Paper Pricking Perfection

Oh, how I love the look of paper pricking. Paper Temptress has all colors and weights of vellum, but I find it really looks best on any weight white. I did experiment with some of the beautiful glimmer paper that she carries and found that it is just as pretty. Here is a sample:

The paper pricking pattern and image are from Fred She Said. Instead of coloring 2 or 3 images, to save time I used different adhesives. For the small flowers I used some glue dots that gave a slight dimension. I used a dimensional, which is slightly thicker than the glue dots, for the large flower. The rest is adhered with my ATG (double sided tape).

To create a nice shimmer to the image I used Winsor & Newton Water Colour Iridescent Medium.  This medium is fantastic to work with. After I brushed it on the image, it did curl a bit, but as it dried the paper flattened out. You can use it as the liquid for watercoloring, of course, so you can find it in the artist section of your local big box craft store. You will most likely never have to purchase another bottle again since it is 75ml. I really have no idea how many ounces that is, but I am guessing at 3 or 4 depending on the thickness of the glass bottle.

If you click on the photo you can see the dimension of the flowers and the glimmer really well.

The pearls were initially white, so I colored them with my copics. Since copics are an alcohol based ink, you can use them for so much more than just coloring on paper. It can be used on many mediums including transparent sheets and vellum, metal, wood and just about any kind of embellishment. I find this great to know so that I only need to purchase white embellishments and then color them any color necessary for my project. 

I was able to use this card for 2 challenges:

1. Stampin' Sisters in Christ Challenges: to use some green in your project

2. Fred She Said: to used the blog design for inspriation

Monday I will be posting some of the Digital Stamp Oasis images used on some projects. I hope to see you then :o) Have a wonderful Sunday...Hugs, Sandy O

Another Dust Bunny

Oh My Gosh!!! I was in my craft room all day today and accomplished nothing :o( Not one thing I tried came out, at one point I even threw the whole thing away. There was just no salvaging the thing. I have had bad days crafting, but....by far this was the worst. Please tell me that I am not alone in this. That other crafts have worked for hours only to end up with nothing!
I did make a project last night that came out. I am so glad I had something new to look at today or I think my mojo would have been tossed with todays project, LOL.
If you read yesterdays post, you know that "Dust bunnies are our friends". Can I say that I love this stamp and sentiment from Wink Wink Ink. I did not think that just a card would suffice in reminding me (and my husband!!) of this revelation. So I made myself this as a daily reminder.

 I printed the stamp at 2 x 2", colored and then cut out to approximately 1 1/2 X 1 1/2".  I prepared the tumble tile by using some white acrylic paint, swirling the brush to make a pattern with the paint. I used Aleen's tacky glue to adhere the image to the tile when it was dry. I finished it off with 3 coats of glossy mod podge.
I added 4 small Magcraft Rare Earth Disk Magnets. I purchase these from Amazon here . The size I used are the 1/4 x 1/10 of an inch, which cost 10.39 for 50. I know that one of the slightly larger or 2 of this size would have been sufficient, but I wanted the magnet to have one on each corner. It really drives me crazy when I used a magnet only to have it cover the item because the "magnet" is in the middle. Know what I mean, LOL
Here she is on my refrigerator holding up a very important item...coupons to Bertucci's, one of my all time favorite restaurants, tee he he Could there be a better item for her to hold up for me???
I truly hope your day has been a much better one than mine. I do, though, plan on having a much better day crafting tomorrow.
Hugs, Sandy O

Humorous Card and a Photo

I am so glad to be back to the blog. It has been a busy week with us "celebrating" Christmas last Monday.  I was lucky enough to be able to baby sit my grandson the past 2 days too. They grow so fast I am more than thrilled they live close by and I am able to see him often.
I would like to share a photo of him from Monday when he arrived for the day with family.

Isn't that the cutest suit. My husband and his dad both wear that style hat, LOL. It looked so cute. We will have to get a photo of the 3 of them wearing their hats before Camden out grows his!

