One of the most useful things that I have learned is to make a mask book. By using a three ring
binder, I punch 3 holes in a piece of 8 ½" x 11" double-sided glossy card stock to fit in the binder.
Then when you buy a stamp, stamp it on typing paper and cut it out and cover the back with repositionable
Post It Note glue. If you use a light coat it will hold your mask in place while you stamp. You can buy
repositionable glue sticks at your local stationary store. I have my masks organized in categories, this
way when I am stamping; they are always ready and easy to find. What a time saver! When I am finished
stamping, I return it to the book for another day. I also keep a binder zip pocket in the back. When I
have made a cut out image that I don't end up using, I put it in my pocket for another card.
Keep a small notebook where you can write down ideas you think of, see or read about to try at a later
time.
Store your inkpads upside down. This keeps the ink at the top of the pad where you need it.
The biggest mistake new stampers make is not properly inking the stamp. Dob your stamp over the inkpad pressing firmly,
don't wipe it across as this will not distribute the ink evenly. Be careful not to rock the stamp as this will get ink on
the margin of the stamp. Make a "test" stamp on sheet of scratch paper. Be careful not to rock the stamp.
For a faded-looking image, first stamp the inked stamp on a piece of scrap paper, and then stamp
on the card without reinking.
Stamp your image in archival or waterproof ink when you are planning to color with
watercolor so your lines will not run.
If you make a mistake, no big deal, just layer another piece of paper with the same stamped image right
over the booboo. Layering techniques can make your cards look very professional, even if you're not
covering mistakes.
Use markers to color on the rubber stamp directly as well as coloring the image once it has been stamped.
Apply the markers directly on the rubber stamp using different colors as needed, then huff (like you're fogging
up the lens of your glasses to wipe off a smear) the stamp before pressing onto paper. Huffing re-moisturizes the
ink for easy transfer.
If you love the handmade bumpy paper and want to stamp on it, you can get a detailed image or text by stamping on
white tissue paper with permanent ink. Then wet your bumpy paper and lay this on it. It will adhere to your
paper and you will not see the tissue!
Stamp away excess ink on a scratch paper before cleaning.
Never use solvents to clean your stamps as it will break down the rubber and adhesives used to make the stamp! if you use
permanent in you can use Avon's "Skin So Soft" to clean off the stamps.
If you have ink down in the groves you can use an old toothbrush to give it a scrub, then just clean as normal.
I keep a piece of an air filter in a plastic tub, then I sprits the filter with a solution of water and dish soap.
I can then just rub my stamp across the filter and blot it on a paper towel and its clean!
I always seem to get specks of glitter on my stamps. It is easy to get them off with a piece of cellophane tape.
Want to do some embossing?
Wipe your cardstock with a used dryer sheet before embossing as this will help eliminate those tiny
specks of embossing powder that seem to stick everywhere.
Stamp with a pigment ink or Versamark, shake some embossing powder over your image and shake off the excess.
When shaking off excess embossing powder, shake it over a creased sheet of paper ... that way the excess embossing powder can
easily be slid right down the crease in the paper right back into the jar.
Heat with your heat gun and your done :)
Just good to know:
As long as you're stamping, make two! Then when an occasion comes up that you need a card you
have a collection to choose from.
Invest in a bucket of fun foam shapes. You can stick them with double sticky tape onto a block and use for a shadow stamps.
They are far cheaper than there rubber counterparts and I think they even stamp nicer.
I love to use ribbons on my cards. Quite often I found myself frustrated when I did not have the right
color, so now I only buy the white silk or neutral chiffon. This way, by using my markers or inkpads to
color the ribbon, it is always a perfect match with the colors I used on the card. Sometimes I may use
several colors and make a variegated ribbon also.
Want to get that hand-made torn edge look on papers? If you don't have the deckle edge scissors, lay a ruler along the edge
of your paper and wet the paper along it's edge with a small watercolor paintbursh. Let the water soak in, then gently tear.
I found that pearlescent eye shadow works as well as powdered pearls and can be found much cheaper. Use it as you would on
images stamped with "Versamark". Add the eye shadow to clear embossing powder and emboss with it or you can add
gum arbic to it to make watercolors.
When you receive junk mail ..emboss the corners of the envelope with a corner stamp and cut them with
fancy scissors and you have great photo corners ..or corners for layering objects.
Odors from cigar boxes can be removed by simply crumpling up newspaper and place it in the box, close it and put it in a
plastic bag for a few days. It must be printed newspaper, not glossy.
Used dryer sheets are also good for layering. Try dying them with fabric dye or ink and tear the edges to give it a frayed
look.
Tape tricks...I buy both sizes of the double sticky tape. You can make a nice line down one side of the card or even a border
with it. Place the tape where you want your border then sprinkle it with glitter, foil or flocking.
If you haven't already gotten into collage, here's a way to start. Create a collage box and add any
items that could be used in collage work - like scraps of ribbon, yarn, beads, old costume jewelry,
scraps of colored paper, cancelled postage stamps, broken watch parts, whatever. This will help inspire
you and make collaging much easier with all your items in one place.
Save the tissue paper from gifts. Crush it into balls so that it is evenly crumpled. This can later be
used for layering. It looks especially good when you brayer a few complementary colors of ink on it.
As you cut out your images for layering, save the scraps of paper to use as pulp for papermaking.
Papermaking kits are available at many craft stores and there are many web sites with simple instructions.
Save your larger paper scraps for making bookmarks, layering stamped images, or adding to a collage.
