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Alternative Stamp Supplies
Braymen, Marsha MBraymen@kmg.com
The post on the wire reminded me that you can find great pinstriping at an auto parts store. I found some very thin metallic red, copper and black pinstriping at Auto Zone a couple of years ago. It was really inexpensive and exactly the same as the stuff I paid big money for at a little stamp store in Las Vegas. I used it to trim the edges on a card for a swap and several people wanted to know where I purchased it. Have now run out so need to hit the auto parts stores again.
The post on the wire reminded me that you can find great pinstriping at an auto parts store. I found some very thin metallic red, copper and black pinstriping at Auto Zone a couple of years ago. It was really inexpensive and exactly the same as the stuff I paid big money for at a little stamp store in Las Vegas. I used it to trim the edges on a card for a swap and several people wanted to know where I purchased it. Have now run out so need to hit the auto parts stores again.
Donna blue5ft3@javanet.com
Seaweed and sea sponges ,driftwood, shells, sand and PILES of muscle shells to crush for backgrounds.
Seaweed and sea sponges ,driftwood, shells, sand and PILES of muscle shells to crush for backgrounds.
ScrapDragon rdohna@home.com
Sawdust: Well I think that carpenters will often make a paste (similar to the putty you all were describing) by mixing the sawdust with a small amount of glue. They then use it to fill the drill holes and such on whatever they are making. It dries to a tannish color but hard like wood. Maybe you could make your own kind of spackle paste with it!? One baggie of sawdust should make tons of paste!
Sawdust: Well I think that carpenters will often make a paste (similar to the putty you all were describing) by mixing the sawdust with a small amount of glue. They then use it to fill the drill holes and such on whatever they are making. It dries to a tannish color but hard like wood. Maybe you could make your own kind of spackle paste with it!? One baggie of sawdust should make tons of paste!
Gayle Page-Robak page@mb.sympatico.ca
And how about the roll of metallic tape they sell in the hardware store...about 2 inches wide...you can use it with your stencils to dry emboss on and make neat additions to your cards. I think it is in the automotive department.
And how about the roll of metallic tape they sell in the hardware store...about 2 inches wide...you can use it with your stencils to dry emboss on and make neat additions to your cards. I think it is in the automotive department.
libby Krueger krueger@earthlink.net
Aluminum tape is great for attaching to the bottoms of the flat glass beads once you've stamped on the acetate and attached it to the bottom of the glass. The tape acts as a reflector and the shiny part shows on the outside of the tape and protects all that the glass blob sits on. You can create any type of "paperweight" with the glass blobs and the aluminum tape. I find my aluminum tape at the dollar store.
Aluminum tape is great for attaching to the bottoms of the flat glass beads once you've stamped on the acetate and attached it to the bottom of the glass. The tape acts as a reflector and the shiny part shows on the outside of the tape and protects all that the glass blob sits on. You can create any type of "paperweight" with the glass blobs and the aluminum tape. I find my aluminum tape at the dollar store.
Tyra Cloud9@netnet.net
Ohh I LOVE this thread!!!! Lots of cool things you can find to be creative with. Let me see..what cool stuff have I found cool uses for?
1. Was making a "manly" card...decided I needed embellishments. So I went in the garage and got into hubby's tool box. I found some nifty small fish hooks that look just wonderful when you put some polymer clay around the eye end...dangle some little feathers and beads. Very "fly fishing" esque...
2. Clear fishing line...VERY useful, took hubby's entire roll and moved it to the art room.
3. Fishing swivels: Once again, dadgum useful for lots of stuff. I used mine to make a pin with...use the swivels to add "dangle stuff" to the bottom of the pin. I gotta get me some more of those swivels.
4. Wooden Dowels: Yep..took 'em outta the garage and moved them into my stamping room. I've found lots of nifty uses for those too. I have a big one, that is maybe 1.5 inches or so in diameter. Had hubby cut them into about 2.5 inch lengths..and now I use three of those dowels to stamp my small unmounted stamps with. Smaller dowels, like the tiny ones, I cut and use for the ends on stamped paper wall hangings...sort of like scrolls.
5. Wire mesh...we all know what to use that for!!! And you can also find it in various sizes at the home improvement stores.
