsettia looks stunning, Claire! beautiful cards!

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  19. I love your cards today. I tend to prefer images that don't require coloring, it's not my strong point in papercrafting :) You do a fabulous job though!!!

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  20. Just had a "DUH-slaps hand to head" moment. Your 3D poinsettia is stunning and I never thought to cut it out and pop it up like you did. WOW

    All of your creations today are outstanding...but every post you show us is pretty incredible.

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  21. Hi Claire
    For me it's definitely stamps that just have to be coloured in but that's a hard one
    Annette x

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  22. Beautiful images and gorgeous cards, love the layered poinsettia! I like to colour images, but I'm still a bit of a newbie to it, still have a lot of practising to do lol! Also like sentiments as a main focal point, so looking forward to your compliments of the Season set!

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  23. Today, and most days, it's color it in. But sometimes, it is stamps that don't require coloring.

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  24. Thank you for sharing; beautiful cards. I recently started stamping and right now I like to color in as my Mom bought some starter copics for my birthday which I am so loving!

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  25. Hi Claire,

    Oh, wonderful! What a gorgeous big flower!!! Love the way you made that, with the layers and the folding, soooo pretty!!!! Love all the other cards as well, but this first one is definitely my favorite!!!
    As for my favorite technique, I love coloring, but I think I love paper piecing even more, so I always keep my eyes open for stamps with which I can do that! But, like you say, different days, different faves! Ha ha, but paper piecing comes up the most days!
    Hope you'll have a wonderful day and thanks for the beautiful inspiration!

    Hugs, Wendy

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  26. Let's just say that I do get sick of coloring once in a while, and when I do, I steer clear from it for about a week. Then it's back to my favorite coloring stamps. This poinsettia stamp is amazing Claire! I cannot wait to get it in my greedy little hands! I've been waiting for the perfect Poinsettia and now I have found it...

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  27. Oh Gorgeous cards..every one....I just love to colour and to experiment with different colours on same image which I think makes stamps so versatile...so yes I like stamps you can colour...lol...
    Looking forward to seeing more of yours and the DT's creations...
    Hugs
    Jan..x

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  28. The 3-D Poinsettia is magnificent! Really it is perfection with the rough Copics treatment and the bending and such! Makes me wish for Christmas!!

    I like a set with both options. An outline stamp and a fill in stamp for two-step stamping. This way you have many options. But if I had to pick one I would pick the color in kind!!

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  29. I totally stay away from colouring in. "Harriet" was a real challenge (mine looks like a preschooler coloured it in). So I'm not crazy about outline stamps. They're okay for paper piecing and even that's hard work. LOL. I am smitten with these poinsettias of yours...so 'a-paper-piecing' we will go!

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  30. All your cards are fabulous Claire.........I love the frame stamped at slightly different angles though!

    To colour or to just stamp......I like a bit of both.....lets face it sometimes, if time permits, it's good to sit and colour. I like to be able to mix and match too!

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  31. I think for main images, I like ones that you color in...because of the variety of ways to "fill"/color them like using markers, watercoloring, paper-piecing, sponging...or using my well loved background stamps:) These cards are AMAZING, Claire...that cut and pieced poinsettia TOTALLY is knocking my socks off! Love how you made a triple frame with that Frame It set, too!

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  32. No coloring for me. Others do a fine job with it but I just haven't jumped on that bandwagon. But I won't say never - you just never know. :) Your cards are beautiful today. I love the Frame It set - can you tell us what sizes the frames are?

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  33. Gorgeous cards Claire! I really love this poinsettia set. I am not one for coloring.....I need to get my cards done fast!

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  34. I love the cut out and layering flower technique! These are great when I don't feel like coloring. Sometimes though, I am just in a coloring mood. It can be soothing and relaxing. So I guess I am partial to both depending on my fancy that day! Looking forward to the new release!

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  35. Wow that is a hard question, but today after seeing your gorgeous poinsettia, I would say the sets to color in! Gorgeous card! Thanks for the tutorial!

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  36. That 3D poinsetta is amazing - I can just see it on top of a box or sitting on a table runner. Beautiful! My preference is coloring stamps but your label designs are out of this world too! :)

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  37. After seeing this beautiful stamp, I'm in the mood to color, though I must admit my favorite card is the first one, cut and layered. Simply stunning!

