Rubber Room Stampin'

TUESDAY'S TOOL: SHIMMER PAINT

Shimmer Paint is another way to add some special pizazz to your cards.  It comes in 3 colors: 

• Champagne Mist - 116806
• Frost White - 116854
• Platinum - 116807

It's acid free and is great for porous surfaces:  paper, fabric (haven't tried that yet) and wood.

Right now it's can be ordered as a 'catalog write-in' which means you won't find it in a current catalog.  It was in the 2009 Holiday Mini and will be available in the new Idea Book & Catalog that is released July 1, 2010.

What can you do with it?

• Make a little puddle and add reinker to it.  Pick up a little of the mixture with a sponge dauber (p. 192, IB&C) and daub it on a bold image stamp.  Stamp with it and it's wonderfully sparkly.
• Add 6 drops to an ounce of 90% alcohol in a spray bottle (that you can buy in the travel section of a drug store and other locations).  Take the bottle and your card outside and spritz a bit on the face of the card.  Gorgeous!  Start with a light spray and then determine if you want more.
• Use it to paint or color an image after it's been stamped to add shimmer and shine.  I did this just the other day with Tote-ally Tess.
• I used the Shimmer Paint on some of the embellishments for my Christmas cards
• Apply Shimmer Paint with a Sponge Dauber directly onto your stamp before stamping.  After stamping be sure to clean your stamp with Stampin' Mist and a Stampin' Scrub pad.

BELOW: This is not my card, creator unknown, but she did apply Platinum Shimmer Paint directly to the stamp before putting it to the paper in the four background images.  The image in the foreground was embossed.

BELOW:  I used Platinum Shimmer Paint on a Sponge Dauber to lightly brush over the dry embossed poinsettias.

BELOW:  White Shimmer Paint was painted on the stamped image.

BELOW:  Both of the punched birds and branches were covered with Shimmer Paint.  Card created by Sheila Paul.

BELOW:  The Medallion is embossed with White Embossing Powder; the finished card was then spritzed with Platinum Shimmer Paint that was mixed with 90% alcohol in a small spray bottle.  Creator unknown.

I hope these cards give you a small idea of the directions you can go with Shimmer Paint.  Be watching for more details on this fun product in the next month or so.

See you tomorrow with a little St. Patty's cheer........

ANATOMY OF STAMPIN' UP!'S NEW STYLE PUNCHES: Extra Large Two-Step Bird Punch

The Extra Large Two-Step Bird Punch wasn't on my first order from the 2010 Occasions Mini catalog.  Silly me.  It's so versatile!!!!!! 

Have you experimented with one of these new style punches yet?  They're really quite amazing. And storage??  Great!  They can stand on end or on their sides, side by side.

First, the punch.........   Here's the Extra Large Two-Step Bird Punch, closed, and resting on its side.

 

From the side:  The slim design save storage space.  It can be stored flat or standing on either side or the bottom end.

Latch:  The latch on the underside of the punch slides toward the punching area to unlock and open.

 

Latch again:  Close the punch and slide the latch on the underside of the punch towards the edge of the punch to lock it closed.

 

Leverage:  The larger handle area allows for extra leverage to punch with ease even on detailed designs.  As with any punch, keep yours fingers and hands clears of the handle to avoid being pinched. And I've been pinched twice.  I learned!!

Tomorrow I'll show you how I put the punch into action by turning a lovely bird into a silly clown.  Honest! See you then.  :)

TUESDAY'S TOOL: NEW CORNER & STRAIGHT EDGE PUNCHES--HOW TO ALIGN THEM! First, the SCALLOP TRIM BORDER & CORNER PUNCHES

I've seen lots of cards made with the new Pinking Hearts Border and Corner and Scallop Trim Border and Corner punches where there is a stamped layer set upon a tidily punched square or rectangle.  In a voice that's accompanied by a scratching of my head I kept saying "HOW DO THEY DO THAT?"  Well, now I know and so will you in just a few moments. 

