Everything AND the Kitchen Sink!

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Reported by Sarah Moore

Be sure to read to the end of this article to find out how you can win a free set of stamps AND be the first to preview the new holiday images from the Kitchen Sink!

This week on Craft Critique we want to share some designs from a new stamp maker; Kitchen Sink Stamps. This new company just popped onto the scene and they are really raising eyebrows with their unique, contemporary images.

Maria Colosimo, the owner of Kitchen Sink Stamps has a background in graphic design, and she designed her initial images out of personal necessity; not able to find what she wanted at existing stamp stores. You can read more about Maria HERE and HERE. On a personal level I will add, she is so sweet! I have had the opportunity to chat with her via email and phone over that last few weeks, and I have really enjoyed our chats! Plus isn't her company name so cute!

I will be honest; I had never used QUALITY clear stamps prior to playing with these images... my only experience in "Acrylic" was with those clear stamps in the $1 bin at Michael's and one set of Autumn Leaves stamps... I found those stamps difficult to use with the ink I had (Classic Stampin' Up! Dye Ink). The ink just beads on the surface of the image and the image quality really suffers as a result. I have since learned there is a distinct difference in those silicone based stamps and what Kitchen Sink Stamps uses; a high quality polymer.

As a new convert to clear I only own inks designed for rubber. Maria recommends VersaMagic or Versafine ink with her stamps, which she also sells in her online shop, but I figured I'd first experiment with what I had in-house. I was very pleased to find that the classic dye inks I used worked great! The images stamped up crisp and clean.

I also finally "get" what is so cool about clear stamps... having the ability to see through your images as you center them is pretty darn great. It really switched up how I thought about my design process.

Take this card for instance...

This design was the result of some experimenting I was doing, layering images from the set "Thanks with Style". I started with the large "Thanks So Much" sentiment, and I just worked my way around the paper, fitting images in wherever they fit. I love the colorful, eclectic result!

This next card used a similar concept. Also wonderful was the ease of stamping the letters for "nice" in a straight line without the use of a stamp-a-majig! I used the set "Playful Alphabet" in this design. Isn't this font unique? It's a perfect match for the bright colors I love so much!


So now I was hooked on these letters... I love being able to feature one singe word on a card. I think this font is also nice match for these traditional textures in non-traditional colors.


So, buy with confidence... and know that if these uber-modern images aren't you thing, Maria has variety of styles availible. Her most popular set is the more traditional "3 Step Daisy", a grouping of images that takes the layering concept to a whole new level. Look HERE at new Design Team Member Tammy Hershberger's blog to see this set in action. And stay tuned for more reviews on the Kitchen Sink Stamps all week. We had a lot of fun with these images, and we hope you'll check back!

Ok... so, do you want some FREE STAMPS from the Kitchen Sink? Maria is giving one of our lucky readers the chance to preview the 4 new holiday sets before the rest of the public sees them in November! This person will get to choose one of these sets for their very own!

Just head on over to THIS POST on Maria's blog the Kitchen Sink News. Just leave Maria a comment. Based on her reasons for starting the company (designing stamps she couldn't find anywhere else) she wants to know what images YOU would love to have that you can't find anywhere else! Don't worry, if you can't think of anything you can just tell her your favorite color or something. :)

One entry per person only please. You have until Friday, October 26th at midnight (PST) to enter. A winner will be sellected randomly and posted on The Kitchen Sink News on Saturday.

Good luck!