I was able to squeak in some stamp time yesterday. Then...I could not find my camera! Talk about panic, I thought I was going to cry! After an hour searching I found it behind the TV! Why I put it there I have no clue. Thank the Lord I found it :o)

Wink Wink Ink came out with 3 more images yesterday which is why I just HAD to squeak in the time. Now I did have to put off a little bit of cleaning, but that is OK. As you will see....

Dust bunnies are our friends! TEE HE HE

Melanie came up with the idea after a conversation we had on the Paper Craft Planet group. We were talking about how crafting took place over cleaning...of course!

Now we know the truth!!! What we need to do is make a card to give to our husbands, Bwaa ha ha ha...as they also need to know!

I wanted to make a tutorial on paper piercing this week, but the piercing simply did not match this stamp. So next week that is my plan. Are you good at keeping to your plans? Well, I can say whole heartedly that I sincerely try! When I fall off the plan horse, I get back on, though it may take me a few days, or weeks...ha ha ha

Here is a close up of this adorable dust bunny . Isn't she just the cutest one you ever did see. She has a bow with a pearl center, dusty fuzz on her cheeks and the most adorable little paper hearts that stuck to her. I did use my Sakura glitter gel pen on her, but it is hard to see. 

She is definitely a crafters dust bunny. I hope this helps you to look at your dust bunnies a bit differently! 

As luck would have it, this card also goes with 2 challenges this week.

1. Stamp Something: Something funny

2. Digital Tuesday Challenge: Make those men laugh

The awesome paper is from Paper Temptress. If you have been with me for any amount of time, you know how much I adore Patricia and the gorgeous paper she carries.  This particular paper is called Ruche or Crepe. It adds such a wonderful texture to any project.

Well...I hope you can stop by tomorrow. I am not sure what I will have to share. For certain it will be a project that I had a blast doing and I will be thrilled to share it with you.

Hugs, Sandy O

Pretty Flower Baby

We are exchanging Christmas gifts today (son #1 not working, son #2 home on R&R, daughter had her baby, LOL) and then having dinner. TINY house with now 10 of us in the immediate family grown from the 5 of us! Extended family that could not fit, will be met at my mothers (1 1/2 Hours away) It will be a LONG and fun day. Then back to routine and stamping tomorrow. You can read about our reason for the delay in my post here.
I was able to get one card done yesterday by putting off a lot of stuff for today (like actually wrapping the gifts, LOL). I used the cute and fun image from *Wink *Wink Ink called Blossom Baby.
If you have not popped over to the site yet, I really would suggest you do so. The stamps could not get more adorable. Not only that, but you get them in .jpg and .png as well as a colored version!
You can click on any of the photos to get a better look at the details :o)

I layered the flower, left leaf and part of the right leaf.
How fun is that. I kept the card  itself a bit simple for 2 reasons.
One, I did not have a lot of time
Two, I did not want to distract from the image.
I did add that adorable ladybug charm. I really wanted her to be walking toward the little guy, but the charm holder was in the wrong place...grrrrr. So I figure she did not want to wake him, and therefore, decided to climb onto the back of the flower and get a peek at him from there, tee he he...my silly imagination!
I added some ultra fine transparent glitter to the wings and some Sakura glitter gel pen to the hair.

  And here is a nice close up of the little guy.
Well, time to stop procrastinating and get the last minute things finished before everyone gets here!
Thank you for stopping by today....Hugs

Happy E-Mails

The other day I received an email from Digital Stamp Oasis informing me that I was chosen to be part of their new design team. I was and still am very excited. The term is from Feb. 1st until Apr. 1st.

This is actually the stamp company that I purchased my very first digital stamp from. You can see the card I made with this image on my blog post here.

They carry the cutest squirrel images as well as some rabbit, bird and butterfly images in the "cute" style. They also have a couple of new sketch images.

Since I needed to make a birthday card for my nephew who turns 17 this week, I decided to use the  "At Sea" image:

If you click on the photos, you will see the details of the image much better. She even has some men working on deck, LOL

I also made this for the Stampin' B's challenge this week to make something Nautical.

