I ordered my first stamp....

I was not going to give in and do stamps. Was not going to. I don't do cards so why do I need stamps? However, the Blood Splatter stamp is just to cute to pass on. I had to have it and I ordered it last night.

I guess you can call me a stamp virgin. I know nothing.

So... its acrylic. How do I clean it?

What kind of stamp or ink do I use?

Can I use it with embossing powder and a heat gun?

Is there any other care I need to know about for my new toy?

It is a Blood Splatter stamp with a line of dripping blood. It will be great for Halloween layouts. Really cool! Especially if I can use red embossing powder with it.

Also, my new granddaughter is just starting baby food so it will be great "dripping" under her pictures of her making a mess with her food in the color of strained carrots and peas.

So give me the tips, pointers and everything else I need to know being a brand new stamp owner and hopefully user.

I clean my stamps with a scrubbing pad and stamp cleaner. You could also use baby wipes.

I like to use Archival ink on my LOs. Black is always nice and versatile.

Yes, you can use powder and a heat gun. You would need clear embossing ink and colored powder. Or colored pigment ink and clear powder. Archival ink is not for embossing.

You'll need an acrylic block.

I have videos on youtube that address your questions including cleaning and using the stamp and heat embossing. My username is "runzalot81."

Thank you! I will check out your utube videos!

I love stamps and embossing!!! (on my LOs too, I do not make many cards!) If you want dripping blood with a shiny effect, use "pearl finish" embossing powder (red of course ) vs. "opaque finish" My M's has a lot of choices (lacks sorely in everything else)

you took a step down a dangerous path; once you start collecting stamps, inks and powders you will be hooked!

HAVE FUN!!!

Thanks Liz - I will look for the pearl finish embossing powder. I didn't even know there were different embossing effects! One of my friends will help me learn to emboss.

Do you have some layouts you can post using stamps. Not cards, I want to get an idea of how to use them on layouts.

[image] 1 year old photo By Rushli[/image]
The flowers were added to cover up a mistake I made. This one was a gift, and I made this LO for myself too and worked on better placement of the flowers and used a watered down metallic acrylic paint to color in the petals.

Rays of Sun By Rushli
I used a stamp to create the background on this one.
All examples of 1 photo LOs, which I know you don't do, but it shows my favorite use of stamps: as a background. I also love alphabet stamps... I have a cricut, but I am on a trend of stamping the letters. (cause I can emboss! lol)

I used a script stamp on the right. Stamped with brown chalk ink for a subtle effect.
My Mother My Friend By Runzalot81

Stamped: "no shirt..." the doodling and the sun all with Archival black.
live out loud By Runzalot81

The text, circular sentiments, and stitchy lookin' doodle things are stamped.
Remember when... By Runzalot81

LOTS of stamping.
sisters *Flying Unicorn* By Runzalot81

I've just done the stamps...not embossing yet. I like the whole copic thing with stamps. And digistamps are so cool. Instant gratification for me. I have a bunch of acrylics too..haven't used them much. Have to finish a big project first.
But congrats on your purchase and your new venture into stamps. We can learn together.

I really need to use my stamps more, so I'm loving these examples of stamps on LOs!! Here are a couple of mine.

The arrows and gas pump are stamped and embossed, and just cut out around the image
Road Trip By Stick



All the little fishies are stamped to create a patterned background
Cookbook Project: Tuna Mousse By Stick

Guess what? Fantasy Stamps in Marietta called me this PM and thought they had the Bloody Splatter. I have not called them back yet! They are so nice, really great local store owner.

I love to emboss! I like using clear too. If you use clear embossing ink and clear powder you can see the paper thru it. I found some embossing powders on sale on my way home from Bama today. Zig which is $5 for $3. I think they were seasonal colors, pink, pale blue and lavender like Easter colors.

I'm only starting to figure it out but it's fun. Watch out Henri Jean they are addictive.

Oh no! Its showing up everywhere now but I'm glad I have them coming in.

If you want to get it there instead of paying postage, I won't get my feelings hurt although with the price of gas now, postage will probably be cheaper!

I like the sound of clear embossing ink and clear powder - cool to see the paper through it.

Anxious for mine to arrive - want to start playing with it.

Embossing is SO much fun- I don't know what it is about it - it LOOKS great and it's SO easy. It really gives a great finished look to stuff. Maybe I just like using the heat gun. Who knows.

I wish I could be your embossing coach, Miz Henri- you would love it!

-kory

Nah, I don't want to leave you hanging with one since I was the first to raise my hand and say I would buy it. Still a great deal. I will call the store owner back and tell him that you found another.

Since I was contacting him anyway I sent him a link to the LO's I did with the Dreamweaver stencil - which is embossed BTW!

I am loving all the examples of using stamps in layouts - its giving me an idea of how much stamps and layouts really do go together. I just always thought they were mainly a card item so I stayed away from them.

