Image is Crafty Secrets. All punches are Martha Stewart. See Splitcoast tutorials for Easel Card directions.
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Cutie Friends
Image is Crafty Secrets. All punches are Martha Stewart. See Splitcoast tutorials for Easel Card directions.
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Little Polar Bear
Stamp unknown. Background plaid done with Waltzingmouse stamps. Border punch is Martha Stewart and the other border is Cuttlebug.
Friday, January 29, 2010
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Victorian Style
These new DCVW Mariposa stack papers (from JoAnn) lend themselves to an old fashioned look. The birdhouse stamp was a dollar stamp from Craft Warehouse. Punches used are a Cuttlebug corner die, and the rest are Martha Stewart border punches. The lace at the bottom was a scrap I had.
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Totally Dying Over These New Martha Punches!
To see the new Martha Punches revealed at CHA, click the title of this post, then click each picture on Eva's blog to enlarge it. Some of the newer punch around the page ones are going to break me for sure. I have purchased several of the ones on the top 2 views that came out about a month ago, and now there are more for me to drool over!
Frosty Chill
Main image is Willow (purchased online at allthatscraps), sentiment is SU, the rose Cuttlebug background was a gift from my friend Joyce (across the pond--GW)!
Monday, January 25, 2010
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Cuttlebug/Bigshot Video Pros and Cons
This was the clearest video I have ever seen as to the differences in the machines. Answered some questions for me. Click the title to go to Amy's video.
Thousands of Amazing New Stamping Products
--about to be released. Click on the title of this post to see the sneak peeks!
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Friday, January 22, 2010
Rent or Rent to Buy stamps?
Interesting concept. To go to the site where they are doing this, click the title of this post.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Favorites?
My favorites for each category:
1. Clear Stamps: Waltzingmouse with Papertrey a close second.
2. Online Store: 7kidscollegefund.com
3. Adhesive: ATG gun
4. Portable Die Cutting: Slice Machine but I also love my Nesties
5. Designer Paper: Basic Grey
6. White Cardstock to stamp/color on: Gina K. Deluxe
7. Colored Cardstock: Papertrey
8. Basic white Cardstock for Card bases: Georgia Pacific #110 at Walmart
9. Glitter Glue: Stickles
10. Embossing Powder: Papertrey
11. Store: Impress at South Center in Tukwilla
12. Papercutter: the old Fiskar's rotary
13. Ink: Depends on the project but I use the Pallette Hybrids a lot
14. Markers: Copics Ciao
15. Blender Pen: Dove
16. Babywipes for cleaning stamps: Kirkland from Costco
17. Spray Cleaner: Ultra Clean
18. Dry Embossing/Cutting Machine: Cuttlebug
19. Stampin' Up Cardstock Color: Creamy Caramel
20. Way to store clear and UM stamps: CD cases in drawers
21. Punches: Martha Stewart with EK Success and new SU ones close behind
22. Chatboard: Gingerwood
23. Loose Glitter: Stampendous
24. White Gel Pen: Signo (I buy several at a time at www.jetpens.com
25. Stamper's Blog: nicholeheady.typepad.com
26. Ribbon: Papertrey for my basics, SU for others
27. Vintage Stuff: Crafty Secrets
28. Templates: Lauren Meader's My Time site
29. Bookmaking tool: Bind It All
30. Stamping background music: Michael Buble
1. Clear Stamps: Waltzingmouse with Papertrey a close second.
2. Online Store: 7kidscollegefund.com
3. Adhesive: ATG gun
4. Portable Die Cutting: Slice Machine but I also love my Nesties
5. Designer Paper: Basic Grey
6. White Cardstock to stamp/color on: Gina K. Deluxe
7. Colored Cardstock: Papertrey
8. Basic white Cardstock for Card bases: Georgia Pacific #110 at Walmart
9. Glitter Glue: Stickles
10. Embossing Powder: Papertrey
11. Store: Impress at South Center in Tukwilla
12. Papercutter: the old Fiskar's rotary
13. Ink: Depends on the project but I use the Pallette Hybrids a lot
14. Markers: Copics Ciao
15. Blender Pen: Dove
16. Babywipes for cleaning stamps: Kirkland from Costco
17. Spray Cleaner: Ultra Clean
18. Dry Embossing/Cutting Machine: Cuttlebug
19. Stampin' Up Cardstock Color: Creamy Caramel
20. Way to store clear and UM stamps: CD cases in drawers
21. Punches: Martha Stewart with EK Success and new SU ones close behind
22. Chatboard: Gingerwood
23. Loose Glitter: Stampendous
24. White Gel Pen: Signo (I buy several at a time at www.jetpens.com
25. Stamper's Blog: nicholeheady.typepad.com
26. Ribbon: Papertrey for my basics, SU for others
27. Vintage Stuff: Crafty Secrets
28. Templates: Lauren Meader's My Time site
29. Bookmaking tool: Bind It All
30. Stamping background music: Michael Buble
Warm Heart
Stamp is Impression Obsession (thanks Cherylynn at Second Childhood Creations, online store). Sentiment if Gina K.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Dapper Dan
You will be seeing several cards in the next few days with this adorable snowman. I got him online at 7kidscollegefund (one of my favorite online stores with great discounts). This one is paper pieces with various scraps I had. Black DP behind is from Papertrey Ink (online).
