Finally - Thanks so much for your patience !

So I guess you worked out disaster had befallen me!

Just prior to Christmas I had to clear out my craft room so my son could sleep in his old room again.  So the swaps which had arrived prior to December were put somewhere safe.

I can sense you know what's coming....................

During the Christmas break I had awful flu - it lasted 10 days and lots of things I should remember were just wiped like a blackboard eraser cleans the board.

I searched, I panicked , I enlisted help, I had hubby go through all the Christmas decs - he was not amused!

I finally confessed to Jill at the end of January and added my post asking folks to get in touch.

Then last weekend looking for something else I came across them - yep in the safest place ever that I didn't think to look!

I was sooooo happy I can tell you!

So here they are - These 10 ladies have been playing along for most of the 3 1/2 years of the swap.  I am sure you will love seeing them.

Eve Yates

Pam Atkinson

Linda Bainbridge

Justine Hardy

Jean Straw

Lynne Denton

Tania Downie (there are 6, 3 of each type)

Vonny Wolsey

Sarah Ford

Barbara Greenwood.

So you can see what a hard thing it is giving up doing the swap - every time they have been as creative and diverse as this and it has been an absolute pleasure to feast my eyes on them all every month.

I would like to say a big THANK YOU to everyone who has participated in the swap and for my teamie Michelle for providing atcs for the winner some months.

Included in your envelope - which has been posted today is a note from Vonny who has details of another swap you may like to join.  Many thanks Vonny that was so thoughtful.

Happy Crafting folks.

Janet xxx

Stop Press!!

The ATC swap has not yet been completed for Decembers In the bleak mid winter theme.

There has been a technical hitch!

If you joined in the swap - please get in touch asap via my email at

clarkyj44@gmail.com

Many thanks

Janet

Last Atc swap at The stamp man

The regular swappers already know that this is the last swap here at The Stamp Man. Sadly I have become too busy to give it my full attention.  We are going out in the festive spirit though with a theme of In the bleak mid winter which mirrors the Main Stamp Man swap too.

some folks had some snow this last few days - we managed to avoid it so I made my own with lovely frantage.  I have also used iced spruce distress ink to give that wintery look.

I shall not be picking a winner for the last swap but will showcase each persons atc that enters this month so that everyone can see the high standard our atc swap has attracted.
All the swap details are linked in the sidebar to your left.  Do hope you play along with the last swap.

Happy crafting
Janet

October swaps posted

Octobers Shades of Autumn swaps are on their way and here is the winner of this swap made by the lovely P Harrison from the Isle of Sky I thought this could well be Jill and Ians dog Hamish when out on an Autumn evening!

Well done.  Hope you like your extra atcs from Michelle.

Looking forward to Novembers swap and a few have arrived already!

The Stampman's very own Jill is on Create and Craft tomorrow at 10am and 7pm with some crafty bargains to share so do tune in if you can.

Take care and happy crafting

Novembers swap

Hi all and huge apologies again for being late - what's more I have no offering at the moment but what I do have is an atc from one of our longest standing players Pam Atkinson

Here is the outside - yes this atc has an inside and an outside!

 because the main part is a pocket!

Housing this gorgeous vintage beauty!

6 atc players will receive one of these atcs in the November swap as Pam always does a double swap.

I hope you are one of the lucky ones.

All the swap details are in the sidebar to the right and you have until 30th November to play along with the "tag" theme.

I will be back soon with the "posted" news.

Happy crafting folks xxx

Birds, Bees and Butterflies posted

Hello folks

Another month has flown by with some amazing swaps.  The Stamp Man HQ has been extremely busy hence the lateness of me posting.

Here is the winning atc from Barbara Greenwood who has managed to incorporate all the elements really well .  Lovely stamping Barbara.

I have already got lots of your shades of Autumn swaps but you do still have 2 weeks to play along - all the rules are in the sidebar to the left.

