Stamp Dreams

Clear Mount 2-Step Stamping

When my kids were littler and passed out Valentines at school, we NEVER used store-bought Valentines--even before I began stamping. A hand-made Valentine is just so much more fun!

Here's a fun idea for Valentines that even include a treat (which I've noticed has become more and more popular over the years):

In my previous posts, I've talked about using the new clear-mount stamps, and I've illustrated the previous steps. You can also do this with the wood-mount stamps.

Here, I've already stamped my main image from the Sweet Sentiments set--the gumball machine base--HAS to be bright red. (We bought my daughter one of the gumball machines a few years ago--SO glad it takes any coin--"penny for a gumball?")

I'm stamping the round globe here. Because I've used the clear-mount system, I can see for my placement. Now, I did just eyeball this. You may still want to use the Stamp-a-ma-jig for accurate alignment!

The circle stamp is sized like our largest circle punch--for a reason!

You can see in the 2nd picture how it looks. 2-step stamping is when you stamp one image in place over or next to another image. Alignment is important!

I think the next time I do this, I'll use Going Gray for the globe rather than red, so it looks more like the edge of a glass globe. It really doesn't matter here, however--you'll see why!

In the 3rd picture, I've just added the "cap" to the gumball machine. 

The set also includes written sentiments in a curved shape that correspond well with the circle stamp.

In my next post on this, I'll add the treats!

Happy Stamping!
 

Clear Stamping--part 3

I've been sleeping a lot lately--less time for blogging!

So here's how to stamp with the new Stampin' Up! clear-mount stamps.

I'm sorry I didn't show you the process of prepping the stamps. As with the wood-mount stamps, they come in a die-cut sheet. The difference is that you can, if you choose, put the clear label on the back of the stamp. I chose to do so, because I want to see what I'm stamping.

This first picture shows you how the unmounted stamp looks--the rubber side is down.

In the next picture, I've mounted the stamp. How? I just pressed the clear mount down on top of the stamp's back! You can see the stamp through the clear mount.

I have chosen to do this on my Grid Paper. This way things are lined up just the way I want them to be.

The stamp simply clings to the mount. Push down--don't be wimpy!--to keep the cling. (Over time, the oils in your hands and residue from ink, etc. may cause the "clingability" to decrease. Some stampers use water to clean the mounts and stamps, some use Stampin' Mist, and some clean the mounts (not the rubber, please!) with glass cleaner. See what works for you!

The last picture shows a side view of the clear-mounted stamp. You can see the rubber and foam layers. What I really like best is that Stampin' Up! found a way to include the layer of foam in the stamps. Clear stamps have not had the foam layer (can't see through it!), but that has meant they don't stamp as well. One company I know includes a foam sheet with their stamps to help get a good impression from the stamp--you have to keep the foam under your cardstock and stamp.

You can also see that I've written the block's measurements on one side. By using the Grid Paper, I'm able to check measurements quickly and choose the right clear mount.

Also in the last picture, you can see the stamped image I made using the clear-mount stamp. I should have conditioned the stamp first, but it still came out nicely!

Well, I've got a snoring dog beside me, and I need to do some laundry before work. Stay well!

Happy Stamping!

Clear Mount Stamping

So here's my next entry about Stampin' Up!'s new clear-mount stamps and how to use them.

These are the 3 stamps I am going to use from the Something Sweet set of clear-mount stamps.

They come die-cut on a sheet of rubber, just like the wood-mount stamps. The difference is the mount. This is the back side of the stamps AFTER I adhered the clear image sticker. This helps the user to see what stamp image is being stamped.

You do not have to put the clear image on the backs of the stamps--it is only to help the user. You can just mount the stamps without the clear backing. Some users prefer this, because they feel the stamps adhere better to the mount. I've also heard some stampers use a hybrid approach--they cut the clear image portion narrowly close to the edges of the image, then place it on the back of the stamp. That way some of the stickier stamp back sticks out around the edges and grips the clear mount better.

The second picture is of the actual rubber on a clear-mount stamp. THIS is why SU! chose to not make their stamp images clear. Rubber stamps make a deeper, clearer, crisper image with far more detail than actual clear stamps. The rubber is also stronger and lasts longer. I have seen clear stamps yellow with age (sometimes only a few years!) and they may get brittle. I've also known some to get "gooey" with age. Clear stamps are made of petroleum products, while rubber comes from trees, so rubber is also more ecologically smart!

You can see that the rubber looks like rubber used on regular wood-mount stamps. This sacrifices the see-through quality of actual clear stamps (although those tend to get permanently stained, especially when you use dark colors like black--I've experienced that myself even though I cleaned the stamps immediately!--so they aren't quite so see-through then).

I'll continue this article in my next post, which will be tomorrow's post. (I love writing these ahead of time!).

Happy Stamping!