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  38. Since finishing my Copics collection, I love stamps that I can use with them. The results make me look so much better at this than I am. Lol

    Great release Claire!!!

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  39. If I had to choose one it would be a solid stamp with no coloring. I like to be able to pull out my stash and finish a card in under an hour :) This flower is beautiful and works great fro paper piecing too!

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  40. I definitely love to color, so ones that I can color in always catch my eye. But I really like the ones you make that match the spellbinders. I think they add so much to a card. Totally love your stamps, and you creations!

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  41. Oh my, Claire, these upcoming sets are so beautiful. But I say this every month, heehee.
    To answer your question:
    I like stamps I don´t have to color in. I rather like to play with inkpads, embossing powders and stuff like this.

    Hugs, Tina

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  42. I like both! Some days, I love to color. Other days, I need to get things in the mail or delivered. Your poinsettias are incredible!

    Anji B

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  43. hello Claire -
    first off - rocking poinsettias. swoon swoon! not to mention that i love the frame-it set. I would have never stamped it at multiple angles - it's like petting the cat against the grain - but am i glad you did. I will have to steal that technique cause it looks awesome!

    to your question - love to stamp, especially something in a base color. i can always go in and shade in more details with color pencils. but that's just cause i'm feeling like a lazy bum today :D

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  44. I'm not one for coloring. Although I've never tried, it just seems like it would take alot of time of which I don't seem to have alot of these days.

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  45. The layered poinsettia is positively SCRUMPTIOUS!!! And I love how you overlapped the frame stamp, so clever! My coloring skills leave something to be desired, so for me stamps that don't need coloring tend to be what I choose.

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  46. You are genius Claire! Sign me up for that Frame it set right now! I think I may also crack on the Christmas greetings.... decisions, decisions...

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  47. Another wonderful release, Claire! Now that I've discovered how to use copics and then prismacolor pencils for shading, I love colouring. Outlined images are usually good for paper piecing too, which is always fun!

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  48. Claire, your cards are just beautiful this morning! As for what types of stamps I like best--I like them both! Lately I have been selecting stamps that I get to color, just to practice my Copic Marker skills, but I love ones that don't require coloring as well!

    Chris L.

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  49. I like large flower images that I can stamp, then emboss with clear or white embossing powder, and then spritz water on the image and "watercolor" with inks. This pointsettia image would be perfect.

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  50. Pat, pat, pat. It was long, too!!!
    Gorgeous poinsettia's. Today, I like to color my images. Last two weeks not so much. Loving the Frame It, thanks Joan, and they certainly don't require any coloring!
    Awesome DT, once again, they have prooved to be every bit worthy of the WMS stamp!

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  51. I came across the Waltzingmouse just recently and I am really fond of your stamps and style, Claire! As to the stamps, I would say I prefer the ones that can go without colouring. It really takes a lot of time and sometimes the results are not as good as I have hoped:)No colouring or ink colouring works better for me :)

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  52. I am like you there are days when I want to color and there are days when I don't. I like both kinds of stamps-the ones to color and the ones that don't need coloring.

    Love your cards. They are absolutely gorgeous.

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  53. gorgeous, gorgeous cards! i love poinsettias (but sadly can't keep them alive!). i enjoy all kinds of stamps, but lately i have been drawn to line drawn stamps because you can color them or just stamp them and go.

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  54. I like it when you have the choice! So you might have one stamp that already is coloured in for you and another (of the same image) that you can colour it. Not sure if that makes sense, but I understand what I mean!

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  55. Love the previews of the new stamps--looks like you've got some real winners again. Re: coloring--on rare occasions I like to color in an outline stamp (I don't own Copics but can usually get the effect I want with Prismacolor pencils), but for the most part I take the quicker alternative and choose stamps that I can layer (like 2-step stamping).

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  56. While I love the look, I have never been one for coloring. Had to laugh, when I got married my mom helped pack up, and all my books went with me. Even old coloring books from when I was a kid... with most of the pages uncolored. Guess what, my kids are using them now. So, non coloring images are most certainly the ones for me!

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  57. CLAIRE .. I could answer your question if I could breathe again... EVERYTHING is BEAUTIFUL!! OH MY!! Ok at the moment... I gotta be honest.. I like both.. it depends on the stamp.. today I plan on doing both.. so that is my answer! :) I like both and cant pick! LOL!
    have a FABULOUS day.. off to the peeks!!!

