Category Archives: Tips

Happy 12-13-14 Day!

In honor of this remarkable day, I am doing a post of 12 cards I have shared this past year, 13 little tips, and 14 stamping tools to help your creativity.

12 Cards

I couldn’t figure out how to share 12 thumbprints of cards with links to the full size without taking up a lot of space. Instead, I created this scrapbook page with MDS. I went back through my posts this year and chose a card I had posted from each month. Here is the page.

Digital scrapbook page featuring 12 cards I have shared in 2014

13 Stamping Tips

  1. Store your cardstock scraps in our 6″ x 8″ cello bags, one bag for each color. Write the color on the front with a marker and store the scraps in the same place you store the full-size cardstock. If the scrap is too big for the bag, trim it down to 8 1/2″ x 5 1/2″ for a card base.
  2. When tying a ribbon around a card front, place a glue dot on the card where the knot will be. Tie the first part of the knot and push it onto the glue dot. This will keep the knot tight while you tie the rest of the bow.
  3. When cutting out cardstock with finely detailed thinlits, place either waxed paper between the cardstock and the die or put about 6 layers of used dryer sheets between the cardstock and the die. This will help you get the cardstock out.
  4. When removing a cap off a Blendabilities, especially the brush end, hold the marker away from your work. This will help prevent splatters on your work. I learned this the hard way. šŸ˜›
  5. Be sure to store all markers horizontally so the ink doesn’t run to one end.
  6. Roll baker’s twine around the core of an empty ribbon spool that is no wider then 5/8″ and store in an empty embellishment container.
  7. Place a sheet of magnetic material in the lid of a stamp box and store the coordinating framelits/thinlits in with the stamp set.
  8. When you purchase a stamp set, write the name of the catalog it appears in, the date you bought it, and the purchase price on the cover. This will help if you decide to sell the set leter.
  9. Seal your wood blocks with varathane before mounting the stamp. This helps prevent the wood staining.
  10. Put a couple of glue dots on your clear mount stamps to help them stay on the blocks.
  11. When cleaning clear mount stamps, twist them on the cleaning pad instead of scrubbing them back and forth. The scrubbing back and forth breaks the static cling seal.
  12. Always stamp an image first then cut it out with a punch or die. This eliminates worrying about stamping it straight. Whenever possible stamp greetings on a separate layer and punch them out instead of directly on the card base for the same reason.
  13. When you fold a card base in half and the two sides are slightly off, just trim the edges a little.

