UNDER CONSTRUCTION

FLORIDA STAMPER TIPS

For Stampers Everywhere


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FUN STUFF

BLENDER TIPS

Try using metallic eyeshadow in place of PearlEx. Just dip your blender (if you have one) into the
eyeshadow and paint away. You should probably spray with a fixative to ensure it doesn't rub off.
Lynn G.
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Use your blender with your chalks, they just flow on the paper. And you don't need to seal the chalk
the blender does it for you!!!! I'm am having so much fun coloring now since I learned this technique.
Diane F.
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I've got a Dove blender, and I use the same tip for water color pencils, markers, and chalks.
Just clean it off when you're done on a paper towel. If it's really badly inked up, try spraying
a touch of stamp cleaner on your paper towel first, that does wonders. A bit of stain on the tip
is normal with use, as long as it doesn't come off on your CS. Now, I DO change tips, but the
only time I use a separate tip is if I'm using it with my PE's, FDs, PP's etc. The powdered pigments
seem to kinda impregnate the tips, so I have two tips just for pigment powders,and one tip for
everything else!
Char
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I recently purchased a Dove Blender--mostly because I wanted to find out the difference between it
and a Tombow blender. Well I decided to use it today only to find that it was dried out…….
I also had this problem with my Dove blender, until I realized that you have to store it with
the tip *down* to keep it moist. You might want to try that and let it sit for 24 hours before you
give up hope on it and attempt to refill it. I've never had to refill mine, so I'm not sure, but I've
heard people say that they just place one or two drops onto the tip of the pin to re-moisten it
after it runs out. I hope this helps you.
KerryAnn
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You might try removing the tip and using an eyedropper to put the fluid in that way. I don't know
if that's the RIGHT way to do it, but is sure seems like the EASY way. The tips are replaceable so
that seems a logica lway to load the blender "ink".
Patti
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Hi...I have a Dove and love it...I've had it for over a year...and refilled it numerous times...And I
replace the tips frequently, too.... Ok, you have the refill stuff...when you take the back end off,
mine just twists off...don't put a lot in...I thought the first time I filled it that I needed to put excess
in...*BG*...not so...a little will do you!! Or else everything gets stickey and moist... If you have one
of those jar lid rubbers, try using that...but it should come right off. And either store it tip end down
or flat. The points change by just pulling them out too,,,,,,, I just changed one again tonight. I'm trying
a tombow right now, but still love the Dove best, although the point of the tombow seems narrower
and stronger...and it has two ends...Hope this helped! :)
--Just Me-----Lin
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You can remove the back end of the blender and put in a few drops through there.
It will take a few minutes to get to the tip. Do it a little at a time so you do
not soak the tip. Good Luck.
Neysa
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Jst pull the tip out! But be careful, the first time I filled mine I added about 15 drops of fluid....found
out later it should only have been two or three drops! *ROFL* Had to let it sit out, open, under a
HOT desk lamp for about a week to get it dry enough to use again!
Char
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Ok, your blender dried out because it's been sitting too long! It might have just walked into the store the
day you bought it, but who knows how long it sat in a warehouse? I've gotten Marvy markers that exact
same way....and THOSE you can't even refill! *LOL* Now, as for favorite blender pen.......well, I use 'em
both! I use my Dove for powdered pigments, then change the tip and use it for chalks, change the tip again
and use it for watercolor pencils, clean that tip off and use it for markers. The biggest difference I've found
between the Tombow and the Dove is that the Tombow has a finer brush tip, much better for coloring in
tiny areas than the Dove blender tip. But, when I use either of these with markers, I don't draw my ink directly
from the marker, I scribble first with my marker on an old CD. (BTW, these make EXCELLANT palettes,
use 'em and just wipe 'em off when done! *VBG* Oh, and with RP's, don't bother to wipe 'em off, the RP's
will NEVER dry on a CD, so you can put 'em away for a few months, then just grab 'em when you're ready
to use those colors again! But keep your critters away, their hair will stick to the wet RP's! *VBG* Yep, been
there, done that! *LOL*) I've tried picking the color up from the marker, but found that you get too much
color that way, especially with the Dove blender! AND if you get too much color, then you're just going to
have to clean it off, and waste all the blender fluid in doing so! What you might want to do is use your
Tombow with your markers, andsave the Dove for your other uses....that way, your Tombow says nice and
'clean', no left over pigments or chalks to stain your works of art! *VBG*
Char

