Rub ons that won't rub on? Help!

I've avoided rub ons for a long time for this very reason--what do you do when they don't rub on consistently? I have two packs currently and both are from a closeout store. One is an American Crafts minimarks pack and it works great, the other is K&Co Sentiments Transfers to Go and I'd say only about 40% of an image will actually transfer after using everything I could think of as a rubbing tool. Since I got them as closeouts, maybe they were old or dried out or something. Does anyone have any suggestions for ways to get better results?

I don't know for sure, this is just a guess, but maybe slightly heating the back of the rub-on with a heat embossing tool might "loosen" it a little! Just a thought, haven't tried it myself!

I bought new rub-ons recently and instead of rubbing on they stuck to the cardstock and took the top layer off! I'd love to read the responses to this as well.

I also got some of the American Crafts ones at a wholesale store, I have found that right before you rub it on if you take your (hot) breathe and not blow but huff on it they come off fairly easy. It so far has been working for me. Hope that helps.

Some manufacturers work better than others. I just got so frustrated with a set last night and finally looked at the brand and it was Heidi Swapp - I should have known better than to buy hers as so many people have commented that they don't work.

American Crafts and Basic Grey work like a dream. I haven't had anytrouble w/my K & Co either. but I used them right after I bought them and I've read here that they don't age well. You guys found that?

What I tried last night to help me was to put a bit of painters tape on the edge so it didn't move and carefully lift up to see what hadn't adhered so I could keep working on those areas. what I ran into was a tiny place d/n adhere and then the whole strip of the rub on peeled off later from that little bubble..so no more HS for me!

I decided I'm done w/buying rubons - too expensive and too fragile -
Andrea

• Meridon Said:

I've had the same problem with the K&Co Sentiments pack and I didn't buy mine at the closeout store. I have discovered, however, that they don't like to work on slick surfaces (like a pic). I almost destroyed a picture trying to use them. They do seem to work better on something with a little bit of texture, like cardstock.

Oh, and in regards to the above posters comment about the Heidi Swapp rubons. I couldn't agree more! They stink! I had a package of gold angel wings that I purchased to use in my wedding album. Rubbed and rubbed and rubbed with no luck. They only thing I accomplished was ruining a page with them.

Dont you really hate those, it makes me want to take them back to the store!

This scares me!! I have drawers and drawers full of rub-ons, i didn't know they got "old". Man, i gotta get busy and start using them!!

I've posted this several times before. I've had probs with the CI swatch books rubons which I just LOVE and I have a TON of them, but hadn't been using them because it was SO hard to get them to rub off. But I have found that taking a blowdryer to it and heating it up for a few seconds...20 or so will work great. It rubs right off!

Hi there! Yes, different companies make different qualitiy rub-ons. I will NEVER touch Heidi Swapp or Jo-Ann's brand rub-ons again. Sorry Heidi! BUt I love everything else you have!!! American Crafts work like a dream, as well as Fancy Pants , Doodlebug , Jenni Bowlin, 7Gypsies and Basic Grey , rubons, for me, have all worked like butter. I can't honestly think of any K& Co. rub ons I've used... I have found that the hot breath method does work, too!!!

If the rub ons were ever kept in conditions that were too warm, then it pretty much ruins the rub on quality.
I have had horrendous trouble with BG rub ons, but that was a couple years ago. And it was also from a closeout store.
I never buy Heidi Swapp rub ons because of all the complaints I have heard here.
Someone mentioned using a heat tool on the rub on. BAD IDEA. The heat will be too intense and cause the whole thing to curl up.

Ok so I'm doomed by the if they have ever gotten too hot comment - several years ago we finished an unfinished walk in closet type space off my bedroom closet into a sb area for me but it is so far away from the furnice/airconditioning system that it gets very hot in there in the summer and cold in the winter so I bet thats messing up my rub ons.

I guess I need to store my rub ons somewhere else - but I must say after my frustration with the Heidi Swapp (yeah I should have known better than to buy them after the comments I've read but I honestly liked the design and forgot to look at the brand) and that several packs of rubons I have where they had slid just a bit in the package so that they were off the protective backing and therefore stuck to the package and got ruined - I'm thinking of forgetting rubons from now on.

Thanks for the info! Andrea

I think I'll just steer clear of the things,.,,,I hear so much BAD or only ok things about them, I'm wondering why anyone bothers?????

Thanks for the tips -- I have 3 different packs of Creative Imaginations rub ons that refuse to budge. I hope it works....

totally agree with everything thats been said about Heidi Swapp had nothing but problems with them, but there have been others, I live in Australia and order them from America online so it is really frustrating when they don't work as its too much bother and cost to return them.

• purplegirl72 Said:

Hmmm... that's really strange. I just finished a LO using rub ons from Creative Imaginations and found that they work really well, on both cardstock and pictures. In fact they rubbed off easier than some of my other rub ons. Maybe I just got lucky.