Now that is a sample of a sketch image. How about a sample of a "cute" image? 

Meet "Susie watering flowers". Isn't she adorable? Seeing how happy she is watering her flowers, I decided use her image for the cover of a chipboard scrapbook. In it I will add photos of flowers as they appear in my gardens this spring.

 I also think she is a great image to use for a little girls first scrapbook cover or a name plaque for a little girls bedroom door.

Hmmm...my mind is reeling with ideas for this adorable image of Susie as well as the other fantastic images I get to play with these next 2 months.

When you get a moment, check out the Digital Stamp Oasis Store and see all the current adorable images. I have a link directly to the store in my right side bar. HINT: I have noticed that the available images change. That means that some images may only be offered for a short time. I am not sure what exactly that means other than if you like an image...don't wait!!!

Have a wonderful Sunday and I will see you again on Monday!

Hugs, Sandy O

Paper Pricking

As a girly girl card maker/paper crafter I LOVE lace. The look it gives is so pretty, feminine and soft. I really wish I could find more lace in the style, width and color that I like to use. It really seems to be of short supply in the Manchester/Nashua, NH area.

So, you can imagine how happy I was when I discovered some digital templates for paper pricking. My very first exposure to the paper pricking digital templates are the ones offered from Fred She Said. Some of her paper pricking templates come with the flower packages, some without and even a freebie or two here on the blog.

This is one of the first cards I made with a FSS paper pricking template, which you can see here.

I love how I don't have to use the whole template to make a pattern. The hearts in each corner were made with the same template.

I really like that I can also choose which side of the pattern I want to use. I can use the back side for more texture or the front side for a smoother look.

If you click on these 2 photos you will be able to see them a bit larger and in more detail. One of the things you will notice is that the paper I used under the vellum is seen through the paper pricking holes. I really like the look this gives it.

Because the pattern is so soft, I thought I would add a pretty butterfly in the center. I embossed each layer with my cuttlebug folders using my big shot and then cut out the butterfly using the Stamping Up bigZ die.

As you click on this photo to get a better look, you will see the lovely shimmer that the pink and white paper has. This paper is from Paper Temptress. I love her paper and use it with just about every card I make.  The simmer of this Iridescent paper is so beautiful, I really don't have to add much to it.

Another wonderful thing I could do with the digital template is size it to my project. For the inside of my card I wanted continuity, so I printed out the template a bit smaller. Then cut it out with nestabilities when I finished pricking another part of the template pattern.

I opted to use the same pearls as I did for the butterfly in each corner. 

I am planning a tutorial for paper pricking very soon, hopefully next week.

I also have some fun news to share with you tomorrow. I hope you have a bit of time to stop by and see what I have in store.

Hugs, Sandy O 

Quick, Simple and Fun

As paper crafters, we are always evolving. Learning new technique and how to use new tool. To expand our horizons by trying new styles and new to us ideas. On that note, I am getting quite used to the quick and simple cards. They were the hardest style for me to make not so long ago. Being an embellishment addict I would sometimes overload my projects! Now I suppose I am finding myself going in the opposite direction but hopefully to find a nice balance in the near future.

I made these 2 quick cards yesterday. This one is for the Clean & Simple sketch challenge this week.

I really could not get away with no bling at all, lol. This beautiful shimmery paper is called White Diamond from Paper Temptress. The name describes the paper perfectly. The shimmer on this paper can not be hidden. I tried to get a photo of it showing through the copic coloring here. This elegant image and sentiment are from the Stampin' Up stamp set Abundant Hope which is available in the occasions mini currently out.

My next card I made from a sketch on Aly's Sunday Sketch challenge. If you have never been to Aly's, please stop by. Aly is a 11 year old crafter and she makes the cutest sketches that are fun to make.

Following her sketch exactly for this card you can see quite well what the sketch looks like. You can also click on the lind above. Is that not the cutest layout.

