Stamping and scrapping on a Shoestring
How to save MONEY and still create art
Updated 1-12-03
Shadow Stamp Idea from Anne Nakagawa
I really like them but wasn't sure if I wanted to buy any. I was thinking that I actually have some that I made but didn't know it.
You see, I hate it when I would ink up one of my frame stamps and would get
ink in the middle open area by accident. Inevitably, I would end up with
that ink on my paper when I pressed the stamp down. To solve the problem, I
took my Exacto knife and cut the middle open area out of my frame stamps
that did not come with this done already. I have several pieces of rubber
that are a good size that I now can make into my own shadow stamps. Because
some of the rubber pieces still have the foam cushioning on them, I can just
stick them on an extra piece of wood I have.
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Andrea Scholes- A few hints I have are:
1. Join swaps - it'll show you new techniques and also if you like the way
some products work...It's cheaper than buying the products only to find out
that they aren't what you thought, and also, the swaps are tons of fun and a
good way to learn and meet people.
2. Another "join swaps" - but, join "Image Swaps" Here's a good way to get
images that you don't have, and you use them to create your own cards, etc.
without buying the stamp...Sometimes, it'll be an image you've been looking
at, and you'll find that you can't live without it, and sometimes, you'll
find that it's just ok, but you'd rather have a different image.
3. I like to buy the smaller ink pads (like the cats eyes) of colors that
I'm not sure I'll like, because you can get 3 or 4 of them for the price of
one large pad. You'll get a variety of colors without investing a lot.
4. I buy re-inkers of the colors I know I use a lot. Much more cost
effective than replacing the whole pad.
5. I go to my local "printer" and see what kinds of scrap of cardstock he
has. Sometimes he'll give it to me, or sometimes he'll sell it to me really
cheap. Another good way to experiment with varieties without spending a lot
of $$$.... The drawback is, you don't know if the paper is acid free or
not.
(Note from paulaj: Ask the printer if he or she can tell you who makes hte papers; then you can find out if they are acid-free if you want to, by contacting the manufacturer.)
6. Have a stamping party and have everyone bring their stuff and play with
each other's supplies...good way to "try before you buy" to see if it's
something you HAVE to have!
7. Look in the sale bins at craft stores, toy stores, office supply
stores...sometimes you can pick up great stuff cheap for embellishments etc.
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MRuss72650
I joined a stamp club. Minimal dues, and we had a project each month, with
the club supplying the supplies. So I got to try my hand at using a large
variety of supplies and equipment just for the cost of my dues. At the
club, we also have an image swap, you make clean images of your items, and after
10 for supply, its a 1:1 swap. Also, if I needed a certain image and someone
had one, they would stamp them for me to use (I always offer to supply the
cardstock and ink pad, but they usually decline as they do it in basic black
and white, unless I want a specific color. We also get together to make
group purchases of cardstock and other bulk items. I may only need a few
sheets of a certain color, handmade, background, vellum, or metallic, but if
we all want to try it, the bulk cost is less and we all get enough for our
use. We've also split UTEE. Members also swapped, traded and sold a
minimal costs things they now longer used, which were good enough for me as a
beginner.
I think someone also mentioned that stamp stores will sell items they demo
with at a fraction of the cost. Most stores that do this have them out in
the store area, but I was taking a class and saw a stamp I really liked that
was discontinued. The teacher told me to check with the owner, and she sold
me the stamp for $1. Store owners also have there personal supplies. One
in our area had a garage sale and I got a lot of stuff (a Xerox paper box full
of stamps, cardstock, envelopes, embellishment that I selected from her vast
selection, and an unused paragomo set) for about $25. I was thrilled.
My best finds online, and actually from this list were Mark IV die cut
machine (I have yet to get the dies LOL), Microfleur, Calligraphy set, and
Papermaking kit.
So don't be afraid to ask online. You'd be surprised what people have that
they no longer are using, and will sell to you at a low cost or for less
costly items for the cost of mailing to reduce the clutter in their stamp
room.
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Sallyann Mettler
I have also found that instead of RP's or other expensive paints that
using colored pencils or watercolor pencils cuts down on my cost of
making a card.
I use permanent ink to stamp my designs and do not use embossing powder
as much as some people do.
I buy my white paper by the ream instead of buying it at the stamping
store. I get it at an office supply store.
I go to as many free demonstrations at the stamp stores as I can, and
take fewer classes. My store sometimes have demonstrators come in from
the big companies. I try to make sure I attend as many of those as I can
too. They are always glad to answer questions and I don't always have to
do the technique myself in order to learn how to do it.
I also keep a binder of tips that I get on my e-mail lists. I make sure
I keep the name and e-mail address of the person who gave the tip so if I
need to I can e-mail them back with questions when I actually try the
technique.
I love it when members give tips on how to make your own embossing fluid,
how to substitute something cheap that cost a lot more at the stamp
store.
But most of all, I have learned I don't have to try every new technique
that comes out. I can develop my own style and make lovely cards
without all the "bells and whistles".
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