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  58. Stunning cards! I personally love to color images. It's a rare day I grab for a solid surface image... somehow coloring takes me back to a simpler time. ;-)

    Thanks for sharing!
    lise

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  59. It appears that your new stamp sets are going to be the best ever! I am going to raid my house to sell everything on ebay so that I can afford to get them all! My kids better lock up their video games. Ha! I have not colored in a stamp in like 20 years, I just never have enjoyed that. BUT I am about to look up how much copics cost because I think that you have just changed my mind. I really love the looks of the label 14 stamps! Bold and beautiful. The Compliments of the Season set is calling my name....LOUD. Brilliant work Claire.

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  60. Beautiful poinsettia cards Claire! and so many ways to use them! My fav is the first one - it looks like a real bloom sitting on top or your card!

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  61. I like to color at times. Takes me back to my childhood. I love the pointsetta stamp. All of your cards are so pretty. My friend told me about your site and she's right, it is absolutely beautiful!

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  62. I maintain that I am a stamper, not a colorer. I do not like to color in line images. That being said, Susan Rihalia has shown me that I can still make use of line images and have them be a stunning visual.

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  63. I am getting hooked on my Copics so I have to say that stamps I can color in are my new favorites. The sneak peeks so far are awesome! I can't wait until Thursday...

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  64. Claire, this is such a hard question. Sometimes I like to colour and sometimes not. I think it depends on my mood and the type of card I want to create. Besides, with your stamps I can do either, and that's the fun of it.

    Just finished looking at the sneak peeks - you and your team are so talented and you all produce such inspirational cards.

    Looking forward to tomorrow.

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  65. Most of the time I prefer stamps that don't require coloring, but I have lots of Copics. I do enjoy using them on outline images when I'm in a creative mood and have the time to play with color. I think I'm like you, Claire. Sometimes I do, sometimes I don't want to color.

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  66. Wow these are all beautiufl Claire. Thank you for the step by step tutorial. It all depends on my mood and mojo to what I like..Sometime if there is a lot of area to color it is a bit intimating cuz you can see all the flaws in my shading..And that can make or break my card!!

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  67. What gorgeous cards! I love how the 3-D really pops, but I also love the 3 frame idea. Brilliant! As for colouring, I love to do so! When I don't have the time to sit back and colour, I stamp on some coloured paper and shade a bit.

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  68. Love this stamp soooo much, Claire! Thanks for show how you put the poinsettia together! I am not one for coloring much but I do love yours! TFS!

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  69. Your work is stunning Claire! This release is awesome...and I have only seen a little bit of it! I love both options, I love to color but then somedays I don't!

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  70. These new stamp sets are wonderful! I like the ones I can color in better. Just a smidge though, because it depends on what I am making.
    Thanks,
    Candy

    www.candyscorner.wordpress.com

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  71. On busy days when I need a card fast I prefer stamps that require little if no coloring. When I have more time I am learning to enjoy coloring and the various mediums to use.

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  72. To color or not to color? Ás long as I get a chance to stamp I don´t care. No, honestly I love to color, especially the new Nutcracker Santa and the Christmas trees are my favorites at the moment.

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  73. Ooooh now that's a hard question. I do like stamps you can just ink for instant results but I find colouring so relaxing - a bit of both then I reckon !

    Gorgeous creations by both you and your wonderful DT.

    Hugs,

    Jo xx

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  74. Beautiful cards! Thanks for the chance! I prefer stamps w/o coloring because I am not good at it! I still prefer stamping of different color images :) - gchia2008@gmail.com

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  75. So many ways to work the poinsettia. I really love how you gave us all those options and more. Thank you.

    There are days when I love sitting and coloring. But more and more, I'm finding that i don't have time to do that. Especially now that I'm trying to decide what to do for the 60 Christmas cards I make each year. Not coloring will be the option I choose for that. :)

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  76. Lori H (loricabo)5 October 2010 at 17:57

    I tend to gravitate to the non-coloring images, but am trying to branch out. Coloring is definitely outside my comfort zone.

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  77. I love coloring with my copics so most stamps I buy are based on that fact! Love the samples so far!

