Finding Quality Clear Stamps that Delight You

Like traditional rubber stamps, clear hobby stamps allow you to create beautiful designs even if you don’t consider yourself artistic. However, have you ever purchased a clear stamp that just didn’t perform right? Recently I decided to try some cute Disney clear stamps purchased from another company and available at the local WalMart. I was very disappointed with the quality of the stamp as well as the image produced. The stamps, though clear were hardly tacky, hard to peel off the carrier and did not produce a clean crisp image. Once I was done with the stamp, it was hard to get it to stick back onto the carrier sheet. To get a decent image I tried rubbing a vinyl eraser over the design. It helped a little, but the ink still was not uniform and evenly placed.

Purchasing quality clear stamps can be tricky online as you are unable to handle the product before purchasing. Unless, the website tells you, you have no way to gauge how tacky and flexible the product you are interested in will actually be. To make it easier for you to get the quality you are looking for  Clearly Rubber Stamping has made it a priority to carry ONLY the best quality clear stamps on the market. You will always find flexible stamps that are naturally tacky and easy to position. They can even be bent or flexed to take on a slightly different shape. They are soft and pliable and if dirt inhibits the self stick feature, simply wash them in water to restore tackiness. Crisp, clean images will appear on your craft projects and delight you with the ease of being artistic using your quality clear hobby stamps.

Happy Stamping to All
http://www.clearlyrubberstamping.com

Designing Background Scrapbook Paper with Clear Rubber Stamps

Some of the most fun I have is decorating my own coordinating background papers for my scrapbooking and card making projects. It is really very simple and easy to do.

• Choose your coordinating rubber stamp or stamps
• Choose an ink color
• Follow the instructions in Making Decorative Background Paper for Scrapbooking and Card Making Projects
• Paper can easily be embellish with glitter or embossing techniques.
• Use your paper as you would any purchased pattern paper.

Making your own background paper will always produce the perfect colors and depth for your own personal projects because you put it all together. Everything matches and contrasts just like you want it to.

Advantages to making your own pattern paper

• All your elements complement each other
• You don’t have to decorate more paper than you need for the project which saves paper for other ideas
• Colors in your background paper will definitely match the stamping you are doing for sentiments or other key elements
• No one else will ever have the same look in their background paper because only you designed it.
• Your background paper can develop and enhance the theme you want

Paper Stitching with Rubber Stamps

I have a friend that makes a lot of beautiful cards with paper stitching techniques. As a result I have fiddled with it a little. Recently I decided to make up one of my own designs using one of my favorite clear stamps the Sympathy Rose.

Here is how it turned out.If you are unfamiliar with paper stitching, it is really quite simple. It is similar to the string art we used to do in the 70’s.

First punch the holes with a needle or pin along your design. Using an image, I simply punched holes along the edges of the design at evenly spaced intervals. Be careful not to get them too close together or they will merge together when you are stitching.

Next choose a colored thread. If you have metallic threads they are really pretty to use. Thread a small needle and insert it into the first hole on the back side of the design. Secure the end of the string with a small piece of tape.

If you were working a circle, you would next choose how many holes to skip, for example 10. Now put your threaded needle through the tenth hole from where you came up. Keep working around the circle always working 10 spaces apart until you have completed the design. You should end up with something like the circles in this design:

Here is another design I worked from a stamp image from the All Year Clear Stamp Set.

When your thread runs out simply tape the end down on the back and start a new strand. It’s fun and easy. Try a few of your own designs and see how you like it.

Happy Stamping & Stitching!

Embellishing Paper Scrapbooking Flowers

I love rubber stamping with my clear stamps. Since I am always looking for new ideas, I am usually trying new things all the time. A couple days ago I decided to enhance my paper scrapbooking flowers with rubber stamps. I had a cute clear rubber stamp set called Big Blooms that hosted the precise design I wanted to add.

I simply chose a darker color that complemented the flower and stamped a smaller flower upon it. Once attached with a brad the effect was complete. Try it out. You’ll love it.

Happy Stamping!

