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I read that one splitcoaster cut her stems from her flowers so she can stamp them in 2 colors. What an awesome idea!
I never thought to do that. I can not tell you how many hours I have spent trying to stamp one color on the stem then another on the flower, what a pain.
I am wondering if any one else does this? What are your thoughts? Some of my stems may be tricky since they are so close to the flower part, but I would be willing to try it.
I usually just use my water based markers and color them, but I HAVE cut a greeting/sentiment from a stamp that had it combined with an image (like "thank you" or "happy birthday").
If you cover the part of your stamp that you do NOT want to stamp with scotch tape...then ink up the other part, pull the tape off (as it will have ink on it)---and stamp. Good way to do it if you dont want to cut up your stamps.
I do this all the time with my stamps, not just with stems and blossoms. I will also * CRINGE * cut pupils out of the eyeballs so I have the critter looking anywhere I want. I have also cut fairy wings off a little boy (I leave them on the little girls). I'll also cut away the words from the insides of signs, hearts, etc. If there is a solid section to an otherwise line-image stamp which I do NOT want in black, I'll carefully cut out that solid section so I can stamp it in another colour. I'll also cut up sentiments, so I can lay them out straight or bunch them all up or have them in curves.
With stems and flowers I'd be too afraid of losing part. I've certainly cut sentiments and other stamps part.
For stems and flowers I either use markers, like Minstrel, or something along the lines Eva has described. With a Stamp-a-ma-Jig you can ink a stamp, remove the ink you don't want with a damp Q-tip, stamp, and then ink again in a second colour, again removing the unwanted ink with a Q-tip. This works well with complex images where masking parts of with sellotape just wouldn't work. Obviously where masking bits off works, that's my first choice.
Glad to know I'm not the only one willing to vivisect my stamps.
Ha! I love that word - "vivisect"! That perfectly describes what I do to my stamps, too...
I cut apart ANY/EVERY stamp that I think will work better for me as pieces/parts than as a whole - especially my SU! wheels (unmounted, of course)!
I never worry about re-sale value, because I figure I've enjoyed and used them enough myself this way, that if no one else wants them I still got my money's worth.
I keep all of the pieces together in their original configuration when I store them, so I know right away if something's missing and I can still use them that way if I choose to.
Yep, I do this lots of times when I think it suits me best. The first flower I cut apart was the tulip in the SU set Garden Whimsy. I just felt that the flower was too big to try and color with my markers and it's a pain trying to use an ink pad to ink up each part. When I cut my images/sentiments apart I do mount them on another wood block.
I cut apart ANY/EVERY stamp that I think will work better for me as pieces/parts than as a whole - especially my SU! wheels (unmounted, of course)!
I wish you would come over and cut mine up for me! I bought the stitched wheel intending to unmount it and cut it into strips but never was brave enough!
I wish you would come over and cut mine up for me! I bought the stitched wheel intending to unmount it and cut it into strips but never was brave enough!
Buck up, li'l camper - you can do it! Slice along the seam with a razor knife and that strip of rubber will peel right off! Then just have at with the scissors you use to trim your other rubber, and you're good to go!
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Whenever possible, I color with pens first, mask second and cut last. I have cut many of my stamps, particularly sentiment stamps. When I am combining sentiments from two stamps that I cut, I postion them on my grid blocks (or use my stampamajig if they're not cling mount or clear) and "test" them on scrap paper before stamping on my card. I confess ... there have been times when I have actually purchased a stamp just to get the sentiment or part of the image. And ... also times when I have purchased an entire stamp set from a company just to get one stamp that I "love!" Silly me. Does any of you do that?
I did this once before I knew about the "scotch tape cover up" method. It was the PSX American Goldfinch. I didn't want the words whenever I stamped so I cut it off and
I did this once before I knew about the "scotch tape cover up" method. It was the PSX American Goldfinch. I didn't want the words whenever I stamped so I cut it off and THREW IT AWAY!!! So much for resale value :<
With stems and flowers I'd be too afraid of losing part. I've certainly cut sentiments and other stamps part.
For stems and flowers I either use markers, like Minstrel, or something along the lines Eva has described. With a Stamp-a-ma-Jig you can ink a stamp, remove the ink you don't want with a damp Q-tip, stamp, and then ink again in a second colour, again removing the unwanted ink with a Q-tip. This works well with complex images where masking parts of with sellotape just wouldn't work. Obviously where masking bits off works, that's my first choice.
Alas! I'm really, really bad at the marker thing and really, really impatient about the masking thing, so cutting is what I do... In truth, it's only with images that I will pretty much ALWAYS use in pieces/parts. If I'll only occasionally do it that way, I leave it intact...
I do this all the time with my stamps, not just with stems and blossoms. I will also * CRINGE * cut pupils out of the eyeballs so I have the critter looking anywhere I want. I have also cut fairy wings off a little boy (I leave them on the little girls). I'll also cut away the words from the insides of signs, hearts, etc. If there is a solid section to an otherwise line-image stamp which I do NOT want in black, I'll carefully cut out that solid section so I can stamp it in another colour. I'll also cut up sentiments, so I can lay them out straight or bunch them all up or have them in curves.
sorry off topic a bit, but Sophie how do more girl fairies appear if there are no boy fairies? Sounds like fairies will go extinct in your world.
I have only cut one stamp apart ever but it was when I found a stamp of a Brittany Spaniel which happens to be the type of dog we own. Unfortunately, the stamp was obviously a male and our dog is a female. Therefore, I had to do some surgery to make it appropriate for my use. The stamp and the dog are both 14 years old and working fine.