BRAYER TIPS

Run the brayer across the first area, then turn the paper upside down to do the next 'runover'
and to do the third time, turn again. If you look at the ink on the brayer, one end is dark and the
other end is lighter, if you roll it the same way, then you are butting light to dark and you constantly
get a division streak. But if you turn the paper, you are putting the light end to the light end (or dark
to dark) Brayering is tons of fun and makes incredible backgrounds. We wrapped rubber bands
around the brayer one time and the result was really kewl.
Sandy O.
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Make sure you get a soft rubber brayer opposed to the hard rubber brayer.
Give brayering a shot using a rainbow pad and use glossy paper.
Carolynn
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This is a great straightforward tool. It's great with rainbow pads.
Just roll it (preferably from the bottom of the pad up) on the pad then roll
it onto the paper to create a beautiful rainbow background.
Kelli
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I love my brayer. I use it just like you described. I use it in a "resist" technique
(described below). I've used my brush-art markers to draw stripes, confetti, etc.
directly on the brayer, then rolled it over glossy cardstock to make great backgrounds.
I also use it to help squeeze out water from the paper pulp when I am making paper.
I have heard of people using their brayer for making reversed images, although I've
never tried that.

Rubber Cement Resist Technique:
1. On glossy cs, smear rubber cement on in a pattern or design.
2. Let rubber cement "dry" for several hours (it doesn't totally dry).
3. Ink brayer with a dye-ink pad (my favorites: Big & Juicy)
and roll brayer over the glossy cs. Yes, over the rubber cement.
4. Let ink dry.
5. When ink is totally dry, rub rubber cement off the card. (I use my finger
- kind of messy though. Others use some kind of eraser.)
6. After removing all rubber cement, stamp as usual in the blank spot created
by the rubber cement resist.
It's obvious I like using my brayer, isn't it? Sorry I was so lengthy.
Jane
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Another use for brayers, that I think is often over looked, is using it to ink very large stamps.
Simply run the brayer over the ink pad and then over the stamp. You can also take your markers
and drawn squiggly lines, dots, letters, etc on the brayer and roll it on for unique backgrounds.
Kristi
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Bubble Wrap Trick:
1. A trick to try with your brayer is to brayer color onto textured items
like bubble wrap. Ink up the bubble wrap with dye-based ink.
2. Run the brayer across the wrap
3. Brayer that texture on your favorite white or light-colored paper.
Try the same trick on corrugated board with pigment-based inks. Dye based
inks dry too fast on this board because it is so porous.
Jenn
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When I started brayering, and found that first......my pad colors were too dark, so I got backgrounds that
were really too dark for my use (Yet, didn't toss 'em, either! *LOL*) But I still got definite lines of color,
without the 'blending' I expected. But THEN I watched Carol Woods so her brayering, and the way she
does it killed that problem for me! What she does is, ink up her brayer, and then, instead of starting at one
side, and running straight across the CS to the other side, she kinda 'smacks' that baby down in different
places each time, maybe an inch in from the bottom the first time, then maybe 3 inches in the second time.....
when you're done, you've got a smooth, well blended mess of color!!! Oh, but still remember, use lighter
shades, it's just so much easier to put to final use that way! *LOL*
Char