6. Needle nose plyers....hubby don't use them that often so I took them. Great for beading purposes and also for adding jump rings to stuff or holding things that get hot.
7. Small hand held drill and various bits. Hubby gave it to me since he now has the "POWER DRILL"..and has no use for a hand held one... It's great for drilling holes in handmade books for binding....etc.
8. Saw dust..yes, I said SAW DUST...LOL Hubby was sawing away on some stuff a few week ends ago with the table saw and I see all this clean...nice light tan wood dust....hmmm. You know, there's GOTTA be something I can do with this so I scooped up a big baggy full of it. Haven't found a use for it yet, but I'm very sure I will. ANy ideas would be much appreciated.
9. Various sizes of metal washes and those things that screw on to the back of a bolt (can't remember what they are called)..these are pretty cool when you use the tiny ones for beading accessories and collage pieces.
10. Aluminum cans...you can actually cut these into pieces and make cool stuff out of them. Ahhhh...if we could get Sandi Marr to elaborate on this...I'd LOVE it...I saw a card she made for Jim Stephans at the convention this last week. She had cut out a butterfly from an aluminum can and colored it with glitter I think. It was one of the most lovely pieces I've seen in a while. Come on Sandi....how did you do that???
11. Bird seed...makes cool shaker card stuff.
12. Sand. I went to Lake Michigan this summer (not far from my house) and there was this beach with the most beautiful small grained sand. Scooped up a big old baggy full and took it home. I use it for "sand" on cards...in shaker cards....etc.
13. Various Spices out of my kitchen. I just LOVE to use bay leaves for some of my stamping embellishments. Mustard seed, celery seed, dried onion pieces, poppy seeds, dill seeds, etc..they all have very nice odors and also make pretty "add ons".
14. Cinnamon sticks....ohh these are wonderful for lots of things. Just love how they smell too.
15. Birch Bark....if you have it in your area...get you some. Don't remove bark from a live tree though, it will kill it. Just find some big branches that have fallen off...or dead trees. Tear off a big chunk of the birch bark. Now..after you drag it home...peel off the bard in thin layers. You can now stamp on it..and use about any medium of color on top of it. VERY cool'ish.
16. Rocks..they are cool to stamp on...draw on...use for embellishments.
Ohh I LOVE this thread!!!! Lots of cool things you can find to be creative with. Let me see..what cool stuff have I found cool uses for?
1. Was making a "manly" card...decided I needed embellishments. So I went in the garage and got into hubby's tool box. I found some nifty small fish hooks that look just wonderful when you put some polymer clay around the eye end...dangle some little feathers and beads. Very "fly fishing" esque...
2. Clear fishing line...VERY useful, took hubby's entire roll and moved it to the art room.
3. Fishing swivels: Once again, dadgum useful for lots of stuff. I used mine to make a pin with...use the swivels to add "dangle stuff" to the bottom of the pin. I gotta get me some more of those swivels.
4. Wooden Dowels: Yep..took 'em outta the garage and moved them into my stamping room. I've found lots of nifty uses for those too. I have a big one, that is maybe 1.5 inches or so in diameter. Had hubby cut them into about 2.5 inch lengths..and now I use three of those dowels to stamp my small unmounted stamps with. Smaller dowels, like the tiny ones, I cut and use for the ends on stamped paper wall hangings...sort of like scrolls.
5. Wire mesh...we all know what to use that for!!! And you can also find it in various sizes at the home improvement stores.
6. Needle nose plyers....hubby don't use them that often so I took them. Great for beading purposes and also for adding jump rings to stuff or holding things that get hot.
7. Small hand held drill and various bits. Hubby gave it to me since he now has the "POWER DRILL"..and has no use for a hand held one...
8. Saw dust..yes, I said SAW DUST...LOL Hubby was sawing away on some stuff a few week ends ago with the table saw and I see all this clean...nice light tan wood dust....hmmm. You know, there's GOTTA be something I can do with this so I scooped up a big baggy full of it. Haven't found a use for it yet, but I'm very sure I will. ANy ideas would be much appreciated.
