Good morning! Once again, I adored and appreciated reading your comments from yesterday’s post! I am thrilled that you all are enjoying the break from normal post to have good old fashion fun and letting me play SANTA to YOU!
Back at McDonald’s but this time John is with me and then we are going to the gym…..this weather is crazy as we had freezing rain but then tomorrow we are to be in the upper 50’S….PEEP from Boston was heading home today but he called at 8:30 last night saying he just hit the road because Boston was to get bad weather…..I heard him come in around 4 this morning and I am thrilled that he is here safe and sound.
Update on living in the boonies….I was coming home from getting shavings for the barn and I spotted the Cable Truck……I think I PUSHED ON THAT GAS PEDALÂ in excitement to see if he was there for “our problem”….are you ready for this…..I pulled up beside him (Milo was with me in his dear little red plaid coat) and I put the passenger side window down…. and kinda yelled “hello”…NO RESPONSE….
Next I tapped the horn of the truck (I really hated to do this but I did) and the guy JUMPED in his seat – HE WAS ASLEEP!!! I burst out laughing and then I thought – you just cannot make this up….I then said – by any chance are you here for a repair call for 15002? He first apologized (heck it was around 1 p.m. ~ maybe he was in a food coma from his lunch) and then he said also 15004 & 15007.
When I heard that there were (2) other cases I was SOOOOOOO HAPPY because I believe in the POWER OF NUMBERS…..because we all know when there are more people having the same issues….things happen! I really wish you would have seen my face as I was just ecstatic that other people had issues! (that’s kind of mean if me…..I know, shame on me)
I then said, by any chance do you know what the problem is? He said he thought it was because of the drastic drop in temperature and that he needed to go back to a transformer on a road that is probably 2 miles from my house. (I again thought to myself, how silly is that that we would be hooked up to that box way down the road…but I didn’t say a word!!!!)
I went home, unloaded the shavings – came up to the house and decided to head back out with a secret weapon….Homemade Cookies and Hot Chocolate (thank you Christmas time with having cookies around)….his truck wasn’t there where I saw him coming home earlier…..I went down to the end of the next road, no truck (at this point I was thinking….did he ditch our job ~ and if he did…..hmmmmmmm)
I went down another small road and THERE HE WAS…….I pulled up to his truck and this time he was out working (guess that cold air was going to keep him awake) and said, I thought that this would taste good to you as you can see…..I am hoping….really hoping that you are going to get to the bottom of this and have our internet back because I am going through computer withdraw (and that makes me grumpy)
He laughed and thanked me and said that he was still working on figuring out what area it is and what the issue was etc….I went back home….told the dogs my story (aren’t animals the best to talk to – they kind of tilt their heads back and forth like, YES MOM….I GET IT! ~deep down they probably know what I am saying and are thinking – you are nuts)
Back out again I went to go to an appointment and when I came home there was a note taped on the front door from my “new friend” – he said…I found the problem and we will be back out tomorrow. There came the happy dance (again, the poor dogs thought I had lost it)
Ok – ENOUGH about the “story time with Susan” (I am thankful that I can use WORD and just save it) we have a winner from yesterday….it is…..Gracie Harrell.…WOOT-WOOT to YOU – please email me your address and your pens will be in the mail to you! I know that you are going to love them ~ they are great! (thanks for popping in)
For today…this is THE KEEPER OF ALL KEEPERS! I know that I am sharing a bunch of great tips but even if you do not win today...YOU NEED TO DO THIS as it is the best! (One day next week I will be doing a post on my top 10’s of different things and I will feature this with the links etc…so keep watching)
I can hear you right now….THIS LOOKS LIKE ONE HOT MESS…well, let me tell you – it does look icky but it is THE BEST and one of YOU will be a lucky person to win the container and I will cut you (4) little squares!
All you have to do is leave me a comment and let us know if you use this method and if so…how do you like it…..or just leave a comment and let us know something that works for you.
I just find this to be SUPER fast and easy to keep my stamps clean and then I throw them in the wash machine every so often. They always looked stained (I call that well loved) and they are great as it is the perfect amount of moisture to clean and then they dry super quick!
Again, next week I am going to be doing (3) in a row of posts of MUST HAVES (in my opinion) and I will share with you the links for them! Remember, shopping in jammies is not only FUN but ON TREND…..(just saying) 🙂
Please do not forget about the Product Share…I will send out confirmations by next Tuesday so if you have not heard from me, please do not think that I did not get your share request…..and also, DO NOT FORGET THE VAULT…….for those of you that I have been IN THE VAULT – you know that there is a TON of FUN!
