by Susan Itell | Dec 19, 2016 | Tips and Tricks!!! |
Trust me, I am not eating bon-bons in being so late in my post…..it just was one busy but productive day yesterday and today I have a card for you but the HO~HO~HO from me today is all about HEAT EMBOSSING!
Before we get to heat embossing…..we need to see who won from yesterday’s post…..the random winner was # 25…..Vicki Blackwell – WOOT-WOOT…..go ahead Vicki and do that dance!
Here is her comment – I cracked up with the hoarding comments from yesterday but let’s face it….we are out there! Thanks for leaving the comment and please email me with your address and I will add to your ribbon stash! I am just lovin’ being Santa!
Onward we quickly go……
My oldest Peep Will teaches 6 – 9 year age group at a Montessori School in Boston and I always love it when he comes home and we get to talk “crafty” On Saturday he watched me heat emboss and was AMAZED at the whole concept and how easy it is!
Naturally I am always GLAD TO TALK CRAFTY and I showed him all of the discontinued embossing powders I have and a heat gun I bought from Michaels years ago and he is thrilled and excited to play around with it…..BUT – he asked me, why did they get rid of all of these colors?
This is where the TIP comes in today and one that I do hope that you try. Please leave me a comment and one person will win an Embossing Buddy and a container of Clear Embossing Powder.
There is no need to have a bunch of colors of embossing powders when you have a clear one….all you do is simple stamp and then use the clear, heat set it and PRESTO…..an embossed image with any of our colors! If you click here – you will see the offerings that we have…this is ALL YOU NEED.
Here are 3 pictures of the notecard that I made and I used the real red and heat embossed it. I know that it is hard to tell in the pictures…but it is just beautiful! This stamp set is One Big Meaning…and it has been well loved by me over the past year. After the pictures…I will share tips for perfect heat embossing….
I know that many of you get frustrated with the results from your heat embossing. The 2 biggest KEY POINTS are to have a GOOD HEAT GUN and also an EMBOSSING BUDDY.
These 2 things will be game changers for you. Do you remember that I said that I had a heat gun that I bought from Michaels that I was giving to Will? The reason was…it simply did not get hot enough (or should I say fast enough for my liking) and the results were not the best.
Once I bought a GOOD HEAT GUN….and also turned it on about 30-45 seconds before I bring it to my project…the results were stellar.
Please leave a comment and let us know how you like embossing…have you tried it with our ink or just say HI….and who knows….maybe you will win!!!! I have some other GREAT tips and giveaways…..keep popping back and see what Santa Susan is up to!
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by Susan Itell | Dec 13, 2016 | Tips and Tricks!!!, Uncategorized |
You know the Beatles song….“I get by with a little help from my friends”…well this is an example of how “friends” teach us….and guess what We are all so blessed to be friends….some in person, some cyber but this is how we learn and grow!
I know that I have bee a bit “off schedule” with all of the “Holiday Happenings” but on Tuesday’s I like share a TIP for your Tuesday! My friend….super talented and just down right funny friend Jeanie told me about this. At first I did not believe it but I can say first hand I tried it over the weekend and it works!
Do you get frustrated when your stamps do not stay on their blocks? Yep, I think we all do and I have blogged before about different remedies to help but this one is a keeper – it sounds like a total mess but try it – I know you’ll like it!
It is “GREEN GLUE to the rescue” You know that I am a HUGE FAN of Green Glue and also Fast Fuse but over time I have learned that EVEN IF my blocks are squeaky clean, my stamps sometimes do not stay nice and snug!
Let me back up a bit…when I received a new stamp set, I would always put the clean image that comes in the packaging (I guess you could say, like you are supposed to) but for the past year I have opted out of putting the “clear picture labels” on like I just explained. WHY you might be asking?
I will say that I think that the stamps stay on PERFECT when that window picture is not mounted on the stamp. (I hope that this makes sense) I used to think that was silly that people did that because I thought, “How in the heck will I be able to see what stamp it is” – Now I ask you….I think we all can tell by the shape etc…and this really has been a game changer! 🙂
For the ones that I have already put the images on….GREEN GLUE to the rescue!
I ordered the below custom stamps and I asked for them NOT to be mounted on Wood Blocks as I knew that I would rather have them mounted on an acrylic block or loose for me to use it in my MISTI
I learned, very quickly that they did not stick….so – Jeanie’s tip…I tried it, and I LOVED IT! ( I admit, I love my new stamps…..Merry Christmas to me) I have been using the HAPPY MAIL in mailing out the NEW catalogs…..the 1st wave went out…more go on Wednesday!
If you are wondering where I purchased these custom stamps…it was from Bossy Joscie – she does AMAZING work and was great to work with. With having an “I” for the last name…many times the “I’s “ look wonky and she sent me several drafts to get it…“just right”
So how would you like to win 2 bottles of GREEN GLUE!?!!? In the season of the Holiday’s we will be having FUN..because if you are like me, this is a busy season and I think that it is a twist to daily blogs and to have FUN and INTERACTIVITY together!