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  78. That's one hard question!!! I think I would go with big stamps and less coloring these days....... although I'm a coloring girl!!!!LOL.....

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  79. I like all kinds of stamps. It's amazing what a little coloring can do to a plain image. I look forward to your vintage greetings set!

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  80. Oh my....Claire, you're so creative and talented. It shows in your stamp designs as well as your card designs. Your cards are gorgeous. The first one with the 3D poinsettia is my favorite. It's stunning!
    For now I like stamps that don't require coloring best. Simply because I don't feel comfortable about my coloring skills. One of the sets I purchased last month is perfect to practice my coloring skills so I have to try it out soon.

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  81. Claire, I am with you. LOVE VINTAGE CHRISTMAS GREETINGS!!! You will be seeing some of my hard earned money this Thursday. NEED that poinsetta!! I recently bought some Copics and some amazing flowers stamps and dies to match and am in love. This is right up my alley right now!! Can't wait until Thursday!! Will they be available to buy then?

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  82. really just depends for me... I love using my copics to color in images but then I also love to just stamp and go... As long as it involves stamps and ink I am a happy gal.

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  83. Great samples. Love the Frame It set. I definitely prefer stamps that do not requir colouring in. I like clean and simple and think solid images lend themselves to that style more often. Thanks for the chance to win a new set :) Looking forward to the release.

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  84. I think I like the ones that are open in design. This allows coloring or stamping on pattern paper (which I am a sucker for) or a combination. I seem to have a hard time getting a good image on the solid or negative space stamps so I steer away from them. Looking forward to seeing the rest of this month's release. Very excited about the Text It--great that it is sized to fit an A2 card width. Thanks!!

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  85. This post is just wonderful! Love all the different ways that you used this flower set! I never would have imagined all the possibilities. That big 3D flower is my fav of the bunch.

    As for coloring vs. not, I'm more leaning towards fun graphic designs that the ink just does the coloring for me. Although, not to say that I don't love a paper-pieced image (my cheat way to color) now and then! :)

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  86. I love stamps that I can use in outline onto candles - really into candle stamping at the moment & love anything that will make a beautiful candle gift. Can't wait for this release, Christmas is my favourite time of year!

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  87. Gorgeous Poinsettia!!!

    i Love stamps to color, always Color!!!!

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  88. Gorgeous Poinsettia!!!

    i Love stamps to color, always Color!!!!

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  89. I love your poinsettia and wish you could design a set for every flower as I adore them! I agree, the way you have included all the veins will make colouring in so much easier. I would say I prefer outline stamps to solid ones most of the time as I do love colouring but it depends on my mood.

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  90. Drop-dead gorgeous! That 3D poinsettia is to die for! I tend to prefer line images that can be colored or paper-pieced or embossed, depending on what mood I'm in at the moment. I have plenty of bolder images though! I just like whatever catches my fancy. :)

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  91. I like sentiment stamps the best because my handwriting/printing is so poor!

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  92. No coloring for me! And I'll feel the same way tomorrow, too.
    Your cards are stunning, Claire. Stamping the frame multiple times looks phenomenal. And you have once again outdone yourself with the fonts in Compliments of the Season.

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  93. Beautiful xxx
    Why don't you pop along to our craft blog www.fiskarettes.co.uk We have competitions, challenges, charity events and even a class at the NEC (Birmingham with Shimelle lane - but you need to book x)You can inspire or be inspired :)

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  94. Today I'd like to color ... it is calm, relaxing and very zen. Since I am the middle of packing up my apartment to move, I could really use the "zen" right now! Having my supplies all tucked in boxes is frustrating! I can't even take a break and just sit there.
    Can't wait to see all the new stamps - the frame idea is perfect for someone like me who can't draw a whit!

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  95. Loving these peeks so far!! I think I have my days, too. But I seem to reach for stamps that don't need to be colored or at least can't be customized with just different ink colors.

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  96. I love the non-colouring type. Like in your example today which is beautiful I jut love the christmas sayings. I'm in there with you, love them and can't get enough of them in my stash. Bye Irene

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  97. Oh my goodness, these are beautiful! When I first started to stamp, I was drawn to all line art stamps as I loved to color! Now I tend to go more to solid-image stamps, but my first love will always be outlines!!!

