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?

An excess of Christmas Cards - Simple Birthday Cards Using DSP

 Having worked out how many weeks there are till the end of November, I have calculated that by December I will have over 400 Christmas cards so I have decided to tweak Claire’s Creative Christmas Card Challenge to Claire’s Creative Christmas creation challenge to incorporate ideas other than cards. I have also decided to add another challenge - Claire’s Creative Celebration Creation Challenge as I have identified that I also need to be better at making and sending Birthday cards.

I must confess I am pretty awful. the joys of a neurodiverse mind, the only Birthdays I remember really are mine, Toms and ones of my Sisters, everyone else’s, I know the month but not the exact day. I have invested in a card box to remind me of the dates, but need more cards which are ready to go to ensure that everyone gets a card!

In my last video I explained how I choose DSP and what actions I take when I receive it. In my latest video, I show how to make a simple card, using one of my favourite card sketches, the happiest of birthday stamps and also the retired perfect patterns Designer Series Paper. I also used the in the family stamp set for the inside of the card, but you could use any small stamp. I personally think that it is a perfect card for making multiples.

The video below shows how to make a card using the sketch,

I think it is a perfect layout for birthday cards. What is your go to sketch?

Sunset Snow Globe Scene Dies

Somebody asked earlier this week about where people find inspiration. I get inspiration from lots of different places. Pinterest is a favourite, but so is the world around me. I am fortunate to live on a farm so am surrounded by gorgeous views. Last week I saw a gorgeous sun rise over the hills. It had similar colours to a gorgeous card by a fellow Demo Chloe Evans, it was a gorgeous gorgeous card but had more colours and dies than I used on my cards.

I love ink blending and used a number of different brushes to create the background using Petal Pink, Balmy Blue and Misty Moonlight ink.

I love that you can change the card by adding the different die cuts and that the card works both on a portrait and landscape card.

I hope this inspires you to create some sunset scenes. I love the gold foil bears which is your favourite?

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?

Last Chance to buy - Still Scenes

One of my favourite Christmas sentiments is part of the Still Scenes stamp set. I love the message for inside the card, I also love the concept of the snow globe and that you can place whatever you like inside. I think that it is super pretty, I have an older snow globe set in my stash with a Ballerina, but this set called out to me due to the gorgeousness of the sentiment and the base which looks amazing if stamped in Versamark and embossing powder added and heated.

The cottage is a perfect stamp to practice colouring on, my video shows the different ways to use watercolour pencils.

My first card uses the cottage and sentiment. The second uses the snow globe, cottage and sentiment. The third uses the sentiment and snow stamp. I have used the inside sentiment on all the cards.

Measurements

Cards 1 and 2 - Cottage Cards

My Metric

10.5 cm x 14.5 cm

Inside Panel  10cm x 14cm

Metric

10.5 cm x 14.8 cm (10.5 by full length scored at 14.8cm)

Inside Panel  10cm x 14.3cm

Imperial

4." x 5.5" (4” by full length scored at 5.5”)

Inside Panel  3.75 x 5.25”

Card 3- Gold Embossing Card

My Metric

10.5 cm x 14.5 cm (10.5 by 29cm scored at 14.5cm)

Gold and Inside white Panel  10cm x 14cm

Navy Panel - 9.5cm x13.5cm

Metric

10.5 cm x 14.8 cm (10.5 by full length scored at 14.8cm)

Gold and Inside white Panel 10cm x 14.3cm

Navy Panel - 9.5cm x13.8cm

Imperial

4." x 5.5" - (4” by full length scored at 5.5”)

Gold and Inside white Panel Inside Panel  3.75 x 5.25

Outside layer – 3.5” x 5”

I am super sad that this set is retiring. It is definitely a set that I shall be keeping in my Stamp Library. What are you planning on keeping?