Tipsy Tusday - Stamping Part 2

This week we will be talking about stamping. Ok so i know many of you use stamps So i will start with some tips on using and then storing different types of stamps:

Using Stamps

• First when using a brand new stamp you want to ink it up real good and stamp on a scrap sheet of paper, do it a couple times before stamping on your project. This will get rid of any left over manufacture residue on the stamp and make it a more crisp, even and clean. I learned this tip from Michelle!
• If you have done the tip above and you still get part of the stamp that just doesn't want to stamp. Try stamping with a note pad under your paper and apply even pressure all over the stamp, don't push too hard cause you may smear the image.
• Another thing you can do is to place you stamp with inked side up on a flat hard surface, place your paper on top and run a brayer over it while gently holding the paper in place. This tip is more difficult, but if you have a stubborn stamp and the note pad does help you can try this.
• Make sure you clean your stamps after use and as soon as possible to get all the extra ink off and keeping your stamp conditioned.

Storing Stamps:

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• I store my stamps 2 different ways. The first way is in a 3" 3-ring binder with base ball card holder sleeves. Yes the pockets are small but they are perfect for the small studio g stamps and inkadinkado and others like it. You can also purchase sleeve protectors for photos that have a variety of sized pockets. I get my pockets from office depot. The cheap trick is to wait for a sale or get a rewards card and then you get a discount on your purchases along with coupons that may be available online or in the mail.
• The second way is on a clip it up system. I also get sleeves from office depot that are for storing dvd's and cut them in half. i use these for all my tall stamp sets like inkadinkado. I place a label on the bottom of the sleeve of the name and company. I currently store my rubber cling stamp in there original packaging on the clip in up. You can get a clip it up at many places, i got mine at ScrapbookWarehouse.com.
• The other way i'm gonna switch to doing my rubber cling stamps is in a 3-ring binder. They make special plastic like sheets that go in binders that you can place your stamps right on and place a label on it at the top...more to come on this once i get it done. I got these sheets at ScrapbookWarehouse.com.  I will take pictures☺
• Another way some people store there clear stamps are in clear cd or dvd cases. The stamps will cling right to the plastic.
• I store all my wooden stamps in several 6 drawer 12x12 cubes from ScrapnCube.com. They are seperated by themes.

Thanks and tune in next week for more tips!!!

Have a wonderful crafty day!!!

♥Misty♥

Now open new crafting community!!!

I'm so excited to introduce 

a new crafting network

*Creating the Crafty Life*

Please come and join if you have a 

passion for crafting and want to 

share and connect with others 

while crafting and you may even 

make some friends along the way :)

We have challenges, swaps, 

discussions, live crops, shops, 

and many more fun and 

exciting things to come!

Membership is free so come on 

by and take a look!

http://creatingacraftylife.ning.com

Have a wonderful crafty day!

Misty♥

Tipsy Tusday - Stamping Part 1

I know this is a little late this week and not on my youtube. But i'm sure you can forgive me...lol This week we will be talking about stamping. Ok so i know many of you use ink pads and some sort of stamps. So i will start with some tips on using and storing your ink pads:

Inks

• Try and store all your ink pads so the pad part is level and upside down. Let gravity do the work and make the pads nice and juicy. This prevents uneven ink distribution as well.

• If you use Tim Holtz Distress Inks and the inking pads. Store the pads with velcro on the bottom of the ink pad. This makes them easy to find and color coded.
• To prevent your stamp pads from becoming muddy, clean your stamps when changing colors
• I like to store mine by brand and then type like dye, pigment, chalk....etc. But you may find it easier to store my color.

• For my craft space i store most of my ink pads in 2 different drawers (the ones i don't use the most). The ones i use the most (in my case the momento tuxedo black ink and distress inks) are stored on a ink pad caddy made by cropper hopper right on my desk for easy access.
• Other ways you can store them are in old cassette tape holders or there are ink pad holder specifically made but these do run pricey. You can find cassette tap holders in many styles including rotating and on ebay, in thrift shops, flea markets and garage sales for penny's on the dollar.

Thanks and tune in next week for more tips on stamping. Next week i will be covering tips on storing your stamps!

Have wonderful scrappy day!!!

♥Misty♥

Tip of the week?

Hey wonderful people!!!

Last year i had started a series on my youtube channel for "tip of the week". I wanted to start that back up starting next week. The tip of the week would be about things like, storage, deals, crafty tips, product reviews...etc. I'm not sure how i want to break it up cause i also want to do one tutorial each month. But i may do a series called "Tipsy Tuesday". It will be on my youtube and here on my blog. Let me know what you think and look for it starting next Tuesday!!! 

Have a wonderful day!

Much love and hugs

♥Misty♥

Evening Bag

This evening bag started out with a template from LSH for the evening bag swap. I used two 8 1/2 x 11 sheets of light weight chipboard. I painted the inside and outside with white gesso. Then using mod podge i covered the outside with two different designer papers from the GCD Studios paper pad "Ella Blue" (My Favorite....hehe). Then i used some cream 6" flat lace and covered the main part of the bag. I place dangle trim around the bottom, then added a loopy pearl trim over the ribbon portion. On top of the the main part of the pearl trim i added sequin flower trim. On the flap i used a Tim holtz on the edge die to achieve the gorgeous ornate border. I edged the flap with the sequin flower trim all around except for the top edge. On the top edge i used "frosted Lace" Stickles to just give it a little sparkle with minimum dimension. On the top side of the purse, i added three rows of the sequin flower trim. I also added the same trim to the top edge on the back side. I used some pearl cording for the handle. I punched a 3/16" hole with my crop-a-dile on each side. I made a knot on one end of the cording and fed it through both sides, then made another knot on the other end. The purse is sturdy enough to actually use it as an Evening Bag.