See you tomorrow….another GREAT tip and fun give away! (FINGERS & TOES crossed that we get the internet back)
Wow what a great idea! Do you keep them moist with water and don’t have to use stamp cleaner? I really like this. Your story is so cute and I am sure you made that service man’s day with your cookies and kindness. Stay warm and safe. Hugs!
The internet problem is occurring all over . So you are in good company !! Loved your story and I know you made that poor COLD fella a lot happier !
The Absorber was a gift from my swap buddy Lisa Poe last year . It is truly a wizard in it`s own right . I keep mine in a large jar at my stamp area. It gets uglier with age ,but don`t we all ??
Happy Saturday ….so glad your Boston sweetie made it home safely
Love this tip! I use a small refrigerator container to do the same thing…works like a charm. Oh, and yes, my little couple of shammies are well-loved, too, LOL.
I really like the container. I just use stamp cleaner. This looks like a better idea. What kind of container? Hope I win to find out. Thanks for the chance to win. Love the story.
I use a shammy as well, they do make a salt celler that you can put them into and it keeps them wet as well I started out with cleaner, then discovered baby wipes and now the shammy…………. Love you posting all of your ideas and do so enjoy your animals 🙂
Oh my gosh. Discovered the absorber almost a year ago when i joinrd SU. I will never be with out Iit. It cleans stamps beautifully.
I did not know that I could toss it into the wash machine. Thanks for that part of the tip
I’ve never tried the absorber towels but I hope to have that experience. I’m always looking for a better way to clean stamps and this might be the real deal. Thank you for introducing these towels to us and for all of your fabulous tips.The Jack Russell you feature in your posts is adorable! What a ham!
I purchased the “stampin’ scrub” with the stampin’ mist cleaner from Stampin’ Up, and I love how it cleans my stamps with NO effort at all. I use it all the time! I still keep wipes handy though for a just in case I need them.
Would love to win this. We do not have the absorber in CAnada so have been unable to try. I use my own blend of stamp cleaner (water, dish soap, glycerine and lavendar oil) sprayed on the stamp, then removed with the stampin scrubber.
I would love to try the absorber towels. Hope you get your internet soon.
I love when you share stories 🙂 I bet the cookies just made his day. I use the scrub cleaner and spray from SU. I only like baby wipes for wiping the clear block if ink builds up because I don’t like the fuzzies that occur. I would love new ideas for cleaning stamps that are easy and effective!
I use the Stampin’ Scrub to clean my stamps. It’s always worked very well for me; I even have 2 of them. What type of material are you using and where do you get them, Susan? Thank you for another fun tip. I Loved your story! You woke the repairman up! Lol Too funny~
It sounds like these towels would work better than baby wipes, I don’t like the fuzzies from them either. Thanks for all of your good tips.
I’ve used the stampin scrubber, a moist sponge, baby wipes, water and dish soap at the sink… Your absorber towel idea sounds great. I’m going to try it. Love your tips (and your stories, too).
Have heard other people tout the benefits of absorber towels, but I haven’t taken the plunge yet, probably because I didn’t want the messy towels floating around. (My stamp area is tiny and cluttered enough as it is…!) But because SUSAN SAYS, I will give it a try. I do love my stamp-and-scrub (anyone else love the smell of the spray cleaner?!) and I am probably the only Grandma in my social circle buying her own baby wipes in bulk & not for the grandbabies! But I’m always up for a new method to clean up my well-inked stamps. Thanks for the tip. Hope your post tomorrow is from the comfort of your home, with internet roaring away. We so appreciate your dedication to us that you track down a place to transmit from. Keep warm and safe in this latest round of “weather”.
I remember when our cable/internet was cut by someone and had to go to the area McDonald’s for days. But then when they cut the cable my computer was in the middle of saving my information and had to finally call Apple to help me get my computer in running order again, what a mess!! Those Absorber towels come in handy when wiping down the shower too, but would rather use it for something “fun”!! Stay warm….:)
Yes I use these for my stamps. I cut them in smaller pieces and put them in the half size stamp boxes but it is not air tight so they dry out. Would love to know what type of container you are using Susan!
Absorber towels…brilliant. I have used a couple of different things…always looking for a better idea!
Hi Susan, I hope you have your internet back by now. I used to live on a block, about four house from the corner, when the power went out on a major street one block away, so did mine. It was quite annoying to see our neighbors with power and not us.
