TIPS AND TECHNIQUES

1. An excellent tip that Lynne Hurlburt gave me, is to die-cut out small tag size pieces of every colour of card stock that you have. Punch a hole in the top of the tag and put it on a ring. You can then bring the entire ring into the store and you'll always know which colours of cardstock you have in your inventory. Thanks Lynne!
2. Store your basic tools in one location. Whether it's a carousel-style holder, a tote specially designed to carry your supplies or a plastic tub, having all of your tools in one place will help you locate exactly what you need when you're packing for an event or just sitting down at home to create.
3. Keep a varied supply of adhesives on hand. As an instructor, I often ask students to bring several types of adhesives because each will be used for a specific purpose.
4. Carry back-up blades for your paper trimmer and craft knife.
5. Have a couple of your favourite inks ready to go and freshly inked. Whenever possible, purchase a bottle of re-inker along with your ink pad.
6. Savor the moment. Don't worry about catching up on your scrap booking. You'll never be caught up because the whole point is to continually chronicle your life experiences. Just enjoy all the steps you take to get the wonderful finished product.
7. 7To stop the ink smudging on envelopes in the rain, rub over the lettering with a piece of white candle before putting in the post. This will waterproof it.
8. I often use the point of a sewing needle to handle and place small peeloffs, especially sentiments, this makes it easy to place the peeloff exactly where you want it. With word peeloffs you can place the needle under an upright part of a letter and it holds the whole peeloff over the card or surface you wish to place it on, and it is very easy to remove the needle when the word is in place.
9. When making shaker cards with foam tape, use a cotton ball to apply a little talcum powder to the inside edge to stop glitter or small beads etc. from sticking. Works wonders!
10. To store a large amount of peel-offs, staple cheap plastic page protectors in half lengthwise, and store in a ring-binder. the peel-offs slip in from the top and can be flipped-over quickly and easily to see what you've got.

Well, I never know what will be coming up in the future to say when I'll send a newsflash. We will all be working hard to get the Spring & Fall Fling organized. Many of you will be trying to make the most of the remaining summer holidays and getting the kids ready for a new school year. Be assured we will keep you informed of any new exciting things happening at Stamplicity. Enjoy the balance of these summer days.

The Gang at Stamplicity!!!

TIPS AND TECHNIQUES

Keeping your stickers straight
Are you frustrated when you can't line up your stickers, especially when you can't fix your mistake without wrecking the only "e" you have left in that style of sticker? Try this.. On a clear ruler, carefully stick just the bottom edge of each letter to form your word(s). Since you are placing only a small portion of each letter you can easily reposition them as needed. Once all the stickers are placed on the ruler, position it on your layout where you would like the stickers. Set the ruler down & press the top half of each letter onto the layout. When all the letters are secure, peel the bottom portion of the stickers off the ruler & press them onto the layout. Of course, none of this would be an issue if you had a set of clear alphabet stamps. You wouldn't run out of letters and you can line up your letters straight on the clear acrylic block. Then ink your stamps, practice on a piece of paper first and stamp your word. Once you have it the way you want it you're ready to go! So much easier and since many customers find this so much better that is the reason we don't carry alphabet stickers in our store. If you still want to use the stickers make sure you buy a couple of packages so you don't run out of the letters you need. To keep buying stickers for your pages really isn't that cost effective when you find out how reasonable it is for an alphabet set of stamps. Why not decide to use a set of letter stamps throughout a scrapbook album and just buy a few different colours of small cube inkers. Far more cost effective we think!!!! Keeping your journaling straight.
1. Try disappearing ink. Draw a line with this type of pen. (We sell them in the store) Some inks disappear in a matter of minutes but some can take up to 48 hours.
2. Use a light box and a sheet of lined paper. Place the lined paper on the light box and place your cardstock on top. The lines will show through the cardstock to act as a guide for your journaling. This technique works best for light-coloured cardstock.
3. Use a journaling stencil and a pencil. Trace your lines on your project. Add your journaling and then erase your lines. Make sure that your ink is dry before you erase!!! You should know that there are many types of journaling stamps that make the job so much easier and with different ink pads (the same ones you bought for your other stamps) you can make a page very attractive. Once again Use that journaling stamp throughout your book for consistency.
The above hints were taken from the Canadian Scrapbooker winter 08/09. It's a great magazine, it's Canadian, and the Basic Magazine for March is all about stamping!! They are only publishing 2 more issues of the Basic this year (one in Sept and one for Christmas) I have been taking pre-orders for them as no one can find them...they go so quickly. Did you know that if ink is used on kraft paper that paper is recyclable!!!!!!!!!! A customer did a little research for me at Michaels. Did you know that Michaels prices are quite a bit higher on their small and large Cricut, Cartridges, Design Studio, Cuttlebug and folders. Do the employees know the ins and outs of these products? Can they answer all your questions? Will they assist you in learning about the products they sell?? Are they there for you after you have bought the product and need help? Stamplicity is and our prices are very good!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We might not have the machines in stock but can get them in very quickly and will order any accessory you want. Be careful when buying albums at cheap prices. Make sure you can get refills and extension posts. Some albums will only work with refills from that company and nothing else works.
Well I think I have covered everything for now. My priority once I return from vacation will be Scrapfest in Kitchener and of course my Retreat!!!
Enjoy the new season..it can only get better now....
Warm regards to all....
Pauline and the Gang!!!!!

