Help with Plaid Maker

[Charlie Brown]

I have been trying to work my plaid maker. I tried using a sponge, but it came out grainy. I tried using a brayer, but the color came out so dark. Is there something I am missing. I don't know what else to try. Any help will be appreciated. Thanks.

[hntwhite]

When I tried the plaidmaker for the first time I used a sponge. I also have tried cotton balls since then and they work pretty nicely too. I've tried the brayer but didn't really like the effect that I got. I would also like some advice on this matter. Thanks for posting!!!

[Michelle Laycock]

If you use a sponge, try a light touch ... swipe across the template several times to darken, don't press down.

[HeatherJ]

I found I was too heavy handed sometimes too, with the brayer, went back and forth and I ended up with a lot of bleeding under the template.

HeatherJ

[scdecker]

I use a sponge, and sort of pounce the color on. It comes out with sort of a homespun, gingham-y look vs real crisp, sharply defined plaid, but I like it.

[Kookie]

I usually use the sponge wedges too but was told to use the FOAM brayer. Haven't tried it yet but I hear it works like a charm.

[jlinsenman]

I just recently got the plaid maker and did a card, my first using it. I used the foam brayer. The only thing i would do differently is to not roll it on textured CS...otherwise it was easy...will try to link it for you...thanks... judy
Gallery at Splitcoaststampers

[afancycat]

I use sponge daubers.....love the look I get with them!

[StampinManda]

I use sponge daubers too and it's comes out perfect every time! Have fun making more plaid!

[jm_donahoe]

At a stamp camp I was at last year, we had the sponge daubers, but found that they didn't do a fast enough job for all of us, so one of us grabbed a wet wipe and Voila! instant success. It was so much faster and gave a bolder color! Just use it like you would the dauber or sponge (make sure you wring it out a little before using - don't want to soak down your cardstock). HTH!

[Sawbewitched]

I have used the foam brayer. it worked fine for me. good luck. let us know what works for you.

[HeatherJ]

I like the wet wipe idea!

[Charlie Brown]

Thanks for all the responses. I will put foam attachment in the list of things to buy.

I like the wet wipes idea. Will definitely try it.

[Rebecca 1]

Stipple brushes give a really nice look too and you can do it quickly.

[scrappinsarah]

I would love to try this too. Are you using the reinkers for this? Or regular ink pads? TIA, Sarah

[stampin_sher]

You have to use the foam attachment and not the rubber attachment on the brayer. Works wonderful for me all the time.

[stampkat]

I use the foam brayer attachment. It is quick and works like a charm!

[Vintage Redhead]

Okay, I know I'm *really* going to irritate some of y'all here....

I *SO* don't like the Plaid Maker.

In theory? Excellent product. In practice? Couldn't be a bigger pain in my backside! Why? Well, the results and color combinations are *fab*...especially when you see something like my friend Heide's Burberry Plaid. BUT the amount of ink that is absolutely *wasted* both in the sponge brayer and on the template just floors me!

So I went to the sponge daubers. And they work great--except that they are a great deal more work than the sponge brayer ever was and all of that pouncing really irritated my CTS (yeah, like the computer doesn't...)

I gave the thing away. Like I said, great results, but too much work and I already support SU too much buying new stamps-I don't need to increase my ink consumption as well. As much of a fan of plaid as I am, I'd rather spend my time doing something else. ~ K

[jkeefe]

I like the sponge daubers best. I have best luck if I dampen the dauber first. I have a small sponge at my table. and dampen the dauber slightly before pressing it directly on the ink pad. BE CAREFUL NOT TO OVER WET THE DAUBER OR THE COLOR WILL RUN UNDER THE PLAID MAKER TEMPLATE. By dampening the dauber, the color "spreads out" much more evenly.

If you are a demonstrator and using the plaid maker at a "totally hands on" workshop, I advise against using the foam brayer. You tend to get more ink on the plastic than on the paper. People get ink all over their hands, and their projects - very messy! I've used the plaidmaker very successfully at workshops. I always give people scraps of paper to play with and develop their own "techniques". Once people use the plaid maker with you there to help them, they usually purchase one for themselves!~

[jkeefe]

About the dampened sponge daubbers - I use them to WIPE the ink down the stripe, not daub them on. It is much faster and you get very even results.