COLORING TIPS

I love my pencils. The brand really depends on what I am doing. I have found
that the drier pencils work the best on shrink plastic (Crayola) and I like the
Prismacolor for other projects I am doing on paper. I don't really use markers
much. I use chalks too. I like the soft pastel look I get with them. But I also
use FD (Fairy Dust) on a lot of things. It is a very versatile coloring medium.
Melodie
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As for pencils, my favorite is the Faber Castell. When you use a hard and smooth
cs, they blend beautifully. I also like the Prismacolor brand, but sometimes the
wax that is in them makes things too definite and I find them harder to blend.
The Faber Castell come in regular colored pencils, watercolor pencils and pastels.
If you have a chance to try them, I think that you would be very pleased with the
results.
Lynn B.
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Favorite coloring medium would be Karat Aquarelle Watercolor pencils. I like
being able to "wash" the color. I'm just figuring out now how to blend and
shade, so I've started using my Prismacolor pencils more. Markers are kind
of tough for me to achieve the look I want, unless it's on the back of
vellum. My sis sent me a whole bunch of the Stampin' Up markers, so that's
what I mainly use. Painting with PearlEx is pretty cool, but then I haven't
tried any of the other pearl products out there.
Christine

CORK TIPS

Anything you can do with paper, you can do with our paper-thin cork.
It's pure cork from Portugal, chemical free. You can layer your cards with it,
frame your cards with it, stamp on it, heat emboss it (but don't have to),
color it with Rub Ons, stipple color on it, use your gel pens, pencils, Marvey's...
you can even cut it into tiny strips and weave into a basket for your stamped flowers.
Or tie it into a bow! (very gently, of course, 'cause it is thin!)
One of my favorite things to do with cork is to rub use Rub On colors on it at random.
Then stamp seashells, leaves, trees....
you pick the stamp... then cut the stamp out like a paper doll and layer it
on your card. Looks like you hand-colored the image, but you didn't.
Ellen (Evo)
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Milk and Gel Pens... I LUV them on the cork!
Ellen :}> Evo
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Here are a few things I've used to color on cork, but I'm sure there are
tons more.....chalks, markers (using blender pens or plain ol' markers).
Radiant Pearls (yes, they WILL dry on cork! *VBG*), PE, PP's, gel pens,
colored pencils......guess that's about all I've actually used, but hope
that gives you some ideas! *VBG*
Char

EMBOSSING TIPS

Clear Embossing:
1. A fun technique to try is clear embossing on the paper. Using your clear
pad and clear powder, emboss a few images all over the vellum.
2. When that is cool, spread metallic marker on a paint tray.
3. Using a fan brush, stroke the color over the images.
4. Be sure to blot this well!
5. Attach the vellum to the front of your card with small pieces of double-stick tape and add a tassel.
The soft Metal Look:
1. On a standard-size postcard, stamp and emboss a random pattern in silver. Let cool.
2. Take a blue metallic water-based pen and blot out some of the paint onto a paint tray. Apply the
paint in streaks across the card, and buff the paint into the paper with your finger or a cosmetic sponge.
3. repeat step two using a purple marker. Be sure to completely cover the embossed images. Allow the
paint to dry thoroughly. This is important, because this paint does not look metallic until it is dry.
4. When the paint is thoroughly dry, emboss a few more images in silver over the top of the postcard.
5. Affix the postcard to a square notecard. If you wish, emboss the same image on the plain border,
or add a paper cord or a tassel for emphasis.
Jenn

FUN FLOCK TIPS

I love fun flock ! After realizing I could not acquire all the colors I needed, I discovered
this really cool tip I color the image with regular colored pencils and then use my 2Way Glue
where I want it to be fuzzy and apply the white flocking. The darker shade of color the more it
shows through. It is great for items that have multiple colors IE:... bed spreads ,dresses, rugs,
animals etc. I also found when using the colored flocking that I prefer just outlining the item as
the colored flock covers up the detail of the stamp.
Brenda
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I saw this wonderful tip on the AOL boards and thought that I would share it.
When using Fun Flock, they suggest using sticker paper. Take the adhesive off add apply a
thin layer of Fun Flock approximately the size of your stamped images then ink your stamp with
waterproof ink and stamp it directly into the flock. Press a little and leave it for a moment so that
the ink "soaks" into the flock. Remove the stamp and clean with cleaner or water, whichever you
usually use. Then, cut the image out on the stamped line. The extra's can be used for paw prints, etc.
Doesn't that sound like the greatest idea?
Kristi
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I embossed my Teddy Bear as I normally do ,then with my glue pen filled him in. I put the
Fun Flock on top, pressed it down and let it sit overnight. This morning I tapped the unused
flock off. He's cute, but he looks a little sparse, flock-wise. Did I use the wrong glue? One thing
I did learn: The Fun Flock works better with open images if you emboss. The glue pen doesn't
adhere to embossed surfaces well. I tried a Panda, but he was more of a solid stamp I think I'll
try doing him with permanent ink (no embossing) and see how he turns out.
Jane
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Apply white flocking over your colored markers and pencils for fuzzy but softly colored image
Brenda

