Inklings and Imprints Blog

Tesseract Medallion Rubber Stamps Now Available

2011-11-11T19:20:00.002-05:00

They look great! (If we say so ourselves...)

Finally got them up on our Etsy and eBay shops. More details about the specs are there.

We will also be making partial unmounted and cling mounted sets from this sheet available in the future.

Loden designed these with clay/metal clay pendants in mind. I made some jewelry in the lead up to FaerieCon using air dry clay and some of our other stamps, so Loden thought we should have some smaller stamps for the purpose. Unfortunately, the vulcanizer wasn't able to get us the sheets in time for the show, but we are looking forward to using them...

Happy crafting!

New Medallion Sheet

2011-11-08T07:39:00.003-05:00

We had hoped to have this new rubber sheet of medallions with us at FaerieCon, but it didn't arrive in time. We have it now - and will post it on our shops ASAP.

FaerieCon

2011-11-08T07:32:00.000-05:00

Had every intention of blogging about the fact that we were going to be at FaerieCon this past weekend, but we decided to do the show on such short notice that the time got away from us.

We shared a booth with friend Rachel Anderson. Just the place for her!

Great experience - still processing (and recuperating from the travel). Will update more later...

Going down... Part 2

2011-03-28T18:27:00.003-04:00

Middle part of hike down South Kaibab Trail in the Grand Canyon. Jan 17, 2011

(Click here for full Flickr set.)

Very dry and sun exposed for most stretches. Was expecting Moses to wander out from behind a rock at any moment.

Lots of olive & acidic colors, plus the orange-red and some grey-greens, too.

Different worlds in each direction, including up & down.

Final plateau before heading down into the innermost canyon. (Next set, to come)

Going down... Part 1

2011-03-27T11:49:00.004-04:00

(Click here to be brought to main Flickr set.)

Jan 17, 2011: Down the South Kaibab trail to Phantom Ranch at the base of the Grand Canyon. Both of us with our crampons (pull-on spikes for ice) - Galina's strapped onto her platform shoes.

First stretch of trail was sloppy, wet, snowy and icy, with green manure from the mule trains mixed in.

Temps went up as we went down - trail is very sun exposed, and it is simply warmer farther down the canyon.

Colors, textures and shape of the rocks and formations change too, as you go down through layers.

Breaking photos from this hike out into a few sets, loosely grouped based on differences between a few levels of the canyon. The next set will pick up in an area where everything seems very olive yellow/green for a bit.

Sliding Rock State Park & Sunset at South Rim, Grand Canyon

2011-03-26T21:31:00.000-04:00

I will get all these photos up online yet...

1/16/11: My friend and I drove up the Grand Canyon from Sedona. Just outside of Sedona we stopped at Slide Rock State Park off of 89A in Oak Creek Canyon. Click on image below to see slideshow on Flickr.

We stopped in Flagstaff to get some supplies for the hike and stay down in the canyon. Arrived at the South Rim in time to catch the sunset before we checked in at Bright Angel and prepped for the hike down South Kaibab in the morning. Click the photo below to see Flickr set on the sunset.

Devil's Kitchen Sinkhole, Sedona AZ

2011-03-25T19:34:00.005-04:00

More pics from the January trip to Arizona - Devil's Kitchen Sinkhole in Sedona. All pics click through to photo set on Flickr.

May be hard to tell scale from pics - it's pretty large. Very tall tree growing down in there.

Article about the sinkhole.

Got a little dizzy walking around this thing... but couldn't resist looking over to see all that could be seen.

Aurora Borealis

2011-03-23T21:08:00.004-04:00

The Aurora from Terje Sorgjerd on Vimeo.

(May need to click through to Vimeo to play)

When I was little, I thought that there must be tremendous sound to go along with the light show - because the light must be sparks from friction. Probably all the more eery that it is silent. One of the things I'd like to witness some day.

Arizona Dreaming - Grand Canyon

2011-03-23T19:35:00.006-04:00

Wait - why is it don't I live there, again?

Airborne Rotating Plastic Ribbon Sculpture

2011-03-23T18:01:00.004-04:00

...or a tornado in an agricultural field.

(Click the red speech bubble to disable the random comment pop ups.)

Celtic Treasury on Etsy

2011-03-12T10:10:00.003-05:00

By Marionessa on Etsy. Received a notification since it featured the cling mounted Celtic Knotwork Triangles.

Sedona Sunset

2011-02-26T22:11:00.004-05:00

Some photos from last year's trip to Sedona - Airport Loop trail. I realized I hadn't posted them here or unrestricted them on Flickr.

Enjoy! Slideshow at end of post - all photos lead to the full set of pics from the trail on Flickr.

Celtic Triskele Stamped PMC Bracelet

2011-02-26T12:48:00.003-05:00

etsyblogoct2009 150, originally uploaded by E. WaterHawk.

EmeraldWaterHawk on Etsy sent me this photo of another jewelry piece she created using PMC (Precious Metal Clay) and stamps from our Celtic Knotwork Triangles and Triskeles stamp set (cling mounted and unmounted).

Her pieces feature many interesting stamps and textures. I've asked her if she'd like to post an article about her craft and process in the future.

Cheers!

Stamped Celtic Knotwork PMC Jewelry

2011-02-23T08:11:00.000-05:00

Lovely PMC (Precious Metal Clay) jewelry made by EmeraldWaterHawk on Etsy, using stamps from our Celtic Knotwork Triangles and Triskeles stamp set (cling mounted and unmounted). Click on any image to reach the jewelry listing. More images in our Flickr gallery.

Stamped silver earrings.

Stamped bronze & garnet pendant.

Wintry wonderland

2011-02-22T20:31:00.002-05:00

It can seem as though winter will never end in the Northeast.

But it does have its beauty.

Photos and some short videos on Flickr - taken at Taughannock Falls & Park here in upstate New York in December. You can also view a smaller scale slideshow, at the end of this blog post.

Small scale slideshow:

Taughannock Falls

2010-04-07T12:52:00.008-04:00

I recently realized that I've never walked along the base of Taughannock Falls in all the years I've been in the Ithaca area. I've been to the overlook and up in the creek farther up from the falls. I took advantage of the warm weather over the past week to walk the lower trail. Definitely a place to return to as things get more green.

You can view the slideshow, below, or click here to be brought to the larger view in Flickr (photos are pretty high in detail).

More info on Taughannock: www.taughannock.com/

How to cut EZ Mount backed stamps

2010-04-02T12:15:00.003-04:00

Nervous about cutting out your stamps? Here's a great video I just found...

Consolidating Web Shops

2010-03-24T15:18:00.005-04:00

In order to simplify, we've decided to focus on three online shops instead of five. We are closing up our DaWanda and ArtFire shops. Our products can be found at http://www.inklingsandimprints.net, http://inkandescence.etsy.com, and http://stores.ebay.com/Inklings-and-Imprints.

Thank you to all of our customers!

Cheers

PS - I meant to note that as we were consolidating stock, we also posted some new items, such as CD jewel case-sized storage cards for cling mounted or clear polymer stamps, sets of small clear acrylic mounting blocks.

And more fairy portals

2010-03-23T13:52:00.005-04:00

A couple more images of polymer clay fairy portals made by Claybykim using stamps from our Celtic Knotwork Triangles and Triskeles stamp set. These particular portals have been sold.

More stamped tiles and magnets

2010-03-23T12:02:00.008-04:00

Above are some more stone tiles stamped with our Celtic Knotwork Triangle stamps by WyndsongDesigns on Etsy. She has also made some great little porcelain magnets, below. Each image links to a different listing.