Just leave me a comment and let me know if you have tried this…..or if you have another idea….or just to say HI!!!! I will randomly pick a winner with random.com……
We will be doing FUN things like this all week long. I feel so blessed to have such a wonderful “cyber family” and I deeply appreciate you popping on and sharing your time with me!
I love what I do…and I love chatting and helping YOU!
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by Susan Itell | Oct 25, 2016 | Tips and Tricks!!!, Uncategorized |
On Tuesdays it is our time to chat…to learn, to grow and to hear from others what works and what doesn’t! Today, let’s chat about your ink pads. On Sunday, I watched many different stampers “ink” up their stamps.
Some gave the acrylic block the death grip…
Some kept pounding and pressing….
Some just tapped – tapped – tap!
What do YOU do?
Well ~ here is the truth. When I first started stampin’ I was terrible, just terrible as I was the classic “wobbler” and I was always so frustrated with the end result. Has that happened to you?
The best tip that I can give to you that seems to work for me is that if possible, I place my stamps on the diagonal. I am not sure why but it seems to be easier for me to stamp…and….I tap-tap-tap…and then stamp.
If it is a photopolymer, I am super happy as it is so easy to “see through” but if not, I do like the stamp-a-ma-jig because let’s face it, there are times that you do not get a clean stamp…and there are times that you want a deeper, richer look so double stampin’ is something that many of us do.
I think one KEY factor is the amount of ink on your ink pads. I have found that when I received the new In Colors this year…they were juicy…really, really juicy. I had to “take off” some of the ink and this is how I do it.
The best way I find is to just take a piece of computer paper or if you want to splurge, take a piece of white card stock and place it over the ink pad and press down to let it absorb. I would not recommend using a paper towel as the fibers of the paper towel cling to the ink pad! 🙁
I would… and I feel certain that (we would) love to hear how you stamp…..how do you hold your acrylic block???….how do you mount your stamps???….do you like the ink pads juicy or would you rather have it on the “drier side” ???
This will be fun to hear what you all do!!! I hope to see you tomorrow….WASHI WEDNESDAY!!!! I know that we all “buy it” because it is so darn tootin’ cute and we vow to ourselves, I WILL USE IT…and then it sits….sounds familiar????
I think that I will make you smile! 🙂
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by Susan Itell | Oct 18, 2016 | Tips and Tricks!!!, Uncategorized |
Good Morning! I am excited to share with you a tip that i think will make many of you excited and also I bet that many of you are going to find “Mr. Big Shot” and a die to see if it works!
Before we get to this tip and need to say who was the winner of the (6) Birthday Cards that I had on my post yesterday! I had a fabulous day and I sooooooo enjoyed reading your comments on how you like to spend your special day. Last night around 10 I was going to bed and I had a call from Hannah and she said…
“Have you seen your blog today? You have so many comments…and I think that it is so fun to read what everyone does. Mom, this was a fun idea to do and I think people liked it”
Well….I have 2 things to say about this little conversation with Hannah! 🙂
1 – It made me smile….what a great way to end a great day!
2 – She totally “GETS IT” – she understands what I do and why I do it. My family knows that I work so hard on my blog and so hard in trying to get people to understand that “they can do it” and to share and give simple kindness as it does matter.
Here you go…..GINGER is the winner and Chris R – you were ONE away but I know that you are going to be happy that Ginger won. “Chris R.” often emails Ginger and I FUN and KEEPER ideas so this is super fun that she one! Way to go Ginger….I have your address (unless it has changed) and I will send you the cards!
Now let’s get to today’s TIP! This one is right up my “TYPE A” alley.
I will say right out of the gate ~ the pictures are not the best but I know each and everyone of you know what I am talking about.
We all agree that the BIG SHOT is one amazing tool. Most of us use it for just paper but do you know that you can cut through other materials as well…like felt? Every Big Shot is calibrated a bit differently so your results and my results might be a bit different. I have (2) Big Shots and I can even tell a difference between the 2 but the end result is a smile as we love it that it cuts out things for us in a jif!
I know that many of you are going to try it and I hope that you do! Tomorrow I am going to do a post using a shape and also try this technique so please pop back and see if it worked!
I have blogged many time that I like to use fun foam under large sentiments on my cards. I do this because I like the sentiment part to be nice and solid as there are times if you do not use enough stampin’ dimensionals, it sags and we do not like sags!
Try this with a piece of fun foam….I think that it gives even a more even pressure to roll away your lines!
Do you remember last weeks Tuesday Tip…CLICK HERE to see that post. We had a bunch of great conversation going on with that Big Shot topic….let’s do the same this week – I truly believe that this is how we learn from one another. Please share your thoughts so we all can learn and chime in.
