A Stampers Touch Ideas & How To's Page

I have been using the square, rectangular, oval and circle acrylic
templates for years. Mine are Evo templates, but there are others, I
believe. Many of you may have them, they graduate in sizes so that you
can cut your paper stock, etc. into layers, or you can place them over an
image and cut around it. After years of using them cutting around images I finally had a brain-wave that would ensure that all my "margin" areas around the image would be equal and it was really quite simple after giving it some thought.

I now have taken each acrylic template, and marked the center, and each quadrant, or corner, with a permanent marker so it is simply a matter of
placing the center dot on my template in the area that I consider the
center of my image. Works like a charm.

I used my self-healing cutting mat as a simple guide to do this. Just
place your clear template over the area where the angled line is situated
and you will find center and be able to mark your quadrants with no
problem, since the healing-mat is divided by little squares.

Looking for some fun embellishments? Check at your local florist
shops...they often have baskets with miscellaneous clearance items. I
have picked up a lot of lovely satin ribbons, Sinamay, paper ribbons,
small artificial flowers and botanical sprigs, etc., at great clearance
prices. The quality is generally excellent, as well.

GIFT IDEA -- CARD CALENDAR (by: Gayle Page-Robak)

If you are looking for a great gift idea to give a friend or loved one for any occasion throughout the year, perhaps you may want to create a Card Calendar, and make cards that can be given by the Card Calendar recipient to family or friends throughout the year. These cards become part of the gift and are tucked into pockets in the calendar.

This card calendar is not created in the traditional calendar format, where you list every date...but one where you can write the dates of those you know that have a special day during that 2month period, or perhaps you won't add specific dates at all. It can make it simple or involved, whatever your creativity dictates.

Take 6 sheets of cardstock(one piece for each 2 months of the year), and fold over the bottom 1/3 of the way to create a bottom pocket on each piece of cardstock. Then affix the sides of this fold-over with eyelets, paper fasteners or tape so nothing slides out. You can then do some stamping or do some punch art, to make each section into a work of art. Identify each section with the two month period, i.e., "January/February", etc. You may or may not wish to write the names and dates of those people that have birthdays, anniversaries, etc. during that two month period.

When you have your 6 pages completed, make a cover and a back for your gift, decorate those as well, then punch holes at the top and tie the pages together with a nice ribbon or some fibers. You can also create any type of hanger of your choice if you wish to have it as a wall hanger.

Tuck handmade cards for those occasions in each of the pockets. This makes an excellent gift. You may even wish to make one for yourself. Enjoy.

Unmounted Letters Tip (by Gayle Page-Robak)

Letter UMs (unmounted stamps) can be a nuisance to work with at times. I often have a hard time to discern one from another, as well. Normally, I use the HALOS (Hook & Loop system on acrylics) so after I have applied the loop to each, I lay each letter in sequence on a strip of hook tape to keep them in order.

A short while ago I bought a set that I wanted to mount on wood but I did not have any source for little blocks so I purchased dowelling and had DH cut the dowel into pieces, so I could use them for mounting. I used rubber cushion and I stamped the top of the dowel with the UM before mounting it, and just made sure I had the letter going in the same direction (smile)...works great!

BTW, I gave up (long ago) trying to get my letters in a straight line. Invariably I always get one out of line, regardless of how careful I am. So, now I purposely stamp them in a random fashion and really save myself a lot of frustration. I actually like the 'casual' look better, so that is a bonus. It is nice to have some smaller letters to stamp our own word sayings in our cards, and of course all letters are great for those of us who scrapbook as well.

STORING SMALL UNMOUNTED STAMPS (BY GAYLE PAGE-ROBAK)

This is a simple storage method for those little unumounted stamps that are so difficult to keep organized. I use a unit with little drawers (these can be purchased at your local hardware store, commonly used in the workshop for storing nuts, bolts, etc.).

Sort out your little UMs into categories of your choice.....i.e., Angels, Animals, Botanical, Hearts, Party, Postoids, People, Birds/Butterflies, Stars/Snowflakes, Sun/Moon, Travel, Words, Nautical, etc. etc....Label each drawer and store the respective unmounted stamps in its drawer. I find it is very simple to locate the little stamps that I once spent too much time trying to find.