Pie Seas Treasury

2010-03-11T14:26:00.005-05:00

BellaPuzzles on Etsy put together a great ocean-themed treasury and let me know that our cling mounted fish and wave stamps were included. Click the image, above, to see the treasury - as long as it is active.

Cheers!

The Secret of Kells

2010-03-10T18:26:00.014-05:00

Just found out about this film on Roger Ebert's website. It looks stunning. Currently in very limited release in the US.

Click the image above to reach the website for the film.

Trailer:

Clip with song from website:

Another clip with nicest visuals (will launch in a new window):

Already saved it on my Netflix list...

(All images Copyright 2008, The Secret of Kells - Studio.)

Scrapbook News and Review: Celtic Necklace

2009-11-29T13:45:00.005-05:00

"Celtic Necklace by Erika Taylor
Supplies: Necklace, pendant, metal, tools: Tenseconds Studios; Stamp: Inklings and Imprints; Ink: Staz-on"

The stamp is from our "Celtic Triple Twists" set.

Photo and project by Erika Taylor, an artisan for Scrapbook News and Review for a feature they did on our company.

Scrapbook News and Review: Projects

2009-11-27T18:50:00.006-05:00

"In another world card by Eva Dobilas, Supplies: Cardstock: Bazzill, Patterned Paper: Basic Grey, Stamps: Inkling Imprints, Ink: Memories and Rangers Distress ink, Twinkling H2O's, Martha Stewart punch, Spellbinders Nestabilities, ribbon from my stash, possibly May Arts"

Stamps of ours that were used are from our "Fairy Flora and Elves" set.

From our feature in Scrapbook News and Review: http://www.scrapbooknewsandreview.com/index.php?option=com_kunena&Itemid=369&func=view&catid=165&id=21780#23101

Celtic Stamps on Stone Tile

2009-11-11T10:19:00.004-05:00

Wyndsong Designs on Etsy sent me a message to let me know about these gorgeous tiles she had created with our Celtic Knotwork stamps. I love how she arranged the different stamp elements.

And - we are very behind on this, but we were a featured manufacturer on http://scrapbooknewsandreview.com/ in October. There are some wonderful projects posted on the site and in the forums using our stamps. I will post images soon...

RubberStampChat Virtual Convention - ON

2009-10-28T20:00:00.005-04:00

Don't know about RubberStampChat? Click here.

The Fall Virtual Convention runs Thursday, Oct 29, 12 Noon EDT until Monday, Nov 2, 11:30PM EST

http://www.inklingsandimprints.net/

Come on over and save 20% off your order when you enter the RubberStampChat discount code (posted in the "Convention Hall" at RubberStampChat - site link above) upon checkout.

(The automated discount will only work on our website. If you would like to purchase items from our other web stores - listed and linked on our website - just drop a note and I can put together reserved listings for you with the discount applied.)

How to Know if You're a Stampaholic

2009-10-04T20:09:00.003-04:00

Way behind on posting this - a blogger on Handmade News sent me an email to let me know she had used an image of our Crescent Moon and Starry Trees set in a quiz she had created: "How to Know if You're a Stampaholic".

EZMount How To Video

2009-09-18T11:22:00.004-04:00

Just found this video which demonstrates how to use EZMount cling cushion to mount stamps. Some helpful tips. Feel free to drop me a note if you find other instructions and demos you think should be shared.

Adopt a Bright Space Fundraiser: Goal Exceeded!

2009-09-17T11:38:00.006-04:00

An update on my department's fundraiser to support a space for teenagers at a Dallas homeless shelter. More details here.

The fundraiser ends tomorrow. Our initial goal was $3,000. As of the last update from early this week, we have reached $3,895!

Thank you again to everyone who has taken part - every little bit helps. Every little bit has gotten us above and beyond our goal. Every little bit adds to the funds the shelter can draw on in order to create a welcoming, stable place for teenagers in crisis.

The fundraiser is running through tomorrow. If you would still like to contribute, please see information here.

Cheers and thanks again!

Fundraiser Update

2009-09-12T13:15:00.004-04:00

There is a little less than a week left in my department's fundraiser for Jim Greenman Adopt a Bright Space (click the name to see more details). It ends on September 18. Our goal is $3,000 and we have currently raised over $2,000. We are very hopeful that we can make a final push in this last week and bring in that last $1,000 so that the Dallas Life shelter can create a warm and inviting safe space for homeless teens.

While I am always thankful to our customers, I want to extend an extra "thank you" to those who have made purchases within the last few weeks. You have brought us closer to our fundraising goal. I will continue to donate 20% of the purchase price from all sales thru Sept 18:

Rubber stamps, mounting and cutting supplies: www.inklingsandimprints.net and www.inkandescence.etsy.com
Patterns & books: vintage and new for clothing, knitting, beading, needlework, quilting, etc. Other crafting supplies: www.sewmizz.etsy.com

If you have no need for craft items, but would like to find another way to contribute, please see the click here for more information.

Thank you again!

Great Cause: Adopt a Bright Space for Homeless Children

2009-08-17T10:06:00.023-04:00

My department at Bright Horizons Family Solutions is running a fundraiser thru Sept 18 in honor of our late coworker, mentor and boss, Jim Greenman. We hope to raise $3,000 to support teenagers in a shelter in Texas through the Adopt a Bright Space program.

Bright Spaces is the flagship program of the Bright Horizons Foundation for Children, the nonprofit arm of Bright Horizons Family Solutions, creating warm, comforting family play areas where children and youth in crisis can grow, learn, and play. (More information about the Bright Space program is below.)

There are three ways you can lend your support to this fundraiser:
Please drop me a note or leave a comment here if you take action - it is wonderful to hear from people who have been moved to take part!

Donate directly through my department's fundraising page on the Bright Horizons Foundation website: http://www.brighthorizonsfoundation.org/fundraising/educationdept.aspx
- All funds donated through this specific page will go directly to the Bright Space at the Dallas Life Foundation.
Make an eco-friendly purchase from Mother Earth Fundraising (my cousin’s company): http://www.motherearthfundraising.com?default_group_id=344
- The Dallas Life Bright Space will receive 40% of the profit on all purchases made via the link above thru August 24. After that date, Dallas Life Bright Space will receive 20% of the profit.
- Select "Bright Horizons Foundation for Children” as your beneficiary at checkout. You can also credit me by entering my Seller #: S10115 or Margaret Stanley at checkout.
- Select from products such as 100% recycled gift-wrap, 'green' school supplies, reusable shopping bags, organic baking mixes, soy candles, fair-trade items, and eco-friendly household and personal products. Mother Earth Fundraising operates in a responsible manner: they are a paperless company that uses only eco-friendly packing materials and purchases carbon-offsets to make all of your orders 'carbon-neutral'.
Purchase any items from one of my following shops:

Bright Spaces Program

Jim Greenman
(July 19, 1949 – April 4, 2009)
Bright Horizons Foundation for Children: Chairman of the Board
Bright Horizons Family Solutions: Senior Vice President of Education and Training

Information about Bright Spaces on the Bright Horizons Foundation for Children website.

Adopt a Bright Space was the brainchild of Jim Greenman, who passed away earlier this year. Jim was the Chairman of the Bright Horizons Foundation Board and the leader of our department. Most importantly, he was committed to making the world a better place for all children. Members of the Education and Training department are adopting a Bright Space in Jim’s memory and as a continuation of his work.

Through Adopt a Bright Space, we will support an existing Bright Space and keep it exciting and bright for the children and youth who use it. While the members of the Education and Training department are spread across the U.S., we are joining together to adopt the Bright Space at the Dallas Life Foundation.

