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Rubber Stamping Tips
Contributed by: Amanda Muirhead
I just wanted to pass along some tips...
I use clear nail polish on the sides
and around the wooden part of the rubber image of my stamp so
that ink just wipes right off. The odd time I've gotten so excited
when I bought a new stamp that I've not done this and I have
regretted it. I love having all my beautiful investments looking
great all the time.
I also initial each stamp on the side
with a fine tipped paint marker. That way if I'm stamping with
friends or in a group, there is no question as to what is mine.
For displaying my cards I keep photo
albums that are for 5x7 photos. Most cards fit into the spaces
well. Great for showing off to fellow stampers.
For frugal stampers... I buy gift bags
from the dollar stores. Many of them come in suede, vellum and
mulberry type papers. I can usually get the bags for $1 or less
when one sheet of specialty paper at the craft store can cost
over $2. Each gift bag usually yields the equal of two or three
sheets of paper!
Amanda Muirhead
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Stamp Artist - Toni Whitnell |
Using a black foam tip
from my Colorbox Stylus set, I swirled, swiped and smeared dye
ink from a Ranger Adirondak pad "Mountain Lake" onto
white glossy cardstock. Then I stamped image (Rubber Poet) with
black dye ink. |
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The perfect adhesive for attaching bows to your cards
Contributed by: Tracy
McKenna *Ü*
I always have a hard time trying to find the perfect adhesive
for attaching bows to my cards. Sometimes I don't want to punch
holes in my work so now I do this:
**Take a clear glue stick and lay it
on a cutting mat/surface.
(I like to use the mini glue sticks, but a regular size on is
fine, too)
**Using a utility knife or single razor
blade, take tiny, tiny slices from the glue stick.
You will be surprised how many slices you get just from one glue
stick.
**Place a slice of the glue stick onto
our card where you want to place your bow. Using your heat gun,
zap that glue piece until it is melted then quickly hold your
bow on the top to adhere!
I store all my "slices" in
an empty film canister. You can also cut your glue stick slices
into tinier pieces for those mini bows.
It's quick, easy and best of all you
always have your heat gun handy so it's a snap!
Enjoy!
Tracy McKenna *Ü*
Make the perfect
bow ... every time!
Contributed by: Phyl |
If you have a sewing machine,
there should be two spool pins on the top. If not, place
two small dowel pieces (3" long) into a block of wood about
1" - 2" apart.
Begin with a 7" - 8" piece of ribbon, raffia,
etc.
Loop the ribbon around the two dowels.
Bring the left over the right - under (between the two dowels)
- over (back over the two dowels) and tie, not pulling too tightly.
Hope you can understand these directions because it really
does make a perfect bow everytime.
(See diagram to the right) |
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No more worry about bumpy
paper not stamping well!
Contributed by: CindyC†
OH
Here is a tip that was shared on a craft show ('don't remember
which). If you want a detailed image (or text) on you handmade
paper just stamp it on white tissue paper with permanent ink.
Then lay this on your wet handmade paper. It will adhere to your
paper and you will not see the tissue!
No more worry about bumpy paper not stamping well!
Make Your Cards
Smell Wonderful!
Contributed by: Robin
W. - philrobwilliams@email.msn.com
Hi I am a newbie to rubberstamping. but I have been making computer
cards for about a year. One thing I like to do to make my paper
smell good is to put some popourri in a plastic container with
my paper and its scented wonderfully :)
Tips for the Frugal
Stamper!
Contributed by: ~*Robin*~
touchedbyaangel@usa.net
Hi here is some good tips for
frugal stamping (or at least I think it is)lol
When you recieve junk mail ..color or
emboss the corners of the envelope, cut them with fancy scissors
and you have great photo corners ..or corners for layering objects.
Take the cartons that light bulbs come
from and use the corrugated side for layering cards.
Paint chips are great for stamping objects
on then using pop dots or double sided tape to adhere the object.
Avoid that ink smear!
Contributed by: Verna
Angerhofer - arlinverna@maxminn.com
So many times when I am coloring in an image I will get an ink
smear on the card where I don't want one. My first feeling was
to throw it away and start over. Then I discovered that if I
took a small piece of paper and rolled it up, that I could then
use it as a stamp to make a background around the image. I also
used that same piece of paper to decorate the flap of the envelope
and that way no one knew that there originally was a boo boo.
Many people have liked the idea that the card and envelope were
matching.
7 Quick Stamping Tips
Submitted from: Diane
Goldschmidt - Diane_Goldschmidt@aici.com
1. When mounting un-mounted stamps using double sided sticky
cushion, powder around the stamp on
the exposed sticky area so the scissors doesn't stick.
2. When stamping, keep a large wet sponge
in a tray close by for quick clean-up.
3. Empty boxes from cards are perfect
for storing stamps. They keep them clean and separated. It's
also
very easy to find the ones you are looking for.