First though:  where do you get them???  They're not in Stampin' Up!'s regular 2009-2010 Idea Book & Catalog.  The Pinking Hearts Border and Corner and Scallop Trim Corner punches are in the 2010 Occasions Mini Catalog. The Scallop Trim Border punch is in the Sale-a-Bration catalog and, as are all things Sale-a-Bration, is FREE!  Love having a punch to choose from for Sale-a-Bration!

Today I'll share with you the Scallop Trim Border and Corner punches.  It is so cool to watch your square or rectangle develop.  Go get a large scrap of cardstock, at least 5" x 5", any color.  But please make it cardstock.  And DO work along with this tutorial to see just how logical and easy this is!

Notice on the front of the Scallop Trim Corner punch (where you slip the cardstock in) that there is a guard/guide on the left and the right.  Unlike other punches, you can also slide your cardstock over these guards.  There's a reason but please wait to find it out.

You'll need a personal paper cutter, the Scallop Trim Border and Corner punches and your cardstock.

* STEP 1: Start with the Scallop Trim Corner punch and insert the cardstock using the corner guides.  Punch the corner.

* STEP 2: Align the corner with the wing template on the straight edge punch. (below)

* STEP 3: Continue cutting the straight edge to the desired length still allowing space for the corner cut. (below)

* STEP 4: This is the cool part, for me at least:  Insert Scallop Trim Corner punch and align it with existing cuts to make the second corner cut.  This is where you just slide the cardstock right up and over the corner guides/guards.  (below)

 

* STEP 5: Take your paper cutter and cut a straight edge making sure your card stock is square in the cutter.

 

* STEP 6:  Again align the corner with the wing template on the Scallop Trim Border punch and continue cutting the card stock to the desired width. (below)

* STEP 7: Punch the third corner and then cut the last straight edge.

 

* STEP 8: Cut the fourth corner and then finish the last straight edge:  Hold the Scallop Trim Border punch upside down (my photo shows it right side up) to align the design properly.   (You may need to overlap some of the previous cuts to finish it off.)

You'll need to finish this cutting process before you cut your other layers in order to get the proper layering dimensions.

To be honest, you're going to have to try this several times until you get it just right----at least I did.  You can always save those pieces that aren't perfect and place embellishments over the 'messed up' areas.  It took me 5 attempts to get a 'perfect rectangle!

Here's a swap card sample I received at Leadership Training earlier in January.  It was created by Charity Wright.

Tomorrow I'll give you tips on the new Pinking Hearts Border and Corner punches.

Hopefully now you're ready to either pull out the punches you've already purchased OR you'll be anxious to purchase them for your own creations.  Such fun!!!

And yes, I still have the laryngitis.  It's so quiet at our home these days!  :)

TUESDAY'S TOOL: MY FAVORITE DAILY TOOLS

When you are positioning yourself to start a stampin' project, what tools do you have 'at the ready'.....tools you can't really happily function without?  Your 'go to' assistants at your table?

Mine are

• Stampin' Scrub
• Stampin' Mist
• Grid Paper
• Personal Paper Cutter
• Snail Adhesive
• Paper Snips
• Stamp-a-ma-jig
• Adhesive Remover

Then comes the fun stuff, tools that make the project:

• Rubber Stamps: wood or clear mount, regular or jumbo roller wheels
• Stampin' Pads: SU! Classic or Craft, ColorBox, VersaMark
• Stampin' Markers
• Cardstock
• Designer Series Paper
• Big Shot Die Cut Machine
• Big Shot dies of all sizes and types: Bigz XL dies, Bigz dies, Embosslits, Impressions Embossing Folders
• Embossing Powders
• Embossing Buddy
• Heat Tool
• Embellishments: Hodgepodge Hardware, Pretties Kit, all sorts of brads, all sort of eyelets, clips, glitter (bling), buttons, ribbons, chipboard
• Adhesives: 2-Way Glue Pen, Sticky Strip, Glue Dots, Dimensionals, Crystal Effects, Tombow Multi Purpose, Anywhere Glue Stick
• Aqua Painter
• Blender Pen
• Stamping Sponges and/or Sponge Daubers

And there are so many more but I'll leave those up to you.  Yes, I use them, but these that I've listed I use ALL the time!  Not EVERY time, but I do use them frequently.