I really don't know why the photos come out so dark when uploaded to my blog. I am going to have to figure it out. This card is a good example of how dark they actually download. The white is such a vibrant white in real life.

If you click on the photos though, you can see how much better the cards look before downloading :o)

On a personal note...I am so excited I have to share...my son Patrick is flying into Boston this afternoon for his 2 week R&R from Iraq. So glad we get these 2 weeks with him in the middle of his tour. My other son who is in the USMC did not get an R&R mid tour. Today will be the first time Patrick will see his 3 week old nephew too. It is going to be a fun evening when the whole family gets together.

Thank you so much for stopping by. Hugs, Sandy O

Embarrassing Project

Stampin' Sisters In Christ Challenge this week is to make something on your project look broken then repaired. It is based on the Bible verse Hosea 6:1 'Come, let us return to the Lord. he has torn us to pieces but he will heal us: He has injured us but he will bind up our wounds."

When I read this challenge, I knew I had the perfect image. What I thought would come out so pretty actually is quite embarrassing, LOL. I am going to use it any {{{blush}}} because the image is what actually matches the challenge.

I used glossy white paper and alcohol inks to make the background paper. It is supposed to represent the glow that radiates off of us as we are closest to the Lord, as in prayer. (probably should have used silver instead of gold) Then the darkness becomes more apparent as the glow enters the darkness surrounding her. Eventually overshadowing the glow, but not completely overtaking it. When we make partition to the Lord for the brethren or the lost, our prayer goes out as a light into the darkness and can not be over taken since it belongs to the Lord.

The image is a good representation of a person broken unto salvation and put back together by our merciful God. When this happens, we begin to bare the fruit of the Spirit, the first of which is Love. It is this love that brings us to our knees for the lost, the hurting, the needy, the oppressed, etc. This very same love brings us the desire to be ever closer to the Lord, which happens when we pray also.

Here is a close up of the "broken" women.  When she was put back together by the Lord, her feet began a new walk. From the scar the vines that bare the fruit emerge...here showing the fruit of love.

I do believe that the image represents a lovely image of a child of Christ. The part that I find a bit embarrassing is the background. I am using it anyway because of the very reason for the challenge. I am going to put my pride aside and use it as the Lord placed on my heart the instant I read the challenge. I do believe it was He, since I would have gone through all my images before deciding with one to use.

I hope, that is some how speaks to someone as it spoke to me.

If you have a chance, you can click on the link and see the many challenges that Stampin' Sisters in Christ have had. Perhaps a past one will speak to you too.

Thank you for stopping by today.....hugs, Sandy O

Thank you for stopping by.

Not Yet Scrapped

I love to make cards and do all sorts of paper crafts except one, Scrapbooking. I am not exactly sure why. It is, after all, what got me into paper crafts to begin with.  SIGH

With the birth of my first grandchild (a boy), and my daughters first baby (of course, LOL) one would think  all of my yet to be used scrapbooks and supplies would be cluttering the dinning room table by now.  But.....another sigh, I am sure they will eventually.

Since I am a bit off kilter today, I thought I would do something different. I figured I would share {rights of a grandmother to brag, right?, LOL} some un-scrapped photos of some (my son Patrick is still in Iraq) of my family. Camden was exactly 1 week old when these photos were taken. 

In the photos are my Daughter Alicia, my SIL James, Grandson Camden Riley, my son Peter and Peters' girlfriend Lauren.

Pinet Family

Precious Moments with mom and dad.

My son Peter and his girlfriend Lauren. Peter better watch out, Lauren is totally smitten by Camden! 

Thank you for stopping by today and sharing part of out family album. Perhaps next time I post pictures, they will be scrapped, LOL.

hugs, Sandy O

Time to shovel

Raise you hand if you have had a snowing winter so far. I know my hand is raised. We defiantly had a white Christmas this year, which is rather rare here in NH.

I am certain that my husband is thrilled with the purchase of  a snow blower after the boys had grown. Prior to that, they were our "snow blowers".  They certainly did NOT like it, but that was to bad, LOL.

