Celebrate a bountiful and creative harvest with brand new Stampington publications. This November we’re hoping to rouse your sleepy muse with the inspiring images in Artful Blogging and the inventive and resourceful upcycled projects in GreenCraft. You definitely won’t want to miss the enchanting creatures in Art Doll Quarterly, or the new homemade, chemical-free bath and body products from the second issue of Willow and Sage. Find the perfect inspiration for unique, handmade gifts or give yourself a well-deserved break with creative project ideas.

We love our blog followers, and that’s why we want to offer you an exclusive promotion. Use the coupon code BLOG1114 at checkout to get $5 off any of our new November issues.

In this exciting winter issue, Shirley Vauvelle, our Artist Profile, artfully mixes clay and paper, and Linda Trenholm shows off a breathtaking altered board book inspired by the South of France. You’ll also find a creative take on business cards for artists, quirky and clever television-inspired assemblages, and edgy wrapping ideas for all of your holiday gifts. Along with the latest information and innovations in paper crafting and mixed-media, you won’t want to miss a captivating feature on artistic treasures that fit in the palm of your hand.

Altered Couture is a 160-page publication dedicated to altered and embellished clothing and accessories. This issue shares more clothing upcycles from household names like Diane Aguilar, Kimberly Elowe, Shelly West, Nancy Romans, and Lorri Scott; plus tons of upcoming designers new to the pages of Altered Couture. Find the results from our Make It Military challenge, creative, refashioned items that are perfect for winter, and a fabulous steampunk pair of pumps, hand-painted by Miranda Storer. You also will not want to miss stylish and flattering tunic jackets, sweaters, skirts, and dresses, a unique tutorial on how to upcycle your old clothes into yoga bags, or fun accessories to pair with your altered away items.

Art Doll Quarterly’s winter issue is packed with wonderful seasonal delights, magical inspiration, and great techniques. We reveal the best of the best in our Medieval Doll Challenge with some fabulous dolls including Lady Shallot, Merlin, Henry VIII, Jehanne d’Arc, and King Théoden. Artist Trent Manning is the subject of our Doll Artist Profile, and his work of turning materials that are recycled, salvaged, and repurposed into spectacular art will astound you. Renowned doll artist Terese Cato shares a tutorial on using watercolor pencils on fabric, Adele Sciortino discusses part two of her article on how to photograph your artwork, and award-winning artist Norma Prickett shares a collaborative gourd doll project that is sure to inspire. ’Tis the season — and we’re happy to showcase delightfully charming Santa’s, elves, holiday pixies, snowmen, a biker Santa, and so much more.

Immerse yourself in the breathtaking photos and captivating stories of some of the world’s most creative bloggers in this issue of Artful Blogging. Discover Stephanie Dahlsrud and Annetta Bosakova’s journey to journal every day of 2014 – to photograph and blog about each day on ayeartoinspire.blogspot.ca. We’ll also introduce you to Courtney Kennedy, of alwaysrooney.com, a lover of fashion and handmade and also a DIY genius, and Suzanne Walcher, of privetandholly.blogspot.com, who finds joy in words and in small details. You’ll also delight in entering into Linda Dresselhaus’ creative blog full of vintage finds and upcycyled projects on itsy-bits-and-pieces.blogspot.com.

This holiday season, give the gift that keeps on giving by turning the recycling bin into Santa’s magic sack! The Winter 2014 issue of GreenCraft Magazine is overflowing with inspired, environmentally-safe craft projects that also happen to double as one-of-a-kind gift ideas. Try your hand at making a sweet, repurposed denim market bag that could be stuffed with all kinds of holiday goodies. Find out how to transform broken watches into nautical bracelets to take to the beach with you anywhere. You’ll also learn how to create a unique mouse pad from upcycled materials, ornaments from vintage chandelier crystals, and so much more!

Whether it’s art, food, music, written works, or choreographed dances, extraordinary women know that the process of creating is every bit as important as what ultimately gets created. Come indulge in a number of featured artists, articles, and beautiful spaces within the winter issue of Where Women Create.