INK TIPS

It's a permanent ink if when you wet it...it doesn't run....
Memories is one of the best...and maybe you can use Fabrico, too!
Lin
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STAMP CLEANING - BABY WIPES
Yes, it takes both dye and pigment inks off. It just doesn't quite cut
it for permanent inks.
BUT, you should use the wipes that are alcohol free. I use Huggies Original,
they are fragrance and alcohol free. Works great.
I buy the travel pack - a thin white plastic case.
Melodie
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If you're looking for something to clean permanent ink, the best products I've found are 1) a heavy duty
sport shoe cleaner or 2) Simple Green. I heard about the sport shoe cleaner on Carol Duvall. I heard about
Simple Green from a DOTS demonstrator. The Simple Green label says it's good for cleaning tires.
Fran
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I can recommend a Kiss-Off Stain Remover for permanent inks. I actually found it at Stamp Cabana,
so I figured you should be able to use it on stamps. And it does a pretty darn good job! It kinda looks
like a glue stick, and I've rubbed it on the stamp and then scrubbed with a wet toothbrush. The stamp
doesn't look new, but most of the ink is removed.
Christine

MISCELLANEOUS TIPS

I use a pair of hemostats to hold my cards while I am embossing. This helps to keep me
from burning my fingers.
Melodie
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Store cardstock in a bag of sachet (not potpourri as it contains oils that my stain your cs). With in
a few days you will have a wonderful smelling card or stationary. It is great with pine scent for
forest scenes, floral scents for flowers, cinnamon for gingerbread men etc....
Brenda
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I don't know how many of you have kids at home that like to get into the stamping. But I have 3 kids.
2 are old enough to stamp and love getting into my stamping supplies. Well, I solved that problem.
I went out and bought them some inexpensive stamps and pads (everything was on clearance sale at
Michael's or Franks) and they have there own box of stamps, ink pads, and accessory stuff, and
markers. This way they keep their hands off mom's stuff. They love to create things with their stamps.
Melodie
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Pens available for coloring the stamp before stamping using them with embossing powder as well?
I use the Marvy markers...but I have used other cheap ones from the $$$ store before I made the big
purchase.. .If you put the ink on the stamp and 'huff' on it to moisten it the colors are nice and bright...
sometimes you are lucky enough to be able to emboss it.
Lin
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I went to Walmart last night and bought some tessel tiles - little foam tiles in various geometric shapes
used to make tesselations designs. These tiles are made of the same stuff as the Colorbox tools.
You can heat them with your heat gun and press to a stamp or textured surface and the impression
stays until you heat it again. I applied tack it over and over glue to one side so I can use them on my
acrylic mounts. The neat thing is you can lay them out on your mount to make borders or designs.
Lynn G.
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This is such a cool idea and I did it today so I wanted to share. Call your local wallpaper stores and ask
them what they do with their discontinued wallpaper books. Most just throw them away. Ask if you can
have them. I called 2 here and they each gave me about 10 books and told me to come back if I need
more! The papers and images make GREAT things for collages, making your own envelopes and cards!
And best of all these exquisite papers are FREE! The books are huge-and as many as I have now-this
will keep me busy for YEARS but they said they have to throw away about 20 per month (at least) and
it's such a waste of this great paper. Especially for someone like me-I spend a TON of money on nice
papers and background papers for cards. So run don't walk to the local wallpaper store!
Kate
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Real simple way for the inside--use your word processor, change the font style to a really neat
handwriting, change the color and size appropriately. Print on really cool paper, tear the paper off
