Paper Expressions Rubber Stamping & Video Tutorials

Daily Gems

Gratitude Brings Heightened Awareness
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"Gratitude is a Spirit-filled principle. It opens our minds to a universe permeated with the richness of a living God. Through it, we become spiritually aware of the wonder of the smallest things, which gladden our hearts with their messages of God's love. This grateful awareness
heightens our sensitivity to divine direction. When we communicate gratitude, we can be filled with the Spirit and connected to those around us and the Lord. Gratitude inspires happiness and carries divine influence."

(Bonnie D. Parkin, "Gratitude: A Path to Happiness," Ensign, May 2007, 35)

Craft Ink Q&A

Q: Is the Craft pad safe for use in my scrapbooks?

A: Yes. Craft ink is pigment ink and, as such, is more fade resistant than dye inks. The Craft pad contains binding agents that help seal it to fabric; these are natural binding agents and are safe for scrapbooks. Of course, our Classic inks are also safe for scrapbooks. You will get the longest-lasting color with Craft pads.

Q: What about drying time and Craft pads?

A: Pigment ink, by nature, dries more slowly than dye inks. You can heat-set the pigment inks to speed drying time or set them aside to dry. After heat-setting, Craft inks will resist all but the most deliberate efforts to smear them (such as wetting your finger and rubbing the ink). If you live in a humid area, you will want to heat-set the inks, because air-drying time increases as humidity increases. Heat-setting and air-drying produce the same color results. When heat-setting, be careful of heating too long, which may cause a scorched look.

Q: What about using Craft pads for embossing?

A: Because of the longer drying time noted above, you have time to apply your embossing powder without rushing; therefore, the Craft pads are an excellent choice for embossing.

Q: What about using Craft pads for watercoloring?

A: Craft pads work well for watercoloring your stamped image. You can use craft pads the same way you would classic--squeeze the pink pad together before opening it to provide a pallette of ink on the inside cover. Apply to your stamped image with a blender pen, aqua painter or watercolor brush.

Q: Can I use Craft ink on slick surfaces like tile, porcelain, and terra cotta?

A: The Craft ink will not dry on slick surfaces, even when heat-set. However, if you seal the ink with clear embossing powder, you get a delightful glossy finish. Our recommendation is that this technique be used for decorative purposes only, because the image can be scratched off with your fingernail or metal, but it doesn't rub off with just a gentle rub from your fingertip. So you could use this technique for a decorative tile to hang on a wall, but you wouldn't want to decorate the tiles on your kitchen floor this way.

Q: Can I use Craft ink on wood?

A: Craft ink works well on smooth raw wood and on wood already painted with a water-based paint, as long as it is heat-set. After heat-setting, you may choose to spray it with a fixative to add an extra layer of protection.

Q: Can I stamp walls with Craft pads?

A: Results with Craft ink on walls vary depending on texture, finish, and previous paint on the walls. Test on a small portion of unseen wall. If the image is dry after heat-setting, it may be used on the remainder of the wall. Acrylic paints are the best choice for stamping on walls.

Q: What about color-on-color with Craft pads?

A: Many of the Craft pads give a similar result to the VersaMark® pad when stamped on their coordinating card stock color. Some, however, are much more pale. You'll want to experiment with color-on-color using Craft pads. For a sure watermark every time, choose VersaMark.

Q: Does the Craft ink work on fabric?

A: Yes, you can use the Craft ink for stamping on fabrics. The colors are less vibrant on fabric than on paper. Also, even after heat-setting, fabric inks fade slightly. This is true not only of Craft pads but other fabric pads available in the retail market as well. For a more vibrant image, try stamping the same image twice (one on top of the other) using the Stamp-a-ma-jig®. Here are some important tips to remember when stamping on fabric:

• Prewash the fabric.
• Tightly woven and smooth-finished fabrics work best.
• Test a small area of fabric first.
• Heat-set immediately after stamping.
• Wash as normal or hand wash, but air or line dry.
• For best results, re-ink pad frequently.