TIPS AND TECHNIQUES

Any customers are getting overwhelmed with the many diecut machines that are now out on the market. Now that "THE SLICE" from Making Memories is out, I thought it was time to put something out on the pros and cons of three of the most popular machines that we are most familiar with. So here are my thoughts and my girls are on the same page as I.
By far the Cricut Expression is the greatest in a die cut machine. Many of my customers who can afford the $450.00 Cricut (my price) also have the Cuttlebug just for the reason of the embossing feature. If you are going to get a Cricut, spend the additional $155.00 and get the Expression. (The smaller one is $295.00..my price) There is another accessory for the Cricut called the Design Studio. This blows everyone away with the endless possibilities!!!! They go hand and hand.
I sell the Cuttlebug for $69.00 and carry a large inventory of most of the embossing folders and the combos. Anything else customers want I can order for them. As a more economical machine the Cuttlebug is the greatest and extremely popular.
Now to "The Slice". We just got this new tool in recently and we are quite impressed with it. It cuts alphabets from as small as 1" to 4". I could go on with talking about it but I suggest you check out www.whyslice.com
Two of my part-time have gotten a slice. Brenda has a small Cricut but likes the portability of the slice and the different discs she can get for it. Sue sold her small Cricut as she uses the large one at the store and only wants the slice at home. Janice is content with her large Cricut and Design Studio. It's hard to say what you should get if you are looking to purchase something as each machine has a lot of advantages. Here's a summary in our own words.

CUTTLEBUG

advantages

disadvantages

CRICUT EXPRESSION

advantages

disadvantages

THE SLICE

advantages

disadvantages

Sue's comment to me was..."I would rather have a Cuttlebug and the Slice in lieu of the Cricut". There could be more pros and cons of each but these are the top ones we have found. As far as other die cut machines, I have not really investigated them as they haven't interested us and we don't carry them in our store.
Two other tips I have for you are as follows: when using Nestabilities with the Cuttlebug you can use a thin mousepad instead of the embossing pad they recommend. We use the mousepad all the time and it works great. I got the one for the store at Staples. If your glass mat or Cricut mats are not very sticky anymore you can spray them with Krylon's easytack repositionable adhesive spray. It works really well and we have been using it for a year.
Well, I think I've covered a lot in the first quarter newsletter. I'll have much to talk about once I get back from California.
Keep safe on the Winter roads!!!
THE STAMPLICITY GANG

TIPS AND TECHNIQUES

I have been talking with our customer, Rita, who is becoming an expert on the Cricut machine. Rita is retired and spends her time between her family and her love of her Cricut. She lets us know that the video available on the Design Studio has just a wealth of information to teach anyone how to run the machine more efficiently. If you go to 'help' on the tool bar at the top you can watch it and enter the their worldto easily design scrapbook pages with this die cut machine. The girls and I are trying to find time to get on this ourselves and once that happens we hope to give a class on getting the most out of your machine. If you're like us time just doesn't seem to be on our side in pursuing our hobbies. give it a try though..you won't be disappointed!!