I can tell you that there was not much more exciting to them than when a neighbor would happen by and plow the driveway while they were out there. Often they would run some home made cookies over as a thank you, which took much less time out of their play than shoveling.

When I saw this image at the Sew Many Card store, the vision of my boys as it stopped snowing came to mind. They certainly knew whatTHAT meant, tee he he he

Isn't he adorable hiding behind a weathered sign. How much fun he was having in the snow until now, Bwaahahaha.

This image is in 3 layers, yes, I do love cutting and layering don't I. Seems a lot of my cards lately have been in layers. I guess I need some calm and soothing activities on the gray January days here.

As much as they did not like having to shovel, as well as their other chores, they did grow up knowing how to work and to not to put important things off for to long, LOL. They are not perfect, but I do believe that if a man does not work, he does not eat.

Therefore, along with shoveling, it was their job to bring in the groceries when I came home from shopping. WOW, do I miss them, {{{wink}}} you can be sure that when "they" (who ever they are) invent a machine that will do it for me, I will be the first one in line. Until then I will continue to give my husband the "look" when he comes in from snow blowing all content in the ability to play with a "toy" and get some work done at the same time!

hugs, Sandy O

 

"Wink" It's Tea Time

I made a really fun project this morning and decided to share it today instead of what I had planned to do.
I have really fallen in love with the *Wink *Wink Ink digital images. I never thought I would use digital stamps...but as the saying goes, never say never.
She has the cutest tea cup chihuahua I have ever seen. Since I own 2 chihuahuas, I simply had to get it! That is the image I used today.
Isn't he just the cutest thing ever!
I did have a bit of trouble coloring him with my copic markers since 2 of the colors I was using ran out of ink .
How horrible is that!? Since they are fairly new still, I don't have any re-inkers. YIKES!!! That was one of the first things I did this morning...find a good Copic dealer.
The box I used here is the egg box from Papertrey ink. If you have never been to the site before, make sure to click on the link and check it out. She has a bunch of fantastic stuff.
The piercing template is from Fred She Said paper pricking digital images. These are so easy. Once I got the image to the size I wanted, I printed it out on kraft paper. This made a template that I can use over and over, for a project this size anyway. 
After printing, and before cutting, I taped the edges to a sheet of  Paper Temptress shimmer card stock. I did the piercing through both sheets...then cut the template and paper at the same time. After attaching it to the box lid, I attached the image using more dimensionals (the image head and hands are double layered using dimensionals)
The rest of the project was really easy. Using the shimmer text weight paper this time, I cut strips for the sides.  After adhering them with Aileen's tacky glue, I attached the ribbon, flower and flower jewel.
Isn't it pretty. I love the shimmer that comes from the paper. Would you like to see the inside?
OK... 
I got these herbal tea samplers when I got my Zarafina tea maker.
They fit perfect in the box. There is also a tea steeper and some packages of honey in there.  
I don't even know who I am going to give this to. Whenever I need a quick gift for a women, I will now have one ready.
hmmm...I just noticed it is snowing just a bit outside. I think it is the perfect time for a cup of green tea, YUM!
Thank you for coming by and visiting with me today. Hugs, Sandy O

A Caterpillars New Life

I have always thought of a butterfly as being transformed into a new creature. Isn't that strange?  I never hear nor have thought of the word Caterpillar being used in reference to the change that occurred. Yet, it is the Caterpillar that has been given the new life. Perhaps this knowledge is taken for granted when this new life is referenced, I don't know. I only know that I have never quite thought about it that way.

So....when Papertake Weekly posted their first 2010 challenge, "New Beginnings", the caterpillar came to my mind right away. We were to use a Stamping Boutique image, so off I went to their store. Not one of my images from them would have worked for what I had in my mind. I will tell you, I was sooooo glad when I found this image. It is just perfect.

Isn't she so happy! Dancing and fluttering about for her first flight. I wonder if she even remembers being a Caterpillar. Her old life has been replaced with a new one, a new beginning, a new body and new perspective.

