I'm buying stuff. Questions.

Yup. So. Be jealous. I'm buying a bunch of SB stuff. My friend sells Close to my Heart. I have a couple questions about things though, whether they're worth it to get.

Chalk... Like when you stamp with versamark and then rub chalk on it. Do you really need specialty scrapbooking chalk or is regular fine? Seems expensive, 10 bucks for 9 teeny colours. I have chalk sitting in my cupboard... lol.

Double scrubbers. You rub your stamps on it to clean them. Can you just use water? Does teh scrubber need to be rinsed after each use? Is it worth it or could you just use a cloth. (I normally rinse mine at the sink but it's a pain waiting for them to dry. This seems quicker.)

Blending pens. Looks like a painbrush. I think you just touch it to the ink pad and then colour in you stamped image. ... Would a regular paint brush work or are these special somehow?

If you can only answer a few of the questions, that's fine. Anything helps. Thanks!

Oh and if you have suggestions of things to get from CTMH that you love, suggest away!

I don't spend the money on scrapping scrubbers for my stamps. You can go to Home Depot, Lowe's hardware store and get the flat things that look just like them. They are made to do onto a handle to paint with. The are so much less expense. I don't mind throwing those away after a while but they do last as long as those overpriced scrubbers. Just because they are specfic to stamping way to much $$

Ohh I think I've seen those. I think I've even used one... are they for painting along edges?

Ok so I got the bright idea just to try out a regular paint brush. Make it wet. Touch it to the ink. It works just like watercolour. I'm impressed.

I just freed up like 17 bucks to spend on something else. lol.

Now I'm just wondering about the chalk thing. Anyone know? Will regular chalk be bad for paper?

Eta. I tried the chalk and it works awesome... still dunno if it's safe for paper though. And what can I use to erase the excess around the stamp?

repeat after me,,,,,

pp, bling, flowers,,,,


pp, bling, flowers,,,,,

pp, bling, flowers

what Holly? no ribbon?

CTMH also sells a chalk eraser to get those edges clean.

I have to say I am CHEAP but I love my scrubber from ctmh.

I'm with Brandilynn...I'm cheap as well but I couldn't bear stamping without my special scrubber!

Oh you guys!! But I already found another stamp I want instead! lol. grrr.

Just use baby wipes on your stamps that's what I do....and you do need scrapbooking chalk as far as I know but to be honest I never use the chalk it sits in my drawer. I would go after bling, stickles, glitter mist and things like that instead.

I actually use cloth diapers and wipes so I don't have baby wipes in the house, ever. Can you use regular cloths? Or does it not clean in the crevices as well? I guess a baby wipe would have the same problem.

That's another question I have. Stickles. I have regular glitter glue and i heard that was fine as long as it doesn't touch the actual photos. Is that true? Ive done it a few times.

All right! I know some of these answers, based on my early days experience.

Chalk can be used in so many different ways I suggest you get the largest chalk palette possible. You will use them a lot! Here are a couple of ideas for using chalk:

Apply to edges of paper piecing work to add detail and dimension. Just rub with bit deeper color on all outside edges and anywhere on the piece that would need an accent or fold.

Fill a pan (I used 9" X 13" casserole dish) with water. Gently rub the chalk block with an applicator so that the chalk dust falls on the surface. Gently make small swirls with a lg. needle. Gently, lay cardstock down on the surface of the water. Pull it straight out, and allow to dry. Your results will look like hand marbled paper--Very Nice

Another option that will give you a ton of colors is a set of chalk pastels (NOT OIL PASTELS) Keep them in their box and lightly sand the surface of the individual color then run your applicator across the pastel. You can get huge sets--some with 12-72 colors--I suggest the biggest size you can afford.

The stamp scrubber? Head to Lowe's or Home Depot and get paint pad it is flat and has a whiskery texture on a foam base. Painters use these to block in paint around windows and doors. They are way cheap, are made of the same materials, and work perfectly good. I put mine in a shallow Tupperware. I mist Simple Green or Big Orange on half the surface and tamp the stamp on the side with liquid and then drag it across so the dry side pulls off the excess moisture. When I am finished I run the entire pad under water and press out the entire thing. For more permanent inks I use a nail brush and give it a good scrubbing, then leave it to dry until next time.

I use a Tombow blender pen to add moisture to a stamped image to give me a "watercolor" effect. I use my colored pencils to fill in a stamped image, then go back over the piece with the blending pen to add shadows and highlights. Actually I think you could actually use eye shadow applicators (Target-10-12 for a bitty amount of money)

I have been a rubber stamper for almost thirty years (Yikes!) I'm either proud to say or embarrassed to say that I own over 10,000 stamps so I have pretty much worked out the methods that
work best for me. I hope these ideas are helpful.

Nancy

Very helpful Nancy! Thank you. I love that tip about chalk dust on water to make a marble effect.

