Tutorials
Interactive Owl Card
I’m so happy! I hung out with my upline this weekend (the demonstrator that I signed up under) and she generously gifted me with two sets of brand new stamps. One was an adorable set of owl themed images called Owl Together Now. Apparently, owls are quite the trend lately. I happily mounted and played with the stamps over the weekend and came up with a cute interactive card idea to share.
This card is a bit more complicated than my usual cards and it includes moving parts, so I prepared a video tutorial for you to watch. As you can see in the two pictures below, the owl on the right slides back and forth, into the arms of the owl on the left. Cute, no? 
Card Recipe (all supplies SU unless noted): Owl Together Now stamp set, cardstock and ink in baja breeze, chocolate chip, riding hood red, and whisper white, ribbon in chocolate chip, Haiku designer paper, water color pencies, aqua painter pen, stampin’ dimensionals, sewing machine & white thread.
In the video, I explain how to make the slider portion of the card. You can use this idea for all kinds of cards, like a moving animal on a baby card, a snowflake falling to the ground, etc. Interactive cards are an easy way to impress a recipient. Enjoy!
Music: Linus & Lucy, from A Charlie Brown Christmas soundtrack - Vince Guaraldi
Get Started Stamping - Part 3: All About Stamps
For the third installment of Get Started Stamping, I will discuss the different types of stamps on the market. This will be old information for most, but I thought it would be nice to start from the beginning for newbies wanting to dive into the stamping world.
We’re all familiar with red rubber stamps, but did you know that stamps come in photopolymer and foam also? Here, I will discuss the pros and cons of the different types of available stamps.
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Rubber Stamps
Image © 2008 Stampin’ Up!
Rubber stamps are the tried and true classic stamps that everyone knows. These stamps are typically mounted with a layer of foam on a wooden block and an image of the stamp affixed to the top. Rubber stamps ink up very well and they produce an even, defined images, even when the artwork is intricate. The main downside of using rubber stamps is the difficult positioning; since the stamps are not clear, they are harder to stamp in exact locations. If precise placement is required, a stamp positioner (like a Stamp-a-ma-jig) must be used.
Rubber stamps are also available unmounted, where the rubber comes in a sheet that is not stuck to foam or a wooden block. Unmounted stamps can be easily attached to blocks using mounting foam. However, some crafters prefer to leave the stamps unmounted because they take up less storage space. Unmounted rubber stamps can be temporarily adhered on acrylic blocks using a vinyl cling sheet, like EZ Mount. When they are not used, they can be removed from the blocks and stored in thin containers, like CD jewel cases.
Image © 2008 Stampin’ Up!
Stampin’ Up stamps come on unmounted rubber with a layer of foam and adhesive. Wood blocks and image stickers are provided for easy, permanent assembly (more on assembly in a later post).
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Photopolymer Stamps
Image from StewartSuperior.com
Commonly known as acrylic stamps, photopolymer stamps are completely clear and come unmounted, typically on an acetate sheet. When the stamps are used, they temporarily adhere to acrylic blocks in the same way that a vinyl decal would stick to a car window.
The two main advantages of clear stamps are the minimal storage space they require and the ability to see exactly where the image is being stamped without the use of a placement tool. Clear stamps are also typically less expensive than rubber stamps because they require less materials to manufacture. When permanent inks (like StazOn) are used on clear stamps, they stain the stamp and do not wash off completely. However, this does not affect the the stamp’s performance.
The downside of photopolymer stamps is the image quality; ink tends to pool on the stamps and therefore, the stamps do not print clearly (think water droplets pooling on a plastic surface). Some ink types supposedly minimize the pooling effect (for example solvent or hybrid ink). However, for intricate images, photopolymer stamps will not show the same amount of detail as a rubber stamp.
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Foam Stamps
Image from scraphappy.net.au
Foam stamps are very inexpensive and can even be made at home. They are often found in the décor aisle of craft stores, like Michaels, and they work well with acrylic paint. There are a plethora of home décor projects available online utilizing foam stamps and paint. The downside of foam stamps is that they often lack detail, since foam is not a good medium for creating intricate designs. They also lack the longevity of rubber or photopolymer stamps because the material is not as durable.
