Mounting Wooden Sentiment Stamps using the FREE Good Greetings by Stampin' Up!

Hello!

I'm back today with the promised tutorial for you sharing how I get my wood mounted sentiments (especially, but any wood mounted stamps really) stamps straight. Now, before we start, I'm sure loads of you all know how to do this already and if so please feel free to skip this tutorial and scroll down for cards and other fun stuff of course but... if you are new to stamping maybe, or always struggle getting your sentiments straight then I hope this will be of some help to y'all!

So, to start you need your Stamp-a-Ma-jig (handle only) and if you have Grid Paper it makes this a whole lot easier too. Lined paper would work in a pinch though.

I'm using the Good Greetings stamp set here, it's free at the moment with orders over £200 so if you fancy a crafty party then please do get in touch and we can get you your set! Also available in my online shop too. Offer ends 31st October 2014.

 As you can see I had mounted most of my set before I thought it might be useful to take a few pictures ;-)

Part #1

Start with your Stamp-a-ma-Jig handle.

Note: the edges of the SAMJ run along the lines on the grid paper

 So, mount your stamp gently onto the block, getting it as straight as you can by eye, 

*Do not press the stamp on too hard at this point, you may need to adjust once tested*

 add the sticker (so you know which way is up!) 

ink lightly and test using your SAMJ handle...

(Lock into the corner, slide down, press gently, slide back up)

 ... To see if your stamp is straight! Yay! This one is perfect! 

If it wasn't straight then simply adjust (since you only adhered it gently) and re-stamp, testing it using your handle until it's perfect.

Now, when you stamp on your card you know if your wooden block is parallel to the top, bottom or side edge of your card your sentiment will be straight!

 Part #2

So, You know how I always say you need to make your stamps work for you, this is the perfect case in point.

This sentiment said "give thanks" which is lovely but here in the UK not really something we would use on a card. Sooooo I knew I would use "thanks" a whole lot more but I also wanted to keep the "give" too and instead of always having to use a marker to ink I simply cut it apart! Eeek! It's OK though, they are fine ;-)

OK, the important part of mounting these stamps. Just in case you want to use a SAMJ with this sentiment you need to make sure you mount the main part just like before...

 ...check it's straight and then...

 Think about when you want to use the SAMJ for the smaller sentiment. You need to have the "thanks" sticker to the left where the block goes down the handle so the "give" needs to go this one way in particular. 

I suggest taking the block and locking it in to the SAMJ handle, adding the sticker then adding the stamp to match, no room for mistakes this way! Yes, I learnt the hard way!! ;-)

two stamps for the price of one!

 and here's a little sneak peek at tomorrows card with one of the sentiments from Good Greetings, 

Well, I hope this tutorial helps some of you with your straight sentiments ;-) 

And if you have any questions or queries or suggestions for anything else you would like to see then please do Get in Touch!

Thanks for looking today

Stampin' Hugs,

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Products Used to create this project:

Grid Paper

Stamp-A-Ma-Jig

Old Olive Classic Stampin' Pad

Think Happy with a Stamp-a-Ma-Jig Tutorial

Hi There,

I shared THIS CARD with you a couple of weeks back and have got a tutorial to share to get the most from your Think Happy stamp set and your Stamp-a-ma-Jig too! 

I was thinking this might help some of the newer stampers out there in blogland or those who haven't used the SAMJ for a while. My class ladies found it useful so I wanted to share it here with you but I don't want you to think I'm trying to teach anyone how to "suck eggs" IYKWIM. If you already know how to SAMJ then please skip past this post for a card or two instead ;-)

Here I have used Lost lagoon for the outline and Soft Sky for the inner swirls.

Now, some of my ladies at class stamped the inner, swirly section of the cloud first then the outside line with the SAMJ (stamp-a-ma-jig). when we did it this way round we found that there was a much higher likelihood of pressing too hard and getting ink from the centre of the cloud  onto the image from the stamp...

So, lets start with the cloud outline

there is a top and bottom to this cloud so, as I have said before (HERE), for this set I have marked the back of the stamp with a line at the bottom (ground) and an arrow pointing up (for the top) 

*Note: If using wood mount I would also mark the wooden block with a top and bottom to the image*

 Even with light tap, tap you get a lot of ink but press and lift and it will stamp your outline image perfectly. 

I used Lost Lagoon for this part.

 Now, ink up your swirly middle with Lost Lagoon ink. Yep, not Soft Sky yet as it's just too pale to see when you need line it up in a mo!

 Position the window sheet in the corner of the handle, lock the block into the corner, slide down to stamp and slide back up

 Now clean your stamp! 

Top Tip: Put your Lost Lagoon ink pad away now, then you won't ink your stamp with the wrong colour!

 get your Soft Sky pad open and ink your stamp, rest it on there while you do the next part if it's easier.

Note: I have also marked the top and bottom of this stamp to make life that bit easier!

 Line up the swirly image on the window sheet with the cloud outline like so

 place your SAMJ handle up to the edges of the sheet, careful not to move the sheet or place the handle on top of it either ;-)

 Remove the sheet

 Remember light Tap, Tap to ink, that's all you need on the new ink pads.

 Plus double check your stamp is the right way up now too!

 OK, this would be easier with an extra hand, remember one of mine is taking the pic but...

Lock in the block to the corner of the handle

 Slide down and press, slide back up the handle. Don't be tempted to pull it away sideways as this smudges the image.

(this is why it's better to stamp the outline first then infill with the swirls, too much pressure on the outline stamp at this point made a mess of the image several times!)

 and Voilà! Perfectly stamped clouds!

 All three on this card are done!

OK, I'm sure plenty of you already know this but I hope this has helped some of the newer stampers out there?

Thanks for looking today,

Stampin' Hugs,

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Products Used to create this project:

Think Happy Wood-Mount Stamp Set

Think Happy Clear-Mount Stamp Set

Stamp-A-Ma-Jig

Soft Sky Classic Stampin' Pad

Lost Lagoon Classic Stampin' Pad

Stampin' Scrub

Stampin' Mist

Work of Art by Stampin' Up!

Hello!

Today's card is a super simple style that actually takes a bit more time than you would think as you need to get all those little chevrons all lined up! Top tip: You need to remember to wait for each lot of ink to dry before placing the imaging sheet down for the next colour, especially with the new ink pads. They give a great image quality but do take that bit longer to dry!

Ok, here is the card, I used Midnight Muse (retired, try using Night of Navy instead) with the new Lost Lagoon and Soft Sky to make this pattern using the Work of Art stamp set...

This sentiment is also included as us the heart at the top of the chevron pattern. And you've gotta have bling! To make this more of a male suitable card why not swap them for buttons? 

Ok, still no links today but we should be back home later today after spending a lovely time in both Norfolk with dear friends and then a day out in London yesterday on our way back home, I'll add a few photos or pop over to my Facebook page for a little look, link below :-)

Thanks for looking today!

Stampin' hugs from me for now,

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Products Used to create this project:

Work Of Art Clear-Mount Stamp Set	Soft Sky Classic Stampin' Pad	Lost Lagoon Classic Stampin' Pad	Whisper White A4 Card Stock	Stamp-A-Ma-Jig	Basics Hodgepodge Clips	Basic Rhinestones Jewel Accents
Night Of Navy A4 Card Stock	Night Of Navy 1/2" Seam Binding Ribbon	Night Of Navy Classic Stampin' Pad