Life in a shelter typically means living in close quarters, and teens especially need autonomy and some time on their own. With your help, we will develop a designated area for teenagers within the existing Bright Space, where they will feel comfortable gathering to enjoy games such as foosball and ping pong, play and listen to music, read, draw, and just “hang out.”

Our goal is to raise $3,000. All donations of any size are greatly appreciated.

To help understand the depth of homelessness in this country and its effect on children, we provide the following facts:

Children and families make up the fastest growing segment of the homeless population.
The average homeless child in America is only 6 years old.
One third of homeless teens have been a first-hand witness to a major crime.
More than 1.35 million American children will experience homelessness this year.

Many heartfelt thanks!

- Maggie

Mobile business...

2009-07-27T17:32:00.004-04:00

Family events over the next two weeks are keeping us on the road, but we have quite a bit of stock with us and arranged for out of stock items to be delivered to where we are.

Cling mount sheets are back in stock and we are getting most orders out within 2 business days.

Cheers!

Our Velvet Tutorials in RubberStampMadness!

2009-07-23T12:16:00.003-04:00

RubberStampMadness asked us to do a velvet embossing tutorial for a sachet and a pillow cover and they are already out in the Fall 2009 issue (is it fall yet?!)

RubberStampMadness can be found in many craft stores, such as Michaels.

We will be posting more sachets on our Etsy shop in the future, and will also be coming out with new rubber stamp sheet designs and polymer stamps by mid/late August.

New RubberStampMadness Ad - and Stamp Discount

2009-07-23T11:38:00.001-04:00

Just received the Fall 2009 issue of RubberStampMadness, with our newest ad.

Discount Code: The discount code is blurred out here - we want to encourage people to pick up a hard copy of RubberStampMadness - a great magazine. The code is good for 10% off rubber stamps when entered during the checkout process on our site. Although there is no way to automatically calculate savings on our Etsy shop, you can enter the code in the notes section when you check out and we will refund you your savings. (Coupon codes apply only to rubber stamps - mounted or unmounted - and will not work on our eBay shop.)

Clear polymer squid ... stamps!

2009-07-07T19:23:00.004-04:00

A prototype - not in production yet...

More fish stamps on clay...

2009-06-28T16:52:00.006-04:00

This whimsical piece was created by Karen Fincannon (website: karenfincannon.com store: snarkledark.etsy.com, blog: karenfincannon.blogspot.com) using our leaping fish stamps. She says:

I sold it at an artshow to a man whose last name was Fish. Your stamps work really well in the clay and I look forward to purchasing and using more in the future!

Always great to hear about people's experiences with the stamps and to see what they create with them.

Thank you, Karen!

Fishy Sushi Tray

2009-05-14T16:44:00.007-04:00

CeramicsbyMarcelle on Etsy emailed me at the end of April to let me know that she had completed a sushi tray that featured our leaping fish stamp and droplets. I love the colors - now I'm craving wasabi. Click on any of the images to reach the listing.

The fairy portals and little surprises

2009-04-13T11:48:00.005-04:00

I meant to post about the portals I ordered from Claybykim once they arrived, but got caught up in a number of other things. Click on the images to see more on Flickr.

They are even more "wee" and detailed then I was expecting. I'm very happy with them.

And I found two other surprises in the package:

These arrow shaped pendant are also made from polymer clay and our Celtic Knotwork Triangles and Triskeles stamp set.

And even more fairy portals...

2009-03-26T13:14:00.007-04:00

A different style... click on an image to reach the listing on ClaybyKim's site. (Here is her blog.)

And more Fairy Portals...

2009-03-25T19:32:00.009-04:00

Claybykim just sent me pictures of three more fairy portal doors she made using stamps from our Celtic Knotwork Triangles and Triskeles stamp set.

She is a busy bee! I love them - all the little details are wonderful. Click on an image to reach that specific listing, then do poke around her shop some more. And bookmark it... she seems to be pretty prolific...

Cheers!

More Collaborative Work

2009-03-25T18:32:00.000-04:00

After seeing Claybykim's fairy portals, I found a thread on Etsy about collaborative work between Etsians. Although we've not worked on projects together with other artisans, we've loved seeing what people have created using our stamps. I've tagged past relevant posts with "collaboration", so that they can all be viewed together on one page.

And then I found some more pieces I had missed - click on the images for the listings (some have sold).

More clay items from adornyourself:

And the quilted stamped "Celtic butterflies" are by cobaltquilter.

Fairy Portal

2009-03-25T14:18:00.006-04:00

Claybykim on Etsy user has created a lovely little polymer clay fairy portal door using one of the stamps from our Celtic Knotwork Triangles and Triskeles stamp set. Click the images to see the listing and take a look at some of her other items. Wonderful pieces!

Featured in Art Nouveau Blog Post

2009-03-12T13:35:00.006-04:00

Kellyssima just contacted me on Etsy to let me know that she featured our Berry Cluster, Ribbon and Leaf UM stamp set in a blog posting on Art Nouveau designs. Click the image below to visit the posting. Some lovely prints and her jewelry is very nice, too. Cheers!

Celtic Treasury

2009-03-11T21:07:00.005-04:00

Etsy user tinahdee just let me know that she had featured our Celtic knotwork triangle stamps in her treasury (it will expire on March 13) - image below - click on it to reach larger view on Flickr.

Pics from England and Ireland

2009-03-07T19:10:00.000-05:00

Just loaded up pictures from England and Ireland - mainly England. I could have sworn I had more... but I'm sure this is "sufficient". I didn't get any taken while I was working on a conference. Ah well...

New RubberStampMadness Ad - and Stamp Discount

2009-02-10T21:25:00.005-05:00

(An edited reposting of an entry originally posted on Jan 30.)

Lost track of time! Just received the Spring 2009 issue of RubberStampMadness, with our newest ad.

Discount Code: The discount code is blurred out here - we want to encourage people to pick up a hard copy of RubberStampMadness - a great magazine. The code is good for 10% off rubber stamps when entered during the checkout process on our site. Although there is no way for savings calculated automatically on our Etsy shop, you can enter the code in the notes section when you check out and we will refund you your savings. (Coupon codes apply only to rubber stamps - mounted or unmounted - and will not work on our eBay shop.)

Stamp Images: Unfortunately, the squid and round geometric design featured in the ad (and probably the reason behind the positive response we've had so far) are not yet available as stamps. (The corner and zig-zag elements are available as part of our Celtic Knotwork Triple Twists sheet.)

Long story as short as possible: We have been testing out processes for creating polymer stamps and had been planning to have those designs come out as our first images in polymer. We experienced some set backs and do not yet have a finalized system.

We will continue to plug away (although it is a busy month and so it will have to be on the back burner for a bit). Once we have a process down, we should be able to get images out at a faster rate and create different sizes to satisfy individual customer requests, etc. We are excited about the possibilities.

In the meantime, we apologize for any disappointment. We certainly did not intend to advertise products that are not yet available.

(We will see how we feel about using (and recommending) the polymer stamps for velvet. I know that there are plenty of people who do use them for these purposes. I want to be sure that there isn't any danger from applying heat to the stamp.)

Artwork in the Ad: Loden put this ad together. For the background he used photo of our embossed velvet pillow, below:

He then layered on images of the corner elements from our Celtic Knotwork Triple Twists as solids in yellow and outlines in red. A layer of semi-transparent blue, then the squid image I made, and the circular design that he created.