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Cup of Warmth
All stamps are by Gina K. Background paper is Eskimo Kisses on a Cuttlebugged background. Paper pieces are also Eskimo Kisses.
Monday, January 18, 2010
Cozy Blue Sweater
Stamps are Gina K. Nestie background done with Basic Grey Eskimo Kisses paper. The blue and pink backgrounds done with Cuttlebug. I used a Cornish Heritage weave background over the sweater and hat to give a woven look.
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Cheerful Snowman
Stamp is Hero Arts, border is EK Success, rest of backgrounds are Cuttlebug. Ribbon from Michael's. Colored with Copic pens.
Border Circle Tutorial
Click the title to go to a detailed tutorial on how to make a really fun edge on a circle!
Saturday, January 16, 2010
A Really Good Copic Tutorial
Click the title. This one is so detailed that you cannot possibly miss the technique.
Please Help
Click the title of this post to go to Jennifer's blog and help send cards to sick kids and their siblings. Be sure to read the letter from a mother about how much it meant to her children.
If you love the Button Punch look---
and don't have the punch, you can take your smallest round nestie and cut and emboss the edge and then punch or poke 4 small holes in the center! Looks very much like the button punch.
PS---You can also make really adorable heart shaped ones the same way.
PS---You can also make really adorable heart shaped ones the same way.
Frosty Bird
Stamps: Memory Box
DP: Cosmo Cricket Good Cheer
Border Punch: Martha Stewart
Background-Cuttlebug Texture Plate swiped with Creamy Caramel (SU) ink
Friday, January 15, 2010
By Request--Basics: Types of Stamps
I have several new readers who are beginning stampers. They have emailed me over the last few months to ask if I would, now and then, post some beginner tips. I told them that once the new year came I would try to do that, and then I forgot. So, after a reminder I am off and running with this.
These are very basic but hopefully useful tips about different kinds of stamps.
Clear Stamps- Clear stamps are clear until you get them inked. They may remain somewhat stained, but that won't hurt the way they stamp. It is important to not use anything with alcohol in it on them. This includes the baby wipes you use for cleaning or any stamp cleaners. I use baby wipes and for really messy stamps I use Ultra Clean Spray. Do not use Windex or other products. Also, according to Nichole at Papertrey, just putting them in a strainer and cleaning them in a sink of soapy water and then air drying on a lint towel now and then helps them stick to the clear acrylic blocks you use them with. I love clear stamps because
1) you can store so many in one CD case (with the insert removed), 2-they are fabulous for positioning because they are see through, and 3-they are generally much less expensive and you get more stamps per set. Years ago they were not good quality and yellowed, but the newer stamps are wonderful and hold up for years. I clean my acrylic blocks with Mr. Clean Magic Erasers to keep them sparkling and shiny. The only downfall I see is that the small ones are easy to lose so I always leave them attached to the block until I clean them and either put them in the CD or put them in a container I keep on my work area for this purpose.
Unmounted Stamps- You can buy bare rubber and attach it to cling foam and then use these stamps on the same clear blocks you use with your clear stamps.
I purchase EZ Mount at All That Scraps (online) and use special rubber cutting scissors called Kai scissors to trim them out. You can also purchase UM's with the cling already attached before you buy them. I unmounted all my wood mount stamps and put them on EZ Mount and store them in CDs. These can be cleaned with baby wipes and I also use the Ultra Clean on them if I use metallic or pigment inks with them.
Foam Stamps- These are the cheapy stamps you find in the area to do wall decorating or in kids' sections of stores. They give a spongy looking appearance and they are hard to get clean, but I do have a few in my collection because they work on special projects.
Wood Mounted Stamps- These are kind of becoming a thing of the past. Most people do not like the idea of paying for wood when you don't need it and disposing of good wood when you UM seems kind of wasteful. The wood gets stained when you use these, and they are almost impossible to position at all precisely unless you use a tool for positioning. I UM any wood stamps I purchase as soon as I get them home. You will also find them to be outrageously expensive. Cleaning is the same as for UMs.