Below is a glimpse of my frequent reality.  Sometimes I can keep my stampin' area neat and tidy but sometimes.............it just gets away from me.  This was the final rush in getting my Christmas cards completed in time for mailing.  I still managed to miss a few.

What are your favorite tools?  What do you find yourself using the most---something that really gives you that satisfying 'bang for the buck' so to speak?

It's kind of frustrating, being away from home and not being able to spread myself out at my work table and create at least a mess, and hopefully a finished card or two.

Tomorrow I've have some pictures again.  I'm determined to do some stampin' with the few supplies I brought along with me!  See you then.

THREE CHEERS FOR THE "EMBOSSING BUDDY"

THIS ARTICLE IS A TIP!!!  Using the Embossing Buddy

As I was finishing my last bunch of Christmas cards this morning (yes, really) I tried to sort of take a short cut that I thought was working.  I stamped, using Scenic Season, right on to my Hunter Green card stock, using White Craft Ink followed by Heat & Stick powder, without using my Embossing Buddy.  I gently heated the Heat & Stick powder with the Heat Tool.  So far so good.  Then I sprinkled my Dazzling Diamonds glitter over the trees.  Beautiful sparkles and glittering but it didn't just shake off. I had to really brush it off rather vigorously with a large paint brush.  OK.  Lesson not learned because I then went back and stamped Merry Christmas, from Stampin' Up!'s retired All Year Cheer III stamp set, again with  White Craft ink, followed by White Embossing Powder.  It too remained almost everywhere, especially inside the letters of the greeting.  I had to brush out what I didn't want with a teeny tiny paint brush and that didn't get rid of all of the unwanted the powder.  After heat setting the embossing powder with my Heat Tool I had little (ugly) splatterings in way too many places that I didn't want it.  I've been stamping for well over 15 years and should certainly know better.  I was just trying to 'get away with it'. 

You might say the sparkles below look good around the trees but you can also tell it doesn't belong there!  Click on the picture to enlarge it and have a good look.  Check out the words while you're at it.

At about card #5 (out of 20) I thoroughly used my Embossing Buddy on the entire piece of Hunter Green cardstock.  My, my, what a clean crisp difference.  Lesson learned.  Henceforth, I will always use my Embossing Buddy when using any kind of embossing powder.

The photo below is WITH the Embossing Buddy being used.

TIP #2: Scoring an entire sheet of card stock prior to cutting.  Next thing to do for my cards was to cut the card itself from an 8-1/2" x 11" piece of card stock.  Rather than cut the card stock into 2 pieces, 8-1/2" x 5-1/2", I first scored the card stock, lengthwise, at 4-1/4".  Then, when I cut it into two pieces for cards I didn't have to score two pieces.  I was able to score only once. 

Why do I score my card stock for a card?  It makes the fold much neater and crisper.  Simple as that.

* * * * * * * *

Final thought for today:  Where I sit in my stampin' studio is directly across from 3 narrow windows. 

We had a lovely snow fall overnight that remained on the trees for us to see when we got up this morning.  Later came intermittent snow, sun and clouds.

It is just so pleasant to look out these windows while stamping, thinking and daydreaming.  To think that this room was once a bedroom (over the garage) with a solid wall.  The windows are such an improvement.  :)

I hope you have a wonderful day.  I'll see you again tomorrow.

TIP: HOW TO MOUNT A NEW STAMP SET!

Those of us who have been stamping for awhile pretty much take mounting a new stamp set for granted.  This post is for those new stampers who have just purchased their first set and, even though they've been coached, just aren't quite sure of how to start.  And finish.  And then be ready to stamp.  So here's a step-by-step picture tutorial.  This tutorial is also valid for those of you (you know who you are) who have stamp sets you purchased a while ago but still haven't mounted.  I helped a local friend/customer (Hi Linda!) a few weeks ago and now she's 'free to stamp her little heart away'.  And she's excited all over again.