Kory, I wish you could be my embossing coach too! We'd probably shop more than we emboss though. And I know I would end up with every cool embossing powder and ink they make!

I learn hands on and in class. I have a girlfriend now who is helping me with my gypsy because I'm clueless.

I spent 2 hours tonight researching Balinese Hindu funeral and cremation rituals.

I know - weird and bizarre.

We were in Bali and our shuttle bus was stopped for a while in traffic and out our window we saw a Balinese Hindu cremation service so I've been researching it to learn more about it. Actually, they aren't sad - its more of a party or celebration!

Since I have pictures I will make a layout and explain what is going on.

Its a celebration because once they are cremated and ashes are thown in the sea the soul is able to reincarnate. If you are Balinese Hindu, that is a good thing. You come back as a new person or the next baby born into the family - you are in the same family.

Okay, now I have to sift through all the info and put it in some kind of logical order.

I wish Kory could hold a class for us. I'm winging it I tell you! The first time I used the heat embosser I freaked out! LOL! OK, I'm easily amused.

[image] Introducing Zane By Rushli[/image]
speaking of clear embossing... i used a embossing pen over the little critter and flower. I used green powder on the stem, and flocking powder on the nose.

OK, I'll stick my nose in also. You're going to get in trouble now. A few stamps, a few ink pads, a few embossing powders, heat gun, acrylic blocks, stamp cleaners (I use baby wipes too). Then the rubber stamp pad to put under your paper to get a good impression (I now use a mouse pad), and o yea, storage boxes to keep all this stuff in and binders for the stamps and then you will want all the shades of blue or red or whatever ink pads. And you will also want to color in the stamps so you'll need all the copic pens. You'll probably join a Stamp Club and get more stamps coming in your mail box. Then you do what I did -- buy Theresa Collins Stampmaker Machine to make your own stamps. Can I say obsessed? lol

Awe, that's The Green Stack I have that.

NOVICE Question:

Ok, I don't quite understand embossing pens. Are they like distress ink pens? Or is it clear?

Tell me about it. I thought I would not buy many but my basket is full. And I love mounted rubber, I think they are so cool.

You mean I should be using a mouse pad?

Ok, I need to go take a class at that cool store in Marietta.

I was a ''will never buy a stamp'' kind of person too.... That is a long time and many many many stamps ago
Have fun and enjoy

• CrimsonMama Said:

(LOVE the green stack! Perfect for my boys)
I have 3 embossing pens. The ranger brand has a clear and a black pen. I used the clear in that LO. I use black when I need to see what I am drawing (and am using a dark powder.) It does show through some, but can add to the effect. I did a LO using the black pen and vintage photo distress embossing powder and it gave it a burnt look... very cool. I also have a Versamark brand clear embossing pen. It has 2 tips. I have heard great reviews about it, but 1 tip on mine does not work as well as I would like.

an embossing pen is a pen with clear ink to be used with embossing powder and a heat gun. Great for filling in small areas and of course for writing and then embossing

Ok ya'll thanks I have to look for that. I can think of a LO I wish I had that for and didn't.

I am avoiding going to bed, so I thought I would take a picture of the black/clear pens with the same powder. Don't know if anyone else cares, but I am a bit excited about it :P
[image] embossing close up By Rushli[/image]
"LO is not done, but I wanted to show the difference between using a clear embossing pen and a black embossing pen with the same embossing powder. The circle is with a black pen and vintage photo embossing powder (give a burnt look). The beaver's body is a clear pen with vintage photo."

only wanted one stamp at one time too...

2nd and 3rd shelves in pantry cabinet By Ohio4HMom

• gine Said:

That was me!

Someone tell me about the advantage of using a mouse pad. I tried it and my image was blurred and picked up residual ink. I experimented and found that I get a much cleaner stamped image when I use a thick glass mat. I must be doing something wrong.

• Rushli Said:

Thank you for posting this!! It's given me a lot more ideas about how to use the pens

I like it! I found the pens on line but not here but I'll bet they are in store somewhere. Either way not too expensive. I think that will make me happy for now. I got a 18 pack of al a mode with a 50% coupon at J's. I guessing 1/2 oz each. I found 3 Easter looking pastels of Zing marked down at HL's. Add that to the lime, grey, black, white, clear and Fired Brick Distress powders, I have a lot of colors and did not mortgage the house. I want the clear pen so I can emboss some of the shapabilities and things like you did. I could not for the life of me figure out how that was done!

But you are right, you can put black ink under black powder or clear ink under black....and the effect is different.

Okay. I'm going to get in trouble here.

Kay - you are scaring me.... acrylic blocks, ink, embossing powder, something to put the paper on to get a clear image, heat gun.... this could get ugly. I see the rest of my social security check disappearing every month.

Ohio Mom - you are sacring me too! Is that what happens when you buy just one stamp? If so, I'm in trouble!

