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I just bought my first Martha Stewart punch this past weekend at Michaels. I was part of an all-day jaunt to various craft stores south of town for stamping and scrapbooking supplies. I don't know the exact name of the punch, but it is made similarly to the larger SU punches but somewhat smaller in size.
I cannot for the life of me get it to work. I tried wax paper and foil. It looks as if the parts are not lining up correctly.
I am sure Michaels would allow me to return it, but the cost in gas to go down there would amount to more than the $9.95 I spent on the stamp. However, I may be hesitant to buy these again even though they are beautiful. A store is not going to allow you to tear apart the packaging to test the punch.
I have several Martha punches and really like them. They are made by EK Success who usually make quality products.
It sounds like you really might have a defective one. What a bummer, and a pain to try to return it.
Could it be that you got one of the "newer" kinds that are only made to punch "half"s? I saw a thread about them recently. Only 1/2 half of the image punches out, and you punch it on the fold. I think there was a flower punch like that.
__________________ Bugga in OK
"Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible." Dalai Lama
Thanks so much! After reading further and checking out the one featured on ebay, I think that is what I have. It is not exactly the same flower, but of similar nature. Guess I will try to figure out the best way to use it. However, I really wanted it to do as I thought it would, punch out the entire thing with the embossed edge.
I have two of Martha's border punches and love the design, but they won't punch cardstock. It has to be a very thin piece of paper. Are the punches defective, or could I be punching wron???
I am a big Martha fan have loved her for years and was thrilled to see her products in stores ..but I did not love her spider punch I bought for Halloween cards. I has trouble punching through even the lightest paper and feels as though it will break at any second. I wrote to her company about the poor quality of her punches ( I seem to be seeing similar posts from other crafters about the hit or miss on her punches working). When I FINALLY did hear back from them they told me they are made through EK Success. So another email to them and after some time waiting they thanked me for my purchase with no comment about the fact that my purchase doesn't work as it is intended :( I just today got an email from them promising my comments would be sent on to their "product development team" and would be sending me a small gift in appreciation.?? A tad late but at least I feel they may be listening? Ok so I'm in my own lil world and in my head all the punches work as shown lololol
I have two of the Martha Stewart border punches and have no trouble punching through SU cardstock. I use a firm surface and press down with both hands so the punch doesn't slide around. I assume you could use a plumber's gasket to get a non-skid surface as well.
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I have the Fern punch and it is the same way. I feel like I'm going to break my wrist trying to punch them out. I also have the dove and the snowflake and they work great with no problems.
Quote:
Originally Posted by hawk
I am a big Martha fan have loved her for years and was thrilled to see her products in stores ..but I did not love her spider punch I bought for Halloween cards. I has trouble punching through even the lightest paper and feels as though it will break at any second. I wrote to her company about the poor quality of her punches ( I seem to be seeing similar posts from other crafters about the hit or miss on her punches working). When I FINALLY did hear back from them they told me they are made through EK Success. So another email to them and after some time waiting they thanked me for my purchase with no comment about the fact that my purchase doesn't work as it is intended :( I just today got an email from them promising my comments would be sent on to their "product development team" and would be sending me a small gift in appreciation.?? A tad late but at least I feel they may be listening? Ok so I'm in my own lil world and in my head all the punches work as shown lololol
I've had problems with her punches, too. After I filled in all the info. on Martha's craft site, a message came up telling me to go to EK Success! Well, THAT was a waste of time, wasn't it?:twisted:
Then I fill in all the info. on the EK Success site, and they "SAY" they will get back to me. Of course, I NEVER heard back again!:twisted:
I wish there was a way to get to MS personally. I do NOT think she would want this kind of bad publicity and poorly manufactured products associated with her name. She is known for wanting "perfection!"