Please leave your thanks when your swaps arrive on the thanks page for October 2012 .

Happy crafting folks xx

Janet and The SM Team xx

October swap - shades of Autumn

Hello there!

The nights are drawing in and it definitely has an Autumnal feel to it so here we go with a seasonal themed swap - Shades of Autumn.

I used some peel offs to create a mask then used distress ink and blending tool to go over them.  I then removed them and added more ink.

A sentiment and a peel off leaf and here it is.

As always the swap details are in the right hand side bar so if you are just joining in please check them out xx 

Happy Crafting folks xx

Precious metals posted

The Olympics and ParaOlympics were amazing. GB did so well to get so many medals and here in Skipton we were thrilled to get our own Gold Postbox after Danielle Brown won gold for archery in the ParaOlympics last week.

Some amazing inspiration from you all with your precious metals swaps. This one stood out in particular – love the bronze embossing and think the use of Shrink plastic is brilliant!

Well done Sarah Ford!

A page has been started for thanks along with a list of who played along for August.

This months swap is Birds, Bees and butterflies and next month is autumn colours so do hope to see you playing along with the swap again.

Happy Crafting x

Janet and The Stamp Man team.

Birds, Bees and Butterflies

First of all apologies for the post being late! September crept up on my whilst I wasn't looking and before I knew it its the 4th already!

Our swap this month is around Birds, bee's and butterflies so lots of scope for this one.  Here is a little inspiration to get you going.

Janet

Michelle

Happy Crafting x

Here comes summer

hopefully on its way to you!

Sorry I am late posting I have been trying to hold off as I have had printer problems and wanted to add my usual note to the swap but with no solution on the horizon I think Id best just send them on without.

Here is the fab winner - Jean Straw whose gorgeous atc just reminds us of what summer should be about - blue skies, the summer sun and holidays.

Thanks for playing along folks as always a pleasure to see your lovely creations.

Scroll down for inspiration from this months swap of "precious metals"

Please leave thanks in the thanks page where a list of the atcs received is too.

Happy Crafting

from the Stamp Man team x

August swap - precious metals

This was a perfect choice for the atc swap for 2 reasons this month - firstly it ties in with the main challenge blog theme so perfect for left over bits and bobs but also to link with the Olympic games this month and all the medals which will be won.

So where to find inspiration?

First place I looked was my red, white and blue box where I have put bits together to influence my British projects including  fab book I got for Christmas full of Britishness!

 rooting around I found lots of bits and bobs and along with some chocolate coin wrappers from my Neice and Nephews visit a few weeks ago an idea was born.

Isn't card candi fab???

The stamp man stock oodles of sets if you need to stock up here.

I thought it just finished off my atcs perfectly.

Here is some inspiration from Angela too.

Angela

Check out the atc swap rules in the right hand side bar and I look forward to seeing your lovely swaps

Happy Crafting x

Diamonds for a Queen!

 I have loved looking at all your Jubilee inspired atcs some wonderful interpretations of the theme so I thought I would share one from each person here.  I had not made a note of names before I did the swap so you will just have to marvel and wonder who made each atc although I hope you recognise at least 1.

Such beauty in miniature I'm sure you agree.

Swaps will be posted on Monday so I will leave it as a surprise who won this time.

If you want to join in all swap instructions to the right in the sidebar - just click to find the page x

Thanks for playing along and have fun crafting with Here comes Summer.....

Here comes summer

Well we hope it arrives soon!

Here in North Yorkshire its not made much of an appearance that's for sure but we can but hope!

Here is some inspiration for the theme which runs until the 31st July.  All the swap details can be found in the sidebar to the right.

 Janet went for bold flowers in bright summery colours and used

Hero arts Big flower pattern

and Glossy Accents

Hope you have fun creating summer in your atcs.

Janet and The Stamp Man Team x

Shabby Chic/ distressed atcs now posted.

Hi All

On time for once with the swap!

