Stampin Around Wheels...do they really work?

[Shortdee73]

I'm about at my whits end with these stampin around wheels. I can't get the color/ink distributed evenly as I roll accross the paper. It is lighter in some patches than in others and I'm about to throw them all out!

Any tips out there?

[justheather]

I can think of a few things that might help...

When you store the cartridges, store them flat...so that the "garage door" is parallel to the ground.

Reink the cartridge often, but don't make it too goopy or the edges may ink up.

Roll slowly.

Apply even pressure. For me, this mean that I put my first finger and my middle finger on top of the handle.

HTH

[crazyboutstamping]

Yea, what Heather said and remember to also roll it in s scrap first to get it started and then rool onto the card and off of the card and remember not to stop or pause along the way.

[Mom2MalNJaden]

Also, it takes practice! In the beginning, I was the same as you, but once you get the technique down, there's no limit to what you can do! Good luck & keep at it!

[stampercamper]

This might sound crazy, but I do better when I stand up...I'm able to get more even pressure! I was demoing the wheels today and had one person who couldn't do it at all sitting down. I had her stand up and it was perfect! The other thing is start with the wide wheels...it's like having training wheels! I find people are more successful with these.

Mary

[karrieg]

I definitely agree with Mary, stand up and roll. I need that extra push I get when standing.

Karrie G.

[Stampin Wrose]

Short Dee,

I actually got a second wheel handle!!!! I tried and tried to use the darn things, and like you was very frustrated. The second handle is fine. I couldn't return the first one, as I'd had it awhile - and thought it was me.

So - first thing, get someone who is experienced, if possible, to try your handle, and you try theirs.

If it's not the handle, then go with the other advice. I love the new wheel guide, it helps me stay straight and even. I'm still fairly wheel challenged.

A few years ago, I wanted to wheel the edge of an envelope, and was looking at it and worrying, and DH said, "Let me try" - he'd never used one before. I was like, But But But - but he took it and wheeled it, including the turn at the point, and it was perfect. Grrr....

[StampinHappyInCT]

Quote:

Originally Posted by stampercamper

I do better when I stand up...I'm able to get more even pressure!

Ditto what she said! Standing up works great for me!

[propecia]

I used to have to stand up to wheel mine but since the wheel guide came out, I am able to roll them evenly while sitting down. I think the guide helps you keep even pressure on it along with rolling straight! JMO!

[leney]

I love the wheels! You might say I am a wheel queen. I own lots and lots of wheels! I agree with everyone who has posted so far. Standing up somehow gives you more control. The finger on the handle gives you guidance. I also tell my customers to roll it across the page diagonally. This is more pleasing to the eye and also helps hide misstakes. I am looking forward to teaching how the wheel guide can make the wheels even more fun! Hang in there and keep practicing and you'll get the hang of it.

[Shortdee73]

Thank you for all your advice.

I won't give up yet, but I might buy the jumbo one for my "training wheels"!!

Bump

[Candykane]

propecia wrote:
[I used to have to stand up to wheel mine but since the wheel guide came out, I am able to roll them evenly while sitting down. I think the guide helps you keep even pressure on it along with rolling straight!/quote]


I agree with this. I would stand up and it would come out okay, but with the guide I can sit down and do it. I just joined my first swap, a wheel swap and got to use my guide and loved it. So I think the guide does help alot. I would practice though on scrap paper, so it does help to practice.

P.S. This is my first time quoting I hope it comes out right :?

[heart]

Love jumbo wheels!
Sometimes they are cranky, but so worth practicing to get the hang of it.
Wheel guide is a dream. especially for wash day!

[LizzieStamps]

Someone mentioned rolling your wheel on a scrap to get it inked up, but after I push the ink cartridge forward to get contact with the wheel, I stick my thumb in the side onto the "spindle" that snaps the wheel into the handle, and push on that, making the wheel rotate there, so that it will ink up, without "wasting" it on the scratch paper. Wheels take practice, but you get better at it.

[greetingsbydebra]

I don't use the cartridges because they never covered evenly for me. I ink up on a regular ink pad and go from there. Works like a charm.

[Vintage Redhead]

I haven't seen anyone else address this, so I will....

I find that if I stand and *ROLL AWAY FROM* myself and on a diagonal that my wheeled images are *MUCH* better than if I try to pull the wheel toward myself. And I stand...but truth be told, I generally stand when I stamp and scrap anyway. (Don't know why - drives everyone around me nuts because I tend to pace and bob...)

Which direction are you rolling? Are you rolling *toward* you (starting at the far edge of the paper and "pulling" the roller back to you)? Or are you rolling *away from* you (starting at the near edge of the paper and "pushing" the roller away from you)?

There is no one right or wrong way; just one that may work better for *YOU*! Try changing this technique to see which will work better for you. Best of luck! ~ Kaylyn

[richey_kane]

I also ink my wheel onink pads-I don't have very many cartridges. Using the ink pads works for me-I also follow the other advice here too like standing up, starting on scrap paper,etc.

[jm_donahoe]

I just posted on another thread about using scrap rubber... I used my rubber scraps to make a wheel guide with a see-thru ruler. It has helped me tremendously as I am also wheel-challenged :? ! I love the look, but it took me so much wasted paper everytime to get it right! The homemade guide has really helped - even with the uneven inking. You should try it!

[lisastamper]

Stand up and roll slowly--when I started, I tried to roll too quickly, and it's just too difficult to maintain even pressure.

[dot2dot]

No cartridge and no handle here and yet I LOVE the wheels. I run a paintbrush handle through the center and run over an ink pad.I have much more control that way. I save money for more stamps too!!

[Mom2MalNJaden]

I roll away from me as well, never thought about doing it any other way. (Doesn't that sound funny if you didn't know what I was referring to?!?)

JM, what a cool idea with the rubber scrap leftovers! I love finding new uses for these since I have containers full of them! (I like to make the home-made background or pattern stamps with them and also use them in place of the dimensionals.) I'm one of those that can't throw anything away for fear of finding a use for it later. :oops: