Wednesday, March 26, 2008

How to Use Embossing Powder on Cards






How to Use Embossing Powder on Cards
By RayLynn taken from EHow.com






Using embossing powder on cards can dress up an image with a raised look. It’s simple to add to cards with just a few steps. You will be embossing all the time once you see how simple it really is.



Things You’ll Need:
Homemade card
Embossing Powder
Clear embossing ink pad
Stamps
Embossing or craft tray
Embossing heat gun



How to Use Embossing Powder on Cards
Step 1:



Place the design in a location where it will be easily seen and won't be covered by anything you may use to finish off your card. The embossed design can go anywhere you would like.
Step 2:



Stamp the image onto the paper. Make sure that the stamp has picked up enough of the ink. Since the ink is clear, you won’t be able to see if the entire image has stamped correctly. Remember where you stamped the image so that you know where to put the powder.



Step 3:



Place the paper containing the inked image over the craft tray. Pour a generous amount of embossing powder onto the image. Gently shake the paper around to make sure the image is covered by the embossing powder.



Step 4:



Pour the extra embossing powder back into the container or into the craft tray first and then into the container, if it’s easier. Tap the paper lightly offer the tray to get any excess powder off of the paper.
Step 5:



With the embossing heat gun, heat the embossing powder. The heat will melt the powder to create a raised image. It may take a bit to start melting the powder but once it starts, it will be finished quickly. Keep the embossing heat gun fairly close to the paper, and the melting process should go quickly.
Step 6:



Now that your embossed image is done, you can continue embossing other images or you can finish off the card if needed.






HAVE FUN @remember to enjoy your stamps !






Jody & Cole






A few new stamps we made for you this week.











Monday, March 24, 2008

Rubber Stamps Tips

Dye Based Ink
A quick drying water based ink. Colors are most vibrant on white, glossy coated papers and card stock. Not recommended for use with embossing powder. Ink fades with time and when exposed to light.
Pigment Ink
Thick, slow-drying ink. Colors are rich and vibrant even on colored papers and cards. The ink will not dry on glossy coated papers unless embossed.
Crafter’s Ink
Multi-purpose, permanent ink with a longer drying time than acrylic paint. It is highly pigmented and the colors are mixable. It works on a variety of surfaces and is great for numerous craft applications such as fabric, wood, paper and painted surfaces. It must be heat set on fabric.
Embossing (or Thermal Embossing)
A technique using stamps with embossing or pigment ink, embossing powder and a heat source to create raised images. Stamp image with ink and immediately sprinkle with embossing powder over stamped image. Tap excess powder and reserve for future use. Heat image with embossing tool until powder melts.
Embossing Ink
Slow drying ink used for Thermal Embossing. See Embossing above.
Inking a Stamp
There are several ways to ink a stamp:
Using Felt Ink Pads – Tap stamp firmly onto ink pad until stamp is evenly inked. Raised felt ink pads can also be picked up and patted on stamp to apply color.
Using Foam Ink Pads – tap stamp gently onto ink pad until stamp is evenly inked. Raised foam ink pads can also be picked up and patted onto stamp to apply color.
Using Brush markers – Use only water based brush tip markers as solvent or alcohol type inks will stain and dry rubber out. Brush markers are used by applying the brush tip marker directly onto the stamp. Multicolor impressions are achieved by using additional colors on various areas of the stamp. Remoisten inks prior to stamping by breathing on the inked stamp or huffing.
Using Wedge Sponges – Use the flat edge of this sponge to apply inks or paints to the stamp in a patting motion.
Stamp Cleaner
Used to clean ink from stamps. Use applicator top to apply cleaner to stamp, them pat stamp dry on paper towels.
Stamping Mat
A durable foam mat used as a work surface for stamping. The mat gives slightly allowing the best ink impressions. Particularly useful for oversized stamps.
Stamping Paint
A highly pigmented, acrylic paint specially formulated to be permanent on a variety of surfaces. This paint has a slower drying time than acrylic paint to allow the user to apply different colors to a stamp for multi-color impressions. Fabric must be heat set on reverse side to make permanent.
Wedge Sponge
Used to apply paint to stamps. Load paint or ink on flat edge of sponge. Pat paint or ink onto surface of stamp. Also used as a tool to sponge color onto a variety of surfaces such as paper, fabric and wood.
Masking
A technique of covering a stamped image to protect it from subsequent applications of color. A method used to create foregrounds and backgrounds.
Instructions:
Stamp foreground image onto surface first.
Re-stamp image on a second piece of paper or Post it Note™.
Cut the second image out.
Align cut out image (or mask it) over the first image or foreground image.
Stamp second image overlapping the mask
Remove the mask.
The second stamped image appears to be in the background.

Sunday, March 23, 2008

New custom stamps we have made this week






I have to say it has been a fun fun week for us here.




We made so many new and fun stamps for small businesses we feel like we made a bunch of new friends from all over the world.








We shipped one stamp this week to Ireland. Now, that's far !






We had a lovely couple order some stamps for their wedding invitations and thank you notes. Congratulations to you both !











Leah had a stamp made for her business. If you are in the market for really nice hand-made glass beads please visit her site.







And a real estate agent had this lovely stamp made for her business.
Very nice indeed !
SOME OF THIS WEEKS COMMENTS ON OUR ETSY STORE ARE :
I am so stampin happy! Fantastic in every way! Officialinitial= great customer service and perfect custom stamp. I will definately order more.
Perfect! They are so cute and they were made just as I asked. I will be back for more!!! Thanks -Stacey
You guys rock, this stamp is darling;)
A big shout out to all of you who posted these comments. We aren't perfect but we strive to be the best we can be !
THANK YOU BACK ATCHA'
Jody & Cole


Saturday, March 8, 2008

Wedding Rubber Stamp Ideas




We have been making a lot of wedding rubber stamps.



Some of the great ideas we have heard we are going to pass along to you.




WEDDING STAMP IDEAS TO ORDER

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5482317&section_id=5331972

Using your wedding stamps:

Wedding stamps are also heirlooms you can make for your wedding day.

They are great for thank you notes, save the date, invitations and favors.

Here are some ideas for you to use your stamp at your special day !
From embellishing cocktail napkins to adorning favor boxes, rubber stamps offer a myriad of ways to personalize a wedding.
Wrapping PaperEnclose gifts for your wedding party or favors for your guests in handmade wrapping paper covered in impressions made with a square rubber stamp. For a uniform pattern, stamp a large sheet of paper repeatedly with the same stamp, leaving a small space between each impression. Or stamp just the center of a piece of wrapping paper. If your box and stamp are the same size, you can just stamp the top. If the box is larger than the stamp, the pattern can trail down the sides. A stamp rolling pin also makes an attractive pattern.
Confetti BagsPlayful polka-dot bags will hold confetti until guests are ready to shower the newlyweds with it. Decorate premade fabric bags with ink from a circular pad for perfectly round impressions. Slip a piece of card stock into the bag to prevent the ink from bleeding through (and remember, fabric needs more drying time than paper).
Cocktail NapkinsDress up simple cocktail napkins with romantic old song titles or favorite lines of poetry. Use a ruler as guide for straight impressions.
Favor BoxesTo create matching tokens for everyone at the wedding, dress up gift boxes and fill them with favors. Stamp 1/2-inch quill paper repeatedly with your wedding date, and use the paper for wrapping the box. To wrap the box, tape the left end of a paper strip to the inside of the box's right side. Place the lid on top, and wrap paper around the box, moving it under and then across the lid. To fasten on the right side, tuck paper under lid. Trim the paper, leaving a 1/2-inch tail.

From: http://www.marthastewart.com/portal/site/mslo/menuitem.3a0656639de62ad593598e10d373a0a0/?vgnextoid=6fb48670de42f010VgnVCM1000003d370a0aRCRD&autonomy_kw=wedding%20rubber%20stamps&rsc=header_2

How to mount rubber stamps







Permanent MountingTools Sharp scissorsCraft knife- Supplies Unmounted rubber stampsCushionNote: You can get adhesive cushion for mounting stamps from many sources. I recommend the gray cushion available from Sunday International.You can also use inexpensive FunFoam available from craft stores (you will need to use rubber cement with FunFoam). BlocksUse only hardwood such as maple because pine warps. You can buy maple by the foot at most lumberyards.Rubber cementNote: Make sure you use REAL rubber cement, and work in a ventilated area. This will insure that your stamp does not fall off, if you use stamps a lot you may have had this happen when you purchase cheap mounted stamps.For the image on top of the wood use permanent or heat-set ink like black Fabrico or Crafter's Ink.* Our stamps are laser etched into the wood permanently.- Instructions Use sharp scissors to trim your rubber dies. Make sure not to undercut the design area of the die. Adhere the die to the cushion. If using non-adhesive cushion, spread a thin layer of rubber cement on both the die and the cushion and allow to dry (15–30 minutes), then stick together. Use a craft knife to trim the cushion from around the die. Again, do not undercut the die. Ink the cushioned die and carefully apply the stamp to the block, pressing down to make sure the stamp leaves a good impression. Heat set the ink. Adhere the cushioned die to the block, using rubber cement if necessary. * We recommend that if you are going to use the stamp a lot to get it mounted, it is cheaper and faster. We guarantee our stamps will not fall off for life. ( under natural circumstances of course. )