Perfect Pearls, I need help :-)

[Buttonmouse]

Hi!
I'm new to stamping so please forgive me if this question is not worded correctly. I recently purchased perfect pearls and stamped on black cardstock with their stamping medium (which appears simliar to versamark?) and dusted the pearls on, but when I was dusting them off, a small portion of gold powder remained on the cardstock. (Meaning it was lightly dusted on the outside of my stamped design) Also, I did stamp with a simple letter to start so it was not a complicated stamp design.

Can this be prevented? (the dust not coming away on the cardstock? Or am I doing it wrong?

Any help or direction would be greatly appreciated!!

[StefTX]

I am not famailiar with the product you are talking about but maybe if you try rubbing a dryer sheet on the cardstock before stamping, it may not stick. This is what you can do when embossing maybe that would help. I am also kinda new to stamping too so I am sure there are experienced stampers who can answer your question..

[Julesiana]

A Swiffer sheet is VERY good for brushing off the powder.

[Buttonmouse]

Swiffer sheet for use with perfect pearls?

[Julesiana]

Yeah!
Stamp with the medium, then use the perfect pearls, then use the swiffer sheet to get off the part that won't shake off.

Think of it as REALLY purty dust!

[shellpole]

If nothing else...why don't you deliberately "dust" the whole piece? That fine mist of gold woud look really pretty.

But yes I agree with the others. You can also swipe your card with antis static pad beforehand...but I think the swiffer will win out!

I hear your question as to household items...YOu do know, we can use an awful lot out of the cupboard to help us get that gorgeous card happening?

Regards,

Originally Posted by Julesiana

Yeah!
Stamp with the medium, then use the perfect pearls, then use the swiffer sheet to get off the part that won't shake off.

Think of it as REALLY purty dust!

[kphorse]

Usin a small brush or Fantastix will help keep it in place and when I am done, I sporay GASS over the card to keep it in place.

To make GASS:
Gum Arabic Sealing Solution (GASS)

GASS seals things like Whisper White and Very Vanilla craft pads, metallic pads, Versamark with PE, and Poppin' Pastels to keep them from smudging.

Lots of people use hairspray as a sealant and/or PE base; however, while it has polymers that will give you the bond that you're looking for, it also has chemicals that are not acid-free. Because it is *not* acid-free, deterioration will begin in a fairly short period of time, yellowing your creation.

1 Part *LIQUID* Gum Arabic (yes, you can use powered)
4 Parts Distilled Water
2 Parts Alcohol

Shake *well* before each use.

Q. Can I use powdered Gum Arabic?
A. Yes - but be sure to mix it directly with the alcohol *first* before adding the water.

[lutheran]

Another vote for a swifter cloth but also invest in a good white artist eraser to get the last few strays off your background.
Mary Beth

[pjw2855]

If you dust the Perfect Pearls just over the stamped design, there really shouldn't be any residue on the non-stamped area. It's not like using embossng powder. You also don't need to seal Perfect Pearls, it will just stay on the stamped image. It is only a dusting of color/shimmer. You only use a tiny bit on the tip of the paint brush that's included in the package.

Patti

[Buttonmouse]

You all are AWESOME!! Thank you so much for your responses!!! I will try everything suggested...

I did however just spend another $60.00 on paper and MORE stamps....someone stop me...LOL :-O

[java_jenny]

Originally Posted by kphorse

Usin a small brush or Fantastix will help keep it in place and when I am done, I sporay GASS over the card to keep it in place.

To make GASS:
Gum Arabic Sealing Solution (GASS)

GASS seals things like Whisper White and Very Vanilla craft pads, metallic pads, Versamark with PE, and Poppin' Pastels to keep them from smudging.

Lots of people use hairspray as a sealant and/or PE base; however, while it has polymers that will give you the bond that you're looking for, it also has chemicals that are not acid-free. Because it is *not* acid-free, deterioration will begin in a fairly short period of time, yellowing your creation.

1 Part *LIQUID* Gum Arabic (yes, you can use powered)
4 Parts Distilled Water
2 Parts Alcohol

Shake *well* before each use.

Q. Can I use powdered Gum Arabic?
A. Yes - but be sure to mix it directly with the alcohol *first* before adding the water.

Great recipe ~ thanks for posting! And to think, I've been using hairspray for a long time while my powdered gum arabic was sitting in the box.

[Julesiana]

Originally Posted by pjw2855

If you dust the Perfect Pearls just over the stamped design, there really shouldn't be any residue on the non-stamped area. It's not like using embossng powder. You also don't need to seal Perfect Pearls, it will just stay on the stamped image. It is only a dusting of color/shimmer. You only use a tiny bit on the tip of the paint brush that's included in the package.

Patti

This is the reason I like perfect pearls over Pearl Ex. No sealing--no gum arabic or hair spray needed.

I can also add a little to my reinker-water watercoloring and add a bit of shimmer to my watercoloring--much like twinkling H2Os.

[frou frou]

you may want to try rubbing the surface of your card with the embossing buddy, before you stamp. It has a slight "chalky" residue that inhibits all those sparkely bits from sticking to your paper, but wont interfere with your stamped image. Its my best friend

[KathiR]

You can set the Perfect Pearls by giving a SLIGHT misting with water.

[diane7]

Originally Posted by Buttonmouse

You all are AWESOME!! Thank you so much for your responses!!! I will try everything suggested...

I did however just spend another $60.00 on paper and MORE stamps....someone stop me...LOL :-O

This (SCS) is NOT the place to ask for help to stop spending on paper etc!!!!

[Seaside Rose]

If you are using a heavy paper card stock with a "rough" but not smooth, shiny or the textured and coated finish like you see on one side of some Bazzill and on DCWV textured papers, you will have that problem because the tiny bits of sparkle get caught in the paper.

A Swiffer sheet (not a dryer sheet!) will help on some of the lighter, thinner card stocks, but your best bet is to use a tiny brush (you can use brushes other than what they supply - I do all the time - and try not to get it any place you don't it to go (which is NOT how they demo it on the package).

Another thing I do is actually buff it to get the excess off. I use a microfiber towel. It will not remove the stuff that adheres to the Perfect Medium. You could even go back and do that now, as long as you didn't spray anything on it.

[nottoocreative]

Originally Posted by Seaside Rose

If you are using a heavy paper card stock with a "rough" but not smooth, shiny or the textured and coated finish like you see on one side of some Bazzill and on DCWV textured papers, you will have that problem because the tiny bits of sparkle get caught in the paper.

A Swiffer sheet (not a dryer sheet!) will help on some of the lighter, thinner card stocks, but your best bet is to use a tiny brush (you can use brushes other than what they supply - I do all the time - and try not to get it any place you don't it to go (which is NOT how they demo it on the package).

Another thing I do is actually buff it to get the excess off. I use a microfiber towel. It will not remove the stuff that adheres to the Perfect Medium. You could even go back and do that now, as long as you didn't spray anything on it.

You are always so helpful!!! Thank you for this explanation, as I've had the same problem. It seems like I AM going to rub off the pearls if I "buff" it so I'm either doing something wrong or haven't actually tried it out of fear! LOL I gave up on my PP's soon after buying them...I'll have to try them again

[asuncionshija]

It actually took me a good many years before I actually READ the packaging - and even then it was so I could prove that *mine* said no such thing... but you really do need to seal them with water. Just a VERY light mist will do, but it took me forever to figure out why I wasn't so in love with them.

[nancymt615]

I have purchased a set of Pearl Ex but I have had no luck finding the gum arabic. Where do you find it?

[Seaside Rose]

Originally Posted by nancymt615

I have purchased a set of Pearl Ex but I have had no luck finding the gum arabic. Where do you find it?

Anyplace that sells art supplies - paints, canvas, oil paints, mineral spirits etc. Michael's has it.... that's where I get it.