Rachel's in The Mountain

2009-02-04T20:07:00.009-05:00

Loden's sister, Rachel (click here for her website, and here for her Etsy store) has had some of her artwork licensed by Tree-Free Greetings and The Mountain t-shirt company for a few years. The latest catalog from The Mountain is out, and they are prominently featuring more of her work. Nice!

Dancing Subway Vent Monsters

2009-02-04T11:49:00.005-05:00

I think this is wonderful.

(I can't embed this video, so clicking on the image will launch the video in a new browser.)

Arizona... again

2009-01-29T21:02:00.001-05:00

Blogging will still be light for a while. Currently in between trips. Was in Arizona a couple of weeks ago - went to Sedona and the Grand Canyon again, of course. My friend and I took loads of pictures.

Enjoy!

Etsy treasuries

2009-01-04T15:23:00.007-05:00

Happy New Year!

So long since my last post. Goes without saying, but: holidays. But posting will probably also be scarce until early March due to travel for work. In the meantime... catching up on posting about a couple of treasuries we were in on Etsy...

First, Gypsymoondesigns convo'd me about this treasury of hers - "Moon Struck" on Dec 30 (now expired). One of our embossed velvet balsam sachets is shown at the bottom right. (Click on the image for a larger view if you want to be able to read the names of the Etsy shops where individual items can be found.)

Then, twosilverstars told me about this one - "ruby glow" - on January 2 (expires on Jan 5). We share a number of favorite artists on Etsy, and her work is pretty incredible as well. This one features our cling mounted Celtic Knotwork stamp set.

(Click on the image for a larger view if you want to be able to read the names of the Etsy shops where individual items can be found.)

Embossed Velvet Pillow Cover

2008-12-07T22:01:00.002-05:00

Created this pillow cover for a tutorial for a magazine. Now the publishing has been pushed back a bit. I am tempted to post the tutorial on Instructables.com and just come up with a new one for the magazine instead... except I know it would end up as another last-minute frantic effort.

Now on our Etsy shop. More photos up on our Flickr account.

"18 x 18 inch throw pillow cover. Dark turquoise acetate/rayon velvet front, sage green Dupioni silk envelope back. Dry clean only.

Hand-embossed mainly using stamps from our Celtic Knotwork Triple Twists rubber stamp set:

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?ref=sr_list_1&listing_id=17956624

Also using bubbles, droplets, and triskeles, from our Celtic Knotwork and Fish, Waves and Bubbles sheet:
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=13817094

The embossed images are created using heat, producing crisp, sunken and iridescent images that can appear shadowy or very reflective depending upon the angle.

For more information about the velvet embossing process: http://www.instructables.com/id/Emboss_Velvet_with_Rubber_Stamps_and_a_Household_I/

Note: We "tiled" a number of the stamps at once - we arranged them on a large block so that they were all heat embossed at once. The stamps that are very close together were not embossed in succession.

Squirrel Nut Zippers!!

2008-12-07T18:43:00.007-05:00

Whoo... this was s.o...m.u.c.h...f.u.n.

It was at the State Theater in Ithaca - celebrating its 80th year. There was a contest for the best 1920's era costume (which we didn't realize when we went), so there were loads of people dressed up: flapper dresses, long pearl necklaces, tuxes, spats, a zoot suit. I had forgotten how gorgeous the inside of that theater is.

The show was great from the start, but there was a point at which it became a blast. I'm trying to remember which song it was that they played when the energy level really took off. People were dancing up front, along the sides and in the aisles (much to the chagrin of the security guys). Almost everything onstage was black and red: big round red paper lanterns, some of the instruments (including shakers) and the performers' outfits and hats.

They screened this near the end and played over it:

After their encore, as people were starting to leave, there was a burst of drums and horn from the front corner of the theater, and the band came out, led by a tuba player, playing as they dame down the aisle. They wandered around the theater, jumping up onto the bar in the back and playing an infectious rhythm for at least another 10-20 minutes or so.

Need to get out more often - not that every outing is guaranteed to be that much fun.

Listening to the Zippers now... tapping my feet again.

Making Velvet Balsam Pine Sachets - Tutorial on Instructables

2008-12-05T21:10:00.012-05:00

Update: This is our second Instructable posted, and our second Instructable featured.

I've been meaning to put a sachet tutorial up for a while: here we go:

Embossed Velvet Balsam Pine Sachets - More cool how to projects

These are the steps I follow when I make my own sachets.

I finally photographed and typed out the steps for a magazine article deadline, which was then pushed back, so I decided to just post this up on Instructables and figure out another project for the magazine when the new deadline comes around.

I also put together pictures and steps for an embossed throw pillow cover. May put that up soon as well...

Cheers!

25% off Stamp Sale "Black Friday" thru "Cyber Monday"

2008-11-29T12:58:00.002-05:00

... on our Etsy and main shop.

12 AM EST Fri Nov 28 - 11:59 PM EST Mon Dec 1.

25% off stamps, free US shipping on all orders over $50, free worldwide shipping on orders over $75. (Order total is the total AFTER discounts).

Discount applies to stamps only. Shipping offer includes all store items. Submit your order, don't pay, and I will send you a PayPal invoice that reflects your total after special offers.

Please note I am currently out of town (but with internet access). Orders will ship on Tues, Nov 25 will ship on Tues or Wed, Dec 2 or 3rd.

Cheers!

New Stamp Mounting Accessories

2008-11-22T20:06:00.006-05:00

We're posting new stamp mounting accessories on our home, Etsy and eBay shops.

We have more sizes of clear acrylic mounting blocks as well as couple of types of scissors for use when mounting rubber stamps with foam.

Smaller Cling Mounted and Unmounted Sets...

2008-11-16T17:37:00.006-05:00

Tree and stars, Set One - from the Crescent Moon and Starry Trees set.

I've been planning on doing this for a while, but just got around to it. I've broken up some of the unmounted and cling mounted stamps sets so that they can be purchased in smaller sets. They come with a small laminated cling card that can fit into a mini-binder.

Still working on the pricing before they will be posted for sale, but here are some photos I took today...

Set One from the Celtic Knotwork Triangle Cling Mount set.

Large crescent moon and stars from the Crescent Moon and Starry Trees set.

Set One from the Celtic Knotwork Triangle unmounted sheet.

New Stamp Sheet is here!

2008-11-12T17:34:00.007-05:00

When we say bold and deep etch - we ain't kidding!

I think it looks wonderful. We've got a mix of sizes on the sheet. All will work for paper, velvet and clays, but the smaller images should work particularly well in precious metal clay.

When I have the chance I will be cling mounting and cutting these out, and embossing some velvet... and photographing the process for an article in a certain magazine (hmm hmmm hmmmm... not going to say the name, as it is never a sure thing until the ink is on the page).

Here it is in our shop, and here it is on our Flickr page.

Will upload pictures of embossed velvet when I have the chance.

One of these sheets is going to be on its way to Canada shortly, to ceramic artist adornyourself. We look forward to some wonderful images of the stamps used in her clay creations! Here are past blog posts that feature her work.

Cheers!

Shipping Price Calculator Updated

2008-11-11T12:42:00.001-05:00

We've just updated the shipping calculator on our shop so that it can more accurately tally the postage costs for orders.

It can still be tricky to make the system calculate the savings if a total collection of purchases can fit in Priority flat rate boxes (for U.S. orders only).

As always, we will refund the difference between paid and actual shipping costs if it is greater than 50 or 75 cents.

If a shipping total seems off to you, please feel free to contact us with a list of what you would like to order and we can let you know what the actual costs will be.

Ancient Temple Found

2008-11-09T10:21:00.010-05:00

I am just so fascinated by things like this. Follow the link for details and photos. I hope that more images and news about this site comes out soon. I would love to see more detailed pictures of the stone carving.

