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 always joke around with my sister-in-law, nancystamps, because she is a total craft MacGyver. She always finds a way to make things work when she doesn't have the right tool or ink! She is truly a craft inspiration to me!
Today I wanted to watercolor (I usually use q-tips for this instead of brushes because I find it easier) but couldn't find my q-tips.
Desperation set in...what to do. I NEEDED to watercolor my stamped image.
I dug a sterile gauze pad out of the first aid kit, wrapped it around the end of a pencil (eraser side) and IT WORKED! It actually worked better than my beloved q-tips. (note: going to buy some gauze pads tomorrow!)
What other desperation techniques have you come up with?
(oh, and thanks, Nancy, for the inspiration!)
Last edited by raestamps; 04-24-2005 at 04:32 PM..
I just dip the end on to my VersaMark Pad and heat then dip it straight into the EP again and heat again... you can also do this to other items... I took those small flat glass marbles and glues them to plain old Thumbtrack. Then I tapped the glass on the Versamark pad then embossed them with the copper to make some matching pushpins for my Dad last Sept! I will go find it and post a link
I was at a crop and I wanted to chalk the edge of a tag with pastels but I could n't find my cotton balls. I used a napkin to apply the chalk...it worked great!
The other day I was doing a bleaching technique from the Technique Junkies CD and didn't have the color marker I needed. I pushed down on the lid of my ink pad (I have the old style), collected some ink on the lid and then used the aquapainter to pick it up and color the image.
I find that toothpicks and Q-tips can get used frequently by crafters! In fact crafters are some of the most ingenious people I know....whatever they find - free, cheap, or in huge quantity - they will use in some craft.
I always use toothpicks when trying to tap out PearlEx onto cardstock etc.
__________________ Jane Hignite The Card Sleeve Lady www.stampwithjane.com - an SU ONLY gallery/blog
Years ago I received an orange peeler (or something) in the mail for some reason or another. One side is a tiny little spoon. I use it to scoop my pearl ex, glitter, embossing powder, etc. Very handy...
I�m know as the MacGyver of making stamps and other supplies. I see something I like and if I can make it from SU scrap rubber I do it. So I�ll post a few so you can see it does work.
The grid was done using an Exacto knife and being very careful not to cut a finger off. When I gave some of these car designs to a far away friend I sent her some cork and it worked well for the border also.
I made four dot sizes and put them on a square block. I also use a regular pencil eraser and one of those click it pens erasers for an even smaller size dot.
I�ve also done shadow blocks. A small strip for a border and I can�t even remember what else.
My friends needed a stamp positioner, jig or whatever you call it. So I took two pieces of wood used heavy carpenter staples to put it together at a 90 degree angle and found some scrap acrylic, go to Salvation Army and find something in a frame real cheap. They were both thrilled and amazed. The acrylic cleans off great with the Mr. Clean sponge that�s out right now. Look up Mr. Clean on an Internet search and they may still have the free offer going on.
One more good one is if I'm using tacky glue like Aleene's I use a large straight pin (quilting or hat pin) and it fits easily into the spout and to rub on the card so I don't have a glob to make it warp.
I�m sure I have more but I have to get off this computer, now!
I've made stamps using my scraps that I trim off. I've made different borders, squares, etc. this way. i'll see if i can figure out how to link my digi cam to the computer and take some pics.
Stamping MacGyvers step forward!