Clear Mount-This is what Stampin' Up calls their unmounted stamps that come with the cling on them. Many people feel this is confusing. They are about 20% less than the wood mounts, and easier to ship. They also take up less room in your stamp room which is why people were so vocal about SU offering this option.
I use my stamps with clear blocks purchased with coupons at JoAnn, found on sale, or found at Walmart. Also, you can save plastic containers like Tic Tac boxes or the hard plastic boxes that eyeliner sometimes comes in, and use those in a pinch. I like to have several sizes and at least 2 blocks in each size just so I can have all the blocks I need for one stamping session without switching back and forth.
Other tips:
If you are putting EZ mount cling on stamps, after you get the stamps stuck on the sheet but before cutting, sprinkle all the sticky with baby powder over a sink. Makes cutting a much, much easier job. Ultra Clean is fabulous to use when cleaning your scissors if they get sticky.
Using a hot knife (like you find in the woodburning tools at Michaels), makes trimming out your stamps a breeze! Smells a bit, but really saves your hands if you are doing a lot of them.
I buy my jewel style CD cases at K-Mart. Cheapest place I have found. Then pop out the insert and I break off the tabs inside the front cover by pressing scissor handles on them until they snap. I label the case spines with sticky labels I make on the computer.
Hoping this is helpful for someone!
My favorites are the clear, but I am OK with the UM's. I only buy a wood mount these days if it is an image I just have to have.
These are very basic but hopefully useful tips about different kinds of stamps.
Clear Stamps- Clear stamps are clear until you get them inked. They may remain somewhat stained, but that won't hurt the way they stamp. It is important to not use anything with alcohol in it on them. This includes the baby wipes you use for cleaning or any stamp cleaners. I use baby wipes and for really messy stamps I use Ultra Clean Spray. Do not use Windex or other products. Also, according to Nichole at Papertrey, just putting them in a strainer and cleaning them in a sink of soapy water and then air drying on a lint towel now and then helps them stick to the clear acrylic blocks you use them with. I love clear stamps because
1) you can store so many in one CD case (with the insert removed), 2-they are fabulous for positioning because they are see through, and 3-they are generally much less expensive and you get more stamps per set. Years ago they were not good quality and yellowed, but the newer stamps are wonderful and hold up for years. I clean my acrylic blocks with Mr. Clean Magic Erasers to keep them sparkling and shiny. The only downfall I see is that the small ones are easy to lose so I always leave them attached to the block until I clean them and either put them in the CD or put them in a container I keep on my work area for this purpose.
Unmounted Stamps- You can buy bare rubber and attach it to cling foam and then use these stamps on the same clear blocks you use with your clear stamps.
I purchase EZ Mount at All That Scraps (online) and use special rubber cutting scissors called Kai scissors to trim them out. You can also purchase UM's with the cling already attached before you buy them. I unmounted all my wood mount stamps and put them on EZ Mount and store them in CDs. These can be cleaned with baby wipes and I also use the Ultra Clean on them if I use metallic or pigment inks with them.
Foam Stamps- These are the cheapy stamps you find in the area to do wall decorating or in kids' sections of stores. They give a spongy looking appearance and they are hard to get clean, but I do have a few in my collection because they work on special projects.
Wood Mounted Stamps- These are kind of becoming a thing of the past. Most people do not like the idea of paying for wood when you don't need it and disposing of good wood when you UM seems kind of wasteful. The wood gets stained when you use these, and they are almost impossible to position at all precisely unless you use a tool for positioning. I UM any wood stamps I purchase as soon as I get them home. You will also find them to be outrageously expensive. Cleaning is the same as for UMs.
Clear Mount-This is what Stampin' Up calls their unmounted stamps that come with the cling on them. Many people feel this is confusing. They are about 20% less than the wood mounts, and easier to ship. They also take up less room in your stamp room which is why people were so vocal about SU offering this option.
I use my stamps with clear blocks purchased with coupons at JoAnn, found on sale, or found at Walmart. Also, you can save plastic containers like Tic Tac boxes or the hard plastic boxes that eyeliner sometimes comes in, and use those in a pinch. I like to have several sizes and at least 2 blocks in each size just so I can have all the blocks I need for one stamping session without switching back and forth.
Other tips:
If you are putting EZ mount cling on stamps, after you get the stamps stuck on the sheet but before cutting, sprinkle all the sticky with baby powder over a sink. Makes cutting a much, much easier job. Ultra Clean is fabulous to use when cleaning your scissors if they get sticky.
Using a hot knife (like you find in the woodburning tools at Michaels), makes trimming out your stamps a breeze! Smells a bit, but really saves your hands if you are doing a lot of them.