The hill seems to be layers upon layers of stone circles, covered in dirt and built atop of one another.

Unlike the stark plateaus nearby, Gobekli Tepe (the name means "belly hill" in Turkish) has a gently rounded top that rises 50 feet above the surrounding landscape. To Schmidt's eye, the shape stood out. "Only man could have created something like this," he says. "It was clear right away this was a gigantic Stone Age site." The broken pieces of limestone that earlier surveyors had mistaken for gravestones suddenly took on a different meaning.

You will find reference to the belly or "navel" of the world in many religions, and many places have been called these names over time. Some religions/cultures have said that the navel of the world is the point through which humanity, at the least, is supposed to have emerged through to this world. The designation is reserved for the most sacred and important sites within a religion/culture.

The abundant remnants of wild game indicate that the people who lived here had not yet domesticated animals or farmed.
But, Peters and Schmidt say, Gobekli Tepe's builders were on the verge of a major change in how they lived, thanks to an environment that held the raw materials for farming. "They had wild sheep, wild grains that could be domesticated—and the people with the potential to do it," Schmidt says. In fact, research at other sites in the region has shown that within 1,000 years of Gobekli Tepe's construction, settlers had corralled sheep, cattle and pigs. And, at a prehistoric village just 20 miles away, geneticists found evidence of the world's oldest domesticated strains of wheat; radiocarbon dating indicates agriculture developed there around 10,500 years ago, or just five centuries after Gobekli Tepe's construction.

To Schmidt and others, these new findings suggest a novel theory of civilization. Scholars have long believed that only after people learned to farm and live in settled communities did they have the time, organization and resources to construct temples and support complicated social structures. But Schmidt argues it was the other way around: the extensive, coordinated effort to build the monoliths literally laid the groundwork for the development of complex societies.

(Bold added)

Of course... this hill may have been called "belly" because it looks like a round belly... but the name may be very fitting if we come to find that it truly is in the area that developed agriculture.

Update: Another article on the site, pointed out to me by archaeophotography.etsy.com. No new images, though.

New Celtic Stamps and Pre-Order Sale

2008-11-08T12:47:00.001-05:00

Keeping this post up top until the pre-order discount is over.

Finally sent in the file for engraving... our new Celtic knotwork triple twists stamp sheet will be in stock next week!

Order before November 12 and get the sheet at a large pre-order discount.

Can't wait to see what these stamps will be able to do...

What a little searching will turn up...

2008-11-07T20:22:00.001-05:00

Friago.etsy.com posted a thread about Google's blog search function so that others on Etsy could find out if/where their shops have been mentioned on blogs.

Very interesting! I found a few entries about us in blogs from August and September. Some were obviously due to my posting of velvet embossing instructions on Instructibles.com, but this Storque feature on Etsy predates that posting by about 5 days. I had been wondering why there was a flurry of interest in my velvet balsam sachets in August, of all months:

Blog.Craftzine.com had this posting -and they note that someone from Make pointed them to my Instructible. I am assuming they mean this Make:

And I found this posted on Babble.com, "the magazine and community for a new generation of parents":

Comments seem to be disabled, so I can't chime in there with other uses for
embossed velvet (jackets, sachets, pillows, etc.)... ;)

I love the name of this blog - "The Reformed Pirate":

Finally, in late September, there was this post on Indie Sista's blog:

Awesome!

Celtic knotwork triangle - ceramic dish

2008-11-04T13:00:00.001-05:00

Another lovely piece by RedHotPottery on Etsy. This item was stamped with a large triangle stamp from our current Celtic knotwork stamp set.

Click here to see other posts about items she has made using our stamps.

Leaf stamp on ceramic trivet

2008-10-15T17:44:00.006-04:00

Another creation by raquelmasri.etsy.com. She emailed me about it yesterday. She used the large leaf stamp from our Art Nouveau Berries & Leaves stamp set. Click on any image to see the Etsy listing for the trivet.

Add a touch of autumn to your table with this botanical porcelain handmade piece!

Use it to set hot pans, hot drinks,as a candle holder or just by itself as a conversational piece. It can also be used as a focal point on your next mosaic project.

Sculpted, bisqued and glazed. I used a speckled matte tan color for the background and a rich chocolate glaze for the textured leaf.

It is approximately 5 1/2" in diameter.

Sigh - really need to get to a pottery studio and play with clay and stamps myself!

Virtual Rubber Stamp Convention: 30% off stamps

2008-10-09T22:25:00.007-04:00

Thru Monday, October 13 (midnight) we are offering 30% off our rubber stamps from our website and Etsy shop and free shipping within the U.S. on orders over $50.
(Discount does not apply to any non-stamp items, items on our Ebay or DaWanda stores, and is not to be combined with any other discounts. Consult your doctor.)

How to get the discount: Go to the Rubber Stamp Chat website (the site is a great resource), look in The Convention Hall: RSC Virtual Rubber Stamp Convention area for our post, titled simply: Inklings and Imprints, currently the 5th post on the first page. Find the code that you can plug in or mention during checkout on inklingsandimprints.net or our Etsy shop. More info and instructions here.

A virtual Rubber Stamp Convention... No packing, schlepping things around, setting up, breaking down, finding change for large bills, authorizing credit cards, trying to find healthy food when there are only hot dogs available... for $6.75 each.

I came upon Rubber Stamp Chat a while ago, signed up for an account, and then never really did anything on the site. I got an email earlier this week, announcing a "virtual convention" this long weekend. So I dug up the password for the profile I created there and went back over today. A very nice place!

I found myself chatting with a few people whose stamps I've admired for a long time. It did feel as though I was speaking with celebrities - which is a little odd, I guess, since I mainly know of them through their own advertising... but they're in all the major stamp magazines! And I've visited their sites before after seeing their ads and appreciating the images.

Happy shopping, convention-goers. Please note that the refreshment stand is out of ice. We apologize.

Advertising and Stamp Discount Offers

2008-10-08T20:03:00.014-04:00

We have ads coming out soon in the following magazines (from left to right): Cloth Paper Scissors, RubberStampMadness and The Stampers' Sampler.

Each advertisement includes a code (blocked out in these images - sneaky!) that is good for 10% off rubber stamps when entered during the checkout process on our web store. (Coupon codes will not work on our Etsy, eBay or DaWanda shops and the discounts do not apply to cling mount sheets, acrylic blocks or other stamping accessories.)

The codes expire at the end of December.

Cheers!

Cuttlefish

2008-10-04T14:57:00.005-04:00

Our ocean-themed stamp sheet has been delayed, but not forgotten.

I think I have a final version of a cuttlefish that will be included (above), along with the squid and shell images. Loden is gathering some seaweed elements as well.

Part of the delay has to do with the fact that we both have many ideas for ocean-themed images, as well as older artwork that can be reworked for stamps. So deciding how to group the images and which images to work on first slowed the process down a bit. Needless to say, we will definitey have more ocean-themed stamps in the future!

eBay Store

2008-10-04T14:04:00.004-04:00

Oops - have been neglecting the blog. I dusted off my eBay account and have set up a store for the rubber stamps and accessories.

Up on DaWanda

2008-09-14T22:30:00.004-04:00

Signing up on DaWanda has been on my list for some time. People on Etsy talk about it as though it is "Etsy Europe".

A good portion of our sales come from Europe and beyond. So I took some time tonight to do some metric and Euro conversions, put up a shop and post a few items. There is more to work on, but it is a start.