4. Use double-sided magnetic tape to
mount small stamps to a metal block. Then, to store, just affix
magnetic side to a larger metal sheet. One only needs to have
one mount to use for all the stamps.
5. Use paper doillies to make backgrounds
on cards, you can stamp with them if mounted and you can
stamp on them, cut them and make patterns with them.
Displaying Your Cards
Contributed by: BurningRubber
- burningrubber2@yahoo.com
I put up a fishnet on the wall and tuck the corners of the cards
in the holes and attached pins by just pinning them to the net.
This way you can display your cards and not get pin holes in
them and even throw in a few sea shells just for fun.
"Idea Book."
Contributed by: Joanne
Lee - bjlee@maine.rr.com
Here is a little tip that I think will help other stampers.
I take a photo of every card I make. Then I put the photo in
my "Idea Book." Under the photo I write any special
techniques or materials I used. I also write the occasion it
was made for and who it was sent to. This has really helped me
through my "Stamper's Block" when it hits. It also
helps me not to send the same card to someone more than once.
I also find that fellow stampers love seeing the cards.
Sample page of Joanne's Idea Book |
Securing Ribbon Around
The Fold of a Card
Contributed by: Maria
- pobre@ite.net
This is a simple, but good,
tip!
When I want to secure ribbon around
the fold of a card, I use a corner rounder or my Fiskar's fancy
edge scissors to do a decorative cut to the corners of the card.
Then I wrap the ribbon around the fold and tie it either in a
bow or in a knot... depending on whether or not I want to attach
beads. The corner cuts help keep the ribbon in place and prevent
it from sliding off the card!
Keep Your Scissors
Clean
Contributed by: Sharon
Squyres -SSQUYRES@scu.edu
Any of the following will remove gooey gunk from scissors after
cutting out mounting
foam: Embossing ink, Goo Gone, glycerine.
I think glycerine is the cheapest, but
I don't want to try to store yet another thing ... and I have
embossing ink on hand!
VersaMark watermark
pads
Contributed by: Cheryl
Outhier - cherylouthier@netzero.net
If you are using the VersaMark watermark pad to stamp with, you
can brush over the image/images with either Pearl Ex or Powdered
Pearls. This can be a real subtle effect depending on which color
you use with your cardstock; or they can stand out, again depending
on your color choice and cardstock combinations. The powders
seem to stick well, without spraying with any sealer, and I have
not experienced any fading or rubbing off after they are brushed
on the paper. It's a great alternative to regular inks and embossing---besides
it's fast and easy! It makes a wonderful background effect, or
use it on your primary image. Either way, you'll love it!
Using Dark Colored
Cardstock
Contributed by: Jenny
Van Eck - jvaneck@prairie.lakes.com
An easy and neat technique I
use when using darker paper and wanting a lighter image I dip
my rubber stamp in diluted bleach and it will bleach the image
into the paper.
What Can We Do With Those Solid Stamps?
Contributed by:
kloison - kloison@email.msn.com
These techniques work well w/ those "shadow stamps,"
reversing stamps, or even ANY solid stamp, such as a pear or
apple.
1 - ink just the edges & stamp. For a neat background,
stamp repeatedly. Or use like a frame to set off
any stamp.
2 - If square, rectangle, or diamond shape, tile w/ it
as you would w/ the ColorBox tool kit. Do it in dye
ink or Pigment ink & emboss if you want.
3 - Stack, stagger, stamp repeatedly w/ no pattern for
a great background, even use to "frame" other
stamps or to journal in your scrapbook.
4 - Here is my favorite: Ink up w/ Pigment ink (light
shade), lay upside down, and stamp another image
inked in Dye ink right on top of the solid stamp. Then stamp
the entire stamped solid image down on
CS. You can collage this way on a huge square, oval or even one
of those reversible stamps. Emboss
in clear if you want.
5 - Ink up large solid image w/ a rainbow pad , then collage
right on top of it w/ dye ink as you did in
step 4. Spray VERY lightly w/ water & stamp on CS.
6 - Another favorite: Color in w/ different shades of
Marvy markers, shading & blending colors. Spray
w/water & stamp on CS.
7 - Stamp w/ embossing ink. Emboss w/ Thermo Tac or Heat
& Stick. Apply Magic leaf or Faerie Dust
to image w/ soft paint brush. Try glitter or even Faerie glass
w/ this technique.
8 - Stamp on dark card stock w/ VersaMark watermark pad
and brush on Faerie Dust w/ a paint brush.
Buff off extra FD w/ a soft cloth.
Dried Up Ink Pads!
Contributed by: Paula Jo
I live in an area where I have alot of trouble with my ink pads
drying up. I had stored them upside down in my Iris cart drawers,
but they still went dry. Ended up throwing away nearly $40 in
ink pads one day. Anyhow, I finally came up with a solution.
Instead of buying alot of ink pads,
I am buying the refill bottles of ink. To use them, I place a
few drops of the ink onto a scrap of fun foam and spread it out
with a scrap of paper. This becomes my "ink pad". The
stamps ink up just fine and I haven't had any problems with it.