I just received the Level 1 Hostess set, Country Morning.  Believe it or not, it's the only one I have that's unmounted right now.  So, let's get it ready for stampin'.

First, remove everything from the plastic storage box.  I like to always make a photo copy of the indexes before I place them on the wood blocks.  Then I lightly adhere it to the bottom of the box with 1/2" strips of Snail adhesive in each of the four corners and perhaps one in the middle.  Now I'll always know what belongs in that box.  And so will my friends.  Make sure you have the same number of wood blocks that you have images.  Very very rarely will you be one short or have an extra one OR have one that just doesn't fit anything.

 

Far different from just a few years ago, you now get to just punch out the die cut images, rather than cutting each one out!  Whew.....what an improvement.  As you punch them out lay each image on the appropriate sized wood block.  Sometimes that's not quite as easy as it seems it should be.

 

Once you have each image on its block, select an "index"--the picture of the image printed on clear sticky 'stuff'.  Paper? Plastic?  Carefully place the index on the block.  I like to make sure the words "Stampin' Up!" are straight along the bottom of the block and that the image is centered left to right and top to bottom.

Remove the protective backing from the image and expose the sticky bottom of the rubber image. 

 

This next step is hard to explain or justify but I hold my punched out image to the left (or right if you're right handed) of the block with the index on it, positioning the stamp in mirrored position to the index.  Then I turn the wood block over and position the stamp like I "saw" it when holding it next to the index. 

 

My thought is that if I centered the index left to right, top to bottom, and I center the rubber image left to right, top to bottom, it'll be right where I want it.

 

Some people like to position their rubber images along the bottom edge and perhaps to one side edge or the other.  That's totally your option and one of the nice things about mounting your own stamps.

If you find out later, that your image isn't lined up just the way you want it, you can microwave it  for 6-10 second to loosen the rubber, then gently and slowly pull up the rubber and reposition it as you like.  You might have to give it 2-3 little microwave bursts to release the adhesive bond.  That's OK.

When I mount word stamps I immediately stamp them on my grid paper, aligning the bottom of the wood along a horizontal line and the right (or left) side side along a vertical line.  If it's not exactly straight, I gently pull up the rubber right then, before it's had a chance to really 'set' and reposition it.  Stamp again.  Assess the image.  Redo again if necessary.  Once you're happy, set it in the storage box.   

If you have any questions, please ask me.  I'm here to help you out and make you a stampin' success.

"DELIGHTFUL DECORATIONS" & SHIMMER PAINT

The second set I played around with yesterday, because I really wanted to play with the Shimmer Paint as well, was Delightful Decorations, a set of 4 ornaments plus 3 smaller images.  This set has 2 bonuses:  a matching Ornament Punch (116794, p. 24, Holiday Mini) and a Movers & Shapers die, called Holiday Windows (116821, p. 7, Holiday Mini). 

Here's my card:

I want to show you how I got there, plus share a tip.  Here are the main stamps, just mounted on the wood blocks.  See the sanding block on the left of the photo?



When you have a new large solid stamp it's often difficult to get a good solid image o your cardstock without it looking streaky or blotchy.  There are several ways to remedy this. 
1-  If you are wearing jeans (this is real) rub the rubber image across your thigh 5-6 times.  This will break the coating that's on the surface of the stamp.
2-  Alternatively you can rub gently over the rubber with a Sanding Block (103301, p. 188, 2009 IBC*).  It will also break the coating on the rubber.  See the image on the right, below?  It looks a bit chalky.  After sanding the rubber, wipe it off on your Stampin' Scrub (102642, p. 190, 2009 IBC) or a dampening washrag or whatever you use to clean your stamps.

You'll be much happier with your stamped image.

I stamped three of the ornaments, using Old Olive, More Mustard and Real Red Classic inks on Whisper White cardstock.

I'm adding Shimmer Paint: Champagne Mist (116806, p. 27, Holiday Mini), to the all three of the ornaments.  Stamp them and let them dry for a few minutes.  Gently shake the Shimmer Paint container.  You will be using the paint that is in the lid only. 