Rubber stamps definitely don't have much of a prescence on the site, but there are no shop or listing fees (for now), so this isn't much of a risk.

Scientist rap

2008-09-11T10:24:00.010-04:00

Nell, a dear friend of mine from high school, has recently relocated to the Ithaca area to be near her beau, Peter Wittich, who is an assistant professor with the Physics Department at Cornell. Peter is a member of a large team of people working on the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), about 27 km in circumference and 100 meters underground, straddling the border between Switzerland and France, outside of Geneva.

The red circle shows the area under which the tunnel for CERN's LHC can be found, near Geneva and lac Leman. The French Alps with Mont Blanc can be seen in the background. Photograph: AC Team

Peter is part of a sub-team working on the Compact Muon Solenoid. (From the linked site):

CMS is designed to see a wide range of particles and phenomena produced in high-energy collisions in the LHC. Like a cylindrical onion, different layers of detector stop and measure the different particles, and use this key data to build up a picture of events at the heart of the collision.

CMS Muon chambers and calorimeter. Photo by Solarnu on Flickr.

Big, big stuff.

The LHC was just fired up for the first time this week (details). To mark this occasion, the Physics Department held a forum this past Tuesday evening. Peter and another Cornell scientist, Yuval Grossman, spoke. There were refreshments, related instruments on display and some small demonstrations. There was a good turnout - including some children - and everyone there seemed engaged and enthusiastic.

It is an exciting project, and the scale - of the LHC itself, the international involvement, the cost, the amount of data that will be produced and analyzed, etc. - is mind-boggling. Peter and Yuval broke down the "science" during their presentations, with easy-to-follow everyday examples as analogies for more complicated concepts , as well as some jokes and, of course, Dilbert cartoons.

Peter also showed some of his own photos of the LHC and the surrounding area (he is quite the photographer - see some of his lovely shots of the Ithaca area, too).

So what does this all have to do with rap? At the end of his talk, Peter showed the video, above, created by some other scientists involved in the LHC project. If you listen (or just read the subtitles), it gives a pretty good breakdown of what the project is all about.

Peter jokingly instructed his students to come down front and dance. That sent a few of them scurrying to the exits with their backpacks.

Update:

Unfortunately, there was a helium leak and a restart of the system is expected in Spring 2009. Huge operation - so many systems to keep functioning at once. Press release.

Etsy Bulletin Board Promo Swap

2008-09-09T09:48:00.005-04:00

I returned to the Dewitt Mall to post promos I received from others in a new promo swap group.

Pics here.

New stamp prices are up

2008-09-07T22:04:00.001-04:00

Our new stamp prices are now up and in effect on Inklings and Imprints and our Etsy shop.

See these blog entries for details.

Note that when we submit new stamp sheets to be made we will have special pre-order discounts. Check back frequently - there is a quick turnaround between submission and the finished stamp sheets arriving!

The Human Calendar

2008-09-06T21:39:00.001-04:00

Fun little feature... although I'm wondering if it is slowing down the loading of the blog...

Click on the calendar to see a full month view. Very cute. I do notice that the humans all seem to be a similar shade.

Found thanks to artsyclay

Latest RubberStampMadness Advertisement

2008-09-05T19:09:00.007-04:00

The berry plate is by RaquelMasri. The Celtic stamped pendant is by DesignsbyGinaLouise. The black and white Celtic images are from upcoming stamp sheets.

A few delays...

2008-09-05T19:00:00.000-04:00

Price change delay

Due to a family emergency, ad deadlines and technical difficulties (when it rains it pours!) the announced price increases are delayed. They should be posted by the end of the weekend.

New stamp sheets on the way

Finalization of new stamp sheet designs has also been delayed, but we should start rolling out the first of the new sets by September 15 at the latest.

Cheers

Watkins Glen Gorge

2008-08-31T08:09:00.004-04:00

Click on any of the photos to see more on Flickr.

Last weekend we went to Watkins Glen (it is at the base of Seneca Lake, the next lake to the west of Cayuga Lake) and walked through the gorge with Loden's family.

I've only ever walked through this gorge once before - last year. I need to remember to make it a more regular event. It is an incredible gorge, with waterfall after waterfall. I kept finding myself wondering "Wait, where am I... which state or country?"

So many variations of light, temperature, color and sound. A wonderful way to spend a day.

Layout...

2008-08-31T07:28:00.005-04:00

Working on sizing and layout for the next Celtic knot work stamp sheet. All Loden's work.

Price Increases: Sept 5

2008-08-28T12:52:00.006-04:00

It seems better to name a specific date for the price changes, rather than a range of time...

So: The price increases for our stamps will be taking effect on Friday, Sept 5. See the post below.

We also have more acrylic stamp blocks and other mounting accessories in stock. I will be posting them on the shop by the end of the weekend.

Cheers!

Squids

2008-08-26T20:25:00.001-04:00

Loden showed me a new way to "clean up" images to prep them for stamp sheets. It is great, but it doesn't seem to have cut down on the time it takes me. Really, much of the time spent is due to the irresistible urge to keep changing little things, here and there. A curve, width or slant of a limb, etc.

This squid image, at least, is done. The images on the left will be the stamp images. The ones on the right are reverse-value to see, roughly, how each stamp would look on velvet or stamped light on dark.

I still have to clean up one more squid image. We have an image of a cuttlefish that will probably be included as well. Between the two of us we also have sea weed, shells, a sand dollar and a horseshoe crab. We will have to play with sizing and layout to see what makes the cut.

Wholesale... and price increases

2008-08-26T20:24:00.002-04:00

On another note, we have been figuring out wholesale pricing and policies. It is not something that we were planning to offer so soon, but we have received a few requests and decided to give it a go.

While researching this, it has become apparent that in order to be able to charge a wholesale price that would allow resellers to offer our stamps at the retail prices we charge, we will need to raise our retail prices.

It is something I've been thinking about for a while... Our current retail prices are a bit low, given the fact that our full stamp sheets are 8.5 x 11 inches or 9 x 12 inches, the deepest etch possible, and the result of original artwork (no clip art). The price changes will bring us more in line with other makers of original stamp designs.

We are still tabulating what the exact prices will be.

As far as timing goes, I expect that the new prices will take effect and appear on our sites within the next couple of weeks - possibly within the next few days. The adjustment won't be too severe, but anyone considering any stamp purchases could save a few dollars by making them sooner rather than later...

Cheers!

2008-08-26T20:23:00.012-04:00

I took a bit of time today to mock up an ad, as we have another deadline for RubberStampMadness...

I love these images (from RaquelMasri, DesignsbyGinaLouise, and RedHotPottery), as well as this one of Adornyourself's buttons (but the image doesn't seem to show up well at this size, unfortunately.) Loden took a look at this mockup and said that it looks as though we sell ceramics. Sigh - I think he is right. I think we will have to pull together some black and white stamp images and add color. We shall see!

Alter Ego

2008-08-22T14:52:00.008-04:00

I am also Sew Mizz... compulsive collector of things-crafts-related.

Sad truth: the first few times I needed to use an actual moving truck to move house was not because of furniture, but because of loads and loads of fabric and arts and crafts supplies.

I could justify it a bit when I was operating as Maggie Bags, but I phased out of that, for the most part, years ago... and the fabric, patterns, notions, etc., are all still with me. Then I came into possession of the sewing pattern collection of a woman who had been sewing for decades. I just couldn't seem to help myself - certainly couldn't let great vintage patterns go to waste.

I started selling patterns on the inkandescence Etsy shop last autumn. As we started adding our stamps to the shop, it seemed a bit crowded, so I created the SewMizz shop for the sewing and other craft patterns, fabrics, etc.