I've tried this 2 ways - first using
a large piece of fun foam and tapping my stamp on it to ink up
the image. Second way was to use the smooth side of a piece of
Penscore foam as the ink pad.
If you wanted to, you could rubber cement
a piece of fun foam to a scrap of wood to use for inking the
stamps with.
The part I like best is that after I
am done, I can wipe off any excess ink. I use white fun foam
for the ink pads. That way, if there should be any staining from
the ink, I know which piece of foam to use for each
color. I have a piece of foam for each color family (blue, red,
yellow, etc.).
Scoring Your Cardstock
Contributed by: Doris
Neely - 70angels@netsync.net
Here is one of my favorite tips.
I buy cardstock by the sheet from my local stamp store-Creative
Circle. I use my 12" Fiskar paper cutter to cut it in half.
Then to score it I use the same cutter and just run a stylus
down the stock until it is scored. I realize you can now buy
a scorer blade, but this works just as well and saves the expense.
It makes a great score line for folding.
As long as you're stampng,
make two!
Contributed by: Patty
Neu - Num1ga@aol.com
A lot of times I make a card and send it off, only ot have a
birthday, etc., come up and realize the card I sent before would
have been perfect. Now when I make a card, I always make two.
I may use different colors or techniques. This gives me extra
cards to look through when I am looking for that special card
to send to someone.
Cleaning Your Stamps
Contributed by: Diane
Miller
I always clean my new stamps before I use them. This helps to
remove any residue from the stamp making process. If this is
not done, sometimes a new stamp will not ink properly.
After I have stamped my image, I stamp
the excess ink off of the stamp onto a baby wipe (alcohol free),
or a paper towel.
For heavily soiled stamps you should apply your stamp cleaner
to your stamp right from the bottle. Stamp your stamp on some
baby wipes (alcohol free), or paper toweling to get the cleaner
off. I usually them use my stamp scrubber. If you have been stamping
with permanent ink, you will need a stamp cleaner especially
formulated for permanent ink.
I do not use a stamp cleaner on my stamps after use, usually
the baby wipes and the stamp scrubber do the trick for me.
From - Marilyn Gaughran
You can use Avon's "Skin So Soft" to clean the
permanent ink off of stamps.
From - Joyce Tubbs
For catching embossing
powder, I use a paper coffee
filter. I tap the card over the filter and brush off any strays.
The EP falls in to the filter and doesn't stick. I then can easily
return the EP to the jar.
From: Patti StamPatti@juno.com
I am right this very minute using one of those matte things to
make backgrounds for some cards. I too have embossed with clear
over gold pigment on the bumpy mat (the one I'm using today is
black, but I have it in sand, burgundy, forest green, navy and
white as well) and using it as a layer on my card. I have also
used pieces of these mattes as texturing. They have many uses
other than as drawer liners (that's what mine said on the labels).
And I was fortunate enough to buy a whole bunch of these in the
Dollar store some long time ago for $1 a roll. They don't seem
to have it anymore, but Publix has some with several different
textures for about $4 a roll, but it goes against my grain to
pay $4 for something I know can be had for a buck if I wait a
while I've been having a problem trying to get a certain effect
with sponging. I've seen that effect on stuff I've received,
but haven't been able to duplicate it no matter how hard I try,
and following Dee G's directions and everything, still no success.
I'm talking about edging a card with color - VERY intense at
the edges, and softer as it goes toward the center, but still
very dense, no stippling look - simply a lightening/fading of
color until it goes to no color at all. Not easy for sure. But
BEAUTIFUL. I had some of those children's bathtub blocks that
are so like penscore and was using it to cover the tip of my
Exacto knife for packing. I didn't need the entire block for
that, so I cut off a piece. Got to wondering if it would work
like the compressed sponge that Dee G. is always raving about.
Well, I think the effect is not the same, perhaps because I didn't
use it the way she does. I tap tap tapped it on the dye inkpad
and then patted it on a piece of card stock. Go some nice coverage
-almost exactly what I was looking for. But then I WIPED across
the color with the block and it smoothed out soooooooooo nicely.
Then I went in circles, and back and forth, and up and down,
and I kept trying different effects. Then I used a round block
and it worked even better. I LOVE IT. And yes, the block smooshed
down, but I could pinch it and squeeze it, and had lots of control.
And to change colors, just turn the block a little and tap on
a different pad. One or two taps on the inkpad goes a really
long way. And if you want/need more intense color just go over
it again. And you can blend colors so smoothly and beautifully
too. Now, it didn't wash off the block too well, but once it
dried, I was able to use other colors over the old ones if I
wanted to. No "come back color". I could even do yellow
over black and/or red. No show through at all.
Submitted by: Bonnie
Etters
When shaking off excess embossing powder, I use a creased sheet of paper ... that way
the excess embossing powder goes slides right down the crease
in the paper and straight back into the jar.
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