She begins her new life with flight. She no longer is on the flower, but is above it. She is able to start her new beginning with a clean mind and a peace of what will happen All things are suddenly new for her. Her new body is beautiful, colorful and glimmering in the sunlight. Her joy follows her everywhere she goes. Being so happy she shares it with those that cross her path.

Here is a close up of this caterpillars new body. If you click on the photo you will get a good look at the sparkle from when the light reflects off of her. You also can see how it follows her every movement for others to share.

I know when I see a butterfly, joy always comes to me. I can't explain it. Perhaps it is the beauty or maybe the rarity of getting a good look at them. It may be the wonderful colors that envelope them as they gracefully flutter by.

Perhaps it is knowing just how wonderfully the she gives us a glimpse of the Lords promise to His children. When we become His child, we walk a new life here on earth but with such a new perspective.  The old way of thinking and seeing has passed! All of a sudden we can't really remember how we processed things before, it seems so foreign. Yet, we have just broken out of our cocoon.

Some of us take fight as we spread our wings in this new life. We spread the joy of our new life to those who cross our path. The glimmer of the Son reflects off of us. While others sadly remain by the cocoon and do not use their new wings. They still have the new life, but do not enjoy the blessing of it.

Yet, one day, all of us butterflies will fly out of sight, just as the butterfly does now. We will flutter away in an instant to enjoy the new life from yet another perspective. We will then, again, only have a vague remembrance of the past.

How gracious it is of Him to give us the butterfly, just as He gave the rainbow, to remind us of His promise.

I am so glad you stopped by today. It always makes me smile knowing you have been here.  I hope you have enjoyed it and that you have gleaned some small thing from your visit.

hugs, Sandy O 

Ha Ha Ha, I Can Be Silly Sometimes

What a title hmmm...well...I really did a silly thing.  Last week Encourage Joy had a challenge to find a card we like and CASE it (copy and share everything). I chose this really pretty card by Cibele (aka. elmo98ca).

<<< . Here is a link to the card in her SCS gallery.

Now I really did not CASE everything. Of course I did not have the exact paper, punch, ect. I did copy here layout though. Here is my card >>>

Now for my silliness. Do you see the sentiment I used? It is from the SU set "Hope Happens" and is the very sentiment that made me purchase the set, though all the others are nice too.

Now,  you can click on the image to see it more clearly, but I will type it here for you.

"It takes COURAGE to grow up and be who you REALLY are".

I thought it was cute to put with shimmer flowers and butterflies BUT....how funny to put it on a card I CASED. LOL, I did not even notice the contradiction until I was preparing to write this post!  It does kind of match the meaning of her sentiment though, it is just silly for a CASE, tee he he

Speaking of being who I really am, those who have been subscribing to my posts have noticed the changes I have made. More challenges, showing my faith and starting to expand my horizons with digital stamps. Sadly I have lost some subscribers when I started posting my entries to Christian sites and one so far now that I have started to use some digies.

If you feel as though you will drop your subscription, may I ask for you to tell me why in the notice? This way I don't have to guess and I can use it to make my blog better. I would really HATE to loose you and would prefer that you leave me a comment first, but I understand not doing so.  On that note, I thank all who have stuck with me through my finding my own style and my previous illness.

On to a happier note, the other thing that came to my mind is to think about who I am as a stamper/paper crafter. I love ALL types of stamps and rubber will always be first in my heart. I have to say digis are new to me and I have enjoyed learning how to use them.

I have alot still to learn about paper crafting, does anyone not, LOL  and that is what I love best about it. So I am challenging myself to try my hardest to made 2 cards every day. One for a challenge, one not. One with rubber, one with digies.

Does anyone have a personal challenge they have taken on in their crafting. If so, leave me a message. I would love to know about it! Not only that, but I love learning about you, my reader.

Thank you for making it to the end :o) of my post, I know it is not easy, LOL. I sometimes find myself only looking at the pictures in other blogs instead of reading too {{{BLUSH}}}

So take up your drink with me, for me it is my morning coffee, and toast with me to challenging ourselves to "grow" in our crafting and to be "who we are".