MAXIMIZE YOUR XYRON--
MAKE DOUBLE SIDED TAPE (Gayle Page-Robak)

If you do not want to put adhesive on the entire back of your layers you can make a lot of wonderful double sided tape with your Xyron, for probably a lot less money than buying it otherwise. Simply take a piece of white tissue paper, cut it to fit the width of your Xyron, however long you wish. Then run the tissue through your Xyron. When it is through, tear off the thin clear film, turn the piece over and run it through the Xyron again. Now you will have two sides with adhesive, and the thin tissue between. Take off the clear film again, and cut your double sided piece into thin strips. I usually make mine about a quarter inch or so. When you have all your strips, you can simply peel off one side, place it on the edges of your layers, and then when it is pressed down, tear off the other side. It works great. Make sure you only use tissue because tissue is fine enough that it won't leave a ridge. This has to be the best use for the Xyron that I have had. I do it all the time and you can get a LOT of strips from a not too long piece. I always keep a strip of tissue handy at my Xyron to use as a 'filler' when I want to run something through the Xyron, then next time I need another filler, I just turn it over and run it through again. Always keep up my strip stash that way.
BTW, I always keep a basket of images beside my Xyron as well, I don't want to waste any adhesive. This way I can use these as fillers as well so that my cartridge lasts longer and I can maximize all the spaces without wasting adhesive areas.

A Little Bag & Shrink Plastic (Rosemarie Snyder)

I just found another great use for A Little Bag. When using shrink plastic, I always lay down parchment paper on the tray and still had some trouble with the shrink plastic sticking to itself. Yesterday, I patted A Little Bag on the parchment paper and Wow!, no sticking, in fact the shrink plastic did not even curl up into itself like it usually did. Boy, did that work great. Set my toaster oven to 300. I have a Proctor Silex. Another one for that great Little Bag. ... Ro....

MAKE YOUR OWN STICKERS (Gayle Gregory, ON, Canada)

Gayle suggests that we use our Xyron/3M units to create our own stickers....simply run wallpaper of your choice, or embossed layering foils (available on this website under "Specialty Papers") through your Xyron. You can then cut or punch out the designs. If you select a designed wallpaper, you can cut out pretty designed stamps with your scissors.

Background Technique (Gayle Page-Robak)

Using a piece of black Kromecoat (glossy) cs, spritz it with water, then take metallic markers and make designs on the black Kromecoat, through the spritzed water. After you have done this, sprinkle regular or detail embossing powders over the entire area,tap off the excess, then heat with a heat gun. This creates a very stunning background paper. I generally like to select about 3 markers, and 3 EP colors...to give it a nicer effect. Using gold as one seems to enhance
the background paper.

SAVE THOSE POSTAGE STAMPS! (Gayle Page-Robak)

Hopefully, you have saved some of the wonderful stamps that you received on your holiday greeting cards. The postal departments put out excellent stamps for the Christmas season. These stamps, as well as many of the beautiful stamps that come throughout the year, are so wonderful to use in our collage, cigar box, and other paper art creations.

There is a very simple method of utilizing these stamp treasures.

Tear the corner from your envelope with the stamps on it. Immerse the entire pieces into a glass bowl of warm water and put the bowl into your microwave for 2 or 3 minutes. When you take it out, the stamps literally begin to fall off the paper.

Pick the stamps out of the water and place them on a sheet of wax paper (not talking freezer wrap here, just regular old fashioned wax paper). When you have the sheet of wax paper covered with stamps, take

another piece of wax paper and place it over the stamps. Then take a book or something flat to weight the wax paper/stamp sandwich and let it dry that way. The stamps come out so nicely....the wax paper gives the stamps a bit of stability and also gives them a bit of a coating at the same time.

ENCAUSTICS (Gayle Page-Robak)

The word "Encaustics" simply means "having the pigments burned in", but in rubber stamping it is normally done using regular Embossing Powders, in a number of layers, rather than using UTEE or Cloisonne. You have probably done it and perhaps called it something else. You simply apply a coat of pigment ink over your cs, image or whatever (I generally use a clear EP). Take your stamp pad and pat it over your work (or you can paint it on from your refill bottle), then pour clear EP over top, tap off and heat. You can do as many layers as you think you like, and you can also stamp into it if you wish. This is a great way to make something look laminated, if you don't have a laminator, btw.

