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Get to know Meagan Lewis & Brown Pigeon from our newest collaboration kit: DIY Stamps

A few months ago, we were wandering around Etsy when we came across a Victorian house stamp set in Meagan’s shop, Brown Pigeon. It was so cute that we thought “Let's stamp Victorian houses onto every piece of paper we own!” After realizing that every single stamp in her shop had made its way onto our “WANT!” list, we decided to reach out and see if maybe she’d like to partner up with us to create a DIY stamps project. And lucky for us, she did! Now we can all make our own stamps, thanks to Meagan and the DIY Stamps + Vase kit she created exclusively for Amazepack!

We sat down with Meagan to hear her story:

Amazepack: How did Brown Pigeon come about? Meagan: I have been creating for as long as I can remember. After college, I returned home to California and knew I wanted to do something with my degree in printmaking. While considering a few career options, I began making my own stationery and journals and printing them with stamps I had carved. With the encouragement of friends and family, I began to sell my work at small craft shows. People would ask how I made the images on the cards and journals and they were amazed to learn that I had carved my own stamps. Then it hit me - people wanted stamps! And that’s when I developed a line of hand-carved stamps.

Amazepack: What inspires your designs? Meagan: My inspiration comes from a variety of places. Often I’ll see something and think, “Ooh, that would make a cool stamp!”. I think my stamps are influenced by my environment. I love San Francisco and the fact that it’s a big city but there is also beautiful nature all around. It’s a fun, quirky place and I think that plays a part in my work.

Amazepack: Out of all the stamps you’ve made which one is your favorite? Meagan: It’s hard to choose just one! I love all of the stamps in my Brown Pigeon line but I also love the stamps that I’ve been commissioned for by other people. I’ve been able to work with people all over the world and turn their beautiful designs into stamps. I’ve actually made over 1000 custom stamps! So to pick one…!

Amazepack: What tip would you give someone who is just starting out and would like to create their own design for a stamp? Meagan: Be imaginative! You can make a stamp from so many different materials—foam, carving rubber or even found object materials like bubble wrap!

Ready to start making your own stamps? Get your limited edition Amazepack + Brown Pigeon DIY Stamps + Vase kit!

Also, check out Meagan’s book, Put Your Stamp On It, was just released this month and includes instructions for carving your own stamps with 20 different projects to get you stamping everything from cards and picture frames to tote bags and hair accessories. It’s a great resource for learning this awesome craft! (Hint: Each Amazepack + Brown Pigeon kit comes with an exclusive discount code for Meagan’s book! Win!)

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Testing out the next project: DIY faux leather clutches! Which color do you like best? 1. Emerald Green (the Pantone color of the year!), 2. Stingray Gray (with a slight pearlescent sheen), 3. Ostrich White, or 4.Marine Blue? #diy #clutch #leather #crafty #purse #handbag #craft #handmade

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T. Rex made a scarf with the Amazepack + Thimblepress kit! What do you think? ;) #crafty #dinosaur #trex #diy #scarf #spring #screenprinting

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As you stroll along during a sweet spring day, your scarf flutters in the wind... Which of these @thimblepress designs would passersby see on your scarf? #diy #scarf #diykit #crafty #spring #fashion

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Thimblepress + Amazepack = Love (and DIY screen printed scarves!)

The idea of making our favorite artists' designs accessible to the craftypants community in DIY form had been giving us butterflies in our stomachs since we launched back in October. Today, we couldn't be more thrilled to announce the very first Amazepack collaboration box!  

When we came across Kristen Ley's shop, Thimblepress, on Etsy, it was love at first sight! The bright cards and the breezy scarves, the whimsical patterns on tote bags and the ready-to-jump-out-of-bed-and-take-on-the-day-with-a-smile inspirational prints... We were totally smitten and we knew right away that we wanted Kristen to be our first featured artist!