9. Various sizes of metal washes and those things that screw on to the back of a bolt (can't remember what they are called)..these are pretty cool when you use the tiny ones for beading accessories and collage pieces.
10. Aluminum cans...you can actually cut these into pieces and make cool stuff out of them. Ahhhh...if we could get Sandi Marr to elaborate on this...I'd LOVE it...I saw a card she made for Jim Stephans at the convention this last week. She had cut out a butterfly from an aluminum can and colored it with glitter I think. It was one of the most lovely pieces I've seen in a while. Come on Sandi....how did you do that???
11. Bird seed...makes cool shaker card stuff.
12. Sand. I went to Lake Michigan this summer (not far from my house) and there was this beach with the most beautiful small grained sand. Scooped up a big old baggy full and took it home. I use it for "sand" on cards...in shaker cards....etc.
13. Various Spices out of my kitchen. I just LOVE to use bay leaves for some of my stamping embellishments. Mustard seed, celery seed, dried onion pieces, poppy seeds, dill seeds, etc..they all have very nice odors and also make pretty "add ons".
14. Cinnamon sticks....ohh these are wonderful for lots of things. Just love how they smell too.
15. Birch Bark....if you have it in your area...get you some. Don't remove bark from a live tree though, it will kill it. Just find some big branches that have fallen off...or dead trees. Tear off a big chunk of the birch bark. Now..after you drag it home...peel off the bard in thin layers. You can now stamp on it..and use about any medium of color on top of it. VERY cool'ish.
16. Rocks..they are cool to stamp on...draw on...use for embellishments.
Tyra Cloud9@netnet.net
Subject: Cross Over Products
I called products that originate in one "area" (such as home improvement products) and end up being used in another area (such as the crafting and art areas) cross over products. I too have noticed many products in the home improvement and art supply areas have crossed over into crafting and standard stamping supplies. Many times stamp companies will buy these products, divide them into smaller quantities, relabel them and sell them (at a much higher price) as "stamping supplies". Now, this isn't necessarily a bad thing. It brings "ideas" to us that never would have occurred otherwise. This is also why I LOVE the fact that Don and Linda are making standard artists supplies available to use at very GOOD prices. Sure, standard artist supplies ARE more expensive than regular crafting supplies can be. A good example is colored pencils. You can get a cheap brand of them, Crayola or Prang, at about any department store. They are wonderful to learn with because they are so cheap and you aren't worried so much about "wasting" them. But...once you learn to use them...and decide you really like them....you then look for a more professional higher quality brand to use. I learned to use colored pencils using crayola and prang brand. Once I decided I loved them...I saved up my money and bought a full set of the Berol Prismacolor Colored Pencils. There is absolutely NO comparison of quality between the cheap brands and the Berols...The berols were a much HIGHER quality product, deeper pigments and more smooth applications. (which means they blended better as well) So, basically what I"m saying is that if you really like a particular medium...it is WELL worth your time and money to buy higher quality products. They may be more expensive at first with your initial purchase....but they WILL last MUCH longer than lesser quality products and you will find yourself using them more ofter as well.
Also, when I see a "new stamping product" hit the market..my first inclination is to find out as much about the product as I can...then I look thru my art supply cattys and look thru stores such as Menards and Payless Cashways (home improvement stores) and see if there isn't something similiar already available. Many times this pays off for me, as I know it has for others. So look around you..experiment..and have fun.
Subject: Cross Over Products
I called products that originate in one "area" (such as home improvement products) and end up being used in another area (such as the crafting and art areas) cross over products. I too have noticed many products in the home improvement and art supply areas have crossed over into crafting and standard stamping supplies. Many times stamp companies will buy these products, divide them into smaller quantities, relabel them and sell them (at a much higher price) as "stamping supplies". Now, this isn't necessarily a bad thing. It brings "ideas" to us that never would have occurred otherwise. This is also why I LOVE the fact that Don and Linda are making standard artists supplies available to use at very GOOD prices. Sure, standard artist supplies ARE more expensive than regular crafting supplies can be. A good example is colored pencils. You can get a cheap brand of them, Crayola or Prang, at about any department store. They are wonderful to learn with because they are so cheap and you aren't worried so much about "wasting" them. But...once you learn to use them...and decide you really like them....you then look for a more professional higher quality brand to use. I learned to use colored pencils using crayola and prang brand. Once I decided I loved them...I saved up my money and bought a full set of the Berol Prismacolor Colored Pencils. There is absolutely NO comparison of quality between the cheap brands and the Berols...The berols were a much HIGHER quality product, deeper pigments and more smooth applications. (which means they blended better as well) So, basically what I"m saying is that if you really like a particular medium...it is WELL worth your time and money to buy higher quality products. They may be more expensive at first with your initial purchase....but they WILL last MUCH longer than lesser quality products and you will find yourself using them more ofter as well.