One tip Carol emailed me about is using the flip button on her Cricut when cutting out letters. She put the good side of the paper down on the sticky Cricut mat. When it was cut, all she had to do is dot her glue on the letters, lift off the letters with her tweezers to position it on her paper. This saves a great deal of time from cutting them out the conventional way, then turning them over and applying the glue. I have yet to try this but it certainly makes sense to me.

Here are some tips for scrapbookers..
Revisit pictures from at least 3 summers. Pick a handful of the best, and put them together on a carefree and easy summer layout. Think about it: do you really want a trip-to-the-pool page every single year?

Sort through your patterned papers, and choose seven sheets you can't wait to use. Pile these on your worktable, and select one or more photos to use with each sheet. Make a page a day for a week. You are now 7 memories closer to your goal of a celebrated life. Try this with stamps and cardmaking as well.

Find a big glass jar that you love and gather all the buttons you have and dump them inside. It's way more fun to "fish" for buttons than to organize them and now you have an inviting and colorful collection to display in your space. Speaking of buttons, here are some ways to make use of them....attach buttons in a circular shape to create a flower, or maybe add a button to the center of a flower embellishment...what about using buttons to replace the letter "o'"in a title and you can try gluing buttons either randomly or in a straight row to form a stylish border on a card or page layout. Use UTEE to change the colour of a button as well.

Here's a tip since the school year has recently begun. Have your child write his or her name (or print) at the beginning of the year on a scrapbook page and then again at the end of the school year to show how the penmanship has changed. Add a few school pictures and there's a great page of memories. You can also add a report card and some completed projects.

If you don't have the colour of brad you need change the colour ofit with alcohol ink.

Don't forget about masking as a way to just use parts of your stamps, or to make it easier to use just a part of a stamp, use markers to colour a certain area instead ofusinga stamp pad.

Well, once again I think I've filled up my pages and I want to get this out so everyone has a chance to clear their schedule to be able to shop for the deals to be had in the next few weeks. I'll be sending out newsflashes I'm sure once or twice before the Christmas holidays so we'll keep in touch with you.

Time to think Christmas!!!!!

TIPS AND TECHNIQUES

For scrap...water play pictures

Journaling...record the # of times a child squeals in delight, the phrase he/she says most while playing or their comments when they run to you in between splashes.

Photo tip....to avoid lens flare, pay close attention to the effect of the sun. Not only do you want to notice the direction of the sun but also of the bright reflections that

Design tip...if you plan to use blue cardstock for your page background, mat your photos on white (or another solid color) to help the eye distinguish the blue cardstock from the water in your photos.

Color tip...looking to pair blue with anothercolour for an eye-catching page? Try green or orange--they

Want a sports vehicle page with a title that's unique. First, paint chipboard letters black. Coat each letter with clear embossing ink, sprinkle on clear Ultra thick embossing enamel (UTEE) powder and heat it. While the enamel is still hot run the wheels of a toy truck over the letters. Complete each letter before

There is a stamp cleaner called ULTRACLEAN that is just amazing for cleaning woodmount stamps that have been dirty for years.Many of my Stampscapes stamps have never looked better and they are 11 years old. It is an amazing product that I now carry in my store. According to an email sent to me by Lynne Hurlburt apparently it even cleans permanent ink (a Sharpie) off a linoleum