When you think about it, Cloisonne and UTEE applications could logically be called encaustics as well, just done with heavier crystal applications that take less time.

BRADS/PAPER FASTENERS
(ARLENE ROSE -- SUNDAY STAMPER)

Dip the head of your Brad (paper fastener) in pigment ink, then in embossing powder. Before you heat, make sure you hold it with an alligator clip or something similar to protect yourself from the heat. Use regular EP, not UTEE as the UTEE will not hold. These look great on cards.

Gayle's additional note:
These would be great when working on your paper doll art; you can heat emboss your brads, incorporating the colors of your artwork. See some of Arlene's beautiful artwork and learn some great techniques by visiting her website, listed in our Stampers Links.

TIP: "A LITTLE BAG" AND STAINED GLASS CARDS
From: Lori Hable

Just need to put my $0.02 in about "Little Bag." In addition to all the other great things that have been said, let me also mention that I fluff it on acetate before doing my stained glass cards (with Art Institute Glitter -MAN does that stuff cling!!!). The "other brand" always scratched up my acetate and left piles of residue. with Gayle's product I get NO scratching, NO residue and NO glitter that clings where I don't want it to!!! So, Gayle, THANK YOU!!!

TIP: "A LITTLE BAG" AND XYRON/3M LAMINATORS

Daena Benzon (Stamptalk) has kindly shared another "A Little Bag" Tip. This time for use in conjunction with Xyron/3M laminators, when using the adhesive cartridges. She has found that wiping "A Little Bag" around the edge of the image that has come out of the Xyron/3M, you can eliminate the excess Xyron residue that previously caused problems.
Bev Mantle commented :
Subject: [stamptalk] Xyron Residue
Thanks for the tip of the anti static bag around the edge, it works wonderfully.

Experimenting further with Daena's suggestion, we found that if you wipe the edge of your image prior to running it through the Xyron/3M, it helps to ward off the little 'webs' of adhesive that often want to stick to the image as you are removing the protective clear plastic.

TIP: STAMP PADS & H.A.L.O.S.= GRABBERS

I patterned my method of grabbing my stamp pads from a sewing tool I own.....which uses suctions. But, since I wanted a quick method for my stamping needs and since I am a H.A.L.O.S. user I chose to apply a piece of loop Velcro to the bottom of each of my stamp pads. I use my H.A.L.O.S. as my handle to make my stamping projects easier and to keep my fingers cleaner. The H.A.L.O.S. acrylics have the hook velcro, and it securely attaches to the looped velcro on the bottom of the pads. There are numerous stamp pads that you can use with the 2" x 3 1/2" H.A.L.O.S. and for the rest I use the 1" square. It also works great. BTW, Cheryl Porter, the creator of H.A.L.O.S., is listed in our Stamping Links section.

TIP: EMBOSSED LAYERING FOIL & MCGILL PUNCHES
Submitted by Maxine Johnson (stamptalk listowner):
I know you are all sick of me and my newly acquired punch addiction, but you have to try this! If you have the new McGill dragonfly punch and some of Gayle Page-Robak's foil, you can make the most elegant looking dragonfly's to add to your cards and collage art! I ran my foil through my Xyron first but it's not necessary.

Gayle's additional note: You can also attach your embossed layering foil to your regular cardstock with spray adhesive and punch your dragonflies, leaves, frogs, etc., if you do not have a Xyron or 3M. Margot Behsman, artist, Bella Rosa Paper Arts, also suggested that metallic rub ons work beautifully on the embossed layering foils to accent and provide an antiqued look.

TIP: A LITTLE BAG & METALLIC INKS
Submitted by Whitney Wright (rubber stamp artist)

A Little Bag will help dry metallic ink! I used Encore Gold yesterday morning, then sat the box across the room, because I *knew* I'd have to wait at least 24 hours to let it dry. This morning...no luck...the ink was still coming off on my fingers. I patted the Little Bag on the ink, then took a soft brush and brushed the excess away. Drum roll...DRY INK! It didn't effect the metallic look of the ink, and now I can get back to work on my box!!
SOOOO, thanks once again for A Little Bag!