What’s Inside:

• The colorful studio of Debi Beard
• The unique creative spaces of Anna Maria Horner and Maya Donenfeld of Creative Bug
• Anita Davis of the Esse Purse Museum and the artistic quarters of quilters Judy Murrah and Bari J. Ackerman
• Features on Amanda Herring, Wendy Addison, and Linda Gardner
• The Men Who Make It column spotlights Emmy-winning costume designer from NYC, David Zyla

Willow and Sage is filled with more than 70 unique recipes, uses, and beautiful packaging ideas for homemade bath and body products, paired alongside stunning, Somerset-style photography. Learn how to ease back pain with just a few ingredients, discover 10 easy hair treatments you can find in your kitchen, and throw a spa day for you and your girlfriends. Make pin-worthy bath and body gifts this holiday, including quick and easy lip balm that is perfect to use as a stocking stuffer. This issue also reveals the best essential oils for women along with easy to make gifts for the man in your life.

Your Chance to Win One of Our November Issues!

[This giveaway has ended.]

We’re giving away brand-new November issues to THREE lucky winners! Simply follow these steps to enter for your chance to win:

1) Click on your favorite spread above.

2) Pin or “Like” that particular issue.

3) If you pinned to Pinterest, share the link in the comments section below. If you “liked” on Facebook, tag us so we can see.

4) If you don’t have Facebook or Pinterest, please comment below and tell us which issue you find most appealing and why.

*Winners are selected at random and will be contacted via email. *$5 off discount applies to purchases of any of the following 2014 November issues only: Somerset Studio, Altered Couture, Art Doll Quarterly, Artful Blogging, GreenCraft Magazine, Where Women Create, and Willow and Sage. Discount code can be used only one time per customer, and expires 11/30/14. Contest is open to U.S. residents and ends 11/30/14 at 11:59pm.

Congratulations to Our Glimpse Inside Winners for the Month of October:

Susie Donovan, Pat Hauge, and Felicia Aaron

Congratulations to our Bella Grace Blog Hop Winners:

Tracy Snyder, Peggy Lee, Connie Pedersen, Charlene James, and Nadine Jordan

It’s not easy to become a published artist. It takes hard work, commitment, and at times, a thick skin. But in the end, it’s all worth it because there’s nothing like the feeling you get from seeing your work featured, front-and-center, in a magazine.

Being published in one of our magazines is a great way for up-and-coming artists to get recognition for their artwork, blogs, or current product lines. It’s also a wonderful way to inspire creativity amongst an audience of your peers.

Look through our calls and challenges and submit your work today!

Upcoming Calls and Challenges

Designed Quotes
Throughout each issue of Bella Grace are beautifully designed quotes. Photographers, graphic designers, illustrators, and artists of all types are invited to submit their own designed quotes. They can include photography, typography, hand-lettering, and more.

~Quote Maya Angelou and artwork by Jovana Rikalo

Photography
Picture submissions should capture the spirit of Bella Grace. They should depict simple moments, bits of romance, feelings of happiness, etc. Photography can be submitted on its own and will be considered for use with narratives or as the background for some of the quotes featured throughout the book.

~Photography by Annetta Bosakova

Narratives
We are currently looking for original narratives and poetry that focus on the idea that “life is a beautiful adventure.” Submitted work can be about simple pleasures, life lessons learned, slowing down, embracing your authentic self, and more. Written submissions can include accompanying photography, but we will also pair writers up with photographers if necessary.

Email images of your submissions to the editor at bellagrace@stampington.com. Please use Bella Grace Submission for the subject line.

Deadline: November 5^th

If selected, we may ask you to send in your artwork or to provide us with hi-res versions of your photographs.

Modern Marilyn
For this challenge, we want you to create a garment, accessory, or ensemble channeling your favorite famous icon from the past or present. Make something for everyday wear or a special occasion, make it modern, and make sure it’s altered! Who inspired or still inspires you today — Marilyn Monroe, Gwen Stefani, Lorde, Madonna, Grace Jones, Audrey Hepburn, Twiggy, Diana Ross? Let us know, and show us what you can do!

~Dress by Paula Sloan

Deadline: December 15, 2014.