Cutting Mats, tools and scissors

1. To flatten a warped cutting mat, try leaving it on your kitchen counter overnight underneatha
2. Keep your mat out of extreme temperatures--too warm and it can warp, (don't use your embossing gun on
3. If you are cutting a lot of sticky stuff and not using a non-stick tool, be sure to clean up. the few seconds it takes to wash a craft knife blade or scissors will
4. Occasionally oil the joint of your scissors. This helps keep everything working smoothly--but
5. Use a glass from a picture frame as an inexpensive glass mat. Put masking tape around the edges so you don't cut yourself. I use this for cutting all the time, it doesn't dull your blades and the knife glides so well and doesn't get stuck like

Magic Mesh

1. Apply Magic mesh to a piece
2. Give chipboard letters and shapes a new look by covering them with mesh. simply apply mesh to
3. Use mesh with die cut machines (Sizzix or Cuttlebug). Apply the mesh to cardstock, then use
4. Try using mesh as a masking tool. Gently apply mesh to your layout without pressing too firmly, so that the seal does not become permanent. Lightly spray cardstock with glimmer mist or spray paint and then remove the mesh to reveal the
5. Give transparent

If you don't have the right colour brad for your card or page, use alcohol ink to change the colour!!!
If you are putting flock on any adhesive, press down firmly or better yet roll over it with a brayer.
That's it for now...Have a Safe and Enjoyable Summer and start thinking about getting back into your hobby if you have taken the summer off.

Your friends at Stamplicity!!!!

TIPS AND TECHNIQUES 2ND QUARTER NEWSLETTER

1. Set the mood with color. Every color represents a feeling. (We learned that in Calligraphy) When you're struggling to pick just the right hue, think about the mood you want to convey and build from there. Here's a quick guide to the meanings of some colors..
   RED. Love, passion, energy, anger & strength
   ORANGE.sun heat summer, autumn, joy, & creativity
   BLUE.sky, water, peace, faith, stability, tranquillity, & wisdom
   YELLOW.sun, happiness, optimism, intellect, & concentration
   PURPLE.royalty, spirituality, sophistication & independence
   GREEN.serenity, money, nature, spring, freshness & growth  
2. Turn unassuming cookie cutters into savvy scrapbooking tools by using them to create fun shapes for your pages.
3. Write your journaling first. Then choose photos that go along with the story. Let the design flow from the words and photos.
4. Keep a journal, online, on paper, on a blog, on a calendar, or on the refrigerator. A journal will help you keep track of details you want to scrapbook and make it easier to recall the story after some time has passed. With Gracie always coming out with something cute I have to stop and quickly write it down then store it for future use.
5. Glitter is the new ink! I use glitter on clean & torn edges, or to outline details on embellishments and patterned paper. The glue out now such as Dries Clear make it so easy!!
6.  Authentic Moments to Capture...your husband/boyfriend washing the car.planting flowers. .the table before or after a special family dinner..playing board games with family or friends..Taking a hike or walk. a child's artwork, children helping with yard work or gardening. a child watching her/his favourite program and capture their facial expressions.

So look forward to our big news in a few weeks and come visit us in the store now that it feels better to get out of the house.  I hear this weekend is suppose to be beautiful!!!

TIPS & TECHNIQUES 1ST QUARTER OF 2008

WHAT TO DO WITH OLD STICKERS??????

How about...

Creating a subtle but interesting background for a layout or card by placing stickers onto a piece of cardstock in any pattern you wish. Line them up or place them randomly on your paper. Then paint over the entire surface with lumiere paint or any acrylic. The resulting textured background looks a lot like embossed paper.

Play rough, look smooth...

A little sanding takes away the squeaky clean sheen many of your old stickers came with. Adding a shabbychic appeal can transform a boring (or even tacky) sticker into a truly cool page accent. You can use either a sanding block or a plain piece of sandpaper. Use a fine grit to remove the shiny surface, or coarser sandpaper to achieve more pronounced lines. When sanding, start with a light touch and sand in various directions.

Mask them...

Do you own stickers with a cool shape that are just too hideous to be true? Use them as a mask!