Adding Glitter on Heat Embossing

It is relatively simple to add glitter to your heat embossed projects. In the above photo you see a grouping  flowers and a sentiment stamped with clear hobby rubber stamps on white card stock. They are then embossed with a clear embossing powder.

For a background color, simply use a dry sponge and dab it in the ink of your choice and  wipe it over the card stock.  This will make the design stand out as long as the ink is not too light a color. Distress the edges with the ink pad. You can learn how to do this in the Distressing Techniques article linked here.

At this point I thought the project looked neat, but I was using a patterned paper that had bits of glitter on it and I wanted the stamped, embossed design to match a little better. So here is how to add the glitter.

1. Get your glitter handy and ready to pour on quickly.
2. Use your heat gun to soften the embossed design.
3. Immediately dump the glitter on. If you wait too long it will not stick. (Be sure to turn of your heat gun before you dump on any glitter as it will be in your lap is seconds!)
4. Clean up the glitter and voila! You have glittered embossing.

Happy Stamping!!!

Stamping on Watercolors

A short time ago I took a watercolor painting class. In this class we used watered down watercolor paints in spray bottles. As you spray the primary colors onto our watercolor paper the colors blend to create the completed rainbow effect. Once the backdrop dried I decided I could probably finish the picture by stamping elements found in my nature clear rubber stamps. The theme I was aiming for is stamped in mini alphabet letters for a completed project.

As you can see, there is no limit to the background possibilities that can be created using simple water colors and nature clear stamps.

Happy Stamping!

Gateway Cards

I discovered the fun of making what I call Gateway Cards recently. These cards are so easy to make and they look fantastic to. A Gateway Card is easily described as a card that is hinged on both sides rather than just one. It opens from the middle instead of from the side or bottom of the hand made card.

These cards are easily embellished with rubber stamping techniques using your clear hobby rubber stamps. In the card above I used some of my own carved rubber stamp designs as well as a ‘Happy Birthday‘ sentiment from one of my clear stamp sets.

The funnest part of making a gateway card is placing the stamped image on the center of the card. This image can be matted or made into a 3 dimensional element. Shadow stamping techniques would also serve as a striking element. In the card below the flower is made using paper casting methods. The raised parts are highlighted with an ink pad and the center is enhanced with glitter.

The creative possibilities are endless. Enjoy making your own unique and stunning Gateway cards. You can find more information on making gateway cards by clicking here.

Carving Erasers into Rubber Stamps

WOW! I was able to attend a fun class a short time ago. In it I learned how to carve a basic vinyl eraser into a rubber stamp! It was so much fun!!! This is a handy skill to have when you need a certain stamp but don’t have one. I was amazed at the detail a person can put into their carvings.

Here is what I learned. First, you need to be sure that your eraser is perfectly flat and smooth so you sand one side of it with a fine sand paper.

Next draw your design onto the eraser. This can easily be done by first drawing it onto a paper, then outlining the drawing with pencil. To transfer the image simply turn it upside down onto the eraser and rub the back with a popsicle stick or something similar. When you lift the paper you will have a fabulous image to carve.

To carve you use a craft knife. Try to keep the knife moving in one flowing motion. When you are holding the knife be sure to slant it away from the image so you have support for the stamp once your are done carving.

Carve away the edges first then begin working in the detail on the design. Remember that even a hairline scratch will leave it’s mark when stamping so you don’t have to groove out the details very deep.

Experiment with this technique and explore your creative ideas.

The down side for me, when doing this was that once I started stamping, I couldn’t see where I was placing the image. I love my clear stamps and their transparent qualities. You can’t beat being able to see where you are stamping.

Below are some photo’s of my completed erasers carved into rubber stamps.

Here is a basic card made with the above set.

Here are some miscellaneous stamps I made and the stamped results.

Because I did not have all my stamping inks with me the colors are off a little. I would have preferred a deep red for the cherries and a lighter green for the pear. However, it was a lot of fun.

