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The slimline card appears and stamp companies rush out all manner of slimline oriented stuff: stamps, dies, envelopes, stencils. Everybody just has to get in on the action.
Hey, stamp companies, all these past years where have the products been for all us A-7 and A-8 card makers? We’re out there.
In fact, I rarely make an A-2 card – just for note cards or thank you cards. While it saves me a bit of cash by not being enticed by all those diminutive stamps on the market, I am also frustrated with finding usable stuff: a border die, for instance. Few are longer than 5", and larger ones tend to be 12” and chunkier than I would want. Ironically, now that slimline is ‘in’, 8" border dies are available. Stencils are usually A-2 oriented, Tim Holtz strips, or 6 x 6, and 9 x 12 stencils usually have oversized elements.Now there are slimline stencils available, but how many stencils out there are 5 x 7 oriented?
So many online vendors will post dies and stamps without any indication of the dimensions. Am I looking at a feather die that is 4” long, or perhaps only 2”??? That flower grouping looks big, but is it only 4” across??? The assumption seems to be that the item is suited to an A-2 card, and that’s all the customer would want. Blog images of completed cards are shown, but the size of the card is rarely mentioned. I appreciate seeing new products on video so that I can get a much better idea of the size.
Granted, I have no shortage of stamps or dies, and I can often find a use for small stamps on large cards (such as step cards). I tend to rely on limited companies to find what I need, such as Penny Black, Impression Obsession, and various foreign companies, but it is regrettable that many companies that produced larger stamps are no longer around.
Then, there's that other peeve about the glut of 'cute' stamps . . . . .
Last edited by GypsyRoseStamper; 10-14-2020 at 01:40 PM..
Reason: format
I agree. It would be nice to find more things geared toward larger cards. I have found that Scrapbook.com does have their own brand of stencils that are 6 x 8. I haven't bought any yet, but at least you can use them for a 5 x 7 card. I also recently bought some A7 frame dies from Honey Bee Stamps and I've used them several times.
You made some interesting and valid points. I recently purchased some digital stamps from Power Poppy ( large florals). They were on sale so I thought, why not? Since it was my first digital stamp, I was pleasantly surprised that you can adjust the size of the image. So, this is an option you might like to get a larger image. I know it’s not the same as a physical stamp, but I thought I’d mention it. I went to a craft retreat recently and was chatting with a few of the ladies there. They were praising the advantages of digital stamps due to unique designs, lower prices and also supporting smaller designers. It made me want to start considering these more often. I think I will always prefer my traditional stamps, though.
I totally agree on the stencils. I just bought a larger square brick wall one due to the limitations of the TH format. I make a lot of 5 3/4" square cards. But venture up to 7"X5" and I'm in trouble. You didn't mention embossing folders! That has bugged me for a long time, although at least there are probably more of those than there are stencils. While I store the regular size by brand, I keep my larger ones all together.
A Colorful Life Designs has a collection of stencils that are 6x9 - that is a very versatile size, for slimline, 5x7, half sheets of cardstock...
Since you mentioned the amount of 'cute' stamps... I've recently become obsessed with older wood mount stamps and their beautifully detailed artwork... many of those companies are long gone, but I wonder what happened just to that style of art stamp?
Yes, Darkroom Door out of Australia has some great stencils.
It would really make sense for background stencils to come in 5 x 7 or slightly larger. It works well for A-2, slimline, square, 5 x 7. One size fits all.
... many of those companies are long gone, but I wonder what happened just to that style of art stamp?
I agree, lots of trends, not much “classic” around! There are a few companies (Beeswax and Lost Coast Designs spring to mind) that have detailed stamps, don’t seem to rely on trends and don’t seem to have regular retirements (so stamps I bought eight or more years ago are still available). The Lost Coast DT in particular seem to stamp for the joy of it, not to push the latest trend.
Another "bandwagon". Is the mini-slimline 6 x 3 1/2 card.. YouTube videos show stacking die sets from Trinity Stamps and Taylored Expressions.The card fits a check size envelope (readily available and standard postage in US).
I think Crafter's Companion is from UK, but many USA online stores carry their items. Some dies are too large for A2 cards, so I have not paid much attention to the selection, or any stamps. Spellbinders has larger dies. Becca Feeken is a designer with large dies for them. Maybe others, too.
I have actually had the opposite problem with their product where it looked like an A2 but was actually for that huge size. I had to return an expensive nested die set I had saved up for because not enough of the small sizes were useable to me. I was really bummed-cool pattern.
I know you are venting....but let's see what we can find for you.
Gen suppliers: I am just asking for 5 x 7
Scrapbooking.com
Paper Wishes
Frantic Stamper
Ranger/Dina Wakely (a lot of mixed media is larger)
Ellen Hutson
Joggles stencils/masks 6 x 9,
Embossing folders
5 x 7: (what I am finding in my own stash)
Couture Creations
Spellbinders
Darice
Crafters Companion
Cuttlebug
6 x 6 squares
Nellie Snellen
Crafters Companion
Stamps
ALLand Create-over at Topflight
Power poppy has some huge flowers
Julie Ebersole did big flowers too right?
Stencils
5 x7
Studio light-over at Topflight 8 x 8 squares just landed
Just a fast down and dirty search. I bet there is a lot more if you are willing to go international-which is not hard actually. I have a done a bunch of it. Takes awhile to get here but it does. Just like shopping here-except you have conversion rates so you want to check what they are that day. The internet is really amazing that way.
I have something from all those brands! (Doin' my part for the stamping economy!)
I would add to the 5 x 7 embossing folders: Creative Expressions, Momenta, Park Lane, Sheena and some obscure ones (UK, I believe): Barkley, Scruffy Little Cat.
Card Size Peeve