Note: The Whisper White Craft pad requires very high levels of pigment to get the opaque look on paper our demonstrators and customers love. To achieve this level of opacity, we had to give up the fabric option. Therefore, the Whisper White Craft pad is not recommended for use on fabric.

Q: How do I re-ink the Craft pads?

A: When re-inking, squeeze several drops of Craft ink on top of the pad and work in with the tip of the ink refill (or use a stamp), and stamp repeatedly until the refill ink is absorbed into the pad. Do not leave a layer of ink on top of the pad, as this may cake over time. As with any Stampin' Up! product, exposure to extreme temperatures may affect the quality of the ink. Keep out of heat and sunlight, and avoid extreme temperature changes such as might occur if stored in an unheated garage in the winter or in a car trunk in the summer. Pads subjected to extreme temperature changes may harden.

You aren't going to believe this!

I made 200 hand stamped wedding invitations, including 2 enclosure cards and envelopes.  I priority mailed them and the POSTMAN left the box in the YARD with 2 dogs.

Guess what happened to the box? It was demolished!

The recipient has filed grievences and the postmaster has replied it was THEIR fault. This has happened in this persons yard before and they have complained to the postmaster and asked specifically that packages NEVER be left in their yard, but this idiot postman did it anyhow.  I hope he loses his job!  Now I have to hurry and make another 200 of everthing and order supplies etc. ARGH! I had better get compensated for the first set also because it was worth $1,000.00 and the invoice was in the package!!  (a trusted friend who I knew would pay)

I just had to share this story.

HOME!

I made it home! lol  And I laid in bed this morning waiting to hear the sound of little feet coming to wake me up and realized, I am home! No more waking up to giggles and tickles. Boo hoo! lol  It is good to be home, but today I am totally tired.  I am trying to print out photos to scrapbook but found I am out of "yellow" so until Kay brings me yellow, I can't print anymore photos.  So I am catching up on email, forms, posts etc.  I hope your week has been as fun and filled with love and hugs and kisses as mine has and I am looking forward to going back for Morgan's wedding in June to get more of those smooches!

I started a photo album of Jacks photos from the visit. I will post my favorites of the 422 I took there lol , no, not all of those will be there.  The weather here is COLD COLD and More cold.  I had lunch with Kay and ran some errands- wait till you see the wallpaper I bought to cover under the kitchen bar/counter- it looks like REAL wood! I am excited to finally get that project done tonight. Tomorrow I have a TOPS spring workshop in Springfield to attend and I am also getting ready for a Homemade Gourmet Party I have to do this weekend for Iris. Monday I have a crown buildup, Tuesday TOPs and then collapse in the afternoon! lol

I also have my box of greehouse plastic and seeds I purchased from Rain or Shine in Portland, Oregon but its so cold I wont even try to plan my green house today.

I thought I would just catch up- I have some hints/tips and tutorials to be posted over the next few days so stay tuned you never know what may appear here~

Storage solution

As others do, I wear many hats trying to provide for my habits.  And I have not revealed that I sell Longaberger baskets, have I? We have a FANTASTIC special from April 19-30, 2008.

To order click here and visit my website with online ordering available!!!

The Oval Spring Basket is only $29 – a savings of $21! This beautiful and functional basket makes a wonderful baby gift, will look beautiful holding spring flowers, your stamps, and works hard toting kids toys to the ball field. With six colors to choose from, how can you resist?

Tuesday post

Today I spent the day with my pal Terry and her granddaughter Joselyn. We had lunch at the shade tree restaurant, visited with friends I haven't seen since moving away 4+ years ago, and then we took a fun drive to BZ Corners where Terry bought a Maple Tree for Ray for his yard to commemorate Jack's first birthday. The weather is COLD, COLD & COLDER! The wind is horrid and bits of snow in it- argh! But the woodstove here at Ray's house is divine!

Here is a photo of Mt Adams a few days ago when the sun WAS shining! lol The Mtn is about 20 miles from my son's front door! This is the view from the Troutlake side. (the southwest side)

Here is a view from the Glenwood side (the southeast side)

And now for todays Jack photo! lol

hello Grampa Kay, how are you? 

