Clear Stamp & Dies Storage - Monochromatic look

I'm quite new to the whole cardmaking/ scrapbooking world and as I've become more into the craft I've accumulated many stamps and decided I needed a way to store and organise them. I like the monochromatic look so you'll see there's a lot of black, white, and grey tones when it comes to my craft supplies storage.

Clear Stamp (and coordinating dies) Storage Envelopes

This post will be about how I currently store my clear stamps and coordinating dies. I do something a bit different for my die cuts which I'll cover in another blog post. Click here or below to view the video I made showing my stamp and ide storage.

As you can see I use 230 x 162mm black envelopes to store my stamps. I purchased 50 of these from AliExpress for US $19.78. I use white pigment ink to stamp the entire stamp onto the front of the envelope so I can see what is inside. In this case I used Stampin' Up craft ink in Whisper White. I use a piece of A5 sized inexpensive cardstock to add a bit of stiffness which also acts a a divider between the stamp set and any coordinating dies. To keep the dies under control in the envelope (especially once they're separated), I use a piece of magnetic sheet under the dies. If I have a mask or spare cut out images I store them in the envelope too so they're all together with the set they belong with.

I did a silly thing of throwing out the packaging without noting down the manufacturer or stamp set name so I don't know what a lot of my stamps actually are. Where I do know I use a brother letratag label making machine to print a label and stick it to the flap on the back. Unless I'm storing more than one stamp set in the envelope, then I stick the identifying label on the front near the stamp set it goes with.

Example of label for an envelope holding one stamp set

Example of labels for an envelope holding more than one stamp set

At the moment I'm storing all my crafting gear in re-purposed cardboard boxes as I wait for my partner to let me have a craft room!

Close Up of stamp storage Box

Stamps Storage in Box

For my dividers I cut a piece of core flute slightly longer than the envelopes (about 255 x 165 mm) and label the top. I organise my stamps by theme but that's just my preference.

Thanks for checking out my blog.

Happy crafting!

Mel Crafting.

Birthday Card - Stellar Space Window

Stellar Birthday Card

For the process video on how I made this card click here or check out the video below:

 

This card used the stars and moon background I made using small stamps from multiple stamps sets - check out my blog post here on how I made it, or watch the video below.

Clear Heat Embossed Stars and Moons Background

I decided to only use half the background so that I could make another card. I used my Sizzix big shot to cut a 2.5 inch diameter circle out of black cardstock. This will be a circle window on the front of the card that looks through to the stars and moons background.

Circle Window and Embossed background

From here I grabbed my space themed stamp set and decided I wanted the sentiment "Have and Stellar Birthday" to feature on the front of this card. I also had some stamped and colored images from this set so I wanted to use them up too. Conveniently they were already die cut as well. Just for completeness, I used alcohol markers to color the images.

Space Themed Stamp Set

I did a rough arrangement of the background in the window with the die cut space images to gauge where to place the sentiment.

Space Themed Die Cuts and Rough Card Layout

Then I used my We R Memory Keepers stamping platform to stamp the sentiment onto my card front using clear embossing ink - as I will be heat embossing, I of course used an anti-static powder tool all over the card front first. After that I sprinkled white Ranger embossing powder all over the sentiment, tapped off the excess then used my heat gun to melt the powder and set the heat embossing. This gave the sentiment a stand out bright and bold look on the black cardstock.

Washi Tape Used to Position Background

I wanted a slight stand off inside the window so decided to adhere foam tape to the back of the card front around the window. Because I wasn't using a whole card of background, I needed to also use washi tape to position the background correctly in the window. This ensured the background is placed exactly where I want it behind the foam tape.

Foam Tape

Adhering scrap cardstock

I removed the backing paper on the foam tape then used some matching scrap cardstock to cover the remaining exposed sticky foam tape. Using scissors to cut off any excess.

Using double sided tape and foam squares, I stuck the space images down to the front of the card as shown below.

Final Card Layout

To finish I adhere the card front to a navy blue card base and use a guillotine to trim off any excess.

And this card is all done. For another card using the same stars and moons background click here for how I made my starry shaker birthday card or for the background itself click here.

Starry Shaker Birthday Card

Below is the process video for the Starry Space Shaker Birthday card:

That's all for today. Happy crafting!

Mel Crafting.

Birthday Card - Starry Space Shaker Card

Starry Space Shaker Card

This card was another inspired by the stars and moons background I made earlier. Click here to go to the blog post on how I made that background or watch the following video:

I wanted to make a shaker card so I grabbed my Sizzix big shot and cut a rectangular window out of a white card front.

Before I get too far ahead of myself (and if you prefer) - here's a link to the process video for this shaker card:

So I cut the window at an angle to give it a bit of interest.

I found this sentiment strip from a moon stamp set I bought off Aliexpress that said "You're out of this world" that I wanted to use. I decided to stamp and heat emboss that sentiment above the shaker window using black embossing powder.

'Moon' Stamp Set

Sentiment Stamp Positioning and Angled Window

Heat Embossed Sentiment

 Using an old presentation report cover, I cut out a clear plastic widow big enough to cover the window and stuck it down using double-sided tape.

I grabbed my stars and moons background to check the look before placing foam tape all around the shaker window.

Foam Tape

The foam tape lifts the card front higher above the background so that the shaker elements have somewhere to move around in. I made sure the foam tape was placed as close as possible to the window to prevent the loss of my shaker elements.

I then removed the backing paper on all of the foam tape and filled the window with a sprinkling of glass beads (which I was using as my shaker element). You can use anything as your shaker element, I just decided to use these beads as I found them in my stash and I had no other plans for them.

