- If I ask at Walmart, Kmart, drug
stores, any place with cards (not Hallmark), they give the old envies to me. I
am very friendly & ask if they are going to throw them away before I ask for
them for myself. Very rarely I might find someone who is saving them for
another lucky stamper. I just thank them & try somewhere else. The best time
is the day after a holiday, Easter, Halloween & Christmas are the best for me.
Some people will tell me what time is best as they work many stores & may not
always get to a specific store on the day after a holiday. Now I have enough
that I have shared with friends & won't go looking for a long time! (submitted
by Brenda~April 20, 2002)
- To store the roller type stamps,use
the tall potato chip cans covered with paper using the stamp to print on the
outside. That way you can identify your stamps easily. Six rollers will fit in
each can. (submitted by Sue)
- You know those stands that
porcelain dolls are secured on... buy one at a cheap shop and use it to hold
your heat gun. Works great (submitted by Donna)
- I put embossing powders and glitter
in individual sandwich containers. To emboss...just use a business card to
sprinkle the powder over the card...then dump the leftover powder right into
the sandwich container. No waste! No mess! (submitted by Wendy)
- If you have a Xyron® machine, you
can run a fun foam sheet through it, front and back, and cut little pieces
whenever you need "pop dots". (submitted by "stampin") *excellent idea!!*
- If you have a stamp that you want
to trim more of the rubber off so it stamps a better image or if it was
mounted a little crooked on the wood, put it in the microwave, rubber side up
for 10 seconds. The rubber and foam cushion then peel right off and you can
trim it or mount it straight and then it sticks right back on. Depending on
how much you trimmed off, you may want to use Goo-Gone® or something similar
to rub off some of the sticky parts from the wood. I read this idea from
somewhere else, so don't credit it to me! (submitted by P.J.)
- Purchase a styrofoam cone, run a
dowel in the center and store ribbon on it for easy access. (submitted by
Anaka)
- Roll extra bits of ribbon on paper
clips and tape end to save space and be able to view easily. (submitted by
Anaka)
- Buy mini zip lock bags 2x2 or even
snack size bags to store little things in. It saves space and doesn't make a
mess. I punch a hole in the top of each bag with a hold punch and use a wire I
made U shaped and hang this to see what I have! (submitted by Anaka)
- Don't forget all the art stuff you
learned in Elementary school! Rubbing, potato art etc. Leaves, feathers and
fabric rubbed make neat backgrounds. Take any object such as cotton ball,
lace, bottom of cup dip in ink and press to paper for neat back ground.
(submitted by Anaka)
- Go to Salvation Army or Goodwill.
Buy dresses for next to nothing. ($1.00-$5.00) cut apart and use fabric for
layering. (submitted by Anaka)
- Eyeshadow and blush work well as
Pearl-ex®. (submitted by Anaka)
- Place old (clean) tooth brush in
ink. Take your finger to bristles to fling ink off and you have made a
splattered background! (submitted by Anaka)
- Remember those wiggle eyes? They
can be purchased in many sizes and make great surprise eyes on animals.
(submitted by Anaka)
- Craft pom-poms make great 3-d balls
for juggling clowns balls. (submitted by Anaka)
- Tacky Glue works as well as a glue
gun, dries fast, safe and no stringy glue! (submitted by Anaka)
- Those area business magnets? The
ones from pizza companies with phone numbers? Stock up on them and glue
stamped images to them to make beautiful magnets for small gifts. (submitted
by Anaka)
- Jar Candles. Stamp an image, cut to
shape, apply to jar with Mod Podge® and it make's it a one of a kind. You can
also use this to make tin cans beautiful storage containers. (submitted by
Anaka)
- 2 glasses left from the set of 6?
Emboss on vellum, place vellum around glass, tape seam closed with a double
sided tape. I prefer Clear Funky Film®. Place tea candle in glass and you have
a beautiful candle holder. (submitted by Anaka)
- Card shops! People who purchase
cards sometimes forget to take the envelope or the companies send extra
envelopes to the stores. Ask store managers to sell you the unused unmatchable
envelopes! You can get great deals! (submitted by Anaka)
- Tin foil! Off the roll or from
candy is a great back ground. You can even crumble it and flatten again. I
purchased craft foil and everyone thought I'd used a Hershey® wrapper! I found
a use for my children's sweet teeth! (submitted by Anaka)
- How I use watercolor pencils or
pastels: Color just inside the image lines. Using a Dove® Blender or a wet
paintbrush, go over the color until it's smooth, then blend inward.
- When matting (layering) cards, I
mount each piece before trimming the edges of the piece under it. It's
easier for me to trim evenly than to try to glue the top piece in the center.
Then I mount the layered section to the main card, doing my best to center it.
- If you use a Xyron® machine, you've
probably noticed how your machine and scissors or cutters get gummy. I clean
them with a cotton ball soaked with Un-du®. It takes the adhesive right off.
- Using Pearl-Ex®: I stamp the image
with a watermark pad and let it dry slightly. Then, using a soft paintbrush, I
brush Pearl-Ex® over the image. Gently (to avoid smearing) brush off the
excess
- For embossing, I like to use
colored pigment ink with clear powder whenever possible. It eliminates those
embossing powder specks. When using colored powder, I use an anti-static bag
(made for this purpose) first. Just wipe it across the paper before stamping
the image.
- Use a damp carpet sample to clean
your stamps. Simply rub the stamp over it. (submitted by Anaka)
- Brush clear nail polish over your
wood mounts. It keeps ink from staining the stamp, and it keeps your stamps
looking new. (submitted by Anaka)
- To make envelope glue, bring 6
tablespoons white vinegar to a boil. Add 4 ounces unflavored gelatin.
Stir until dissolved. Add 1 tablespoon vanilla extract. Brush on
envelope flap [let dry]. Store unused glue in a sealed container. (submitted
by Anaka)
- To make embossing ink, mix 1 part
glycerin and 2 parts water. [Apply with a makeup sponge or put
ink in a blank foam stamp pad]. (submitted by Anaka)
- Dove® Blender refill solution: In a
one ounce bottle, place 1 part glycerin, 2 parts distilled water
and 1/4 teaspoon rubbing alcohol. (submitted by Anaka)
- Place your embossing powders in
salt and pepper shakers. You get better control and just unscrew the lid and
place the ep back in. If you have to travel with your ep's, just place tape
over the salt and pepper shaker holes, remove the tape when you are ready to
use. (submitted by Susan)
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