Mail in your submissions to the following address:

Stampington & Company
ATTN: Altered Couture
22992 Mill Creek Drive, Suite B
Laguna Hills, CA 92653

Black & White
Black and white is a long-time favorite color scheme for artists. We love the simplicity of black and white — the yin and yang, the opposite or contrary forces that are interconnected. Black can represent power, elegance, style, sadness, even evil. White can represent purity, peace, air, cleanliness, or emptiness and fear. For this challenge, we offer you no specific parameters other than to create a doll with the theme of “Black & White.” We’re sure our talented readers will reward us with wonderful submissions! Results will be published in our Summer 2015 issue.

~Artwork by Kevin Hill

Email images of your submissions to the editor at artdollquarterly@stampington.com. Please use Art Doll Quarterly Submission for the subject line.

Deadline: December 15, 2014.

If selected, we may ask you to send in your artwork or to provide us with hi-res versions of your photographs.

In every quarterly issue of Art Journaling, artists open their journals and share creative techniques for capturing their emotions. From stamping and collage art to painting and sketching, each journal is filled with innovative techniques and inspirational stories. If you have an art journal that you would like to share with our readers, we would love to hear from you.

~Artwork by Renee Zarate

Email images of your submissions to the editor at artjournaling@stampington.com. Please use Art Journaling Submission for the subject line.

Deadline: November  15, 2014.

If selected, we may ask you to send in your artwork or to provide us with hi-res versions of your photographs.

Feature Articles
Finding creative and cost-effective uses for old items is nothing new to artists, but the spirit of preserving the planet is more important than ever before. That’s why GreenCraft Magazine is here — to honor and inspire those who find artistic applications for normally discarded resources. GreenCraft features articles about repurposing trash to treasure and showcases projects where waste is upcycled into ecologically chic creations. Have you found a use for cardboard rolls left over from paper towels? Have you cut up an old T-shirt and knitted it into a purse? Have you taken a burned-out light bulb and made it into a beautiful flower vase? Have you transformed old board games into notebooks? Then we want to hear from you! Submit your recycled, reused and repurposed items to GreenCraft Magazine today!

Deadline: December 15^th.

~Artwork by Meghan Horan

Repurposing Vintage
Thrift-store shoppers and junkers everywhere: We challenge you to reuse vintage in a fresh, upcycled manner. Adding paint or embellishments are just a couple examples of ways you can breathe new life into vintage items. Why not stop into your local thrift store or secondhand shop for inspiration?

Deadline: Ongoing.

~Artwork by Melinda Barnett

Email images of your submissions to the editor at greencraft@stampington.com. Please use GreenCraft Magazine Submission for the subject line.

If selected, we may ask you to send in your artwork or to provide us with hi-res versions of your photographs.

How do you carry it? That’s the question Somerset Studio would like to help answer through our new and exciting special publication titled Haute Handbags. Whether we use purses, clutches, totes, portfolios, sacks, bags, or attachés, there are many styles made with an astounding array of materials emerging from all corners of the creative world – all vying to be carried and used with style. You are welcome to construct a bag from scratch, or to purchase one that you embellish and alter with paints, beads, rubber stamps, ribbons, buttons, transparencies, and more. No medium or material is ruled out so use your imagination to make bags of leather, wool, fabric, paper, plastic, wood, glass, or any other materials that you love.

~Artwork by Lilla Le Vine

Email images of your submissions to the editor at hautehandbags@stampington.com. Please use Haute Handbags Submission for the subject line.

Deadline: November 15th.

If selected, we may ask you to send in your artwork or to provide us with hi-res versions of your photographs.

Still Have Questions About How to Submit?

If you have any general questions regarding submissions, please feel free to contact Art Management at submissions@stampington.com. If you want to see a full list of our current submission requests, please visit our Calls and Challenges page.

We hope to hear from you soon! Good luck, and keep creating.

Functionality and beauty come together in this lovely organization board. Forget thumb-tacks and neon-colored push-pins, instead you can use some naturally colored clothespins and a few kraft-colored notecards to keep yourself artistically organized through the holiday season.  Best of all, this Mini Pallet Organization Board Project is easy to personalize with different decorative wraps and clothespins, so you can customize it to fit the décor of your kitchen, office, bedroom, or studio. You just need a few items for this project, but the results can be amazing. Make one for yourself, or make a dozen and gift them to all of your favorite disorganized friends.