Versamark Uses

Q: What are some of the many ways to use VersaMark® Ink?
A: As its name suggests, VersaMark is a very versatile ink! The following is a list of some of our favorite uses of this unique ink pad.

• Two Step Stampin'
  Stamp the first image with VersaMark and then the second with an Encore metallic pad. Technique looks best on darker, richer tone card stocks (i.e. Bravo Burgundy, Handsome Hunter). 
• Embossing
  Use the VersaMark pad like you would any of our pigment ink pads in your embossing projects. Because VersaMark is a clear ink, you can use the embossing powder color of your choice without the color of the pigment pad showing through the embossed powder.
• Embossing with Classic pads
  Ink and stamp with one of our Classic Stampin' Pads. Clean the stamp and then ink the same image with VersaMark, stamping directly over the image. Apply clear embossing powder and heat with embossing tool. Note: For best results, use the Stamp-a-ma-jig stamp positioner to help line up the image stamped with Classic pads and the embossed image.
• Embossing on Glass
  Prior to stamping, rub the Embossing Buddy over the stamping surface. Stamp the image on a glass container with the VersaMark pad and then emboss with detail gold or silver for an elegant touch to any piece of glassware.  Note: This technique is recommended for decorative purposes only. Embossed images can scratch off or come off when washed.
• Poppin' Pastels
  Stamp the image with the VersaMark ink pad on a piece of neutral colored card stock (Whisper White, Very Vanilla, etc.). Apply Stampin' Pastels with sponge daubers, stamping sponge or pastel applicator directly to the ink.
• Resist
  Stamp on Glossy White card stock with the VersaMark pad. Ink up the rubber brayer in a Classic or Spectrum pad and repeatedly roll over the card stock. Wherever the VersaMark ink was stamped, the card stock resists the colored ink from the brayer. Note: This technique can also be done with a Gold Encore pad.
• Emboss Resist
  Stamp an image with VersaMark ink and emboss with Crystal Clear embossing powder. When the image is cool, sponge one or more colors of Classic ink over and around embossed image. The stamped image will resist the ink.
• Reverse Pastels
  Apply Stampin' Pastels (bright colors work best) to a dark colored card stock (Basic Black, Night of Navy, Close to Cocoa, etc.) and then stamp over the chalked area. The ink pulls off the color the chalk, revealing the paper beneath. Be sure to clean the stamp before re-inking as the chalk you removed is now on your stamp and will dirty your VersaMark pad.
• Watermark
  Create a great tone-on-tone effect by stamping on a piece of colored card stock. The image appears a deeper shade than the card stock and is perfect for subtle backgrounds.

Thought for the day

"The only place housework comes before scrapbooking is in the dictionary"

Birthday boy!

Party photos!

3 generation photo; see any family resemblance here? lol

Cup Cake Time!

And it was all over the back of his head and even in the ear, can you see the blob? I laughed so hard!

I will post more photos to the family photo album when I am back home on Friday- We had so much fun! Today I am attending church at my old home ward in White Salmon, Washington. I am excited to see my ward family again! After Church I am spending the afternoon with my pal Mary Ann!  Yippee!!

One more photo of my kids from Friday night

have a wonderful Sabbath day! see you tomorrow.

More photos of my boys!~

Today is Jack's birthday party!  We have been doing some spring cleaning (how do mom's get this privilidge?) but it's a work together job, not all mine! yippee!

I will share photos of the big birthday bash tomorrow and Monday.  It's sunny and gorgeous here and the Mt Adams has more snow on it than I have seen in "many" years. Ray says its been a record snowfall year here. HOORAY because there was drought when I moved away 5 years ago.

   I have never seen a more devoted daddy, they play and play and play. It's so fun to watch!

Jack gets VERY excited when Daddy says let's get in the truck because he lets Jack drive for a while.  Jack makes vrroomm sounds and we drive all over the place without leaving the house! lol  I am truly blessed!