With the weather transitioning from winter into spring, a DIY version of Kristen's gorgeous screen printed scarves seemed like the perfect project for February. The boxes we put together include materials to build a simple screen, an inspiring selection of spring colors, and 4 beautiful designs by Kristen so you can make an easy breezy scarf of your liking.

Kristen says, "The thimble represents my travels, family, grandmothers, and all the big and small things that make life so wonderful. Sometimes just a thimbleful of love, a smile, hug, or glance can change something or make a difference." Like those thimbles, Kristen's designs make this month's box oh so wonderful!

So what are you waiting for? Make your own picnic chic scarf with this month's Thimblepress + Amazepack box!

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The Lenca pottery from southern Honduras doesn't need bright colors to stand out, its patterns make it unique! #honduras #market #pottery #crafts #handmade #blackandwhite #lenca #artisanal

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All the bright colors at the Mercado Guamilito in San Pedro Sula, Honduras, make it one of our favorite places to visit! #honduras #market #artisanal #crafts #handmade #bright #colors

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Ringing in the New Year with friends and need an easy peasy snack recipe? You’ll go nuts over this one! ;) Homemade Roasted Peanuts 1. Wash raw peanuts and throw out any bad ones 2. Spread peanuts out on a baking sheet and sprinkle with salt 3. Bake for 25-30 minutes at 325 F until lightly golden 4. Serve ‘em up in a pretty bowl and enjoy! (Like the bowl? You could make one, or six, with January’s box!) Happy New Year! :)

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Paper maché bowls are as cute and useful as they are fun and easy to make! We made a whole bunch for serving snacks, organizing jewelry, and as housewarming gifts! Wanna make your own? Check out January's box, Machéd With Love, at amazepack.com! What would you use this bright bowl for? #DIY #crafty #craftstagram #instacrafts #crafts

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Guest post from boyfriend-of-unicorn and chief-box-packer Ty

Like any good boyfriend, I wanted to get Kristine something she’d really enjoy for Christmas. Amazepack has her incredibly busy, so I thought I’d get her a gift that would force her to take a break. Remembering her excitement on an overcast morning many months ago as we pulled into the Alameda Point Antiques Faire, I decided to give her the gift of a shopping spree.

But simply saying “I’m taking you shopping” isn’t enough. Especially when there’s the opportunity to get old-timey!

After consulting with a couple friends who had recently made “Wanted” posters in a similar fashion, I learned that I could make a great looking gift certificate with just a tea bag.

Here’s how:

Design your certificate - this can be as simple as a Word document, as black on white tends to look best.

Print it out - regular computer paper works a-ok.

Brew some tea - I used Earl Grey, because I thought it had an old-timey smell, but I don’t think it matters.

Squeeze out the tea bag - not all the way, but just so you’re not creating puddles as you brush.

Brush the paper with the tea bag - just like any other paintbrush, just don’t squeeze too hard.

(Optional) Lay the paper on or near a hot surface - I put it on top of a four-slice toaster for about 5 seconds a side, but a radiator should do the trick, too.

Fold it up and give it to someone you love - I put it in a hand-drawn envelope inside Kristine’s computer before she boarded the plane home for the holidays.

That’s it! And don’t worry, we’ll be sure to take plenty of photos when we visit the over 800 antique vendors in Alameda!

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Craftstagram: Stud Your Stuff 1. Grab a top (or any other garment) in need of a makeover 2. Pick up some studs at a fabric or craft store (or online) - these were $1.29 for a pack of 40 3. Bedazzle away! Insert the studs from the top down and press the prongs down with your fingers against the back of the fabric. 4. Done! Turns out the back looks pretty neat, too. If you prefer the starry look of the prongs, just insert the studs from the back instead of the front. ;) #crafty #diy #craftstagram #crafty #studs

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Making earrings with the Freshly Minted box

1.  Mix the clay. Start with 2 parts White, 1 part Emerald, and ½ part Turquoise. Gradually add more white for different shades of Mint. 

