AUTHOR: Kelly Acheson TITLE: Stampin' Up! Tips DATE: 9/29/2008 08:00:00 AM ----- BODY:
Stampin' Up! Tips to Share!


If you mono adhesive something in place and realize you forgot to sponge the edges or add an eyelet, use a heat tool (heat gun or blow dryer) to the backside of the cardstock. The image will peel up and be in perfect shape plus the cardstock will not be torn. If there does seem to be a problem lifting the image from the cardstock, use dental floss. Just slide it down between the two layers.

Stamps don't always have to be mounted in the center of the block. Some stampers prefer mounting their rubber along one of the edges of the block (especially alphabet and Two-Step Stampin Sets) so they can see exactly where the image will stamp on the card stock!

You can cut your stamps apart before mounting them. For example, if there are words above or below a picture, you can cut the words apart from the picture and mount them on the side. That way you can stamp just the words or just the picture.

Sharpen your punches by punching them through aluminum foil.

Keep 3 aquapainters – one for water, one for bleach, and one for Future floorwax.

Use your black Sharpie to mark the 5-½ line on your trimmer. It makes cutting cards easier by using the mark instead of reading the numbers.

Use 50% Stampin’ Mist & 50% water in the spray bottle to clean stamps. Rub bold rubber images with a pink eraser to enable the ink to adhere better to the rubber.

In order to fix a stamp that was mounted improperly, place the stamp in the microwave for 5-10 seconds to loosen the stickiness.

Use rubbing alcohol or fingernail polish remover to clean glue off Stampin’ Up’s Craft and Rubber scissors.

When cutting out stamped images, turn the image and not the scissors.

Rub wax paper over cardstock before dry embossing to make the stylus glide easier.

Sponge daubers are washable and can be used with ink, chalks, paint, etc.

Store ink cartridges in plastic Baggies so they won’t dry out.

Before mounting stamps, make a photocopy of the labels. Place the copy in the bottom of the
box. It makes it much easier when trying to put tight fitting stamps back in the box. It also lets you know which stamps may be missing.

When mounting stamps, make sure you put the stamp set name label on the box.

Always make an extra card for your portfolio and for inspiration.

Store watercolor brushes upright.

Store Aquapainters without fluid in them and upright.

Use a skirt or pant hanger that opens on the side for wheels and ribbons.

Trim or cut out the large areas of rubber that tend to show up when you stamp.

After using embossing powder and before heating the project, use a swifter sheet to remove powder outside the stamped image.

Crumpled paper or tissue paper adds dimension and interest to your stamping projects. Start at one edge and bend a portion back and forth between your fingers. Work your way across the sheet until the surface is completely crumpled.

Tearing paper gives it an aged look. Take it a step further by curling the torn edges.

When tearing paper, tear it towards you to create a more feathered look.

When tearing Mulberry Paper, use a small paintbrush and water. Go over the line you want to tear. Tear the paper towards you.

When you receive junk mail. Color or emboss the corners of the envelope, cut them with fancy scissors and you have great photo corners or corners for layering objects.

When tearing art paper (without too many big pieces of fibers), decide where you want to tear the paper, take a small paint brush wet with only water and "paint" the line where you want to tear. It tears easily and leaves a feathered edge.

If you use dryer sheets!? Get out your Easter egg dye kits. Dye those used sheets and use them in place of expensive mulberry paper. Kids love doing this one too!!!

Store your VersaMark & StazOn ink pads upside down. That way the ink will be at the top of the pad surface when you are ready to use it.

If the "gum" on envelopes get stuck, put the envelope in the freezer and the stuck envelope flap will "pop" open.

To use my time effectively, I often stamp up images I need for upcoming projects and then take them with me to the doctor's office, swim lessons etc. and color them while I wait. GREAT marketing tool.

Save the crumpled tissue paper from gifts. Crush it in your hands so that it is evenly crumpled. Then apply a complementary color of ink with a brayer. Gold and silver look great. Use it as a layering paper with stamping.

Uses for old road maps

Rubber Cement

Do use only acid-free rubber cement. Read the label carefully. Don't buy rubber cement that contains any oil - it will ruin your project.

Background Stamps

Try bringing the paper to the stamp, rather than the stamp to the paper. Lay stamp rubber-side up on a hard surface. Place paper face down on rubber. Firmly rub the back of the paper with your fingers, a brayer, or the back of a spoon, etc. Hold paper with one hand to prevent slipping. If the paper is smaller than the stamp, place a piece of scrap paper over it. Then use a toothpick to pop the paper off.

When stamping, avoid the quick stamp-and-lift. Large stamps need extra pressure to insure even printing. Be sure to apply pressure to the middle of the stamp as well as the edges.
Bring the ink pad to your stamp. Lay the stamp rubber-side up. Then use either a raised stamp pad to tap the ink onto the stamp or use a brayer to transfer ink from pad to stamp.

Hope you find these helpful!

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----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Kelly DATE:9/29/2008 10:03:00 PM Thanks for all the great tips! ----- --------