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  98. I've not yet invested in any markers, so I'm not yet one to colour. It's something I hope to conquer one day. So for now, I like stamps that don't need colouring. And I'm loving all the peaks so far!

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  99. Like you, some days indoors than the other!! These days I'm really enjoying paper piecing and think this poinsettia will be perfect for that!!

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  100. it will vary, but right now I like stamps that you colour in. There are just so many more options with line art stamps (you've shown us more than a few today !!) than with solid stamps. !

    Thanks!

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  101. I love, love, love your coloring, but for myself no coloring is usually what's best. If you offer that coloring class someday, I'll definitely sign up. :)

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  102. What gorgeous cards, especially the first one.
    I like both, but today I like to colour most.

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  103. Beautiful poinsettias. I haven't done any coloring in quite some time. Right now I just don't have the time or patience for it. I certainly have spent a fortune on copics so lord knows I should be doing more to use them. Love the nesties coordinating stamps.

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  104. I love colouring - Copics are my new best friends. That said, I also love paper piecing, and I love stamping in vintage colours and not colouring at all. I guess I just love to stamp LOL.

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  105. Claire, your first poinsettia is STUNNING!! It looks real!! I have never seen a stamp of this flower that I really care for, but yours is so realistic, I love it!

    Generally, I don't like to colour, I prefer images that do the trick for me - so for instance, if it's a pumpkin stamp, I like one that's solid, but with a bit of a design on it. But of course, every now and again I like to go back to childhood and colour!

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  106. I love the IDEA of coloring but am usually in too much of a hurry to really sit down and do justice to that kind of stamp. Maybe in a few more years once I retire... Love the poinsettias, however, they are so beautiful and realistic looking!

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  107. Wow Claire! These are beautiful! Lately I've been loving to color since catching onto the Copic craze!

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  108. I love how you colored the pick poinsettia. I usually don't like stamps that I have to color, but I think this poinsettia is a must have.

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  109. Hard Question. I prefer bold clean designs that don't need coloring.. I don't really like ones with too much texture that may compete with my paper stash. I also like ones to color in. Those would be things like your new poinsettia set or the nutcraker. Those can be center pieces or not need patterened paper at all. I quess, it depends on my mood.

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  110. I am in love with your poinsettia! Absolutely gorgeous! Can't wait to hop and see what the other ladies have created!
    I love to color, so images like the big poinsettia are right up my alley!
    DeniseB

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  111. Love having a stamp to colour in, just brings me back to being a little girl and colouring for hours with brand new crayons. Would like to try copics someday, but will stick with my pencils or watercolour crayons for now.

    Thanks for the great stamps coming out. Love them all.

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  112. I love colouring in an image! I like to match with the papers I am using and with Copic markers, well, that's so easy to customize your image!
    Looks like a lovely release so far...

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  113. Wow, that poinsettia is AMAZING! It looks so realistic! All of the sneak peeks are so awesome, Claire! To answer your question, I love looking at colored images on other people's cards, but when making cards myself, I prefer to stamp images that don't require coloring. (Although I do like paper piecing with outline images!) Looking forward to the release tomorrow! :)

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  114. I am colouring challenged, so I prefer things that don't require much. I really like vintage photo stamps for this reason, they have lots of detail but require little enhancement and look good in black and white!

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  115. they are all totally fab designs but i have to say my favourite is the frame it set because its so versatile and i can use it with all my other stamp sets. Karenx

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  116. I love them all, it depends on the mood I'm in as to colour or not.
    I'm still a beginner when it come to the blending bits.

    Hugs Carol xx

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  117. Although I sometimes like stamps that don't require coloring (because they're fast), I usually prefer line stamps that I can color. Of course, I still have the option to just stamp the line stamp and not color it in - so they can be easy too!

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  118. Gorgeous, poinsettia Claire! I really enjoy coloring stamped images.

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  119. Claire---such beautiful projects and stamps this month! I prefer NOT coloring, but sometimes I get a set like this to FORCE me to use those Copics!

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  120. Well, I like both but like you I don't want to be spending all day at the job, so colouring in needs to be at a minimum, and if I can get a big juicy stamped image, that suits me. This is no fair Claire - I cannot be spending all my money on your stamps but it looks like I need to.....which ones will I choose?????