Using a Sponge Dauber (102892, p. 192, 2009 IBC), dip into the lid and tap-tap-tap.  then tap all over your first ornament.  You'll pick up a bit of color but don't worry.  After you've covered that ornament, tap it on your grid paper work sheet, shake the Shimmer Paint again (close the lid--smile), dab the sponge dauber with Shimmer Paint, and cover the next ornament.  Continue till all three are nicely 'shimmered'.  Set aside to let them dry.  Then punch out using the Ornament Punch. 

I attached the ornaments to the cardfront with Stampin' Dimensionals (104430, p. 192, 2009 IBC), attaching one end of Silver Cord (109866, p. 17, Holiday Mini) to the back.  I placed the tiniest dot possible of Crystal Effects (101055, p. 192, IBC) at the top of the card front for anchoring the other end of the Silver Cord---don't cut it yet.  Not being sure how it would hold, I ran a track of Snail Adhesive (104332, p. 192, IBC) on the top inside of the card, folded the cord over the top of the card, stuck it to the Snail, and then covered that with a 4-1/4" x 1/2" piece of Bashful Blue cardstock to hide the ends.  Using VersaMark (102283, p. 190, IBC) and the Bold Snowflakes Jumbo Wheel (105957, p. 204, IBC) I rolled a line of snowflakes along the fold of the card front.

I wrapped a piece of Whisper White Taffeta Ribbon (109070, p. 183, IBC) covered with the Silver Cord, around the card front and secured it with a knot.   Not easy but had the effect I wanted. 

This is another card I made, at Convention, at Janet Baker's downline gathering, using this Delightful Decorations stamp set and the Ornament Punch as well as Merry Moments Designer Series Paper (115672, p. 160, IBC).

If you have any questions, as always, don't hesitate to ask.  And if you'd like to order any (or all!) of the components, click on the Button at the top right of this page to order 24/7 or, email or call me personally and I'll be glad to help you.

*IBC:  Idea Book & Catalog

TUESDAY'S TOOL: ADHESIVE REMOVER

I just have to mention this oh-so-often overlooked, diminutive but important tool:  the Adhesive Remover, p. 191 (Spring/Summer 2009 Idea Book & Catalog), 103684, $3.50.  You can't go wrong at that price.

Have you ever placed SNAIL adhesive on the wrong side of a piece of Designer Series Paper or cardstock and then let out a growl of one decibel level or another?  Well I certainly have!  Just grab your unexciting looking Adhesive Remover and gently rub over the 'mess' and off it comes.  I recommend it to every one of my customers knowing that there will be a time when it's needed.  I keep mine right in my working area.

Size: 2" x 2" x 1/4" (at most)

Next time we'll cover something a little more exciting and flashy.  But you can't beat the Adhesive Remover for efficiency and making you happy when it appears as if your hard work has been ruined by residual or misplaced adhesive.

TUESDAY'S TOOL continued: STAMP-A-MA-JIG with 2-STEP STAMPIN'

Are you ready to use the Stamp-a-ma-jig with a 2-Step Stampin' set?  Well, here we go!

This is set we used last week in our Stamp Club.  Only half of the members had used one before so it was a valuable class lesson.

This is the finished image so you can see your goal.  The first thing you want to do is to stamp the outline image on a piece of cardstock, in the case below, Whisper White.  Stamp it with a waterproof ink such as Basic Black, Basic Brown, or Basic Gray, or StazOn. 

Then color in the solid image, in this case, using Stampin' Markers.  Let's jump down one image to  the processes necessary to complete our project.

Tuck the plastic sheet into the corner/crook of the Jig from the Stamp-a-ma-Jig.  Color the image with markers and slide it down the corner so that the image can be stamped on the plastic sheet.  Remove stamp.

Below:  here is the image on the plastic.

Position the plastic sheet over your outline image.  You can see in this instance, that the plastic sheet does not exactly 'square up' to the small piece of Whisper White cardstock.  That's totally OK.