Mini Pallet Organization Board Project Materials:

Collage Pauge Medium Matte
Judikins Diamond Glaze
Decorative Wrap (We used Cavallini & Co. Decorative Wrap – Flora & Fauna Birds 2)
Foam Brushes
Ecology Natural Kraft Index Cards
Wooden Pallet (we used the 14 x 24 inch pallet)
Clothespins
Dark Wood Stain or Brown Acrylic Paint

Mini Pallet Organization Board Project Tutorial:

Step 1 – Start by staining your wood pallet with a dark brown wood stain, or alternatively, use brown acrylic paint. Allow to dry overnight.

Step 2 – Carefully cut your decorative wrap into strips that are slightly smaller than the width of the panels on your pallet. The idea is to connect them like a puzzle.

Step 3 – Using collage pauge and a foam brush, generously apply the adhesive to the panels. Do one at a time, starting from the left edge. Once the collage pauge is on the pallet, slowly and firmly press down the strips of paper. Continue this step on each pallet, making sure to match up the designs as you go.

Step 4 – After each strip has been glued down smoothly, paint a thin layer of the collage pauge over each panel.

Step 5 – Paint approximately 8 to 10 clothespins (just on one side) with Tattered Rose Distress paint (or any other color you want) and allow the pins to dry for a few hours.

Step 6 – Once the clothespins have dried, attach them to the pallet using a strong liquid adhesive like Diamond Glaze.

That’s it! You’re all done. Use this organization pallet with some coordinating colored paper or Ecology index cards. You can write lists, reminders, or affirmations on the cards and pin them up as reminders or for inspiration. You can also include photographs, cut out images, and just about anything else that can be held by the clothespins.

Need More Artful Ways to Get Organized?

Make your hours of creating more enjoyable, and discover innovative storage solutions in this collection of free organizational projects. Browse inventive ideas and easy tutorials that utilize jars, bottles, boxes, and more to functionally hold your favorite artistic tools, all while staying true to your style by displaying odds’n ends artfully.

Click here to browse over 150 free projects.

There’s a lot to love about autumn — the relief from hot summer days, the change of scenery from green to golden-brown, and all the fun activities. This season encompasses my two favorite holidays, Halloween and Thanksgiving. There’s nothing quite as fun as giving candy to little witches and cowboys, or whatever other imaginative creature manages to make its way to my door, and the spirit of Thanksgiving is something that I’ve learned to appreciate a lot more as the years have passed. But by far, one of the best things about this season is all the wonderful projects and home décor ideas.

Autumn doesn’t have to be as over-the-top as winter or as understated as summer. Warm, neutral colors like browns, oranges, and beiges are great for décor, while personalizing the style is as easy as adding a bit of blue, green, or gold. Pumpkins, a staple of the fall season, come in all shapes, sizes, and even colors, plus you can use them in many projects and recipes. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg! There are so many unique and interesting themes that go well with this season; if you need inspiration, just take a look on Pinterest.

In case you haven’t noticed yet, this is my favorite season so I am very happy to offer some ideas for a more authentic and artful autumn. You don’t need much to make the most of this time of year — just a few simple touches can bring in all the warmth of autumn right into your home.

Eight Artful Autumn Projects

1. Seasonal Hutch
“As the summer months begin to fade and the cool breezes of fall approach, I often turn to more neutral tones reminiscent of the harvest. Incorporating seasonal pumpkins — in this case, white babyboos— is an easy way to once again change the look of your display.”

~By Lucy Akins from the pages of Somerset Home.

One of my favorite things to decorate with seasonally-themed items is my living room hutch. It’s an often overlooked and underappreciated place, but with just a few special touches, it can bring a whole room together.

2. Jars of Spice
Spice racks make a wonderful display piece for any kitchen — but if you want to take a more rustic approach, ditch the organizers and display your tasty seasonings in darling little mason jars. You can take this a step further and add a bit of twine and a beautiful Cosmo Cricket Show Topper. Pick rich, vibrantly colored spices and put them out on your counter, or next to your stove. They’ll add warmth and functionality to your kitchen.

~Photograph by Staci Austin-Ducharme from the pages of Artful Blogging.