This is a great way to use up mismatched alpha stickers. Stick them down lightly where you want them and use a paper spray paint (eg, glimmer mist by Tattered Angels, or Spray Webbing by Krylon) to cover the surface. Then peel back the stickers. Note..allow any paint to dry completely before peeling the stickers up!

Ugly papers in your pile...

Beat it up...

Take garish patterns and soften them with distressing techniques. Crumple, ink and sand the paper to totally change its look. You can also crumple and sand the paper first, then dye it. For thicker paper, spray with a light mist of water before crumpling, flatten out, then allow to dry completely before using.

STAMP WITH BLEACH.....

Graphic stamps and bleach from your laundry room can help you create a pattern all your own.

Note, it is wise not to use the clear stamps with bleach and also if you are hesitate about using bleach we have a great product in the store that is called a Castaway Pad that gives you the bleached effect.

Tips when using the straight laundry bleach.. Protect your area with plenty of towels or newsprint and use a separate bowl to hold the bleach. Another idea is on dark paper, stamp your image with a pigment ink and emboss with black powder. Then take a cheap paint brush and apply bleach inside the image. You never know what the colour will bleach out to!!!!

Play around with different colors of card stock as each one will bleach differently. Try a scrap first to preview the look.

Weave it....

Borrow a technique from your grade school days..woven cardstock adds dimension without building bulk.

Type in strips...Place your journaling on a wide strip and be sure to plan where the weaving would overlap so your words wouldn't get cut off.

At the spot where two strips cross the card or scrapbook page, add a dimensional item,

such as a button.

FOR SCRAPBOOKERS

Stay caught up in 2008...

Set realistic goals...think about how your scrapbook-how many laybouts can you realistically make in a year. Then, think about how your life has changed. If you have had a baby, or gone back to school, for example, you might need to reevaluate your "doable" page count.

Choose your must-make pages....make a list of must-have pages for this year in your planner or calendar. For example, if you have got school-age children, you'll want to make a back-to-school page in Sept. Your list will act as a helpful reminder to take the photographs you need to make the pages that are important to you.

Take fewer photos....be honest. How many photos do you need of your children at the zoo? I take so many of Grace at events and sometimes have more trouble figuring out which ones to use or how to fit so many on a page.

Schedule scrapbooking tasks.....have you got hundreds of photos on discs or memory cards that you haven't yet even thought of printing. Now is the time to download and print them.

Shop for scrapbook supplies

Plan page designs ahead

TIPS AND TECHNIQUES

Here is a site I have been told is good for card making techniques....

http://www.allcrafts.net/cards.htm

.....Cut thin strips from cardstock scraps and tie like ribbon. For added interest, use double-sided cardstock

.....Crease paper and unfold, leaving a striped pattern then sand to intensify.

.....Punch shapes from the same color as the background and adhere with pop dots for dimension.

.....Mix glitter with clear liquid glue and "paint" over cardstock for a soft shine.

.....Run bottled lemon juice along the torn edge of a piece of paper where you want the distressed look to appear. Heat the treated area with a heat embossing tool until it turns to a burnt shade and is no longer wet.

......If you have a hard time organizing your photos try the 4-pile approach

1. Page-ready photos that require no work

2. Photos that could use a little cropping-just a trim here and there

3. Photos that need a lot of cropping (we all have them)

4. Photos that we likely won't use unless desperate. (Maybe bad lighting or bad facial expressions)

......Purchase a variety of flower styles in white so you can custom colour them yourself with chalks or inks.

......To get the best quality image when you're using acrylic blocks, try to use a block that is close in size (just slightly larger) to the image you are stamping, then apply a uniform pressure to the back of the block when pressing down.

......If using an Essential Glue pad, ensure your pad is well saturated with the glue so your glitter adheres to the image and make sure you let it dry before handling it.

...If you are having trouble getting new wood mount stamps to produce a consistent solid image, you can condition the stamps by gently rubbing them with a pencil eraser, very fine grit sand- paper or a nail file.

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