Hugs, Sandy O

Digital Stamps: Information and Uses

When I first heard of digital stamps, they sounded so confusing to me. I am no computer expert for sure...I would put myself at a 3rd grade level, LOL. Since they have been around for a while, I would read a bit here and a bit there over time. Eventually I read enough so that I was actually comfortable and tried one. I fell in love wit them right away.

I still love my rubber. the wood mounted and easy mounted, even some of the acrylic stamps, the smell of the ink and the many techniques that can be done with them that can not be done with digital stamps.

By adding digital stamps to my collection, I have expanded my crafting tools.  Now, I would like to share with you some information I found helpful in learning about this new way to "stamp".

When you first purchase a digital stamp, you will be sent a file to download and keep on your computer. If you have ever saved a photo onto you computer, it will be the same idea. When you click to download the image, you will have to choose where to save/file it. I keep mine in my documents in a file created just for my digital stamps. In this file I created files for each digital stamp company I have stamps for. This way I know where they are and whose they are.

Before printing and printing your digital stamps:

Resize and Print I

Resize and Print II

Changing color of stamp with photo shop

Coloring stamp before printing

Playing with before printing

Printing only part of an image using Adobe

Printing only part of an image using Word

Combining Digital Images

Placing text where you want it using Word  (VIDEO)

Printing duplicates on one sheet

Card making tricks using Word (VIDEO)

Printing a greeting

Cutting out with your silhouette

What Now:

There are loads of sites and tutorials for getting, filing and printing digital stamps, as you can see…BUT what now? I am still on the search, but have found out a couple of things I want to share. I also found some fun videos on other unique things to do. I have not tried 5-11 yet, but will certainly be posting when I do.

1. Cut the image out by hand as I did in these posts, Dec 31, 2009  And here Jan 1, 2010   
2. You can used a die cutting machine as I did here   Jan 5, 2010
3. You can multi-layer it (similar to cutting by hand) as I did here  Dec 31, 2009
4. Sew it to felt or fabric as I did here  Jan 2, 2010
5. Print right on a card (VIDEO)
6. Coloring with markers and pencils
7. Watercoloring
8. Heat Embossing OR use glue pen on the lines of a simple image
9. T-Shirt transfer (VIDEO)
10. Print directly on fabric
11. Ink jet transfer stamping

If you know of more...please drop me a comment or email. I would love to added them to another post for all to try.

Helpful answers:

>>>What exactly is a digital stamp?

>>>Can I keep them on disc?  YES...it is encouraged to save your files in/on a back up source such as a disc or external hard drive.

>>>Can I share them with my friends? No...You may use them over and over, but sharing them with others, though it seems like a simple thing to do, is against the artists rights. You can however give them the URL of the site you purchased it from so they can purchase their own. See Digital stamp Angel Policy (scroll down just a bit for digital stamps AP)

>>>From the Squiggle Fly site:  Though this talks specifically about thier images, we have all gotten images that appear like this from other sources.

Help! The images look enormous on my screen! What do I do? This is because Squigglefly images are sized for your printer, not your computer screen. A higher resolution ensures smooth, crisp print quality. They will look big on your computer screen, but will print out on paper at the correct size.

>>>From Carol Ann's Studios  .Jpg vs PNG

Which image format shall I use and when?:-

.Jpg is the most widely used format for graphics. It can be used with just about any programme that uses graphics. .Jpg images will show any transparent area as a white background. Your .jpg Digital Image Stamps can be resized to suit your project requirements, printed and coloured in the traditional way. All our .jpg Digital Image Stamps are saved as high quality 300 dpi images.

