1. The best way to ink most stamps is by tapping the stamp with reasonable pressure on the ink pad, moving the stamp around for even inking.
2. When stamping, DON'T PRESS TOO HARD!
I can't emphasize this too much. One
firm but GENTLE press should give you great results. Pressing too hard leads to rocking, which leads to those unsightly lines we all hate. Although, if you follow tip #1, you will avoid inking those edges to start with!
3. Don't lock yourself into one way to use a stamp. Look your stamps with a creative eye... could that cake from the Birthday Bakery hostess set be a lamp if you turned it upside down?! (Thanks, Susan Jennings for that great idea!)
4. Host a party! It's the only way to get some of the great stamp sets like the Birthday Bakery. Also you receive a FREE Idea Book and Catalog, which normally sells for $10, AND earn free product of your choice! Not to mention, it's a lot of fun.
5. Use your
Idea Book & Catalog for what it is... Just because you don't have that great stamp set, Peace Within, on page 64 doesn't mean you can't use that card layout with a stamp set you do have. Flip through and look at the color combos they put together, the interesting way they use ribbon or brads. Now make it your own!
6. The Designer Series Papers are great for scrapbook, but they are also great for attractive accents on your cards. The 12 x 12 sheets give you a lot of bang for your buck.
7. Save yourself some money and cut back on the amount of adhesive you use! When I make a card I hit each corner and the middle with adhesive, and if it's a bigger piece of card stock I'll hit the centers of the edge. No full line of tape or Snail all the way around and all over the middle for me. It's not necessary or cost effective.
8. Accessories are a great way to dress up any project, and there are tons from which to choose. From buttons to brads, ribbons to rhinestones, petals to pins... we have it in coordinating colors!
9. Reinkers are not just for reinking! From dyeing flowers or ribbons to match your cardstock, to creating your own custom ink pad, reinkers have many, many uses.
10. And most importantly... HAVE FUN! Don't be too hard on yourself if it's not "perfect". It's wonderful, it's handmade and no one is going to pick it apart except you!
Well, the snow is gone and things are starting to green up! I'm hoping warm weather is just around the corner. Until those flowers blossom, we can create some Spring of our own. So, pull out those flower stamps and some springy colors and stamp a stack! Here are some springy cards we did at my latest workshop.