Below:  Position the Jig snugly on the corner of the plastic sheet.  Position the freshly inked stamp in the corner and slide it down onto the Whisper White cardstock, trusting that the second step of the image will be positioned right inside the lines that were stamped earlier (step 1).

Below:  And see---here's your completed image, right where it belongs!  All you need to do now is complete a finished card with some layering and embellishing. 

I have a challenge for you.  Take any 2-step stamping set, or the one I've used above, stamp your images on a smaller piece of light colored cardstock, complete a card and send it to me at <blythe@stampinwithblythe.com> and I'll post it here on the blog.  Show other viewers what you can do!

Today's stamp set:  Soft Summer from the Occasions 2009 Mini Catalog; Ink: Lavender Lace, Lovely Lilac, Mellow Moss

Next posting:  swap cards received from the swap I joined a few weeks ago using the Thoughts & Prayers Stamp Set.  They are beautiful!!!

Thanks for stopping by.  ;)

TUESDAY'S TOOL: STAMP-A-MA-JIG

I am amazed whenever I bring this tool out in a class:  participants say either that they
~have it and just love it
~have it and have never used it because they weren't sure how
~want to get it because they've seen it used and think it looks like a great tool

Do you see yourself in those comments?  Well, if you do, let's get going. 

I have loved and used the Stamp-a-ma-jig (aka SAMJ) for years.  When I show it in a class, being a 'lefty' myself, I show it from both the right-handed and left-handed perspective.  Last week in our Stamp Club, I set up the placement sheet for both since I have 2 left-handed stampers, in addition to me, in the Club.

So, here we go......  What does the SAMJ offer you?  It offers you the ability to get perfect alignment every time.  That's so much better than guessing when it really matters.

Here's what it looks like:

 

I guess it can look rather intimidating, as in: what on earth does one do with that black thing and that thin piece of plastic ?!?!?

Functions & Features
 ■ Stamp positioner
 ■ Allows for fast and precise stamp placement
 ■ Perfect for word and letter stamps
 ■ Sturdy plastic construction
 ■ Includes washable plastic sheet
 ■ Nonskid base 

Here's a little step-by-step with the SAMJ.  (I'd do a video but, as payment for living in these beautiful mountains, I get to be on slower-than-slow dialup and producing a video just isn't in the cards until we can get a high speed connection up here.)

And now, here's the SAMJ ready for action.  I want to put a greeting inside this card that will be sent to my daughter this afternoon.

I've placed a piece of green paper under the plastic sheet that is half of the SAMJ (below)duet of tools.  If you look at the photo above you can see that plastic sheet with the circle that say 'imaging sheet' still on it so I can find it easily when it buries itself on my work table.

Below:  Snug the plastic piece into the 'crook/corner' of the Jig.  Then take your stamp of choice, inked up, and slide it along that 'inside corner' of the Jig and stamp the words onto the plastic.  Mind you, I am left handed!  If you are right handed you would be positioning the stamp with your right hand into the corner on the other side of the Jig.

Below:  when you pull the stamp away, the words will remain on the plastic sheet.

TIP:  Do NOT use Basic Black, Basic Brown, or Basic Grey when stamping onto this plastic sheet.  The image will be there forever.  Use one of the other 48 colors in the Classic Stamp Pad line.

 

Below: Position the plastic sheet on your cardstock, where you would like the image to be stamped.

 

Below:  Place the Jig snugly against the corner of the plastic sheet.

 

Below:  Pull the sheet away, being sure that the Jig does not move.

Below:  Slide the stamp right into that corner and push it down onto the cardstock.

 

Below:  Remove the Jig and the stamp and voila!  Your image is right where you positioned it.

And if you're needing a Stamp-a-ma-jig now, simply go to my Stampin' Up! website, click on SHOP NOW and you're ready to place your order.

I'll see you again tomorrow with an example of 2-step stamping using the SAMJ.  That's really fun!  And if you have one of these things gathering dust on a shelf or in a cupboard, bring it on out and try positioning a phrase right where you'd like to see it--without tilting up or down and ruining all your hard work on a card.

Stamp set used today:  On Your Birthday, p. 141, 111664, $33.95, set of 12 stamps