.PNG is a newer format that is becoming more popular, especially with cardmakers and scrapbookers but especially with digital crafters. PNG files can be used with most, but not all, graphics programmes. .PNG images will preserve any transparent areas. Your .PNG Digital Image Stamps can be resized to suit your project requirements, printed and coloured in the traditional way, digitally coloured and printed or used on your digital projects. .PNG files can be digitally layered onto your crafting projects and then can either be printed out or displayed digitally. Because the transparent layers are preserved your graphics can easily be overlapped. Image quality is high with .png files. Our .PNG Digital Image Stamps are saved with transparency for easy layering.

Some of our Digital Image Stamps downloads include both .jpg and .PNG files to give you the freedom to craft in any which way you want!

>>> How do I unzip my stamp files?  I use WinZip so that is what I am going to show you here.

UnZip your files with WinZip:

Installing WinZip: Go to WinZip and in the right side bar click the "Download a free 45 day evaluation version" button. On the next screen click the download WinZip now and save to your desktop. 

Go to the file that you would like to unzip and right click on it.

When the window pops up, click "open with", then click WinZip

Another window will come up from WinZip. You need to click on the "Use evaluation Version" button. It moves from side to side sometimes when you open it, so make sure it is this button you click on.

The next window will show your zipped file. Go to the top menu and click "Extract".

Now another window will come up, this is where you will tell Winzip where to save the file. It is very much like saving a photo.

Click "Extract" at the bottom and wait...it is usually VERY fast, maybe a second or two, though I have had some that took longer, so don't get nervous.

A new window will pop up showing your new file in the folder you saved it in

Close both windows and you are ready to use your new image.

>>>Images Smearing??? WHY?  from Stretch N' Bubbles
I have not had a bit of trouble with smudged images when I use my mom's printer to print out my images. she has a cheap Lexmark, but on my HP and Epson it smears.. so I did some research online and found out a couple things.. If you are planning on printing a digital image to color with markers or water colored pencils etc.. you will want to look at what kind of ink your printer is using.. Just like regular stamping. ink the type matters. My HP printer uses a black + tricolor combo or a photo + tricolor combo. If you find that your images are smudging the problem could be that you are using a black ink instead of a photo ink. Black ink is designed for text while photo ink (used in place of the black cartridge) is designed for photos and made to be of a more archival quality. So using a design printed with black and tricolor inks the image would smudge but the one with photo and tri color inks didn't budge. So if you are having problems with smudging check your inks and see if that makes a difference, ;)

Try them for FREE:

Most digital stamp sites offer you some free images to try for free. Here are a few for you to start with.

Squiggle Fly

Stitching Cards

Fred She Said blog

*Wink *Wink Ink

Sweet & Sassy

Sew Many Cards

Designed2Delight  She has a very unique way of giving her freebies to you ;o)

Bee Crafty

Charmed Cards & Crafts

D.A.I.S.I.E. Company  (just click on the Santa)

My Grafico (5 pages of them!!!)

There are 2 types of files in these links. Some you will find have a download button which you will click on and save the file. The others you will need to right click on the image and "save as" on you computer in your designated file.

Unique Digital Stamps:

In my search for new digital stamps to buy, I found some sites with very unique stamps. Sites that have a style of stamps I have never seen or rarely have seen elsewhere. Here are a few:

Angel's Landing   Piecing and piercing

Stitched Cards Pattern stamps to stick on the card...all come with directions

Fred She Said Print, cut, score, layer...multi file...some colored, some you color

Mo’s Digital Pencil Too  has multi cultural stamps as well as images with more details which make them more similar to rubber stamps

*Wink *wink Ink  multi file  download..some precolored, some you color

DAISIE Company---WOW, anything you would want digital 

Two Peas in a Bucket digital fonts

Mujka Chic  Borders and elements

News, tips, tutorials:

My Digital Art Studio  Happenings in the Digi World, New Products, ect

Pink Elephant Tip room Tips and trick...digi and other

I hope you found this post helpful to you. If you know something about digital stamps that could be added, please email me. I will put all the information together (giving you credit for sending it to me) in another post.

One more tip I would like to share, but it really has nothing to do with the subject.....but can be stretched to be, LOL....so here it is for you

Cutting in tight places

Have fun! hugs, Sandy O