Splitcoaststampers.com - the world's #1 papercrafting community
You're currently viewing Splitcoaststampers as a GUEST. We pride ourselves on being great hosts, but guests have limited access to some of our incredible artwork, our lively forums and other super cool features of the site! You can join our incredible papercrafting community at NO COST. So what are you waiting for?
I just got my kit today and I am having so much fun looking through everything and playing. My question to you though, how do you cut your stamps? In a square/rectangle shape, or around the image as close as you can?
__________________ Jennifer
Proud Mom to 2 beautiful sons & 1 precious daughter
I use the SU scissors which make SUCH a difference. I cut as closely as I can to the image. If you leave the rectangle shape you will get extra streaks on your page. I probably cut closer than is recommended, but it doesn't leave streaks like the storebought ones.
Personally I just separate them along the perforation, and stick them on the wood, lining up to the edge on the left hand side. I'm careful with the ink to not get it anywhere else on the stamp except the image.
I'm with you Lori. I probably cut mine waayyyyyyy to close also. Plus I cut into all the nooks and crannies too! It takes me forever to mount a set. I also *gasp* cut rounded when needed. I've never ruined any of my stamps yet.
As a fellow stamper, I would hate it if I went to stamp and got all the background ink on my cardstock because they weren't trimmed enough. I would be a bit frustrated at the waste of paper and the extra care I'd have to take to stamp. My philosophy is: The easier I make the experience for my customers and friends, the more likely they are to have an enjoyable experience using the product and with their projects. My suggestion: Cut as close, but not so close that you snip your stamp. Cut in straight lines and you'll be fine. Do you have one of the little booklets that come in the SU orders? That little booklet shows you exactly how to trim. Just remembered: You can go online to Techniques?? at SU and they show you there too!!!
Have fun!! I remember the excitement of when I got my first order.... I still get excited.. who am I kidding???
I trim mine even closer than the ones in that photo on that link. It is trial and error, and as you get less nervous about doing it, it will not take you as long and it will get easier to get REALLY close. I have never ruined any either. Just keep your scissors straight and do not try to go around tiny curves. Just snip from one side and then snip from the other side- like she did between those candles in that link.
Anyway enjoy all your new toys!!!
I cut as close as I can with my craft scissors, then get out my x-acto knife and cut closer. My first card I did was at my uplines house, she had excess rubber around the words and of course, I had a line below my word. No chance to fix it either at the time, you just dealt with it. So now I cut it close and then stamp on a sheet of paper. If I get a line, my x-acto knife comes out. I have even borrowed some of my stampers sets so we have 2 sets to use and asked if I can cut closer. They love that, at least it is close and they don't get extra ink on their cards either.
No problem! I just happened to remember seeing that thread before and thought the photos might help. Especially since she trimmed some closer and then posted more photos.
I personally believe that you MUST trim the stamps. Before I was a demo, I didn't read the directions; and I just mounted them on the wood. :oops: Needless to say, that did not work well at all, even though the "fit" on the wood blocks! I had to microwave them to remove and trim and remount. So yes, follow the SU directions, and you will do fine; I am a very close trimmer though, and that's good too! As you get used to it you will find yourself trimming closer, and closer, and closer!!!
Congratulations on getting your kit, you are going to love being a demo and getting in on all the action ahead of the general public!!!
Best of luck to you!
Diane
__________________ ~Women and cats will do as they please; men and dogs should just get used to it!~
oh I too trim much closer than they probably recommend. I like them very close to the image so NO INK ends up where is shouldn't ;) Those in that link I think I would get even closer on some of those.
I'm with the others....I trim probably WAY too close...sometimes even scare myself when I trim but haven't had a problem yet (knock on wood..knock, knock!). Although my first sets of stamps were probably close to what was in the picture in the above link, but now I'm as close as possible and even snip the points at the corners!
I trim mine as close as possible to the image as well.
When I mount them, at first I put the rubber loosely on the block where I think it needs to go and I stamp once on graph paper before I press the rubber more firmly on the woodblock. That way I can check if the image is mounted on the block straight enough or not, and can easily adjust if necessary.
That's a really good idea to check the stamp prior to pushing it down hard on the wood block. I have a couple that I could have trimmed closer. Didn't realize it until after I stamped and keep getting a line on the paper.
I am a new SU demonstrator and I've trimmed the first few stamp sets probably closer than I should. However I've already "broken" two smaller stamps while cleaning them (e.g. the stem from "Wee Watercolors") -- the rubber part pulled right away from the foam!!
Now I'm afraid to trim the rest of my stamps too close. Has this happened to anyone else, or am I cleaning my stamps too vigorously? Also, any suggestions for the best way to fix these stamps?
I like to angle my scissors \ when I do skinny letters or flower stems.
That way the foam is wider than the rubber and it will not "wobble" when you stamp.
ok, crazy question. When you microwave to remove the stamp to recut it how do you hold it so you are not totally sticky at the end. Also, does it remount just as well or what do you use for additional adhesive?!?
TIA
How do you trim your stamps?