Gayle's additional note:
I have also used this with the Color Box MetaleXtra pigment inks. I let the image sit for a minute or two, then took "A Little Bag" and pat the image gently. It seems to enable you to continue working on your project without smudging the image. It works for me, and others, you may want to try it.

TIP: GET RID OF CIGAR BOX ODORS (Gayle Page-Robak)
I have submitted this tip previously and been quoted in a couple of RS magazines on it, but it bears repeating. If you wish to get rid of odors from your cigar boxes (or old chests of drawers, jars, or whatever), simply crumple up newspaper and place it in the container or drawer, close the container or drawer and let it sit for a few days. The odor will be gone. The newspaper has to be printed newspaper, not glossy, and not plain white newsprint. For some reason the newspaper seems to absorb the odors.

SUGGESTIONS FOR USING EMBOSSED LAYERING FOILS
(as shown in the "Specialty Papers" section of our website)

Tip #1:

If you want to show off your embossed layering foil without covering it with your image, or layering with it, you can take a strip of cardstock, cut your foil a bit larger and then 'cover' the cardstock with the foil. Bring the raw edges of the foil to the underside, tape down, and then you can mount this piece on your card with double-sided tape (you can cut the cs in any size or shape you want, really). Then stamp an image on the actual base card or add an already cut out image, and complete the card with any embellishments you feel you would like. You can also do smaller ones so they appear like little tiles, singular or in groups.

Tip #2:

Tear off a small piece, maybe 2" x 2" , tuck the edges under a wee bit, then put your fingers in the middle and pull it together to scrunch it...looks great for collages, and enhancements to your layering.

Tip #3:

I also like to put a piece of Magic Mesh on my card, apply a light film of either spray adhesive, or tacky glue on the surface of the mesh, or you could also use a bit of YES glue. Then tear a piece of foil larger than the mesh and lay your torn piece of foil over the top and then press it down with your fingers...it will form the shape of the mesh squares and looks great. (If you don't have magic mesh you can buy the drywall tape that looks like mesh -- it has adhesive on the back, but many online vendors sell the Magic Mesh.) If you are wondering how to apply your spray adhesive, just take a piece of typing paper, cut out the center to the size of the area you are wanting to spray, and then place the paper over the artwork (like a mask) to keep the rest of the card clean and free from the spray.

Another technique would be to place the foil over the adhesive side of the mesh, which could be cut to any design you would like, and wrap the foil around the edges slightly. You could then adhere the foiled mesh piece to your artwork with double sided tape.

Tip # 4:

Use the foil, as it is, and wipe "A Little Bag" (available on this website) over the foil to prevent EP cling, stamp an image on the foil with pigment ink, apply embossing powder, tap off excess, and heat emboss. The foil looks beautiful this way. You can also apply glycerin, or clear embossing fluid, around the edge of the foil, apply EP and heat emboss.

Tip #5:

Use Metallic Rub Ons on your foils, or on the edges of the foils (torn or cut) to give a wonderful antiqued or old world tapestry look. You can create different effects on the crumpled foils this way, as well.

Special thanks to stamping friends that have shared their ideas--we hope you will share yours as well.

If you are interested in obtaining these foils, please go to our "Specialty Papers" section, to see and read about them, and click on our "Place Order" button to order.

SUGGESTIONS AND TIPS FOR USING METALLIZED MYLAR FILM
(as shown on the "Specialty Papers" section of our website).

1. Terrific for layering.

2. Stamp on them with dye ink for a gorgeous image. Fine line, detailed stamps are recommended as they dry faster than the heavier image stamps.

3. Heating the sheets creates an awesome rippled effect for use in collages.

4. Create wonderful background papers using glitters and glues. Glitter glue looks excellent when applied in creative designs and combinations.

5. Metallic Berol Prismacolor Art Markers may be applied very effectively, as well as the Marvy metallics, although the Marvy metallics take a minute to dry because they seem juicier.

6. Most acrylic paints adhere well to the metallized Mylar film so you can enhance your work with these types of paints as well.