2.  Knead the clay until it is soft and can be rolled and folded without breaking.

3.  Make your clay beads and jewelry pieces. Roll round beads with your hands, or flatten out the clay with a rolling pin or empty glass bottle to cut out shapes and designs. If you’re using a wooden rolling pin, cover the clay with waxed paper to prevent stains. 

4.  Glitter it up! Try dipping the clay pieces into the glitter, or using your finger to coat part of the piece.

5.  Poke a hole in each piece with the toothpick where you’d like to string it or attach a jumpring after baking. Double-check which way you’d like the piece to hang and pierce it accordingly. Make the hole a bit wider if you would like to string it directly on the chain. Alternatively, you can insert a jumpring or headpin into the piece before baking.

6.  Bake your creations at 275° F for 15 minutes for each ¼ inch of clay thickness.  

7.  String it up:

Use a jumpring, or wire and a crimp bead, to secure each piece to an earring hook.For dangly earrings, attach a piece of chain between the jumpring and earring hook.

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Making pendants with the Freshly Minted box

1.  Mix the clay. Start with 2 parts White, 1 part Emerald, and ½ part Turquoise. Gradually add more white for different shades of Mint. 

2.  Knead the clay until it is soft and can be rolled and folded without breaking.

3.  Make your clay beads and jewelry pieces. Roll round beads with your hands, or flatten out the clay with a rolling pin or empty glass bottle to cut out shapes and designs. If you’re using a wooden rolling pin, cover the clay with waxed paper to prevent stains. 

4.  Glitter it up! Try dipping the clay pieces into the glitter, or using your finger to coat part of the piece.

5.  Poke a hole in each piece with the toothpick where you’d like to string it or attach a jumpring after baking. Double-check which way you’d like the piece to hang and pierce it accordingly. Make the hole a bit wider if you would like to string it directly on the chain. Alternatively, you can insert a jumpring or headpin into the piece before baking.

6.  Bake your creations at 275° F for 15 minutes for each ¼ inch of clay thickness. 

7.  String it up:

Use the pliers to open a jumpring.

Slide the clay piece onto the jumpring through the toothpick perforation, and close the jumpring back up with the pliers.

If you inserted a headpin into the clay before baking, simply use the pliers to trim the headpin and make a loop at the top end.

You can close your pendant fully and slide it down the chain, or insert and earring hook or jumpring before closing it completely. 

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Freshly Minted Jewelry

Have you seen it?? Amazepack box #2 is live on the site now! We had an absolute blast putting it together and we're totally in love with the results!

We wanted to make a few pieces to showcase on the site, so we sketched out some options using Paper on our iPad. 

Well, we were having so much fun that we ended up making all of those and more!

(It's hard to tell, but that's a gold chevron pattern going across the beads on the necklace! Zig zag sparkles FTW!) 

So, what's in this dazzling box? Everything you need to make mint + gold earrings, necklaces, and pendants! That's enough sparkle to make some statement pieces for yourself and some to give as gifts; or you could make a (crafty) night of it with friends! 

Are you and this box mint to be? ;)

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Make Your Own DIY Holiday Gifts

The holidays are just around the corner and the best gifts are the ones made with ♥, but it's not always easy to figure out how to get started making them. With that in mind, we'll be teaching a super fun (and totally free!) Skillshare class to show you how to make simple, inexpensive, gift-worthy DIY projects, including Instagram photo magnets and beautiful clay jewelry! The class is online, so anyone can join! Check it out! 

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What's cooler than a craft fair? A craft fair at a brewery! The Holiday Indie Mart is teaming up with Speakeasy Brewery to bring you the raddest craft fair ever! If you're in or around San Francisco, come on out for good gifts, good food, good music, good brews... and Amazepack! 

Here are the deets:

Saturday December 8th, 12-6pm Speakeasy Brewery - 1195 Evans Ave, Bayview FREE! $3 shuttle bus rides from several spots around SF

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Dazzle up your winter wardrobe with this month's Amazepack box: Freshly Minted Jewelry! Check it out! www.amazepack.com #DIY #crafty #craftstagram #amazepack