I have one of these Absorbers and it does look just horrible, but works just great. I’m happy to know you can put it in the washer, as mine is pretty new and is in desperate need of cleaning. I too would like to know where you got your’s from, as mine was a bit on the pricey side, but you know, I just had to try it! I keep mine in a glass and chrome cheese/salt/sugar server that I had not being used. (The kind like Alton Brown used for salt, the top that flipped up.) I keep a small, travel-size, spray bottle on my desk with water in it.
Have a cozy weekend!
🙂
The Absorber towels are a new one for me! I will have to try them! So glad your “PEEP” made it home. I gather 95 is a total mess and closed. Be careful out there! I can hear the ice in the trees crackle in the wind. I hope that when your internet comes back it stays put!
Congrats to Gracie on winning the pens! Can you believe I just run my stamps (on the blocks) under the water faucet and then dry with a paper towel. Call me cheap or lazy but it seems to work o.k. for me. I think I found one of Mike’s absorber things and hid it from him to try but not sure if it is the right kind or not.
So glad the peep made it home o.k. as this weather is so strange. We had snow that turned to sleet and ice and now it is snowing a bit and the wind has picked up. I just heard there was a 55 vehicle pile up around Baltimore and other places are just about as bad. Everyone stay safe!
Never heard of this for cleaning your stamps. I’m intrigued now! From a fellow Marylander without power from the ice storm this morning -I’m running on backup power for internet! Stay warm!
I mainly use the scrubber but travel with baby wipes and use them a lot for small areas on stamps if I am using two colors. Can’t wait to read more about the towels–maybe even win them. Glad Peep made it home okay in bad weather.
I love the Absorber, although I have to admit I feel a little faint when they get really yucky! Lol. I haven’t used my cleaner in a very long time since I discovered this!
I recently ordered a stamp shammie online and I love it!!!! I had used the absorber towel before also, but had to try the shammie when I saw it and I really love the shammie. I have been searching for a container that works well and had recently seen the salt container with the flip top and thought I might try it!!!! Thanks to Nancy for mentioning she uses that…..
Susan, always love your stories and am really enjoying your tips!!!! Hope your internet has been restored. Keep on spreading that special brand of kindness around!!! ?
I’ve heard talk of the absorbers but haven’t ever seen one. Don’t know what to look for to buy it so I am so curious to find out. Thanks for sharing, Susan!
Susan, I loved your story about talking to your babies, we are newer parents to an adopted 8 yr old cat, Milo, and I talk to him all the time. My Mom thinks I’m crazy, I swear he understands everything I say. For cleaning stamps, I use a stamp scrubber from another company that I’ve had for years and years. Periodically I throw it in the dishwasher on the top shelf to get it really clean. I was also gifted a stamp cleaner wipe/rag from Lawn Fawn – all you do is wet it and clean your stamps. I haven’t christened it yet! We are under a windchill warning here in Minneapolis this weekend, our church is already cancelled for tomorrow, my husband is working plowing snow and I get uninterrupted hours of play time in my stamping room! I absolutely LOVE your blog – you are genuine, down to earth and so generous with your sharing. Merry Christmas!
Well, well, well. Live and learn! I did not know about this absorber towel. I will have to try to find one — sounds great and so much better than baby wipes. I always get fuzzy pieces on my stamps with the baby wipes, so tend not to use them much. Often I use an old washcloth, but that can leave lint too. This sounds much better. Can you tell us where to buy one (not everyone will be lucky enough to win!)? I see in the responses that some people are calling it a shammy, others absorber cloth. Are the words interchangeable? Poor repairman, just trying to get a nap and you woke him! LOL But it was really sweet of you to chase him down with cookies and hot chocolate. I am not sure I would have gone to the extremes you did, but if it means getting your internet back, I sure can’t blame you. Once we get used to having it always at the ready it is hard to be limited. I guess it makes us more thankful when we do get it back though. Glad your “peep” is home and safely out of the cold.
Merry Christmas to you and your family and all the readers of your great blog! I love the stories and I love the tips and I love the ideas you share. Thanks!
I use the Absorber all the time and love it. I use the Absorber first then finish the job with my SU Scrub before putting my stamps away. The Stampin Scrub stays cleaner longer. The Absorber does get ugly, but who sees it but me. I keep a portion of the Absorber in a full size SU Wide Stamp case and occasionally rinse it with tap water.
Is there a brand name for these absorber towels???? Awesome idea. And do you just use water on them. I actually never heard of these.
Completely clueless as to what an absorber towel is, and what do you keep in the container with them for moisture. Keep waking up those cable guys. We need our internet!!!
Hey everybody! I just opened my Paper Pumpkin and there is a Basic Black Stampin Write marker in there! Is that the next best thing to the Project Life journal pen?
I am always interested in learning new techniques. This looks like an interesting way to clean stamps. Thanks for the info.