I buy my jewel style CD cases at K-Mart. Cheapest place I have found. Then pop out the insert and I break off the tabs inside the front cover by pressing scissor handles on them until they snap. I label the case spines with sticky labels I make on the computer.
Hoping this is helpful for someone!
My favorites are the clear, but I am OK with the UM's. I only buy a wood mount these days if it is an image I just have to have.
Winter's Window
Window frame was made with a tag punch. Snowy sky is a Cuttlebug embossing folder and then swiped with white ink. Miscellaneous little punch outs I had laying around completed the scene.
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Best Purchases of 2009 for My Stamping
A reader emailed me and reminded me that I used to review products more often and asked if I would do that again. So, here goes.
The best new toy of the year for me was a Slice Machine. It is a very portable, light, user friendly die cutter. I am enjoying it very much. I had some calibration problems with it but the company talked me through and it is fine now. The cards are inexpensive if you use a Michael's coupon or buy them on ebay (I got several amazing deals this way).
I am also thrilled with my Martha Stewart embossed button punch, as well as the deep edgers I am just starting to use.
Other than that, my ATG and Cuttlebug still hold the top places in my heart and I would replace either in an instant, if they wore out on me.
I cannot really say I had any bad experiences with products this year. I have purchased far less stamps, but am thrilled with Waltzingmouse stamps and service. I would say this is my current favorite company. Instead of stamps, I purchased more paper (right, like I needed to, LOL) and really got into punched borders. I continue to be happy with Copic pens once I got practiced with them.
My favorite Cuttlebug folder of the year is the rosebud one. Thanks to Joyce (across the pond--GW) I am having a delightful time with this gift she sent me from Europe!
The best new toy of the year for me was a Slice Machine. It is a very portable, light, user friendly die cutter. I am enjoying it very much. I had some calibration problems with it but the company talked me through and it is fine now. The cards are inexpensive if you use a Michael's coupon or buy them on ebay (I got several amazing deals this way).
I am also thrilled with my Martha Stewart embossed button punch, as well as the deep edgers I am just starting to use.
Other than that, my ATG and Cuttlebug still hold the top places in my heart and I would replace either in an instant, if they wore out on me.
I cannot really say I had any bad experiences with products this year. I have purchased far less stamps, but am thrilled with Waltzingmouse stamps and service. I would say this is my current favorite company. Instead of stamps, I purchased more paper (right, like I needed to, LOL) and really got into punched borders. I continue to be happy with Copic pens once I got practiced with them.
My favorite Cuttlebug folder of the year is the rosebud one. Thanks to Joyce (across the pond--GW) I am having a delightful time with this gift she sent me from Europe!
Card for Jenny's Wedding
All paper and ribbon by Papertrey. Tag is Nestie with SU sentiment and the rest is done with CB folder.
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Winter's Splendor
Main image is a Northwoods stamp that I just could not pass up (probably one of the few wood mounted stamps I bought in 2009). Damask border punch is EK Success (fabulous slim punches that work so well!)
You have GOT to see this!
This is a craft room like no other I have ever seen. Click the title of this post and be amazed!
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Winter Bird in Red
Bird and the 2 layers behind are done with Nestabilities. Background paper is a down load from Lauren Meader and punched with a Martha Stewart border punch.
Monday, January 11, 2010
My Exciting News!
I won my entire release shopping cart at Waltzingmousestamps.com Go on over there and check it out!!
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Sledding!
Main image and sentiment by Gina K Designs. Background was made with Waltzingmouse stamps.
Great Idea for Making Very Cute Little Tags!
Click the title of this post to go to a blog with a great idea!
Saturday, January 9, 2010
Hot Chocolate For Sale!
Cups are a Martha S. punch. All DP is Eskimo Kisses by Basic Grey. Stamp is from Rummage Bin (at CHF).
Friday, January 8, 2010
Thursday, January 7, 2010
I Don't Drink Coffee, So Why Should I ----
be excited about coffee filters? Click the title and see why.
Winter Scene
All stamps by PTI. DP from Eskimo Kisses by Basic Grey. Snow border is a CB embossing border folder.
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
New Stamp Store in Idaho for NW readers
Click the title of this post to see more about this store. I understand she had a store before in another location and it was very good.
Sunday, January 3, 2010
Really Gorgeous Vintage Downloads
If you enjoy vintage images, check out this link. Click the title of this post.
Friday, January 1, 2010
Wonderful Blog!
I don't know how I missed this wonderful blog, but it is really fun to look at. Click the title!
Hot Mugs in a Frosty Window for New Year's Day!
Mugs are a Martha Stewart punch and so are the icicles. Stamps are all SU. Red border is EK Success.
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