14 Tools to Make Stamping Creativity Easier

  1. Big Shot Die-Cutting Machine (113439) – There is so much you can do with this machine. When Stampin’ Up! first started selling them, I wasn’t sure I would get much use from the Big Shot because I thought it was strictly for scrapbooking. I rarely do traditional scrapbooking. However, I soon learned of all the possibilities of the Big Shot for card making.
  2. Embossing folders – I love dry embossing and did some using a stylus and light box (but usually against a window). This was a rather tedious process. With embossing folders a quick turn through the Big Shot and you have a wonderful dry embossed card front.
  3. Dies, thinlits and framelits – Oh my goodness how much these reduce ‘fussy cutting’! And now more and more stamp sets have matching thinlits. Yay!
  4. Simply Scored (122334)- This scoring tool is great when you have to score a lot of card bases or want perfectly parallel lines.
  5. Gift Box Punch Board (135863) – What an easy way to make gift boxes from cardstock or designer series paper. You can make a variety of sizes, the largest being a 4″ cube, in a matter of minutes. No adhesive is needed. I am able to get a knitted stocking cap into the 4″ cube box.
  6. Transfer Adhesive Sheets (133722) – These sheets are especially perfect for adhering detailed die-cuts to your work. You lift up the top covering, place your die cut onto the sticky surface which is a layer of very tiny adhesive dots, Replace the cover, and rub well. Then you can peel off the die cut. The adhesive is on the back. These transfer sheets can be used repeatedly as only the adhesive dots actually used by the die cut are removed.
  7. Adhesive Remover (103684) – This eraser-like piece of rubber removes adhesive that ends up in the wrong place.
  8. Dental floss – Dental floss on a stamping table??? Yes! You have just put down a layer of cardstock using SNAIL adhesive and discover that it isn’t as straight as you thought it was. Instead of using your fingers to lift the layer, slide floss under the layer and neatly pull it down to break the adhesive seal without ruining your layers.
  9. Reinkers – Reinkers are not just for reinking your stamp pads. They can be used to die ribbons, color glimmer paper, color the Simply Pressed Clay, and are used in a variety of thechniques.
  10. Embossing Buddy (103083) – The embossing buddy is essential to keep stray grains of embossing powder at bay but can be also used to reduce stickiness when Snail adhesive sneaks over the edge of ribbons when you use SNAIL to adhere your ribbon.
  11. Heat & Stick Powder (100625) – This powder works like embossing powder but stays sticky on the surface so you can adhere glitter to a stamped image.
  12. MDS (130646) – MDS is Stampin’ Up’s digital design program. With this program, you can create cards, scrapbook pages, and 3-D items without having to haul out stamps, paper, and inks. You can email the card directly to the recipient or print it out to mail. The images and paper downloads do not retire so they are always available for your use. If you like only certain designs of a designer series paper, you can print out multiple copies of that pattern and not be having to order several packages of a dsp just to get enough of the design you like. The thing I like most about MDS is that there is not clean up when you have to stop creating. You just save your project and close down your computer. :o)
  13. Silicone Craft Sheet (127853) – This 6″ x 6″ Silicone Craft sheet is a must if you are working with hot glue but also is great when you are running SNAIL along the back of a ribbon to adhere it to your project. The SNAIL that hangs over the narrow ribbon is easily rubbed off the craft sheet. The size of the craft sheet is perfect for the limited space most stampers have on their stamping space.
  14. Stampin’ Pierce Mat (126199) – Maybe you aren’t into paper piercing on your projects but this mat is a necessity when stamping with the new photopolymer stamps. It provides the cushioning needed for good images with the photopolymer stamps that don’t have foam cushions.

There you have it! I’m sure you could add to both my tip list and my great tools list. I’d love to hear any additions you can think of. Post them in a comment below.

 

 

Dryer Sheets and Intricate Dies

Karen Burniston of Pop It Up Dies made this wonderful video on an even better way to prevent the paper from sticking in your thinlits and other intricate dies. Check it out below.

She recommends frangrance free dryer sheets that you can get at dollar stores. I’m off to give this a try. Hope this helps minimize your frustration with Stampin’ Up!’s thinlits and framelits. Check out the variety of dies available on my online store. You can order them 24/7 here.

Friday Tip for Tying Bows

How can it be Friday already??? The weeks just seem to be flying by. I have a really great tip for you today. I have struggled and struggled when tying a ribbon around a card front to keep the knot tight while tying the bow. It usually slips and the ribbon around the card front is too loose. But I got a brilliant idea last Tuesday while tying a ribbon around this card. I placed a glue dot on the card front where I wanted the knot to be and made my first knot. Then I pressed this knot down onto the glue dot. Voila! The knot stayed tight! Then I made the second part of a square knot with no trouble. Such a simple solution. Give it a try.

I couldn’t let the week go by without sharing this week’s Weekly Deals. Click on the images below to get more details and order the ones you want. These sale prices expire Monday night to order them now.

Washi Wednesday – Great Tip

Washi Tape TabsThe new 2014-2015 Stampin’ Up! catalog is coming soon and I have a great use of Washi tape for your catalog. Yep…use it to flag the pages that have items you want to order. Or…you could make the tabs for the different sections of the catalog and use a marker to label the tabs. These tabs are definitely more colorful than plain ones you buy from an office supply store.