Really, I "should" simply be using the site to move items I already own out of the house... but then I get feedback from people who say that they have found patterns in my shop that they have been looking for for years, or that a pattern is perfect for some event they have coming up. So when I go by yard sales or see patterns for sale in other venues, I can't seem to resist having a look and seeing if there is anything interesting, any out of print patterns people may be looking for.

So my collection grows... Hundreds of patterns, although I am better about not buying so much fabric. Still have bolts and boxes and boxes to go through. I will just have to keep up with posting items. Difficult... every time I look at a piece of fabric I can remember what I thought about making out of it - even if I purchased it over 10 years ago.

Will have to be more brutal about it.

Happy crafting

Ode to Freecycle

2008-08-20T20:03:00.009-04:00

Never heard of it? http://www.freecycle.org/

It's a way for people to post items they no longer want/need and offer them for free to others in their area. It saves items from going into the trash (and in some areas, you have to pay per pound of garbage you put out).

Items large and small... Someone just picked up a loveseat from me and I'm told it will be going into a classroom as a snuggle place for when kids want to read a book. I have a friend who found a beautiful wrought metal bed through Freecycle.

I've given away used clothing, unused unopened hair dye and other items. I've picked up pots for plants, storage racks, a roof vent, etc..

I think and hope it will only grow in popularity for economic and environmental reasons. I also think it is a great community-building phenomenon.

If there isn't a Freecycle group operating in your area you could help start one up (see their site), or you can try posting on Craigslist - they have a Free section as well.

This one was for me...

2008-08-18T20:56:00.003-04:00

Click on image to see listing and more photos.

Etsy seller Krishenka posted a thread in the forums, asking what people thought about the listing she had just put up. I went to look at it... and immediately purchased it. Ha.

It arrived today - fast, given that it came from France. I'm wearing it now. My computer is very impressed by my stylishness.

Star Berry Dish

2008-08-17T19:46:00.006-04:00

Click on any of the images to see the listing.

raquelmasri on Etsy makes lovely ceramic pieces. She recently created this little dish using the large berry cluster stamp from our Art Nouveau Berries & Leaves stamp set. Then she used one of the single berries to create a little raised berry off to the side.

Very cute!

Measures approximately 4 1/2 inches in diameter. (Shrinks during firing.)

Stamps on Precious Metal Clay (PMC)

2008-08-17T08:00:00.001-04:00

Wow... I was looking over feedback on our Etsy shop and following profile links to see which users were also sellers and came across DesignsByGinaLouise's shop.

Immediately, I recognized our Celtic triskele design on a piece in her banner. Then I found these three items... click on the images to reach the listings.

Pendant using one of the Celtic knotwork triangles:

Pendant using two of the droplets from the Fish, Bubbles, Droplets and Waves set:

Pendant using one of the bubbles from the same set:

I knew our stamps would work for Precious Metal Clay, but this is the first time I've seen actual results. I'm very pleased!

Thanks, Gina!

Customer Feedback

2008-08-17T07:30:00.000-04:00

I've added a page to our site where people can view some of the customer feedback we have received on Etsy. Because so many people on Etsy are interested in seeing feedback, I figured I would make it easier for visitors to our non-Etsy site to also be able to view what previous customers have said about our products and services.

When commenters are also Etsy sellers, I've included links to their pages. I've also marked those sellers whose items we have posted here, on Flickr, or in one of our galleries. (Note that I will not be able to edit our galleries for a bit of time due to technical issues.)

Now let's see how often I will manage to update this feedback page!

Embossing Velvet: Video Instructions

2008-08-17T07:00:00.002-04:00

I just found this instructional video for embossing velvet. Seeing things visually can make step-by-step instructions easier to follow, so take a look.

Here are a few notes I have on the video:

The velvet is heavily saturated in this video. I think this amount can be fine if you are using lighter-weight velvets or velvets that already have a "crinkled" look, as the velvet used in the video does. If you are using a heavier velvet, however, this amount of water can cause shiny spots, as well as make the resulting images less crisp. Also, the more saturated the fabric, the longer you need to hold the iron to the velvet in order for it to dry - if you plan on using a stamp to make a number of impressions, there is a greater chance that you will heat any mounting adhesives, which can cause the stamp and/or mounting cushion to slip. I recommend using as little water as is necessary to cover the stamp, just to be safe.
Again, I try to err on the "safe side" - I wouldn't emboss velvet (especially expensive velvet) with an iron surface with this many large steam holes. It makes it harder to control image quality.
While you do want to minimize chances that the velvet could move relative to the stamp, if you have a smooth iron surface that can glide across the fabric you should be able move the iron a bit horizontally. If you are unsure, do err on the conservative side and lift the iron up each time you want to shift its placement.

I know - the video makes it seem so much quicker and easier than all that! Take my slant with a grain of salt. I approach velvet embossing as a business crafter, producing large numbers of items using different types of velvets, stamps, irons, water spritzers, etc.. I have tried to hone things so that I can get the most uniform and predictable results as possible, time and time again. In typing out instructions to pass on to others, I want to convey all the issues I've come across so that others who may do large amounts of embossing can find as much relevant information as possible. If you are simply looking for a fun afternoon project, you may decide to be a little more loose with the details. (But please, still do take a look at the safety precautions I give about some types of velvet content.)

Click here for the written instructions up on our site.

Cheers!

Other ocean elements

2008-08-16T10:19:00.004-04:00

A couple more draft versions of works in progress.

Mounting Stamps

2008-08-16T08:36:00.004-04:00

I have this info up on my site, but thought I would post it here as well...

Note: Many stampers who mount their own stamps recommend using Kai scissors to cut the rubber and cushion. Click here to reach the Kai scissors website. (We will also be carrying Kai scissors soon - just need to try out a couple of types before we make our selections.) You can also often find Kai scissors available on EBay.

Why buy unmounted stamps?
When you purchase uncut/unmounted rubber stamp sheets, you can cut and mount as you please, and pay much less per image than you would for pre-mounted stamps.

Why do you sell unmounted stamps?
Time and costs. As artists, we want to focus our time and energy on designing rubber stamp images. Offering large quantities of trimmed and mounted stamps would require the purchase of a scroll saw... and then the using of the scroll saw. Having a mounting block for every single stamp image also represents a larger investment for inventory, higher shipping costs for materials, and the need for much more storage space.

One of the companies that presses stamp sheets for us offers cling mounting and trimming services. That is how we are able to offer some of our stamps as cling mounted sets. We also carry a small stock of cling mounting cushion and acrylic mounting blocks for those customers who will be mounting their own stamps.

What are the options for mounting stamps?
There are a number of options...

Mounting to Wooden Blocks: Traditionally, stamps have been "permanently" mounted to maple wood block mounts using double-sided adhesive foam cushion between the back of the stamp rubber and the surface of the block. The blocks are often "indexed" (a full-size image of the stamp design is stamped, printed or applied with a sticker onto the top side of the maple block), so that when the stamp is being used the crafter can have an idea of where the stamped image will be placed. You can purchase wood blocks and standard adhesive mounting cushion through a number of online sources, as well as find how-to's. We do not carry supplies for mounting stamps on wood.

How to: http://www.nettally.com/palmk/RubberStampBlank.html - This site actually talks about carving your own stamps and mounting them permanently on wood, but you can use the tips for mounting purchased unmounted rubber stamps as well. If you scroll down to the text that is right below the illustration of a plane in a rectangle, there are some good tips about an adhesive that should be able to handle heat! (Remember to use good ventilation and possibly a mask when using spray adhesives!!!)