Also, when I see a "new stamping product" hit the market..my first inclination is to find out as much about the product as I can...then I look thru my art supply cattys and look thru stores such as Menards and Payless Cashways (home improvement stores) and see if there isn't something similiar already available. Many times this pays off for me, as I know it has for others. So look around you..experiment..and have fun.
PJ Green pjgreen@midrivers.com
Okay, strange use but great effect-----take plumber's gasket material (it's made of rubber) and cut a peice to fit around the big dowel. Next, carve a design (could be a simple textured background) into one side of the rubber gasket material. Last step is to adhere it to the dowel with rubber cement. You may have to put rubber bands around it to hold it together until the adhesive is completely set. To use the background stamp, roll it onto your ink pad, then roll across your cardstock or paper. I also just started using my hubby's Dremel tool for carving intricate designs into stamp carving material & erasers. Makes the job tons faster and easier!!!
Sawdust: Great for adding texture to handmade papers, for use on cards as sand, fur, texture for a cabin roof. You can also color it with RIT dye to give yourself other possibilities!
Aluminum cans: cut the aluminum can top and bottoms off and up one side so I have a large flat surface. You can easily cut these with regular scissors. Then, I wipe it down with the static pouch. Next, stamp and emboss an image onto the aluminum and cut it out. I usually cut it out abit larger than the image. Next, I take my dry emboss stylus and trace around the outside of the image to give it depth. It is kinda like a reverse embossing. Sometimes I will then pounce my stylus on the aluminum around the outside of the stamped image to give it a textured look. I then adhere it to the front of a card. I love to "color" a gingerbread man with a glue pen then sprinkle on ground cinnamon. Gives a wonderful scent to the card!
I also love to use:
1. Carpet samples for stamping textured backgrounds.
2. Small candies for inside shaker cards.
3. The sample chips for countertops from the hardware store for embossing tiles (they can sometimes be easily cut down to size with a sharp knife or razor blade-I use a box cutter)
4. The bath scrunchie thing is great for making backgrounds.
5. Linoleum flooring scraps are great stamp carving material! Cheap too!
6. Shelf Liner - I use this for stamping backgrounds and also emboss it for collage work on cards.
Okay, strange use but great effect-----take plumber's gasket material (it's made of rubber) and cut a peice to fit around the big dowel. Next, carve a design (could be a simple textured background) into one side of the rubber gasket material. Last step is to adhere it to the dowel with rubber cement. You may have to put rubber bands around it to hold it together until the adhesive is completely set. To use the background stamp, roll it onto your ink pad, then roll across your cardstock or paper. I also just started using my hubby's Dremel tool for carving intricate designs into stamp carving material & erasers. Makes the job tons faster and easier!!!
Sawdust: Great for adding texture to handmade papers, for use on cards as sand, fur, texture for a cabin roof. You can also color it with RIT dye to give yourself other possibilities!
Aluminum cans: cut the aluminum can top and bottoms off and up one side so I have a large flat surface. You can easily cut these with regular scissors. Then, I wipe it down with the static pouch. Next, stamp and emboss an image onto the aluminum and cut it out. I usually cut it out abit larger than the image. Next, I take my dry emboss stylus and trace around the outside of the image to give it depth. It is kinda like a reverse embossing. Sometimes I will then pounce my stylus on the aluminum around the outside of the stamped image to give it a textured look. I then adhere it to the front of a card. I love to "color" a gingerbread man with a glue pen then sprinkle on ground cinnamon. Gives a wonderful scent to the card!