So, naturally the next question would be: which stamps should I buy? The answer depends on a variety of factors. Is it important for you to easily see where the stamp is being placed? What type of ink do you like using? What is your budget and project?
I own mostly rubber stamps because I have a decent amount of storage space (they take up a lot of room when you have a large collection) and the image quality of the stamps is most important to me. I don’t mind using a Stamp-a-ma-jig when it comes to image placement.
I’ve found that photopolymer stamps are a hit or miss when it comes to pooling ink issues. The higher quality clear stamps pool less. The cheaper quality ones have ripped on me while trying to remove them from the acetate sheets they’re stored on. I still love and purchase clear stamps, but I tend to choose the designs with more lines and less flat surface areas to minimize blotchy images. When I stamp with alphabets, I prefer using clear stamps so I can see where I’m placing my letters.
I also own a handful of large foam stamps that I use with acrylic paint, mostly for scrapbooking.
I hope this was helpful! Have a great Halloween weekend!
Get Started Stamping - Part 2: Ink Talk
So, now that you know what you need to start stamping, lets talk ink!
Rubber stamping is a rapidly growing craft. There are numerous types of ink on the market that have been developed specifically for stamping. I will touch on a most of the major ones in this blog post. My explanations will not be all inclusive, since I’m only writing about the inks that I have experience with. However, I will cover the major categories, including the ink types you would normally see at Michaels or Joann’s.
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Dye Inks
Dye inks are water-based, fast drying, and economical. Dye inks are meant to be used on porous surfaces, like paper. They dry instantly once stamped on paper and they do not smudge or smear. Since they are dye-based, the pastel dye colors can appear lighter than pastel colors of pigment inks. Dye inks should not be used with any coloring techniques that involve liquid (e.g. watercoloring). The inks are water soluble and will run if mixed with water. Dye inks also wash off rubber stamps very easily with a damp paper towel or wet stamp scrub.
Common brands of dye inks include Stampin’ Up Classic Ink, Ranger Adirondack, and Impress inks. Colorbox Fluid Chalk is a new type of dye ink that has a chalky, muted finish and resists fading better than regular dye inks.
Techniques that can be applied with dye inks:
- Stamp and spray: Stamp an image onto a dye ink pad, then spritz it with a water bottle for a speckled effect.
- Watercoloring: Stamp an image with a permanent, non water soluble ink (e.g. StazOn). Using a watercolor brush, dip the brush tip in a drop of dye ink and proceed to color the image.
Techniques that cannot be applied with dye inks:
- Embossing: the ink dries too fast for embossing powder to stick.
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Pigment Inks
Pigment inks are usually glycerin or resin based. They are thicker, richer in color, and they take long time to dry completely. Pigment inks are also known to be fade resistant, so they are preferable for projects that demand longevity (e.g. scrapbooking). While dye inks are absorbed into paper, pigment inks are not. They sit on the paper, thus requiring a longer drying time. Because pigment inks stay wet for longer, they should be embossed if stamped on coated paper, like vellum. If quick drying time is needed, pigment inks can be heat set with an embossing gun or hair dryer. Pearl and metallic inks are typically pigment inks. The inks are harder to clean from stamps, so a good stamp cleaner and scrubber should be used.
Common brands of pigment inks include: Stampin’ Up Craft Ink, Colorbox, Brilliance, Encore, and VersaColor. Some companies have designed pigment inks that dry quickly, like VersaFine by Tsukineko.
Techniques that can be applied with long drying pigment inks:
- Heat embossing: Stamp an image in pigment ink, pour embossing powder over the image, shake the excess away, and then set with a heat gun until the powder melts. Another fun technique is stamping with colored pigment ink, then embossing with clear powder. The color will be visible underneath the embossed surface.
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Solvent Inks
Solvent inks are permanent inks that design for stamping on both porous and non porous surfaces. With solvent ink, almost anything is possible, including decorating glass, plastic, and metal. The projects are endless! Although solvent ink is not recommended for fabric, I regularly use my ink pads to stamp on ribbon and cloth without an issue. However, I don’t know how the images would hold up in the wash.