Must admit - I have a LOT to learn. Most of this is Greek to me. I have a friend who sells SU and does all the fancy stamping and techniques. Think I will treat her to lunch a couple times and pick her brain! She does a lot with stamps and will help me get it figured out. Also, there are a lot of classes around here so I'd better get in on some.

I'm still very intimidated by all this stamping stuff.

Just buy everything on sale. Get that coupon and buy a heat gun. Start slow and decide what you like. Honestly the heat gun is the single most expensive item I have and I got a MS for 40% off. I have stamps that I just love that I only paid $.50 or $1 for.

If you want a lot of embossing colors on hand I recommend something like the al a mode set that I have. I realize that the 1 oz. containers are twice a large but if you go that way, you will have a big chunk of change if you were to say...buy all of the Distress colors. I figure that to be about $170 plus tax. Sooooooo....honestly I don't consider myself to be a great artist so why should I be so picky. Then I will pick up some unusal colors they have like Antique Linen and Faded Denim. But really, who is going to know but ME? (I have such a following LOL).

Gary from Rubber Stamp Fantasy is so nice. He was not sure he had the one you wanted (I did not call him back till today) so he went ahead and called Inkadinkadoo to see if he could get it.

His stamps are not cheap but I will buy more from him because of the attention he pays his clients. It's like a party in there. It's a good thing he does not carry Lost Coast Designs or I MIGHT BE mortgaging the house!

Oh and BTW, A LOT is still greek to me. That's why I spend so much in this forum!

Be careful as stamps are ADDICTIVE!

I'm taking it slow. But I do need an acrylic block and embossing powders and heat gun but I am going slow on the actual stamps until I see if I like them.

On the distress inks - are those just regular distress inks because I have nearly all of them. Or are they a different formula other than the stamp pads I have. I didn't think those were good for stamping.

Gary sounds awesome! So nice to find people like that on the local level to help you and actually go to bat when you want something special.

There are two scrapbook stores here and between them I think they have a good stamp selection. I've never really look at the stamps before. Guess I will start to now. See what all of you have done?

Fair warning Henri one stamp leads to two and two leads to 4 and before you know it you have several hundred like I do!!!! Be very careful1!!!!

This is something I really am afraid of.

One plus that holds me back - I can't color at all! I'm limited there. My coloring looks very elementary schoolish so that helps me a little.

Holdidays are my weakness though and I think I'm really going to like embossing! The ones that will work well with embossing - those are going to be downfall.

So for right now I am going to avoid the ones that have to be colored to look nice. I'm hoping that will eliminate a big chunk of them.

Of course if I learn to color - then I'm really in trouble. Stamps, inks and copics!

I never remember all the ink stuff either because I don't use them as much as I should.

Having a friend who does SU also does and doesn't help they are enablers

Oh Henri, stamps and LOs go together like peanut butter & jelly!

I LOVE stamping on LOs and I love creating my own patterned paper with stamps as well. Here are some of my stamped LOs.

stamped items (butterfly, year, tickets)
Circa 1955 By Here Kitty

stamped items (everything! This LO is all stamping on plain white cardstock, except for the photo and title)
In My Dreams I Can Fly By Here Kitty

stamped items (background, journal spot and flowers - flowers & journal spot are also heat embossed)
My myself & I By Here Kitty

stamped items (doilies)
Treasure Hunt By Here Kitty

stamped items (all the patterned paper is made with stamps)
vintage Sisters By Here Kitty

stamped items (clouds, sentiments, banner and balloons)
Fly Away With Me By Here Kitty

This is a closeup of a LO in my gallery - it's all stamping.
Grandma Cassel close up By Here Kitty

Stamped items (the damask design is stamped and heat embossed)
Psst...I Love U By Here Kitty

those are awesome Amy!

I stamp cards a lot. You can use the distress inks to stamp. Unless you have stamps with a lot of surface, you won't really notice the difference the "proper"regular ink makes.
If your going to emboss, use versa mark ink. It's clear and very sticky so holds the powder longer. I use versa mark, white or clear embossing powder the most. You can emboss a stamp with white and then use your distress inks and the little applicator, and make things any color you want.
Go to http://www.clips-n-cuts.com She does a video every Sunday and uses lots piecing, stamping and distress inks. She's awesome. She got me definitely addicted.

These are incredible layouts - I'm beginning to see the way layouts and stamps work together! I had not idea. I'm loving the examples!

I like the embossing a lot too.

I bought two different size acrylic blocks today and a pad of paper called a stamping pad. Its big though, wish it was 8 1/2 x 11 intead of larger but its made for stamping on.

I will check out that link! Thank you for posting it!

The more I read, the more I know I have to learn!

Amy, your work is simply stunning! Thanks for sharing!

• Henri Jean Said:

If you aren't great at coloring, or just don't want to do it, be careful about the stamps you chooose for embossing. They should be pretty solid designs- not having large open areas to color. HTH