That long paragraph is my excuse for blogging less regularly than I usually do. I hope you’ll forgive me!

Today’s post is a belated one for Justine, who requested a tutorial for the Top Note die box that I made a few weeks ago. Sorry for the delay! I hope you (and everyone else) find this useful.

Start out with a 9″x6″ sheet of paper. Score one inch in on each side. Then, along the 9″ side, score at 4″ and 5″. Cut the folds 1″ to the score line along the middle score line and on one side.

Next, cut away the two scored sides of the opposite box end. This portion will be the box lid.

Fold the box into shape, tuck the little tabs that you sniped along the inside, and adhere with sticky strip. For my box, I also rounded the edges of the box lid to finish it off.

You can use whatever you like to keep the box closed. Here, I used a magnet that I purchased online. You can use a bit of Velcro too, which is easy to find in craft stores.

Now, cut four Top Note die shapes using the Sizzix. Two of the shapes should be with normal card stock because it’s thicker and two should be cut with patterned paper, if you want to decorate the outside of your box. The two layers will give the cover a little more strength. Then, adhere these covers to the top and bottom of the box that you made.

You can stop here if you like, but if you want to create dividers for the box, those can be easily made. To divide the box in half, cut a 3″x6″ sheet of paper. Score and fold at 2″, 3″ ,and 4″. Insert into your box.

Here’s the box divided into two sections. You can adhere sticky strip to the divider to keep the center from puckering up.

Now, for the other dividers. Cut two sheets of 2″x5″ paper and score at 1.5″, 2.5″, and 3.5″. Fold and insert into your box.

Voila! Finished box.

Step 1: Start with two sheets of 4.25″ x 5.5″ paper.

Step 2: Score at 1/2″, 1″, 4.5″, and 5″ on both sheets.

Step 3: Stamp and decorate the sheet that will be the inside, or shadow portion, of the card.

Step 5: Cut a circle in the center of the second sheet (the one that will be the frame). I used a Nestabilities die and my Sizzix machine, but you can use whatever works, like a Coluzzle, Cuttlebug die, or any circle cutter. I used a small piece of tape to hold the die in place. Tip: reduce the stickiness on the tape by sticking it to a pair of jeans a few times. This will help to keep the paper from ripping when removing the die.

Run the die through the machine…

to get the front frame:

Step 6: Fold the scored lines on both of the paper sheets.

Step 7: Decorate the frame to your liking.

Step 8: Add two strips of adhesive to the right and left sides of the bottom sheet.

Step 9: Adhere and you’re done! The card stands on its own and also lays down flat for mailing. It fits perfectly in a regular A2 sized envelope.

Project Recipe (all supplies SU unless noted): A Happy Heart and Cheep Talk stamp sets, Polka Dot background stamp, card stock in baja breeze and whisper white,  ink in baja breeze, pacific point, kiwi kiss, riding hood red, chocolaet chip, brads, ribbon in riding hood red, stampin’ dimensionals

Valentine’s Day has long since passed, but I have quite a few love-inspired projects that I’ll be posting up over the next week or so. Hopefully, you can find a way to adapt these goods for other projects.

Today, I’m sharing a chocolate heart valentine holder. If you have kids, these would be adorable to make for your youngsters to pass amongst classmates as birthday takeaways. They would even be cute as wedding favors. To make these, I bought a pack of Reeses Peanut Butter hearts. I don’t know if these are released year-round, so feel free to substitute with Dove chocolates or the like.

First, I cut a sheet of paper into 3″ x 11″ and using my Scor-Pal, I made score lines at 3″, 3.5″, 6.5″, 7″, 10″, 10.5″.

Next, I decorated the strip with flower stamps from a set called Fifth Avenue Floral.

I folded the sheet along the score lines and decorated one edge with a scallop border punch. I also decorated and taped a small square of navy blue paper on the inside of the valentine.

Then, I punched a hole large enough to fit the chocolate heart. This is the 1 3/4″ punch from SU.

Here’s what the finished inside of the valentine looked like.

I used a small strip of double sided tape to adhere the sides together.

Here’s a side view picture so you can see what the valentine looks like assembled.

Finally, I decorated the outside with ribbon and punched paper embellishments.

Once again, the inside.

And above is a shot of several different versions of the same valentine that I gave away.

Hope you enjoyed the project! I promise, it’s much easier to put together than it looks.

Project Recipe (all supplies SU unless noted): Fifth Avenue Floral, A Happy Heart stamp sets, card stock in sahara sand, not quite navy, ink in kiwi kiss, not quite navy,  SU designer label punch, SU 1″ circle punch, SU 1 3/4″ punch, scalloped border punch, kiwi kiss ribbon, adhesive, Scor-Pal, bone folder

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

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.

.

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).

..

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.

.

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!

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.

.

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.

.

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.

.

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.

.

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.

.

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.

.

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!)