I used a flower charm I had in my stash to cover the closure. It matched perfectly and already had the dangling pearl. I think it really added a contrasting eye catching piece to the flap.

 I dressed up this satin flower by replacing the center with a Tim Holtz button. I then took Glossy Accents and dabbed all over the flower. Then covered it with Diamond Dust. This was the perfect touch to match the texture of the flower trim.

 On the inside of the bag i covered it with flocked design paper from the same paper collection. You can see i used Velcro for the closure. There seem to be an issue with the Velcro being too powerful and ripping the paper, so i cut down the soft fiber and filed down the hard plastic side until it just catched a little.

 I filled it with goodies ofcourse and then i was done. It was fun and easy. I hope you guys will give this a try.

Thanks for looking

♥Misty♥

Recipe for this Bag:

• Evening Bag template from LSH "Evening Bag Swap"
• 2  8 1/2 x 11 light weight chipboard sheets 
• Tim Holtz  Button
• Tim Holtz On the edge die "Ornate"
• MB's Treasurista Shop Trim
• Satin Flower
• Glossy Accents
• Diamond Dust
• Matte mod podge
• White Gesso
• Cream 6" lace
• Charm from my stash
• GCD Studio "Ella Blue"  paper
• Hot Glue Gun

Altered Chocolate Box for Lindsay

Before

After

This was so much fun!!!!

Okay ladies, here is what i did. I painted the entire box with white gesso then the outside with golden brown acrylic paint. i covered the box with designer paper from my favorite paper collection by GCD Studios "Ella Blue". I then sprayed white ruffle trim with Lindy's Starburst Spray in "Dark Chocolate Truffle" and then with a Moon Shadow Mist in "Phantom Fushia". I layerd a dark brown ruffle rose trim all the way around. I made a ruffled rose trim flower and used this gorgeous cameo charm as the center. I used some Brown/Cream Picot Gimp Trim from my shop around the top edge.

I used several of my new i am roses flowers and leaves. I painted this flower with Lindy's Color Shots in "Opal Sea Oats" then brushed over them with Lindy's Starburst in "Frosted Forget Me Not". I accented the flowers with my handmade "Vintage Victorian" stick pin (coming soon to my shop). 

I painted a Michaels $1 frame with Sailing Sky acrylic paint then went over it with Lindy's Color Shots in "Opal Sea Oats". I placed a vintage photo that i got in a swap from Germany last year (Isn't that photo just gorgeous and the little girl is so cute). I put the frame on a hinge so it can fold down for shipping and/or storage.

I painted the darker flowers with Lindy's Color Shots in "Opal Sea Oats" then brushed over them with Lindy's Starburst in "Frosted Forget Me Not". For the lighter flowers i did the opposite and sprayed them with the "Frosted Forget Me Not" and just painted the tip with the "Opal Sea Oats". I added a Tim Holtz Adage ticket "Bliss" which i distressed with my "Frayed Burlap" Distress ink, attached with a Tim Holtz memo pin.

This is actually a pin cushion i made using a piece of chipboard, foam, and some flat lace. Then to dress it up i covered it with the Ruffled Rose Trim to match the flower. I placed a Prima lace flower in the center and accented in with two of my stick pins. I attached the pin cushion to a doily i got in the cake section. The doily was sprayed with Lindy's Moon Shadow in "Buccaneer Bay Blue", Starburst Sprays in "Dark Chocolate Truffle" and "Baby Blue Aqua".

I made a ruffled rose trim flower and used this gorgeous cameo charm as the center.

To finish off i painted four wooden pieces with the Sailing Blue acrylic paint and a Color Shot in "Opal Sea Oats".

I just love the way it came out and almost didn't want to send it....lol!

Thank you Geordie for hosting a very fun mystery swap!

Thanks for looking

♥Misty♥

Recipe for this Box:

• Lindy's Moon Shadow Mists in "Phantom Fuchsia" and "Buccaneer Bay Blue"
• Lindy's Starburst Spays in  "Dark Chocolate Truffle", "Baby Blue Aqua" and "Frosted Forget Me Not"
• Lindy's Color Shot in "Opal Sea Oats"
• Iamroses Flowers and leaves
• Tim Holtz  Memo Pin
• Tim Holtz Adage Tickets "Bliss"
• MB's Treasurista Shop Trim
• Michaels $1 frame
• Handmade "Vintage Victorian" stick pins
• Prima blue lace Flower
• Craft Smart "Sailing Blue" and "Golden Brown" acrylic paint
• White Gesso
• Doily from the cake section in any craft store
• Foam, chipboard, cameo charm, 4 wood feet,  hinge and vintage photo from my stash
• GCD Studio "Ella Blue"  paper