Just a note about your eraser carved stamps. Erasers hold the color of the ink once they have been used. You need to clean them just as you would your clear stamps. However, the color on them will stay. As long as you clean them right after using them, you will not have colors carrying over to your next stamping project.

Happy Stamping!

Stamping Easter Fun after Easter Egg Painting

So another Easter has hopped on by. It’s hard to believe how quickly time flies, but because it does it is important to capture the moments while they are fresh in our memories.  Scrapbooking ideas for Easter themes are always welcome. This idea is to help you highlight your Easter Egg Activities. The following is a simple card making craft using this technique.

The fun Easter Egg background is created using the Egg Pattern Clear Stamp. Once you have completed your background add photos if you are doing a scrapbook page and plan the layout in such a way that you can add painted Easter Eggs as embellishments.

Cut out ovals in the size that you want your Easter Eggs to be using white cardstock. Next choose your favorite border rubber stamps to decorate your eggs. I suggest using colors that appear in your photos or scrapbook page backgrounds to make your stripes.

Begin stamping lines on your Easter Egg shapes. Once you have finished your horizontal and vertical stamped elements it is time to fill in the background with a complementary color. You really do get to ‘paint’ your Easter eggs. To do this:

Choose the color you want your egg to be. Close the pigment ink pad then squeeze the top and bottom together tightly. This will create some residual ink on the inside of the lid of your stamp pad. Next, generously wet a small paint brush and mix a little water around on the lid – creating inked water. With that done, begin painting in all the white background areas on your Easter Egg! I like to ink the edges when I am done for a little extra emphasis.

You have just created a fabulous Easter Egg embellishment with your rubber stamps for decorating your Easter scrapbook pages!

Happy Stamping!

Make Your Own Rubber Stamped Cheerful Mist Card

I saw this rubber stamping and inking technique and absolutely loved it! It is easy to do and only takes a few minutes  to design your stamped eye catcher. Completed with a corner rounder, embellishments  and the Basic Card Making Layout, making this card is a delightful and refreshing take on rubber stamping.

You will only need one stamp – a tree such as one found in Winter Trees. This set of clear stamps hosts four different tree designs ranging in size and fullness giving you lots of choices for your desired effects. You will also need some pigment ink, clear embossing powder, a heat gun, and an array of regular inks used for rubber stamping. You will also need a dry makeup sponge or a brayer to apply color.

STEP ONE – The Tree

Stamp your Tree in a dark color such as brown. Be sure to position the tree slightly to one side of your paper. Clean your stamp and then stamp a second time – directly over the first impression – with embossing ink. Clear rubber stamps are ideas for this as you can see exactly where you are placing your embossing ink. Emboss your tree with clear embossing powder.

STEP TWO – The Sky

Choose a tool to apply ink – either a dry sponge or a brayer – and load it with your pigment stamping ink. Start at the top of the design using blue and draw the ink across the paper so that it begins to fade the closer you come to your horizon. If you are using a sponge simply sponge the top first and work you way downward so the color fades away.

STEP THREE – The Hills

Tear a piece of scrap paper unevenly to create your hills. (Scrap paper used in the photo’s is green)  Place over your design so the area just above your horizon shows. Begin with a dark color of ink such as a gray blue or gray green. Using your dry sponge (be sure to use a clean corner or a new sponge) press color onto the design starting from the edge of the torn paper and upward toward the sky. This will give the appearance of a mist in the background. Do not go all the way across the design. Do three layers of hills using consecutively lighter colors the closer you come to the foreground.

STEP FOUR – The Golden Path

Create the path using a honey yellow or light brown and ink – using the sponge – along the base of the card. Finish the path using a darker color of ink to fill in the bottom corner.

STEP FIVE – Finishing the card

Embellish your design as you desire. You may wish to stamp a saying in an open area of your newly created misty landscape or embellish with ribbons, tags or even buttons. Mat the design and mount onto your card using the Basic Card Making Template.

With 5 easy steps you have designed the eye catching design for one of your most fabulous rubber stamping project – a Cheerful Mist Card Making Craft!

For more tips on constructing this card click ‘Cheerful Mist‘