around what you have written (tear not type) take a marker and just rub the edge with the marker
(what ever color you want), then glue it on the inside of the card. I have also layered it inside the card.
I have run home made paper through my printer. My handwriting is not what I want to see on a card
either, but there are really great 'real' handwriting fronts on your computer.
Sandy O
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Florida Christmas Card
Here's an idea my DOTS upline shared with me a while ago...
The original idea was done on two halves of a postcard.
One one half, stamp a girl bundled up in winter clothing in a snow scene, and
stamp or write "You." On the other half, stamp a bikini clad girl on the
beach and stamp or write "Me."
It could easily be done on the front and inside of a card.
Fran
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SCRATCH BOARD
Take a piece of cardstock and apply vibrant colors all over the piece. Then you get yourself a can
of the cheapest black spray paint. The cheaper the better. Cover the entire sheet with black paint.
Let it dry. Then you use a popsicle stick or a toothpick to scratch away the black paint to reveal
the color underneath.
Carolynn
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To avoid unwanted embossing powder sticking to paper rub cornstarch on the paper with a cotton ball
shake off excess prior to embossing. I use this on vellum and used it when I embossed a chalk board for
a teacher. Works great.
Brenda
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I discovered something interesting last night while playing with dryer sheets.
I know that dryer sheets are a good substitution for mulberry paper but they only
come in one color - white. So, late last night while enjoying the only few peaceful
moments I have during the day, I decided to work on a card. I needed
a piece of mulberry paper but I needed it to be colored so I sponged my color
points all over the sheet. Well naturally it was not drying, I sort of forgot
that the dryer sheet was "plastic." Well I figured since dryer sheets are subjected
to heat, I thought, "Why not emboss it?" I was pleasantly surprised to discover
that the dryer sheet embossed beautifully. It turned out very glassy. Very
interesting effect. Well, off to find more dryer sheets!!
Lynn G.
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I saw on a craft show that Kool Aid WITHOUT the sugar added is a great dye...for
dryer sheets and most everything else....just think about how it stains the kids
clothes, and your fingers!!
Lin
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INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE "THING" window plastic, Vivid reinkers, diamond glaze--put
a puddle the size of a very small dime on the window plastic with diamond glaze.
Chose two or three colors of Vivid reinkers. Put 1 or 2 drops of each color in the
diamond glaze. Too big a mess and you have used too much of something. Hardly have
you ever used not enough. NOW THIS IS VERY VERY IMPORTANT. You are now permitted to
use two fingers and move the "mess" around the window plastic, but only allowed
to do it three times. Like from middle to bottom to side (that's one), from middle
to top to side (that's two) and top to bottom to top (that's three)--all done!
This is a case where less is best in every sense of the word. You do not want to
MIX the mess. You just want it to sort of streak the window plastic. Looks bad,
you have made a mess, put it up, let it dry. Much later (like tomorrow) look at
it again--Yuk what a waste--okay not quite that bad, but put some cool paper behind
it. Whoa!! all of a sudden you have this incredible background. Works best with
feathers, beads, wire as things to put on it. Oh - and then you can always sprinkle
a bit of embossing powder on some of it or Ultra thick and heat just enough to
melt embossing powder--very cool. Careful - you don't want to melt or bend the
window plastic. Or even better, after it is dry pick your favorite stamps (I love
Acey Duecy goddesses for this), and stamp all over randomly using black ink (or
any other color for that matter). And if you really want to be bold, use a metallic
inkpad (I use Encore) and stamp it while is still wet - be careful not to "smoodge"
it. I have a friend that uses that big dragonfly and some butterflies and a few
ferns to stamp it in black - it is really cool.
Sandy O.

This page updated 7/16/06