The first time I cut up a stamp was the hardest! I usually will cut up sentiments so they will fit into my designs. I do make a point of keeping them together when stored so I'm not left with random words or images.
The first stamp I cut up was one from a border stamp set...little snowmen. The entire stamp was just too long for cards. It was very hard...I felt like I was committing blasphemy slicing into one of my Stampin' Up! stamps!! But I loved the look of the "new" one and used it much more after I'd sliced it up.
The whole point is to use our tools to make beautiful things. We've altered books and journals and paperbags and all sorts of stuff...why not alter our stamps if it helps us in our craft??
__________________ Jansy The one who dies with the most embellishments wins! www.gingersnappedgirl.blogspot.com
Several of my stamps had wording along the bottom. The wording most times didn't go with the card idea I wanted, so I cut the wording off and adhere it to the end of the block. That way if I want to use the wording, it's right there. I do use a stamp positioner though, so I get it straight with the image. I also demount my roller stamps. I was always getting ink on the edge of it and rolling it crooked, now I don't do either!
Several of my stamps had wording along the bottom. The wording most times didn't go with the card idea I wanted, so I cut the wording off and adhere it to the end of the block. That way if I want to use the wording, it's right there. I do use a stamp positioner though, so I get it straight with the image. I also demount my roller stamps. I was always getting ink on the edge of it and rolling it crooked, now I don't do either!
Have you found a clear block large enough to stamp the whole wheel stamp on, once it was unmounted? Does our SU! block fit them?
I've been cutting my stamps apart for years! I just used a stamp that has been retired from Posh Impressions for probably 7-8 years in which I cut the little doodly piece from the end of You are Invited and stamped one part with pink and the doodly piece in black. I used my Stamp-a-ma-jig a lot when doing this. Never have cut the stamps off though. Need to try that. Great thread.
__________________ ShariW
Trust in the Lord with all thine Heart-Prov.3:5a
Yes, Wilma, I have a block big enough to hold the roller stamps mounted on cling. I had one cut at an acrylic shop. He only charged me $8 too! It's 7 1/5 inches by 2 1/2 inches. The business made acrylic display cases and he used a scrap. Check your yellow pages and see if you can find a similiar business in your area. Anyone else buy one ready made?
Whenever possible, I color with pens first, mask second and cut last. I have cut many of my stamps, particularly sentiment stamps. When I am combining sentiments from two stamps that I cut, I postion them on my grid blocks (or use my stampamajig if they're not cling mount or clear) and "test" them on scrap paper before stamping on my card. I confess ... there have been times when I have actually purchased a stamp just to get the sentiment or part of the image. And ... also times when I have purchased an entire stamp set from a company just to get one stamp that I "love!" Silly me. Does any of you do that?
Yes, Wilma, I have a block big enough to hold the roller stamps mounted on cling. I had one cut at an acrylic shop. He only charged me $8 too! It's 7 1/5 inches by 2 1/2 inches. The business made acrylic display cases and he used a scrap. Check your yellow pages and see if you can find a similiar business in your area. Anyone else buy one ready made?
I've been using scrap acrylics for years. My husband is a wood worker so he's able to go get scraps and cut them with a band saw to whatever size I need. I have a bazillion acrylics - which comes in handy for my classes.
__________________ ShariW
Trust in the Lord with all thine Heart-Prov.3:5a
Yes, I cut them as I need/want to - as someone said, I more than have gotten my money's worth from my stamps, so I don't feel the least bit guilty.
__________________ The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. Those who know Your name will trust in You, for You, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek You. Psalms 9:9-10
I do this all the time too. The q-tip or tape method is fine sometimes but I often cut apart sentiment phrases to align them differently. I break up straight lines so the words are in more of a block shape and vice versa. They can be too hard to space properly if each word is stamped separately. I set them up on my block how I like them and then test stamp them.
Only time I hesitated to cut apart a flower from a stem was with the new Hero Arts stamp n die sets. If I separate them but don't get the alignment perfect, I may not be able to cut it out with the die. I was considering stamping it with third generation of a very pale ink like Antique Linen or a pale yellow so I can only just barely see it then stamping over that to help me place the stem and flower once separated. Haven't tied it yet though.
__________________ RebeccaEdnie Mixed Media Artist, Paper Crafter, Jewelry Designer SCSDirtyDozenAlumni Www.Boxofchocolatescrafts.Com YouNeverKnowWhatI’mGoingtoMake
I have only cut one stamp apart ever but it was when I found a stamp of a Brittany Spaniel which happens to be the type of dog we own. Unfortunately, the stamp was obviously a male and our dog is a female. Therefore, I had to do some surgery to make it appropriate for my use. The stamp and the dog are both 14 years old and working fine.
Someone mentioned without boy faeries they will go extinct...
I think Brittany Spaniel puppy stamps will no longer exist either if the male dog stamps have 'surgical' alterations! Hee hee
__________________ RebeccaEdnie Mixed Media Artist, Paper Crafter, Jewelry Designer SCSDirtyDozenAlumni Www.Boxofchocolatescrafts.Com YouNeverKnowWhatI’mGoingtoMake
I usually just use my water based markers and color them, but I HAVE cut a greeting/sentiment from a stamp that had it combined with an image (like "thank you" or "happy birthday").
Ditto for me. I always cut greeting/sentiments off images as it makes both parts of the stamp much more versatile. Coloring with markers for multi-toned images is the easiest way to go.
Do you do this?
