Free desiccants for cardstock

[Saphyre333]

Desiccants, for those who do not know, keep water (humidity) away from the area they are in and sucks it into themselves.

How many times have you opened a box of electronic parts, jewelry, appliances or just about anything these days that is packaged at the manufacturer and you see those little packets that say (stupidly ) "DO NOT EAT" .
Those are packets of desiccant. You can find these packets everywhere. When I am in stores and see them lying for some reason and I grab them. Happily for me, my husband is an IT professional and he brings me home bags of desiccant nearly every day. :lol:

I live in Charleston, SC. Stepping outside in the summertime on a high humidity day makes you feel like you are wearing a big, wet, dog around your neck! :-(
Even with the a/c running at full blast, the humidity can affect my cardstock. I could tell when I pulled out a piece and would wonder if they made Viagra for cardstock, or try to cut it, even with a sharp, new blade, and it makes a deckled edge on the paper instead of a clean cut. Or when I stamp on the cardstock and can actually see the image bleed a little bit. Embossing worked really well, but some of the cardstock wasn't color saturated enough and the embossed raised areas will go white or crack.
That is until I tried the desiccant packets.
I was using these packets inside of my jewelry box to keep my sterling silver jewelry from turning black. I thought, "if they work keep my sterling dry maybe they will work on cardstock".
So I tried it. I keep my cardstock in "paper holders" I made from old priority mail boxes and covered with decorative paper. The area between the card and the holder I stuffed with desiccant. I have 10 of these holders so I used a lot of packets.
IT WORKED! :lol:
My cardstock is dry and, um, stiff, again. It cuts and stamps cleanly again! YAY!
The great thing about these packets? - they are everywhere! Another great thing about these packets? they can be recharged by slowly and lowly baking them in the oven (depending on the type of packet you have, check Google). One more great thing about them? The price - free!

So the next time you see these things lying around, remember, do not eat them :rolleyes: , just stuff them into your cardstock and jewelry boxes. ;-)

[Misstreez]

Oh I've been using those for years. Before I started stamping I use to toss them into the back of the bookshelf to. I just grabbed a handful of eight little packets out of my paper storage filing cabinet. There are more further back. In fact I toss them all over the house.

I live in a high humidity sub tropical area and I rarely have issues with my paper. Only time I had damp issues was when we had near three months of rain. I can highly recommend them.

[Crafter 4 Life]

I store my embossing powder in tubs. I have a small dessicant pouch in each one of my tubs. When you pour the embossing powder over your Versamark or pigment ink, a little dampness is on the powder that doesn't stick so the dessicant pouch keep the powder from clumping in my tubs.

Also use them in the containers where my paper is stored.

[dhaus]

great suggestion! Thanks

[klh54]

All this time I've lived in Houston and now Louisiana and never could figure out how to keep my cardstock from "wilting" and my embossing powder from clumping and here the solution has been right under my nose!
Clever!! Now I'm off to find those little packets. Thanks for the tip

[itsme]

what a great idea for me it is my envelopes, i buy them in bulk but in the summer they seal(no ac) so i lug them upstairs to bedroom (ac) now maybe i wont have to.

[byingst]

I also put a packet with each of my punches (I have them hanging in pockets on the wall). I find that it keeps them from sticking.

[rusted222]

I live in Michigan, so most of the time don't have to deal with humidity too much, but sometimes it's a problem. I deal with multiple sclerosis, so am taking several different medications. I've not saved all those little packets, (Duh!) Now I'll be saving them! Thanks for the great tip!

[uncbballfan]

Who woulda thunk it? Dessicants - the Viagra for cardstock! LOL Thanks - you made my day!

[Rebecca Ednie]

Referring to limp Cardstock as needing paper Viagra is hilarious!

[nancystamps]

See your doctor if this leads to extended papercrafting sessions of 4 hours or more.....:cool:

[kwavekwa]

you know i live in the desert but when you run a evaporative cooler (water on pads) and it blows through the house it does cause paper to get wilty. so that will be my new habit, picking up all the packets from boxes and items.

[harvestmoon]

I have been using those packets from my empty vitamin bottles and cracker packages to put in my coffee canister. It keeps away the harsh taste that can develop. Oklahoma is very humid, but mostly controlled with air conditioning. Great Ideas to use in the stamping room. Thanks!