Filling Window with Beads

Now I grab my stars and moons background, stick it down on top of the foam tape placing it over those beads to enclose them in the window. I then use scrap cardstock to cover up the remaining exposed sticky foam tape and to make sure the back of the card front is all level.

Placing Background Over Window

Covering the Exposed Foam Tape with Cardstock

Shaker Window!!!

 
Time to make my 'Happy Birthday' Sentiment strip. I grap a strip of black cardstock and a 'Happy Birthday' sentiment stamp from Simon Says Stamp Greetings Mix 1 stamp set.

Simon Says Stamp Greetings Mix 1 Stamp Set

 I place the card strip into my We R Memory Keepers Precision Press Stamping Platform and proceed to stamp the sentiment onto the strip using clear embossing ink. Then I heat emboss it using silver embossing powder and a heat tool.

Placing Card Strip and Stamp into Stamping Platform

Clear Embossing Ink

Stamped and Silver Heat Embossed Sentiment

After deciding I want this sentiment strip to sit across the bottom right hand corner of the card. I bring in my stamped and die cut space themed images which I've already colored using alcohol markers and arrange them on top of the card front.

Arranging Sentiment Strip and Space Images

Then I adhere everything down using double-sided tape and trim off any excess using scissors.

The last step is to adhere the entire card front to a black piece of cardstock using double-sided tape to finish the card. This card doesn't have a standard opening card base so it is intended that your card message is written on the back - I would use a white or silver gel pen in this case because I have used black cardstock as my final backing.

Many thanks for visiting my blog, if you'd like to see another card where I use the same background click here to see my starry window space themed card or click below for the process video:

Happy crafting!

Mel Crafting

Sneaky Crafty Tip - Small Stamps Star and Moons Background

Clear Heat Embossed Small Stamps Stars and Moons Background

Hi there, today I'm going to explain how I made this stars and moon background using small stamps from multiple stamp sets. For the process video on how I do this please check out the you tube video below or by clicking here:

Often our stamp sets contain small images that are often left unused or we don't know what to do with them so I thought hey, why not make a background with similar themed little stamps.

I got the inspiration for this from the small star stamps in the Hand Lettered Holiday Stamps set from My favourite things. This stamp set has lot of small star images and so too did my space themed, birthday celebration and a christmas stamp set which I got off Aliexpress.

First of all I place all the little stamps I'm going to use for this background onto an acrylic block for safe keeping. I'm paranoid that I will lose them so by using an acrylic block I know exactly where they will all be whilst I get other resources ready to make this background.

I decide to used an A6 sized navy blue cardstock and I place it into my We R Memory Keepers stamping platform. I then place the little stamps so they stamp in one corner of the navy card front. As I'll be heat embossing this background I use my anti-static powder tool to make sure the embossing powder only sticks to the places where I've stamped my images. I use clear embossing ink to ink up the stamps, close the door on my stamping platform and press really well to make sure I get a good image.

As I've positioned the stamps to stamp on one corner of my notecard, I can save time by turning the notecard upside down and re-stamping. Now I decide to heat embossed what I've stamped. Before I sprinkle on my clear embossing powder I lay down a sheet of non-stick baking paper with a crease in the centre - this crease is to collect the excess powder and make it easy to pour back into the container. Once covered in embossing powder I use my heat tool to melt the powder.

I replace the notecard in my stamping platform so I can fill in the gaps of the background by re-placing the small stamp images where they are needed. Once again I clear heat embossed those images.

The result is a wonderful raised background with a bit of shine. You can use any combination of small stamps that you may have in your stamp sets to carry out this technique and make your own background. I'd love to see what you come up with.

I use this stars and moons background to create space themed cards below, click on the links to see how I made them.

Space Cards Using Stars and Moons Background

Stellar Space Window Birthday Card

Starry Space Shaker Birthday Card 

Happy Crafting!

Mel Crafting.

Product Review - AliExpress Glue Pen

AliExpress Glue Pen

This is a product review for a set of glue pens I bought off AliExpress.

I paid US$1.55 for a set of 5 (only 4 are shown in photo because I gave one to my 4 year old and it has 'disappeared'!).

Check out my youtube review video by clicking here or see it below:

These glue pens arrived in great condition. They are sold empty and my intention was to fill them with liquid glue in the hope that I could more efficiently glue my die cuts and embellishments to my cards and crafty projects.

First thoughts are that they are pretty good quality. The lid feels sturdy and gives me the impression that it will last many uses without cracking or becoming brittle and disintegrating on me. Of course if you run it over with a car or drop a perfectly position rock onto it it'll probably break but under normal use I think it'll be fine. The tip is easily removed to fill and easy to replace. It is quite easy to fill, no need for a funnel but this is dependent on what you are filling from - my bulk liquid glue bottle has a narrow dispensing nozzle. Once filled, you can give it a good squeeze and there are no leakages - excellent.

After using it for a couple of months, I can say that it is air tight enough that the liquid glue doesn't go off, so no lumpy, partially dried glue reservoir to try and figure out how to deal with.

In practice on real projects, I love how I get really good control. Little dots, thin lines, thick lines, blobs are not a problem. I especially found it useful for adhering die cut sentiments to cards even really thin and delicate die cuts was not a problem.

My old method of squirting a blob of glue onto a scrap piece of paper and using a toothpick to glue any add-ons on to my crafty projects is out the window now that these glue pens are my go to tool for the job.

I'm pretty sure you can fill these with glitter paint or glitter glue or anything of liquid glue consistency where fine control and placement of goopy goodness is required for your crafty projects.

Definitely recommend these glue pens and have yet to find something I don't like about them.

Check out these crafty projects where I use this glue pen:

Birthday Beads Shaker Card



Happy crafting!

Mel Crafting