Christmas Clearance Items

Stampin’ Up! update their clearance rack every now and again. The items are only whilst stocks last and are discounted below the original catalogue price. (It is worth a note that the items may not be the lowest price that they have been on offer in the clearance rack, sometimes last chance lists are lower.) Clearance rack items are items which have been retired by Stampin’ Up! and are no longer available to buy from the catalogue. You can still find alot of inspiration for these items on YouTube, the internet and also Pinterest.

I have been playing with the Joy to the World Paper Pumpkin and the Christmas Traditions Punch Box. I think that they are gorgeous. As with most Paper Pumpkins the box contains stamps, ink, embellishments and items to make 8 cards. The only thing you will need is a block and scissors. I also recommend a bone folder and also liquid glue (they do contain glue dots and dimensionals in the box, but I prefer liquid glue.)

Tips and tricks -

Prime your stamps before stamping, ink up and stamp off checking the image. I normally do this a few times. Also practice stamping on scrap parper before stamping on the pop outs.

I leave any items which are stamped on in the original cut outs before I pop them out, it makes it easier to stamp straight (also you can use the reverse of the card

I recommend adding the twine and then adding a bow rather than tying the bow, as you can then move the bow if you need to when adding the wreath

Don’t be stingy with the dimensionals, it can create a saggy shape, add some to the inner and outer edges

.The video below shows the items and my tips.

I think that the cards created are gorgeous and also you have a fab stamp set to use on other cards (the inside card sentiment is amazing.)

How I Prepare my Cling Stamps

Last week I shared how I prepare my photopolymer stamps. Today I am sharing how I prepare my cling stamp sets.

For the longest time I avoided cling stamps as I struggled with placement and also stickiness. However, Stampin’ Up! have developed a cling adhesive backing which is super super sticky and with more practice and stamping I have gotten better with stamping. Of course I still make errors but I am getting better.

Before stamping my cling stamps, I check all the stamps are there, that the stamps are the correct stamp set in the correct language. If it is a two part cling set I check that I have each part. After I have checked that the stamp sets are correct, I check the stamps outline. Stampin’ Up! stamps are cut on machines ( i think) and if they are lined up incorrectly there can be insufficent space around the stamp and therefore can affect how the image is stamped (this has only happened to me once with the Panda’s from Sale-a-bration a few years ago.

After my checks I add the cling stickers to the back of my stamps, it is easiest to add the cling if yoiu remove the backing one by one. You need to line up the stickers, as they can not be removed once they are stuck on the back. If you try to remove them they can remove the foam from the stamp which can affect the way it stamps.

I then stamp out the stamps on scrap paper to check how they stamp and to ensure that all the residue from the production process is removed. The video below shows the process that I use. It depends on the stamp set whether I use the Stamparatus or just using blocks.

I also create masks when I stamped the stamps, I use some gorgeous masking paper by Inkadinkado, which I cut out with scissors. Do you create masks for your stamps?

How I prepare my Stamps -Photopolymer Stamps and Punches

Today I thought I would provide advice on how I prepare my stamps to ensure that they are perfect and ready to stamp when I want to create a project.

I prepare my stamps for a number of reasons, to check they are all there (yes I have heard of stamps being missing - very rarely but it can happen.) To check that they stamp properly ( very rarely they can have a problem with the production process), this can sometimes mean priming the stamp using Versamark and cleaning it off. sometimes I just ink, just remember that all stamps need stamping before using it on a project (the first image is never the best.)

I have created a video on the process that I go through with each new stamp and die set that I buy. I first stamp the stamps with a matching punch in Basic Grey (i tried stamping in them black, but they looked too dark) and then punch them out.

I then stamp the rest of the stamps out and then also stamp out the combinations. Although it looks messy I like playing with the different combinations and working out what goes where.

I love the ice cream cones and the punch, but these are the actions that I take with all the photopolymer stamps that I purchase.

Do you have any tips to prepare your stamps?

How I choose and use Designer Series Paper

When it comes to choosing Designer Series Paper, I look through the catalogue to identify DSP which I can use and also which is versatile. I also where possible sign up for a paper share to receive a taster of all the papers as it can be difficult to judge papers from the catalogue.

 I love the Playing with Patterns paper as it has made gorgeous cards for birthdays, Easter and Christmas (although Non – Traditional for Christmas.)

I love the colours and also that some of the patterns are suitable for stamping on rather than just using them as background to add layers on to. I love the appearance of the dark night of navy on the patterns,

When I order a pack of DSP, I check to ensure that I have card stock and inks in the co-ordinating colours (I have nearly all the colours although Pumpkin Pie is one, I never remember to add to my order). When receive a pack of DSP, I check the colours recorded on the packaging and also in the catalogue (the packets do not always have all the colours on.)  I go through looking at the colours in the papers, sometimes there are some extras. I pull out all the co-ordinating papers and make card blanks and layers for all the colours.

I also pull out all the ink, Stampin’ write markers and also blends, so when I begin creating I do not need to start looking for them.

Next, I look for sketches which will work with the papers and then choose a stamp set which will work with those sketches. My favourite birthday set was Itty Bitty Birthdays, but it is retiring on May 3rd. I have included some of my favourite sketches on here.

Sketch 2 and 3 are my go to Sketches. I love the simplicity of them and they don’t take a lot of brain power to create a beautiful card.

How do you choose and prepare your designer series paper?

How I clean my stamps

Following my recent embarrassment of unclean stamps which stamped purple instead of red. Although in my defence I realised later it was because I used a brush with purple on rather than red, always check your brushes before you use them! (so two crazy rookie mistakes in a short period, ooops.)

I use a number of different items depending on what I cleaning. The Stampin’ Shammy is something that works on Photopolymer and cling stamp sets. I have two, one I used for coloured inks and the other I use for Momento and Versafine. (I use Versafine for watercolouring and also Stampin’ Markers, I am not a fan of Stazon.) I store them in a storage case (is also use these to store my dimensionals and embellishments).

If my stamps aren’t sticking to the block anymore, I soak them in water and also add a bit of the Ranger water based stamp cleaner and leave them for a few hours, I then dry them off on a cloth. I also use a lawn fawn shammy as it is thinner and more maleable for cleaning around my blocks.

I use a Ranger Water based stamp cleaner for photopolymer stamps and then I use the Stampin’ Mist with my Stampin’ Scrub for cling stamps. One side is wet, which I add Stampin’ Mist and water on to before I start stamping and then a dry side to ensure that your stamps are dry.

Every now and again I remove the wet side for cleaning and soak it in washing up liquid, before leaving it to to dry. I know some people have multiple Stampin’ Scrubs, I don’t stamp enough to need lots, but it is an amazing tool to help keep your stamps clean.

If I do use Stazon I use the Stazon Cleaner with a Rub it Scrub it from Ranger, it is one side of the Stampin’ Scrub. I love it to get my stamps clean.

Hope this helps you not cause the chaos I have with different colour stamps! What tricks do you use to keep your stamps clean?