I use baby wipes – Huggies and I always wondered if there wasn’t a better way ! Love your blog, your cards, and your stories ! Thank you for it all !
I am amazed at how well you are keeping up with your blog while without internet!! Thank you for this wonderful tip for cleaning stamps. I have the SU scrubber but do just use water at the sink most of the time because I don’t have it right there. This does sound a little more handy for me to try. Keep the ideas coming. I am loving every one!!
Also, loved your Susan Story Time today 🙂
I have heard several people use this but have never tried it. Will be interesting to see next week’s post or maybe I will win it with you. You are the best.
I learn something new everyday from your blog! I have one of these shammies, but never thought about using it for cleaning stamps. Thanks for the tip.
Thanks for sharing this tip. I use the stamping scrubber. This tip sounds like a great solution to use first and then finish cleaning with the SU scrubber. It’s always nice to see what works for other stampers.
Have to revisit the absorber! First must find a good airtight container….probable can sacrife one of the zillion Tupperware containers that seem to multiply. The challenge will be locating its lid!
I have not used the Absorber, but would love to try it. The container looks as though it might be the tomato/onion keeper from The Container Store. Every time I check for it, it is sold out! Love your story about taking cookies to the cable guy and knowing your Boston peep arrived safely. It is very frustrating when internet is down. I hope by now you are up and running again. Hope your Saturday is great!
I am interested in trying this absorber towel. I appreciate all the tips and tricks you share. love your posts and cards. You always give us inspiration and great ideas for your stamps and dies. Merry C
hristmas!
Hi Susan! You are shameful bribing the repair person with cookies and hot chocolate! Great idea! May I borrow it next time I need something fixed? I use baby wipes in a zip top plastic bag. I might have to give your method a try as it would be cheaper and keep baby wipes out of the landfills.
We were to get a trace to 2″ of snow. Looks like at least 10″. Has finally stopped and my doors aren’t drifted shut?. -11 tonight.
I’ve been wondering what to put the absorber pieces in when I remember to get one Great idea.
What a fun story !! Thanks for
sharing! I like my chamois too!!
I use the chamois, but don’t have a nifty container to keep it in… hmmm… I do hope your Internet comes back. We are all so dependent upon being “on the grid” these days. I loved your hot chocolate and goodies method of reward. I love reading your blog! If I wasn’t already a demonstrator, I’d want to order from you! 🙂
I think that is what I use, lol only mine is blue but I dont have that container. I just use a baggie. I really enjoyed your little story, lol.
You have the craziest stories! It makes me thankful for the situation we have here. We’ve gotten hit with a TON of snow and it’s so cold that they’ve cancelled school all over the area. At least we can snuggle up and watch movies or play on the Internet. We are so dependent on our electronics. Anyway…I use the Stamp and Scrub to clean my stamps and it has worked well for me. It’s interesting to see how many people use a chamois though, so I might have to give it a try!
Am I the only one who doesn’t know what absorber towels are? I usually use the stampin scrub and mist. Baby wipes for my hands.
This a new tip for me. I will have to see if my husband has an extra one. I use the stamp scrubber and baby wipes. Love your blog Susan!
I love using the chamois -they work great with clear stamps and if you wipe them immediately, it prevents a lot of the inks from staining the stamps – (red, not so much) . I have a big piece and keep it inside a SU stamp case so it’s easy to clean big stamps too. It does dry out in the case but wetting it is easy. Hope your internet is back soon.
I started using the absorber this Spring. I am not as fancy as you, I simply keep it in a zip log bag. A nice container like yours would be so much better.
Okay, I relate to all who want to know “what to buy and where”! Would like to be in the know with y’all. Enjoyed the story so much.
I haven’t used this method of cleaning my stamps, but will definitely use them if I am lucky to win. I simply use the Stamin’ Up stamp scrubber. Hope you get your internet working soon; we just had a week on ours working for a few minutes and then off for days. I am happy to report they could retrieve all my saved and sent mail.
The Absorber is the BOMB! I have been using it for a while and there is nothing like it. I also cut mine into smaller pieces and keep it in a .SU Standard Stamp Case. Perfect fit. I sent my good friends and swap buddies Sonny and Maria one and they absolutely love it too. I highly recommend this wonderful product. Oh my Susan…..you always have the most interesting stories. I enjoy them immensely.
I use the absorber and love it. Very easy to use.
would love to know where you got those containers.
What a wonderful story. I’m sure you made the cable dude’s day! I’ve never tried those absorber towels. I’ll bet they are wonderful and collect less cat hair than the random ratty washcloth I use.