I also love to use:
1. Carpet samples for stamping textured backgrounds.
2. Small candies for inside shaker cards.
3. The sample chips for countertops from the hardware store for embossing tiles (they can sometimes be easily cut down to size with a sharp knife or razor blade-I use a box cutter)
4. The bath scrunchie thing is great for making backgrounds.
5. Linoleum flooring scraps are great stamp carving material! Cheap too!
6. Shelf Liner - I use this for stamping backgrounds and also emboss it for collage work on cards.
Mars Mannix minx1020@hotmail.com
just thought i'd share that you can find all kinds of stamping stuff at beauty supply stores. Big ol' bag of wedge sponges, natural sponges (backgrounds!!!) loofahs (backgrounds!) all kinds of little tray thingies that can hold H20, EP, etc., bags of disposable plastic gloves (Envirotex), sparkle gel and sparkle hair spray you can use on cardstock, Did you know you can emboss Lipstick????? Stuff for artificial fingernail decoration: glitter, appliques, holo foil strips, stickons, etc.
just thought i'd share that you can find all kinds of stamping stuff at beauty supply stores. Big ol' bag of wedge sponges, natural sponges (backgrounds!!!) loofahs (backgrounds!) all kinds of little tray thingies that can hold H20, EP, etc., bags of disposable plastic gloves (Envirotex), sparkle gel and sparkle hair spray you can use on cardstock, Did you know you can emboss Lipstick????? Stuff for artificial fingernail decoration: glitter, appliques, holo foil strips, stickons, etc.
Marian chr3436@montana.com
with the alum cans I cut them out run through the crimper my fiskars one and get a lovely corrguated background then cut with the scallop scissors and it makes a neat layer for many things.
with the alum cans I cut them out run through the crimper my fiskars one and get a lovely corrguated background then cut with the scallop scissors and it makes a neat layer for many things.
KIMBERVEN@aol.com
RE: UNUSUAL STAMPING OBJECTS
I have seen or tried the following: Using styrafoam (packing peanuts or chunks of styrafoam), Bubble wrap w/ brayer, rice in a balloon, Koosh ball, crumpled dryer sheet, veggies (potato, celery etc)
RE: UNUSUAL STAMPING OBJECTS
I have seen or tried the following: Using styrafoam (packing peanuts or chunks of styrafoam), Bubble wrap w/ brayer, rice in a balloon, Koosh ball, crumpled dryer sheet, veggies (potato, celery etc)
Janice K Donovan bydonovan@NorthState.Net
Did you know that this actually has a name? It is called intervention art, where you take any object and use it for an artistic purpose for which it was not originally intended.
Did you know that this actually has a name? It is called intervention art, where you take any object and use it for an artistic purpose for which it was not originally intended.
Pam Arevalo arevalok@ghplus.infi.net
How about trying sea shells,marshmallows, and there is always carving/stamping with a potato.
How about trying sea shells,marshmallows, and there is always carving/stamping with a potato.
STAMPNSTCH@aol.com
One of the best things that I can think of is to use a block or blocks of Penscore and pick up patterns from all kinds of things like: nature items (ferns, pussy willows, rocks, barks); laces or other fabric textures; rice; rubberbands; paper clips, buttons, etc.......you get the idea! Then ink the block and print! I have done some really great cards using Penscore and have seen others that were great too.
One of the best things that I can think of is to use a block or blocks of Penscore and pick up patterns from all kinds of things like: nature items (ferns, pussy willows, rocks, barks); laces or other fabric textures; rice; rubberbands; paper clips, buttons, etc.......you get the idea! Then ink the block and print! I have done some really great cards using Penscore and have seen others that were great too.
Dolores Hanson herself@jps.net
Another found object - different leaves, flat flowers, etc. can be placed on the paper and brayered over. Makes a great card or background paper for a card.
Another found object - different leaves, flat flowers, etc. can be placed on the paper and brayered over. Makes a great card or background paper for a card.
KIMBERVEN@aol.com
I like the edge of a foam plate and the fork tips for grass. Neat!
I like the edge of a foam plate and the fork tips for grass. Neat!
For information on related topics see:
Newbie Center: Basic Supplies-->Surfaces
Newbie Center: Basic Supplies-->Surfaces