3. Find Inspiration Everywhere
“The power of finding beauty in the humblest things makes home happy and life lovely.”

~Louisa May Alcott

Whether you travel cross country to walk along the beach for the first time, or simply take a stroll out to your mailbox — look at the world with a hopeful heart and see the possibility that exists in everything. From broken seashells to the smallest dried leaf, nature has an abundance of beauty, and it’s there available to us all. This is a lot more apparent — in my opinion — during the fall. Collect any bits and pieces that interest you such as leaves, pinecones, stones, or anything else that catches your fancy, and then use them in your projects or display them out on a plate.

~Photograph by Jeanette Neels from the pages of Artful Blogging.

4. Cinnamon Pumpkin Candles
“What do you do when you can’t control the impulse to buy cute little pumpkins every time you visit the grocery store? … You might be thinking, “Duh, bake a pie!” Nope. Here’s what you do: You make pumpkin candles!”

~Stephanie Gerber

After seeing how easy it is to recreate these little candles, I absolutely agree with Stephanie. Making candles is a great and unexpected way to use your pumpkins, all you need for this is some wax pellets, a double broiler, a handful of wicks, some cinnamon sticks, and a few other materials. You can find the step-by-step instructions in the 2014 autumn issue of Somerset Life.

5. Thankful Harvest Affaire Laminate Placemats Project
This project is simple but incredibly thoughtful. Cut out some kraft paper to use as placemats and then write “I’m Thankful For…” on the top right hand corner. You can embellish these placemats with stamps, stickers, leaf die cuts, or anything else you want. Use these during your Thanksgiving dinner and have your guests write down things that they are grateful for and then share once everyone is done. If you use permanent marker, you can even let your guests take them home as a lovely party favor.

6. Stovetop Potpourri
Throw a few slices of apples, some fresh orange peel, a couple of cinnamon sticks, and a handful of cloves into a pot of water and then set it to simmer on your stovetop. That’s all you need to create a wonderfully aromatic experience for your friends and family. The smell will fill your home with the sweet-smells and warmth attributed to autumn get-togethers. Just be sure to watch your pot carefully — you don’t want the water to completely evaporate and burn your pot.

~Photograph and project by Haeley Giambalvo from the pages of Somerset Life.

7. Harvest Affaire Wrapped Pumpkin Muffins
There’s already something very comforting about freshly baked muffins, but you can go a step further and add a little rustic charm by wrapping each one in some wax paper and a piece of natural hemp cord. This beautifully presented treat is the perfect snack to arrange in a basket and give to a friend along with artfully packaged jams, or you can take them along on a mid afternoon walk.

8. Telling a Story with Timeworn Pieces
Vintage décor items are already quite beautiful and they always exhibit a unique charm, but I think they really come to life during the fall. Maybe it’s because autumn already feels so antique and timeworn, so it works to compliment vintage objects. Twigs, berries, and other autumn foliage are all great options for sprucing up an old vase, while setting a uniquely colored pumpkin next to it can pull it all together. A display like the one featured above doesn’t have to be expensive, but the results can be rather stunning.

~Photograph by Maria Marcusse from the pages of Somerset Life.

These eight projects are easy to replicate and will make your autumn feel more artful and definitely more enchanting. Let us know if you’ll be trying out any of these projects or if you have something else in the works!

Need More Artful Living Ideas?

Craft your living space to suit your tastes with the unique home décor accents inside this artful collection. From antique wares and display pieces to vintage finds and feminine wearables, you can also find memorable gifts that will surprise and impress on occasion.

Click here to visit our Home Décor Collection.

Ephemera downloads are as fun to collect as they are to use. That’s why we try to offer them as often as we can here at Somerset Place, but did you know that you can also get them in our Post Script Newsletter? Apart from bringing you great content, exclusive discounts on Stampington publications and products, and free projects, Post Script also offers free ephemera downloads and updates on new additions to our ephemera library on e-Crafting.com.

What better way to encourage your creativity than with stunning vintage images that harken back to older days, or that showcase curious scenarios?

For this grouping of free ephemera, we pulled some of our favorite images out of past Post Script collections, from elaborate designs to the most fashionable members of high society. Download these nine images to your computer and use them whole as the centerpiece for a collage or cut them up for your mixed-media projects — the possibilities are endless.

Click here to view these images at full size and to download yours today. To incorporate even more vintage ephemera and digitally altered pieces into your artwork, visit e-Crafting.com.

Don’t miss anymore free ephemera downloads — click here to sign up for Post Script today!