Need a gift in a hurry? Domino pendants in 3 minutes or less! + Cleaning tip for StazOn ink

I don't waste money on fancy cleaners. I don't like to waste a lot of time cleaning my stamps either. Instead I just keep a bottle of alcohol (regular medical rubbing alcohol, isopropyl) and a paper towel on my craft desk. Just dump a little alcohol on your paper towel and gently wipe off the StazOn ink from your stamps.



Two rubber stamp sheets (recycling and last domino pendant preview) are now available on the rubber stampspage. I've also added this super quick coloring method using StazOn ink pads on the domino jewelry instructions page.



Pick out a light ink pad color and stamp your background pattern. Optionally, before or instead of background stamping, you can colorize the domino surface by randomly dabbing on the StazOn ink. Use a q-tip dipped in alcohol to lighten the ink and rub it into the surface. This ink is usually dry enough to move onto the next step within a minute.



Stamp your main image with a darker ink over your colored background.



Optionally you can keep going and add additional accents like stamped patterned edges (used brilliance gold pigment ink here) or use a sharpie marker to color the edges, add glitter etc. Then glue on a pendant bail or dill your hole.

Something a little different.

I had an unexpected creative spurt last night after browsing some new vector tutorials and Adobe Photoshop digital artist sites. While I usually stick to a traditional Art Nouveau style, these new images mix in a more fashionably modern twist. I'm not sure if this style will appeal to my base, but they will be available as rubber stamps in a couple weeks.



I was also browsing for quotes yesterday hoping to find nice sayings for the future cards/example art. A few that I thought were pretty:
"The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen nor touched... but are felt in the heart." (Helen Keller)

"Don't be afraid to take one large step because you can't cross a chasm in two small leaps." (Davil Lloyd George)

"Happiness is the best makeup." (unknown)

KrystalKraft Clear Acrylic Pieces & New Domino Rubber Stamps

New product! With my most popular item being domino size rubber stamp sheets, I've decided to put out another one sooner than anticipated - #Bold-121 which will become available for sale in about 1 - 2 weeks (along with the recycling theme mini sheet I previewed in my last post.) I'll update again when they are posted with example art.




I've also been asked what else you can use the domino stamps on. I will be making a special page for the "everything but dominoes" tutorial including stamping on clay for pendants or mosaic tiles, UTEE (embossing powder) jewelry, using the stamps on paper for card panels, stampbord and acrylic pieces.



There has been a product I've always liked to use these stamps with, but found that since not very many stores carry them they are not well known. That's "KrystalKraft" clear acrylic pieces with one side that is pre-treated to accept a variety of inks & coloring media. It looks like frosted glass, but once it is inked/stamped/marker
colored/glittered/glued on etc. it becomes clear. Unlike regular acrylic, plastic or acetate products, KrystalKraft's treated surface is not slippery, making it easy to stamp or paint on for beginners. With a thickness of about 1/8" you can enjoy a glass-like appearance without the fragility!




I am now selling select styles of these acrylic charms, pendants, pin and mini journal kits on my website. If they do well I will be expanding the amounts of shapes I offer. You can check out the new product and tutorial page here: KrystalKraft Clear Acrylic Pieces to Rubber Stamp On!




Also, I have this terrible habit of writing my ideas for new projects and tutorials down on whatever scraps of paper I have laying on my desk. Finally, the pile became unbearable and I went through all my notes and copied them neatly onto one sheet. What I ended up with was a list of over 100 things I need to do, including plans for new stamp designs and at least 7 new tutorial pages for my website. It will take some time to get there, but I swear I'll get them all done!

Kimberly