Oops…I almost showed you a couple of pages of the catalog but I’m not allowed to until you can see the catalog online on June 2. Browsing through the catalog online is fine but how very much more delightful to have one to hold in your hands and to cherish! :o)Ā  If you would like a free catalog, email me your phone number, time zone, and best time to call you. I’d love to have a conversation with you about how I can send you the catalog totally free! Or….you can just call me in the first place. Either way, I look forward to hearing from you and sending you a catalog. This year’s is one of the very best!

Terrific Tuesday – Using designer templates

Today Starts Here digital scrapbook pageOne of the new downloads this Terrific Tuesday is Today Starts Here Photobook Template (137120). This download includes 24 pages of photobook templates, 32 piece stamp brush set, 15 embellishments, and one diamond-shaped punch. I chose to just use one of the pages to create this scrapbook page. Using a designer template can be as easy as just dropping photos into the photoboxes or you can delete and move elements around to meet your needs.

I started this page with this template:

Today Begins Here Photobook TemplatesI discovered that the diamonds are actually punches so used the ‘fill with photo’ option under punches in the Design Center. I filled some of the punches with Watercolor Wonder Designer Series Paper (137077) and filled the rest with my photos. Once you have filled a punch with a photo, double click it and use the magnifying glasses to enlarge or shrink your photo for the best fit. I needed more room for my journaling so I moved two of the diamonds. I love the shape of this layout and will use this Today Starts Here Photobook Template often. I have included a screenshot of today’s new downloads below. Check them out by clicking on the links or by visiting my online store and ordering your favorites. I do appreciate your business.

Just Sayin' Stamp Brush Set - Digital Download
Just Sayin’ Stamp Brush Set – Digital Download

Price: $5.95
My Digital Class Party Party Ensemble - Digital Download
My Digital Class Party Party Ensemble – Digital Download

Price: $24.95
My Mother Stamp Brush Set - Digital Download
My Mother Stamp Brush Set – Digital Download

Price: $3.95
Today Starts Here Photobook Template - Digital Download
Today Starts Here Photobook Template – Digital Download

Price: $14.95
Word Bubbles Punches - Digital Download
Word Bubbles Punches – Digital Download

Price: $6.95

Don’t forget! Tuesday is also the day that Stampin’ Up! offers new weekly deals. Check them out below and click on the ones you want to snap up. You do need to snap them up because quantity is not guaranteed and they may run out before the end of the week.

Backyard Basics Framelits Dies
Backyard Basics Framelits Dies

Price: $24.95 $18.71
Basics Glimmer Brads
Basics Glimmer Brads

Price: $4.95 $3.71
Gold Metallic Encore Pad
Gold Metallic Encore Pad

Price: $9.95 $7.46
Paper Doily Sizzlits Die
Paper Doily Sizzlits Die

Price: $21.95 $16.46
Primrose Petals 3/8 Stitched Satin Ribbon
Primrose Petals 3/8″ Stitched Satin Ribbon

Price: $8.95 $6.71
Season By Season Kit -- Digital Download
Season By Season Kit – Digital Download

Price: $9.95 $5.97
Summer Starfruit 3/8 Stitched Satin Ribbon
Summer Starfruit 3/8″ Stitched Satin Ribbon

Price: $8.95 $6.71

How do I fix it?

Oh no! My image didn’t get completely stamped on my card! How can I fix it?

When that happens to me, I get out my trusty Stamp-a-ma-jig! It is not only useful for placing an image exactly where you want it but it is also for fixing incomplete images.

The Stamp-a-ma-jig comes with a plastic square. Position one corner of the square in the angle of the Stamp-a-ma-jig so the edges of the plastic are up tight against the Stamp-a-ma-jig. Ink up your stamp…I use a contrasting color of ink so it is easy to see if it lines up with the original image. Then place the stamp up tight inside the Stamp-a-ma-jig and stamp on the plastic sheet. See photo 1.

Using the Stamp-a-ma-jig to fix an image

Remove the stamp and the Stamp-a-ma-jig. This is what you will see.