Cling Mounting: Over time, people have experimented with various other ways of mounting stamps. I remember purchasing adhesive-backed velcro to temporarily attach stamps to acrylic stamp blocks that also had velcro attached to them. One popular development has been cling mounting. The stamps are not permanently adhered to the mounting blocks. This allows crafters to have a small collection of mounting blocks that can be used repeatedly with any stamps that fit on them. Clear acrylic blocks have become the top choice, as they allow the crafter to see exactly where the stamp is being placed.

As mentioned above, some of our stamp sheets are available as cling mounted sets. The images are trimmed, mounted on cling cushion, and come adhered to laminated storage cards that can be hole-punched for binder storage. For those who would like to purchase unmounted stamp sets and trim and mount the stamps themselves, we offer cling mounting cushion and clear acrylic blocks in our Rubber Stamp Accessories section.

How to: Sunday International, the company that creates "EZ Mount", the brand of cling cushion that we carry, has the instructions for cling mounting stamp sheets on their site. Click on the image to see the full sized image on their site.

Sunday International has added an important note on their site: "It is not recommended that you store any of your EZMount Stamps on Acetate Sheets. Acetate is made with chemicals that will react with EZMount and any other cling cushion type product, making an almost permanent bond between it and the cling."

About the cling mount option
The cling mounting options saves money, resources, and storage space.

Cling mounting cushion has adhesive on one side and a vinyl static cling surface on the other that can adhere to acrylic blocks, laminated sheets, and many other glossy surfaces. Cling cushioned stamps can be mounted and remounted on blocks with no temporary adhesive to clean up. Even CD and cassette cases can be used as stamp mounts.

You save on the price of individually mounted stamps as well as on extra shipping costs due to the weight of the blocks used for individually mounted stamps. An assortment of sizes of acrylic blocks can be used as interchangeable mounts for many stamps. You can arrange an assortment of stamps together on one mount for a complete image/scene, and then separate them again afterwards. Clear acrylic blocks allow you to see through the block while stamping for more accuracy, so there is no need for indexing the mounting block.

Cling mounted stamps can be stored more compactly than wood mounted stamps - they can be stuck to laminated sheets and stored in a binder or even stuck to a fridge or file cabinet. If you find that your stamps are not adhering as well over time, try wiping the block and cling surfaces with a damp cloth. Dust can interfere with the adhesion. If you think you need a little more cleaning power, use warm water and a little soap to dampen the cloth.

Cling mounting for stamping velvet, clay, paper, etc.
Our cling mounted sets are mounted on 1/8 inch thick cling cushion. That is also the thickness of the cling cushion sheets that we sell separately.

Velvet: I recommend 1/8 inch thickness or thicker for cling cushioning if you will be using the stamps for embossing velvet. Having thicker cushioning behind the stamp raises the image farther off the surface beneath it, so that the dampened velvet is less likely to pick up impressions or shiny spots from the surface around the stamp. It isn't necessary to use a mounting block when embossing velvet. Having 1/8 inch thick trimmed cushion behind the stamp should be sufficient.
Clays: How you will be making impressions in the clay will determine whether you should use cushioning or mounting for the stamps. If you are laying the stamps face up on a surface and pressing the clay down onto them, then there should be no need for cushioning, unless you want to be sure that the stamp images are raised higher than any surface underneath them. If you plan to press stamp images into the clay from above or from the side, then you will probably want to go with cushion and a mounting block.
Paper and fabrics: Typically, paper and fabric are stamped by pressing a stamp down onto the stamping surface. In these cases, your stamp should be backed with cushion and on a mount. There are techniques - such as using a brayer - that involve the stamp image being placed face-up on a surface and the paper or fabric placed down onto them. In these cases, it is up to you to decide if you want the stamps backed with cushion or mounts.

Would have loved to see this live

2008-08-15T22:17:00.005-04:00

The surprises just keep on coming. You can hear how overwhelmed the audience is. So funny to see Paul running around, trying to tend to everyone. He doesn't know what to do with himself. Enjoy...

One night on Letterman
Uploaded by Hanvak. - Explore more music videos.

Stamping/Sculpting/Cut Paper

2008-08-15T09:55:00.008-04:00

I don't remember how I came across this yesterday - I think I was looking for brayers... they were carried on this site, and I found this image. What a project! Click the link to visit the site and see a much larger image. Creative woman! All image rights reserved, etc., by StarSailorScrapper

Stamped Dipping Bowls

2008-08-14T18:45:00.005-04:00

More lovely work by RedHotPottery on Etsy.

These dipping bowls were stamped with the triskele elements from our current Celtic knotwork stamp set.

Featured on Instructables

2008-08-13T09:53:00.006-04:00

We just posted a velvet embossing tutorial (based on the one we have on our own site) on Instructables yesterday, and received notice this morning that it was featured. Nice!

Emboss Velvet with Rubber Stamps and a Household Iron - More cool how to projects

Poke around some more on the Instructables site - some very interesting things there.

Ceramic Celtic knotwork buttons

2008-08-12T16:14:00.011-04:00

Click on the images to see the listings for them.

More wonderful stamped clay objects from Willow Tree Designs (adornyourself is her username on Etsy). She used the small triskele stamp from our Fish & Celtic Knotwork stamp sheet.

I just found the listing for these buttons, but they have already sold. She does welcome custom orders, however, and may post more again...

Celtic knotwork in the works

2008-08-12T13:48:00.004-04:00

Loden is currently working on a range of Celtic knotwork designs for stamp sets. Here is a shot of one, in progress.

Q: When is September not September?

2008-08-12T13:34:00.007-04:00

A: When it is August.

Once upon a time I knew that monthly magazines typically come out a month earlier than the date on their cover. But I haven't subscribed to a monthly magazine for years - just tend to pick up magazines that catch my eye, one at a time. So I had forgotten this... had not remembered this fact the whole time we were prepping for our ad for the Sept/Oct issue of RubberStampMadness to come out.

Oops! Here it is! Got this in the mail yesterday.

We are right inside the front cover, which is very nice. We just weren't expecting the timing. Loden would have caught the error of my assumption, but when I said we had until September before the ad came out, he assumed that I knew that that was when it would actually be available.

So... we are still plugging away at more stamp sets. More will come within a few weeks, they just won't predate or coincide with the appearance of our first magazine ad. C'est la vie!

Cheers!

Good morning

2008-08-11T06:54:00.003-04:00

Squid, squid, squid, squid, squiddley-squid, squid, squid

2008-08-11T06:06:00.007-04:00

Why yes, I'm still fussing with the squid designs.

No - that's not the half of all of the drafts and versions.

Yes, an image so "simple" and "cartoony" should take less time. But the arms and suction cups need to be arranged...

just

so....

hmmm...

Stamps on leathah

2008-08-10T15:32:00.006-04:00

I thought I had posted these images earlier... click on the images to see them and others in Flickr.

These are images of our Celtic triangle knotwork stamps on a suede pouch, made by Captured Light Studio (http://www.anxious1.etsy.com/). The item is no longer in her shop - it was posted several months ago now...

Squid-dle-y doo

2008-08-09T12:37:00.011-04:00

Drafts

I have been grabbing time here and there to work on an ocean-themed stamp sheet and have been caught up in an image of a squid. Questions about size, detail, how much "artistic license" to take in order to make it work as a velvet or clay stamp. An earlier version had much longer arms, but squid arms are not as long as those of octopi, in relation to the body.

Hope to wrap this up today, as I have many other ocean elements to get to. Want to get sheets into production before the ad comes out in Rubber Stamp Madness.