I guess that is a hopeless thought since I really believe any email or letter sent directly to her, would be redirected and SHE would never see it!:twisted: :twisted:
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The very first border punch I purchased wouldn't go through CS...I asked a friend who had one already, and hers worked no problem, so I exchanged mine, and the new one worked a LOT better...I have had similar problems with a few, but I can still use them...sometimes the more intricate the pattern (especially the border punches) the harder they are to punch
EK Success is who makes SU!s punches as well, so it's kind of strange to see such good quality with SU! (tho my 1/2" circle punch bit the dust with no warning) and such erratic poor quality with MS...unless SU! does their own quality control before leaving the warehouse and MS does not???
for the OP...I just bought the monarch butterfly punch, and thought it was broken too...then I looked more closely, and saw the little rubber piece inside the punch that stops the cutting pieces from going all the way through...with that punch, I punch the paper, slide it out of the body of the punch, and then pop the butterfly out of the paper (it's attached by two tiny spots on either side) so I'm glad that you've figured out what the issue was with your punch...I think they should make those ones a different color or something, so you know there's something 'different' about it...KWIM??
I have several MS punches and they all work just fine. Only problem I had was when I tried punching vellum with the snowflake. The branches of the snowflake break off. But I think that is just the vellum paper.
I bought a Martha Stewart punch (branch) and just did a few punches to make a wreath and it broke. Now, I have a broken branch (fern) punch...and cannot find where to buy one to replace it???? Was this a special punch just for the holidays?
I would like to replace it with another one, but, I cannot find it anywhere.
Carol
I bought a Martha Stewart punch (branch) and just did a few punches to make a wreath and it broke. Now, I have a broken branch (fern) punch...and cannot find where to buy one to replace it???? Was this a special punch just for the holidays?
I would like to replace it with another one, but, I cannot find it anywhere.
Carol
im not sure if they have it but walmart sells her punches. you might want to check there.
I have had problems with the long MS punches as well. I make sure when I buy these I keep the receipt. I probably return 50% of the ones I buy as they won't work. I love the designs, wish the quality would improve.
I purchased the Monarch Butterfly; when it did not work correctly I took it back and exchanged it, thinking maybe it was a defective punch. When I experienced the same problem with the second one I took it back too, the sales clerk told me I shouldn't use it on cardstock, hmmmmm seems odd to me.
I recently bought my first MS punches from an Ebay seller in the USA, think I paid top dollar for them too. I had heard they were really good and fed up with other punches that won't punch card I decided to treat myself.
I bought a scalloped "holes" border punch, the lattice arch border punch and the pine branch.
Two are fine and punch through CS but the lattice one does not, it will punch properly on thin paper but not thin CS.
The seller has another lattice arch punch and has tried it on SU thick paper and says it worked fine so is sending me that one, and I have to send the faulty one back.
I am so hoping the other one is fine as I love the punch.
I have one of the border punches from Martha Stewart and I absolutely CANNOT get it to work on SU cardstock. I have tried it on Bazzill and it works fine, but it just won't work on the SU paper.
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I have the snowflake, dove, pine tree, and holly. I have them because Wal-Mart had them for 75% off. I got them for $2.25 each. They work great. I have not bought any other MS punches because I've read so many people have problems with them. But I will get the picket fence someday!
__________________ All I want is the chance to prove money won't make me happy!
I only ever had problems with one which was replaced. They cost less to buy in the U.K. now than from the USA for me.
I find they work best on cardstock, they don't like thin paper at all.
I had trouble with one of my MS border punches, but they exchanged it with no questions asked. I didn't even have the receipt!!! Maybe you could just put the punch away until you are near a Michael's again, and try to return it then. Hope it all works out for you - MS punches are the best!!!
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~Rebekah~ My mind works like lightning - one brilliant 'FLASH' and it's gone!
I have 3 MS punches, the embossing photo corner and two deep edge punches (Trellis and Flower Bed). I've used them quite a bit, mostly on cardstock, no problem so far.
I have nearly every punch she has released. I get them from a sweet friend who purchases at wholesale. I do not have any that dont work properly and I regularly use SU cardstock.
blessings.
I have one that does not punch well at all even on the thinnest card stock, I do find it odd that ek makes both of these and yet I own many ek punches with no problems, but do have problems with the MS ones.
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Rebekka
Wow...I'm surprised that the majority of you posting here are having trouble with MS punches. I have several...border punches and other images. I have no problems using them. I use the border punches mostly. Just got done punching out some butterflies for a swap I'm working on and the punch worked perfect. I googled her punches because I'm looking for a specific border punch and came across this thread. Occasionally the border punches are hard to punch...I attribute to the fact that I have arthritis in my hands so I can't put a lot of pressure on the punch. Don't give up on them. They do work great!