THE TEMPTATION OF TAG ART

(Written by Gayle Page-Robak, 05/00
for The Canadian Stamper Magazine)

Tag Art has created an international craze! Stampers from a wealth of countries including Australia, the U.S., Iceland, Canada, and others, have taken to creating beautiful art on tags of all shapes and sizes, from the large shipping tags to the smallest tags that one would fine hanging on your jewelry purchases. One has only to read some of the latest rubber stamping magazines to witness the beauty of tag art and realize why this has become such an ‘addictive’ form of paper art; an art form that truly gets our creative juices flowing. The challenge of designing a mail tag often causes you to become a more disciplined person and a better artist.

Tags come in a variation of colors, the most prominent being manila. They are inexpensive, sturdy and stand up well to watercolor saturation and you can utilize most or your RS techniques and mediums in this art form. The little hole in the tags can display the wonder of beautiful fun fibers, beads, feathers, cords, threads, etc., etc. You can also attach other shapes and sizes of decorated smaller tags, for added interest and beauty. Many artists create artfully decorated envelopes to house their tag art. The ideas are for this wonderful pastime are endless, and the excitement and challenge of creating something beautiful abounds.

Many ask, "What would I do with my tag art?" You can send your tag art to anyone you would consider sending a greeting card to. You can sign and personalize the back of the tags with your signature, verses, stamp art, etc. Many display their tags on memory trees, on the mirrors of their cars, from standing ornament hangers, on knobs of furniture or cabinets, etc. Some are pressed into Plexiglass for key rings with the fibers hanging out, or they may be placed into the plastic front sleeves of our notebooks or even used for refrigerator magnets.

NOTE: Check out our "TAG ART SUPPLIES" section at the left of your screen.

COLLECT THAT EMBOSSING POWDER, GLITTER, FAERIE DUST OR LIKE POWDERS, IN AN EFFECTIVE AND ECONOMICAL MANNER, ELIMINATING STATIC CLING

For those of you who enjoy heat embossing, working with glitter, etc., but do not like the mess, I would offer these suggestions:

When you have selected your cardstock, and the stamp that you wish to use, wipe your cardstock with "A Little Bag" (available on this website), then stamp your image, pour your embossing powder over the image and tap off your excess EP onto a flattened round coffee filter. The flattened round coffee filters can be picked up easily to funnel the excess EP right into the original EP container and you will find that there is no EP left on the filter. You can re-use the filters, time after time. It is extremely economical as well as efficient. I always keep a few of them right in with my embossing powders so they are handy when I need to emboss.

If you do not have any coffee filters, you can take any piece of regular copy/typing paper, wipe it with "A Little Bag", and if you fold it a bit to pour, the excess EP will slide off leaving your sheet of paper tidy, void of EP cling.

COFFEE FILTER BOOKS/POSTAL POCKETS:

A postal pocket book (or coffee filter book) is a book made with the cone shaped coffee filters. The coffee filters hold your postage stamps or book pages, which you have cut into a cone shape to fit into the filters, one page per filter. You make a cover for this 'book' using the coffee filter as a pattern, cutting it a little larger than the filters, and using your decorative edge scissors, or pinking shears, if you wish to make it other than a straight edge. This is a great way for storing postage stamps or smaller coupons, and if you want to carry it in your purse (where it will surely get knocked about), you may want to use some vinyl wallpaper samples, from those wallpaper sample books you have stashed away. The vinyl will hold up better than the cardstock covers, but it won't look as pretty because you haven't stamped on the front of the book yourself. But, you can stamp on the coffee filters to make each one look special inside the book. A good place to use some of the little "stamp" images, or even for gluing some of those stamps you have been receiving on your orders and RAK's. The only problem I had initially was punching the holes to bind the bottom, when it was all together...so, make a template with holes in it to mark each filter and the covers. I use my little punches for this task. Then you can use FIBERS to bind them (see our "Art Fibers" section, on the left of your screen). These are really neat when done and make excellent RAK's and fun gifts. Great stocking stuffers too. Oh, something else! This is not the time to buy cheap filters, it is worth the extra few cents to get the better ones, they will hold up better. Also, the 'brand name' also carry the filters in the buff color now (as well as the white), which I really like!