Don't you just love this atc by Sarah Ford - lovely layers of stamping and embossing to compliment the embelishments.  A worthy winner of our May swap.

We had 15 players this month - the list of received and thanks thread is in the sidebar.

Our theme for June is "Diamonds for a Queen" hope the wonderful bank holiday festivities have inspired your creativity for this one.

Future swap themes can be found in the left hand sidebar and details of where to send your swaps on the right.

Have fun and thanks for playing along

Janet and the Stamp man team x

June - Jubilee month - Diamonds for a Queen

The months are flying by and we are in June already - The year Her Majesty the Queen has reigned for 60 years.

To celebrate this months swap is called Diamonds for a Queen.  Cannot wait to see what fab atcs you come up with!

Here is one of mine. 

Ive used papers, ribbon, lace and gems from stash

 the crown is from the brilliant stamp set here

and Gold embossing powder from stampendous.

and more from the team

Brenda

Brenda used

Stampendous vintage crown stamp set

Distress inks - Dusty Concord, Worn Lipstick

Try crushed glass glitter

Angela

Angela used;

Top ATC- Non Sequitur Stamp set Across the miles.

Mark Richards Bling clear round

Distress ink - Fired Brick, Faded Jean, Old Paper, Tea dye, Black Soot

Bottom ATC - Non Sequitur Stamp set Across the miles.

Mark Richards Bling clear round

Distress ink - Fired Brick, Faded Jean, Black Soot

Versamark Clear ink

Glossy card

Stunning work folks!

So hope to see you playing along.  Have just received Mays swap from Mr Stamp Man so hopefully I will be able to sort over the Bank Holiday.

Happy Crafting folks xx

Janet and The Stamp Man team

Aprils swaps are in the post

Huge apologies again for a late swap - both Jill and Ian as well as me have been so busy at the beginning of the month but now its calmed down here is the winner of the buttons and bows swap

I love this simple but chic style made by Tania Downie - the dress form is decoupaged and the addition of the material scrap is fabulous.

Well done Tania hope you like the extra swaps in our envelope.

Don't forget this months theme is shabby chic or distressed - I already have quite a few with some swappers getting ahead to save on postage.

If you are new to our swap all the details can be found in the sidebar.  You have until 31st May to play along.

Have fun creating folks.

Janet

Mays theme - Shabby Chic or distressed

First of May already!  Wow the year is passing quickly!

Our theme for May is shabby chic or distressed.  We have some fabulous inspiration from our team

Brenda

Brenda used -

Distress Inks - Antique Linen, Tattered Rose, Victorian Velvet, Walnut Stain

Ranger Black Archival ink

Artemio clear stamp set - Sewing

Tim Holtz stamps set - Shabby French

Embellishments and rubbings from stash

Lisa O

Lisa used:

Distress Inks-Victorian Velvet, Bundled Sage and Forest Moss

Tim Holtz Stamps-Papillion

Tim Holtx Sissix Die-Tattered Floral

Ribbon and gems from own stash

Angela

Angela used:

Prima paper 6X6 pad

Blank Canvas paint watered down.

Tim Holtz Tattered Florals Die

Non-Sequitur Across the Miles stamp set.

Vellum

TH Walnut  and Picket Fence Distress stain

Fire Brick and Victorian Velvet Distress inks.

Janet

Janet used

Prima papers

Tim Holtz adage tickets

Tattered floral die

Brushed corderoy distress ink

ribbons, buttons and charm from stash

Michelle

Michelle Used

Stampendous Clear Frantage 2011 - SSC1130 Rose Branch Border

Tim Holtz Distress Ink Pad - Aged Mahogany

Tim Holtz Distress Ink Pad - Tattered Rose

Tim Holtz Distress Ink Pad - Crushed Olive

Woodware Watercolour Brush - Detailer Tip (WSBR01)

If you would like to play along with the atc swap then all the instructions are here

have fun creating x

The Stamp Man Team