Solvent inks do not clean off stamps easily. Special solvent cleaner can be purchased and will effectively remove the color from the stamps.
The most common brand of solvent ink is Stazon (by Tsukineko).
Techniques that can be applied with long drying pigment inks:
- Acetate card windows with stamps: Punch a medium sized circle on your card, cut a piece of acetate (transparency sheet) that is large enough to cover the circle, then, stamp an image onto the sheet with solvent ink and adhere to the inside of the card.
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Hybrid Inks
Hybrid inks are a new class of inks that are a blend of both pigment and dye. They can be stamped on a variety of surfaces, including paper, wood, and fabric. They set quickly (more quickly than regular pigment inks) and they are easily removed from of stamps with a little cleaner. In my experience, hybrid inks also work a bit better with clear stamps and do not pool as much as dye inks. I’ve found that the downside with hybrid inks is that that images often lack crispness and sometimes appear blotchy in color. However, the versatility of hybrid inks makes up for the lack of definition.
The most common (and only?) brand of hybrid ink is Palette ink (sold by Papertrey Ink).
Techniques that can be applied with hybrid inks:
- Stamping on fabric: Decorate a baby onsie by tapping a rubber stamp on a hybrid ink pad and pressing the image onto the shirt. Heat set with an iron for a quick and easy gift.
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VersaMark Ink
VersaMark ink is a watermark/resist ink, that’s not really an ink at all. It’s completely clear, but when stamped onto colored card stock (uncoated paper only), it will leave a slightly darker watermark image. VersaMark can be used with a variety of techniques, including coloring with pastels, embossing, and resisting. Versamark is a definite must-have in every stamper’s collection.
Techniques that can be applied with VersaMark ink:
- Embossing with colored embossing powder: Tap image onto Versamark pad, stamp on paper, and cover with embossing powder. Remove excess powder and heat set with an embossing gun.
- Coloring with pastels: Tap image onto VersaMark pad and stamp on paper. Taake a sponge dauber (or cotton ball), dip it into colored pastel chalk, and sponge over the image. The chalk powder will stick to the Versamark ink creating a light, pastel image.
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What is the Best Ink Type?
So, naturally, the next question is: what inks should you buy? The answer is: it all depends what kind of stamping you want to do. Below, I will share with you what is in my collection, and why.
90% of my ink collection is comprised of dye inks. I use these more frequently than any other ink because I work mostly with paper crafts. I like inks that dry fast without smudging so that I can make my cards quickly. With dye inks, the cleanup is quick easy and they are less expensive than pigment inks. I own over 60 Stampin’ Up dye ink pads in my collection! The only drawback is that I find that dye inks do not work well with clear, photopolymer stamps. The ink pools and the images stamp unevenly. However, clear stamps often have this problem with many types of inks, so I always prefer using red rubber stamps.
I own a handful pigment pads in lighter shades (like pastels and whites) and metallic colors. The lighter shades are richer and deeper than dyes. The main reason I don’t use regularly use pigment inks is that they take a long time to completely dry (sometimes hours). I’ve ruined numerous cards with pigment ink because I’ve smudged them before they dried. Although pigment inks can be heat set, I’m too lazy to do this extra step.
I also have three pads of Stazon solvent ink pads that I use to decorate plastics, like containers and transparency sheets. I also use Stazon when I watercolor an image because the ink is permanent and will not bleed (see my watercolor video from two days ago).
I own a handful of hybrid ink pads that I use once in a while. These pads are great for making fabric gifts, like stamped aprons, totes, or potholders. I don’t typically like using hybrid ink to stamp on paper because I find that hybrid ink is a little blotchy and I like my images to be crisp and even.
If you want to test out different types of inks, some brands make their inks available in small cube samples (e.g. SU Stampin’ Spots to the left). For my ink collection, I purchase all my everyday dye stamp pads in regular large sizes and stock up on the small cubes sizes for my craft and metallic inks, since I don’t use them as regularly.
Well, I hope my lengthy explanations were helpful! If you have any questions, leave them below and I will answer them as soon as I can. (I can’t access my blog at work, boo!)