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  121. Oooh tough question....well I do love to colour so I think I'm gonna say stamps to colour. I also love to use them as simple outlines to compliment my CAS cards. I know I sometimes struggle with solid images on clear stamps - I need to experiment with the ink methinks!
    Thanks for the chance to win and for the inspirational samples!
    Hugs,
    Aimes
    x

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  122. I generally like stamps that I don't have to color. When I was a kid I collected a number of stamps, but hated coloring. I was ecstatic the first time I ever saw multi-step stamping so I did not have to color!

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  123. I simply love your creations and to answer your question, its both. I love the option of having stamps that I CAN color in if I want to or color.

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  124. Well I just hopped on the Copics bandwagon not too long ago so Im definitely interested in stamps I can color. I do like that you made the big image easier to color in. It would take me all DAY to finish it and it still wouldn't look as gorgeous as yours!

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  125. what's not to love about these sets. I am so loving the labels though and the frames are a must have and then there's the text images. Dang, there goes my budget again, lol. I really do like how you give the opitionn of coloring or not too.

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  126. I am loving all of your samples! I like all stamps, but lately have prefered those that I don't have to color in. Thanks for the chance to win.

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  127. I am so excited for this release. I snagged Labels Fourteen at my LSS yesterday! Can't wait to see the full reveal!

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  128. Lovely poinsettia cards, Claire! I think I prefer stamps that you can color because it provides you with more options. You can choose to color them or choose to not (when they are not colored they make great background stamps). And you can use them for paper piecing with DP, which is always fun.

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  129. The addition of the credit card is one of the best news!!! This means, I can order directly, without looking for somebody who would do the Paypal for me. Thanks soooo much!

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  130. Hi Claire!
    I just looove to colour in stamped images I find it so therapeutic and focussing 100% on one piece of card - sure don't all kids big and small love colouring in!
    Slán,
    Dei xx
    p.s I love your poinsettia card - inspirational!

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  131. STUNNING Poinsettia's Claire! Your coloring is to die for!

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  132. Ever since I discovered Copic markers I love stamps that I can color in. I really love your images and can't wait to see more!

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  133. These are stunning, Claire! Your first card with the layered poinsettia is just amazing - it looks real! I love, love, love it!

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  134. Wow! That pointsettia card is stunning! A work of art! Thanks for sharing all the steps and details!

    I do like colouring in stamps; makes me feel more artistic! But if I need a quick card, I usually read for my solid or patterned stamps to ink, stamp & go! :-)

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  135. Oh my, can I just say I LOVE LOVE LOVE how you stamped the frame 3 times for your It's Christmas card! I LOVE that idea! Ok, I love the rest too, like the fun layered poinsettia !

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  136. I'd say stamps to colour in because they are generally more versatile. But I'm a stamp tart - I'll take anything ;) !

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  137. Wow! What fabulous work!

    As far as stamps. Hmmm...I'd have to say the ones that require NO coloring. I'm just not that great with coloring. I love to see what others have done, but not me!

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  138. Stunning samples showcasing another fabulous release! Most of the time I prefer stamps that don't require much/any coloring and therefore aren't as time consuming.

    Andrea McCulley
    prayalways421@yahoo.com

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  139. Today I like stamps that I can color with my copics.

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  140. I tend to go towards stamps that I don't have to color in, but I am starting to collect Copics, and am trying to learn how to color well, like so many of you all do!! Your stamps are fantastic!! I love them all and don't even look at other companies stamps anymore. Keep up the good work: you are amazing!!!!!

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  141. I love my Copic markers so I do like to have stamps that I can color in. There are times though when it is nice to just stamp and you are done except to embellish.

    Mary

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  142. I'm still getting the coloring down so I tend to stamp with solid images. You inspire me to keep trying though so thank you.

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  143. The pointsetta would be my choice of stamp. I love to use it for Christmas cards.

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  144. Oh my!! I am catching up with blog reading and oh my, jaw droppingly GORGEOUS!!!!!

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  145. Love love all kind of stamps especially big ones. I prefer big background stamps, use watermark ink or tone on tone. Individual stamp with plenty of space for coloring with my copics

    Ruby

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  146. Love love all kind of stamps especially big ones. I prefer big background stamps, use watermark ink or tone on tone. Individual stamp with plenty of space for coloring with my copics

    Ruby

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Thanks for taking the time to comment, :) I read them all and I appreciate you taking time to visit!