Using the Stamp-a-ma-jig to fix an imagePlace the plastic on top of your card stock so the images line up perfectly. Without moving the plastic or the card stock, put the Stamp-a-ma-jig back around the corner of the plastic making sure it is tight around the plastic.

Using the Stamp-a-ma-jig to fix an image

Carefully remove the plastic without disturbing the Stamp-a-ma-jig. Ink up your stamp again with the original color of ink and place it in the corner of the Stamp-a-ma-jig exactly the same way you had it when you stamped on the plastic and stamp on your card stock.

Using the Stamp-a-ma-jig to fix an imageRemove the stamp and the Stamp-a-ma-jig and….voila! You have a perfect image!

Love You to the Moon stamp set

So there you have it! The Stamp-a-ma-jig (101049) to the rescue! Order yours here. The image is from the wonderful new Love You to the Moon (133140-w, 133140-c) stamp set which is in the new catalog. If you would like a catalog, send me an email with your phone number and best time to reach you or just give me a call. I’d love to discuss with you how you can get one totally free.

Just Announced – New Photopolymer Stamp Sets

Stampin’ Up! just released two new photopolymer stamp sets today, Countless Sayings 1 (135892) and Countless Sayings 2 ( 135893)

If you are not familiar with Stampin’ Up!’s photopolymer stamps, let me tell you a little about them. Photopolymer is a synthetic substance the acts like rummer but it totally clear. You may have seen and used clear stamps before. Some people are totally sold on them because you can see exactly how much ink is on them and exactly where they will stamp. However some brands give a slightly fuzzy image, some age and crack or turn yellow over time, and many brands stain badly. This causes many stampers to have nothing to do with clear stamps.

Stampin’ Up! researched countless photopolymer products and spent years testing various formulas until they found a type of photopolymer that met their high standards. They have come up with a great line of photopolymer stamps. The images in this line are generally smaller and designed to be placed together on a block to create endless designs. Here are some reasons Stampin’ Up! gives for why their photopolymer stamps are the best:

  • They’re entirely transparent for perfect placement every time!
  • They are durable. The photopolymer material is designed to last.
  • Can you say sticky? (Don’t worry; in a good way.) These stamps stick amazingly well to our clear blocks.
  • They’re age tested. They won’t yellow or cloud up over time.

Check them out and then order them here.

Countless Sayings 1 & 2 photopolymer stamps

Great Stamp Organization Tips

Stamp Storage Idea

Whoohoo! My shelves for holding all my stamp sets are finally ready! The stamp room is slowly taking shape. I still have a lot of ‘stuff’ to find places to stuff it but each day I make progress. My goal is to have it ready by Nov 23 so I can hold a Holiday Open House that day. This photo makes it look like the shelving is fairly long. Actually, the smallest shelves are only 7 3/4″ long and the largest is 11 3/4″ long and they are 8 inches deep. This is perfect for holding stamp sets. I am thinking of maybe adding more shelves closer together in the narrowest section to hold my new style punches. I have two more sections of narrow set-in shelving. When my room is finished, I’ll be sure to share pictures of it.

Stamp storage tip:I keep the stamps in a set together in the case they come in. Then I ‘file’ them on the shelves by category like flowers, kids, sayings, etc.

Paper scrap storage:
Stampin’ Up! sells Large Flat Cello Bags 6″ x 8″. The number is 102210 and come in a package of 50 for $4.95. I store my 81/2″ x 11″ card stock in hanging file folders. I have the color name written on one of these cello bags for each color card stock I have. Then I put the scraps into the cello bag and put it into the hanging folder with the corresponding color of full pieces. When the scrap is bigger than 5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″, I trim it down to the half sheet which fits perfectly in the cello bag. I keep dsp scraps in the same package as the whole sheets. If you would like to try this method of storing your scraps, click on the link to order them. You can also visit my online store to order any other supplies you need.