But sounds like you're saying I should stick with real scrapbooking chalk and not cheap chalks, yes?

Definately not going to waste 12.50 on the double scrubber. Home depot, here I come.

I'm jealous of your 10 000 stamps. I have like... 12 sets from CTMH and that's about it. But I'm about to buy like 6 more sets.

Scrapbooking chalk is pigmented so the color is more vibrant and fade resistant.

I use these all the time.
Decorating Chalks - 24 Color
Pebbles I kan'dee Chalks - Shimmer

I bought mine at the local Ms or HL with a 40% off coupon. And, like the other ladies suggested, there are plenty of budget friendly methods for getting your stamps clean. I got my plain jane scrubber from HL and the cleaner as well. Not expensive but a coupon doesn't hurt.

• madmatter Said:

well, if it were meeeeeeeeeeeee,,,,,,

i got some basic pastel chalks at M's and they work great. I payed 4.99 for 35 colors. I will be getting some oil pastles in a few week for the same prices. yes a fine paint brush can work and i love my scrubby . Its a green scrubby for the kitchen. Works like a charm

I agree with using the paint pad for cleaning stamps. Works wonderful. I use a baby wipe once in awhile, but only on acrylic stamps. I have been told that if you use them too much, they can eat away at the stamp material. I would just get the paint pad and rinse with water once in awhile.

I don't really think it matters about what kind of surface you use for cleaning your stamps, but the cleaner is different, especially for those stamps that cost an arm and a leg! Water is fine, but baby wipes or other abrasive cleaners can break down the rubber and it will crack over time. I use Stampin' Up cleaner, it cost a lot, but I know it's safe & a bottle last a long long time!

I am a jr consultant and if it were me I would get the pastels else where and stock up on inks. I love our inks and have 32 along with the markers and reinkers (these are so great). I love the stamps and inks CTMH has. I also like the double scrubber and make my own cleaner.

I use Peebles chalk because of the condensed color and it's easy to blend. I also like the chalk pencils for coloring in small die cuts.

I don't use the paint tip pens. I tried using the markers to color samps but it's only for rubber stamps and i use the acryllic stamps.

I use normal hand soap to wash the stamps.

Great tips! Thanks everyone.

Corrie I'm totally stocking up on inks. Buying 2 sets with this order!

CTMH has the best white ink pad.

If baby wipes are good for a baby's butt, I can't imagine how rubber would be more delicate. We're told this and that but has anyone actually seen a stamp affected by baby wipes? When I started 4 years ago, I cleaned my stamps with rubbing alcohol! And they're still in perfect condition. I don't take that risk anymore but I still wonder.

@runzalot:
>>>If baby wipes are good for a baby's butt, I can't imagine how rubber would be more delicate. We're told this and that but has anyone actually seen a stamp affected by baby wipes?

he he good point. You should read Freakonomics.

I wondered the same thing, Alissa,,,,,

I do think people worry about baby wipes because they used to contain alcohol,,,,which is much harser than what they contain today,,,,,

• runzalot81 Said:

CTMH actually says you can use the alcohol free wipes but that they leave lint/fibres behind so you will have to rinse it off. I was surprised that they said this because I thought wipes were a no no. I like the scrubber because it gets into crevices and btw you can use markers on the clear stamps. The cheaper stamps sometimes bead up with any ink (marker or ink pad) and you need to scuff it with a nail file first. I have had no problems in doing this with the CTMH markers.

Great, now I gotta get teh white ink pad too. LOL. Twist my rubber arm.

I use the Decorating Chalks all the time too. On my 3rd set actually.

Where'd you get yours? CTMH's chalks are expensive.

M's, with a 40/50% off coupon.

Oh sweet. Well I wish my M's was closer but that's worth a drive.

I'll add one more thing about the rubber stamps. Obviously it took me years to amass my mess, and many MANY of those stamps aren't used often for obvious reasons. But I have discovered that the older the rubber sits unused they create a sort of shiny surface that makes picking up enough color for a full image impossible as the color "puddles" on the rubber. I keep two tools with my stamps, one is a coarse acrylic pumice stone and an emery board. I scrub the stamp on my srubbby, dry it with the towel that never leaves my lap, and if the shiny stuff is stubborn, I give it a good sanding. I have never had a problem and the stamps show no uneven use. I like the full image stamps, those that aren't very very detailed "scenes" Even all those little lines sometimes need scrubbing--but more gently then dried and put away. Also, I have custom cabinets made and I never put the stamp away damp. Setting it down on the bottom of the drawer can cause it to stick.

Gosh this kind of post just makes my fingers want type all over every post. I think I will check out the teaching forum, if that would be a better place for this type of post.

Thanks for the good questions and the good replies, I hope I have been helpful.

Nancy

Everyone has been helpful!