I purchased the Monarch Butterfly; when it did not work correctly I took it back and exchanged it, thinking maybe it was a defective punch. When I experienced the same problem with the second one I took it back too, the sales clerk told me I shouldn't use it on cardstock, hmmmmm seems odd to me.
I have had the exact same problem. I have two sitting on my table now that only work on light-weight paper (duh..cards are usually made with card stock). I am going to try to return one (I have the box for it) but am still stuck with the other. I am disappointed that this beautiful butterfly doesn't work with other stock.
My experience has been that when they're new...they work fine. I don't abuse them, nor do I use them a lot. Over time, they no longer punch through. I've tried wax paper and aluminum foil. I've spent a lot of money on Martha Stewart punches. I will not be spending any more.
Don't want to knock MS/EK punches too much. I have a lot of them. The butterfly punch is the only one with which I've had problems. And it wasn't just one punch...it was everyone I picked up to use. PURCHASED two, took two back to get one more and try it. It didn't work either. :( Border punches seem to work fine.
Just been doing a bit of surfing and came accross this thread. ;)
I have several MS/EK boarder punches and have always had problems with the MS punches and the SU card stock :( however, the way around this for me has been that I use SU Whisper White card stock or X-Press It blending paper, punch my boarders etc and then spong which ever colour I want over the card.
All my EK Success and SU punches work perfectly on any card.
A sugeston further back in this thread is to place your MS punch firmly on your work bench and use both hands to punch, so I'm going to try this as well. :neutral:
After been bitten twice, i have done the followng. Upon returning defective punches to Mikes, i found the boxes taped and back on the shelf within the half hour while still in the store...what the heck.
So now i carry card stock in my purse, and if i see a punch i want, i open the box and try out the punch right there and then. Ironically since doin this i have not had a bad punch. Not taking any chances since having success two times in a row, will continue to carry that cs and try out the punch.
Its just a real pain to buy a punch and come home to find its not working.No one has even questiond the fact that i approach the til with an open box.
I had a problem with my MS lace doily border punch. I exchanged it at Michaels and the new one stopped punching too. I'll never buy any of her punches again.
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Many of you said that you have trouble with the MS punches. I had my "branch" punch stop working for me and discovered the solution.
Don't try to punch with the punch in your hand. I think that the metal that holds the cutting pieces and keeps them lined up is not strong enough and it gives just enough to stop punching properly.
I punch with the punch flat on the table. Put your paper into the punch, place the punch flat on your table with the handles over the edge a bit. Place your 2nd hand on the top of the punch and press firmly but gently. You don't have to lean into it at all. This move makes the punching parts stay aligned. Squeeze the punch handles to punch. I have attached a picture.
Bonus...your punched piece stays on the table and doesn't go flying all over the room! ;)
A caveat...I don't have MS border punches so I can't speak to those.
Many of you said that you have trouble with the MS punches. I had my "branch" punch stop working for me and discovered the solution.
Don't try to punch with the punch in your hand. I think that the metal that holds the cutting pieces and keeps them lined up is not strong enough and it gives just enough to stop punching properly.
I punch with the punch flat on the table. Put your paper into the punch, place the punch flat on your table with the handles over the edge a bit. Place your 2nd hand on the top of the punch and press firmly but gently. You don't have to lean into it at all. This move makes the punching parts stay aligned. Squeeze the punch handles to punch. I have attached a picture.
Bonus...your punched piece stays on the table and doesn't go flying all over the room! ;)
A caveat...I don't have MS border punches so I can't speak to those.
I saw this tip somewhere else on SCS. It really, really works!
i have several ek/martha punches that just stop working. not from excess use thats for sure. i bought an all over the page snowflake punch of marthas last week and its going back. i really want it, but i had to call my
6'4" son into my craft room to do it and he could hardly do it. that cannot be right. i have to say stampin up makes an awesome product. i wasnt sold on the whole exclusivity of their stuff at first, but over the last year, i have never been disappointed, not once. i do believe this is one case where you do get what you pay for. su doesnt have to offer them at 40% off everyother week.
and nope i am not a demonstrator. and i love martha, heck i had a "free martha stewart" tee shirt back in the day!
Problems with Martha Stewart Punches?
Martha Stewart punches