You might be thinking….WHAT IS THE SANDWICH THAT YOU USE TO DO THIS? Well….this is what I did – after I die cut the shape I then used the platform that we use for embossing and put the paper or fun foam on top and ran it through.
I can remember (I think it was Ramsey that asked this) – Why do you keep a clean set of cutting plates? – THIS is a great reason why…..if you have a clean plate….it is super even and flat all the way….so when you want to get the BUMPS out….it makes it easier!
There you go my friends…thoughts….comments – we would all love to hear! See you tomorrow…..go have a GREAT DAY!
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by Susan Itell | Oct 11, 2016 | Tips and Tricks!!!, Uncategorized |
Good Morning and I know that many of you will think that this topic is a “no-brainer” but I also hope that I am not on that Island by myself today! I admit, I have a problem, actually a HUGE problem in pitching “Cutting Pads” away and replacing them.
I can remember the first time I tried to use the Big Shot by myself and I scratched the mats….I was like a turtle and my head went in (I put the Big Shot away as I thought I ruined it)…It actually took me until the next Stamp Club to ask my friends…..”OK – I have that thing (Big Shot) but I ruined the mats…and YEP, I needed someone to walk me through it 😳
I am telling you thins because I want you to know, we all start somewhere. I am the very first to admit that I get sooooooo excited and I just want to do it…create…smile! 🙂
The cutting pads are a KEY and necessary part to the Big Shot. The other thing is that you need to know that it is important to have proper pads to use for our many ways we use the Big Shot. WHAT?????
It is a great idea to have several sets.
I like to keep a set that I use just for using Embossing Folders.
I have a set that I use for framelits.
I have a set that I use with the precision plate.
I know that this sounds a bit “over kill” but they do serve a purpose for completely different needs. I just have this issue of NOT pitching ones that are way tooooooooo used! (You will see the picture below)
I know that some people swear that they rotate (flip them) after each use…I simply forget but it is normal that they will warp. I will be totally honest that the precision plate really – REALLY warps them and I usually rotate the ones that are all scratched up to the precision plate stack!
The reason that I am posting about this is….I highly suggest that you have a spare….“just in case” – over the weekend I noticed that my “stack” of ones that I use for cutting framelits were way too scratched and when I was cutting something, the scratched were impressed onto the paper. (I know….I am being type A but I am being honest)
What usually happens when times like this happen, I take my squeaky clean ones for embossing folders and then they get scratched and filtered into that viscous circle I have going on in my craft room so the moral of the story is….KEEP A SPARE!
This machine “Mr. Big Shot” is truly amazing what it does for us but we need to remember to keep it up to date ( kind of like getting our oil changed in our car) – I am curious as to hear your thoughts about this.
Do you keep an extra set, just in case?
Do you use one set for all use of the Big Shot?
Do you rotate your plates after each use?
Let’s get some chatting going, this is how we learn from one another! Have a FABULOUS day!
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by Susan Itell | Oct 4, 2016 | Tips and Tricks!!! |
Good Tuesday! I have a super simple tip for you that probably many of you already use but you know me…just in case – here you go!
I think that we all have experienced frustration in cutting a piece of paper and having the edge of it not “perfectly clean”! Well….there are sometimes some conditions that make this happen.
- Your blade of your trimmer is dull.
- I find that if I do not cut quickly it sometimes “drags” which causes not a clean edge
- There are simply some paper colors that we have that the fibers seem to be different which in turn have a “not so clean cut” (I hope that this makes sense…am I out there on my island with this or does someone else feel the same)
Below in the pictures you will see the block and I would definitely have one at your work area! It is something that I grab just about daily to do those “type A” touches to my projects that I am working on!
Where do you get it? There is no need for me to link this one to Amazon as you can go to a dollar store, Walmart….probably even a grocery store. I admit, I get my nails down and the guy that does my nails thinks that it is a hoot that I use this for paper!
I might get a fresh on every 6 months but he is so funny – he will say…“Miss Susan – do you need a new block today for your cards?”. He graciously gives me one when I need it.
The one that I have has 3 sides of different weights of sanding paper and then the 4th side is just foam (you will see that this side is great to poke your piercing tool in it) All it takes is a quick back and forth and PRESTO – clean edges!
Stampin’ Up! used to sell a product similar but since they stopped…my nail place takes care of me!
That’s it for you today….I hope that this tip helps and if you go to the store, pick up some and tie a bow around one and give it to a stamper friend…even if they have one – it is a simple act of kindness that you know will make their day!
Remember, tomorrow is the LAST DAY to take advantage of the World Card Making Day SALE!
CLICK HERE to see the offerings! Have a FABULOUS day! Until tomorrow….get ready to POP!!!
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