Get creative with Etchythings DIY mix-and-match rubber stamps

On January 26, 2013 by Mei
diy rang face hoodie stamps

diy rang face hoodie stamps

This afternoon, I had the opportunity to play with these crazy cute rubber stamps with Unkyo(c) and couldn’t stop laughing at my own circle body drawings and Kyra’s artistic interpretation of each stamp.

These took no time at all to make… we just took longer chatting and laughing than the actual making process.

Circle bodies by me!

Circle bodies by me!

Easy DIY steps:
1) Stamp a hoodie (in this example, monkey)
2) Stamp a face (in this example, rang face)
3) Doodle a body (no experience necessary!)

monkey rang

monkey rang #cat rubber stamps

The options are limitless and we had so much fun creating these as examples!!

Superhero Rang Costume Stamps

Superhero Rang Costume Stamps

rang hoodie costumes

6 hoodies and 2 costumes to choose from

Check out the listings here -
Cat (Rang)’s face stamp:https://www.etsy.com/listing/120653693/cat-face-stamp-diy-basic-stamp-to-be?ref=v1_other_2
Hoodies & Costumes: https://www.etsy.com/listing/120654274/hoodies-costume-add-on-stamp-mix-and?ref=v1_other_1

***Please note all my rubber stamps and craft items are made in Canada. I am able to customize your items when you convo me because I do not mass produce your specified items or outsource anything off shore. Therefore, they look more handmade then they do mass produced style. I make items for geeks, yogis, animal lovers and entrepreneurs who would like to start their own handmade business. People like me! ***
***Rubber stamps and any small items I have here are not recommended for children use without supervision; they can be USED for children party favors and items for children by adults but NOT for children to use as playing toys.***

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Functional Rubber Stamps

On January 12, 2013 by Mei
Functional Stamps

Functional Stamps

Before becoming a stamp maker, I’ve used a lot of different kinds of stamps and tested its functionality. I’ve also watched lots of card making videos to learn how to use stamps properly. In doing so, I learned how important it is to design stamps that are functional and useful.

My business Stamp Set, for example, was designed for both gift tags and making business cards. The dimensions fit perfectly a regular size business card stock and the logo just right for a gift tag.

I knew by splitting the 2 stamps up, the end-user could change up the colors (text from logo) conveniently as well as use them separately depending on purpose.

rustic business stamps

rustic business stamps

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Ways to Upcycle your Greeting Card Envelopes

On January 7, 2013 by Mei

envelopes

It’s January, 2013… we’ve just gone through a few weeks of holiday shopping, opening xmas presents, spending time with family and friends and DUN DUN DUNNNNN…. we’ve got a pile of envelopes! A great pile of them that are pretty nice and you just don’t want to throw them away or toss it into the recycling bin just yet.

So what do we do with these??? Here are a few I’ve found online and a few I would definitely use:

* pockets for your journal – keep photos, tickets, small notes and keepsakes.
* receipt envelopes – I always keep my shipping receipts organized into months and find it especially useful when I need to follow up on an order. Your envelopes could be titled by month and year
* stamped thank you notes or crop out the area you need and make into gift tags or other paper crafts (the nice colorful or thick ones?)
* put a big sticker on it and reuse it an another envelope
* test new tools – pens, embossing folders with them
* make them into scratch pads after cropping them down

What would you do with old greeting card envelopes? Care to share?

Here’s an article on Recycled Christmas Cards by Martha Stewart.

Blessings!

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How will you choose to spend the rest of 2012?

On December 12, 2012 by Mei

15 more sleeps until Christmas, 21 more days until NYE… and I’m not a believer of the Mayan Calendar so if anything, it will be 11 more days before we debunk this absurdity.

More importantly, how will you spend the rest of your 2012?

Etchythings time capsule:

2012 time capsule part I


2012 time capsule part II


2012 time capsule part III

After tomorrow, December 12th, 2012, I’ll temporary stop processing my orders so I can focus on being with family and friends. There’s only 21 more days till the end of the year and I still need to get/ make a few more presents, wrap them and attend several friends and family gatherings.

I think it’s important for all of us to spend time with the people around us instead of just stare at the computer all day. After all, I started this business in the hopes that I have the flexibility to spend time with those that matters most. So, I shall make it my priority.

This year, Etchythings have surpassed my expectations. It’s been so much fun making custom crafts and stamps for people from all over the world. Even locally, at the craft shows I’ve participated in this year, I did well and received recognition from yoga studios to business owners to brides-to-be.

I’m truly blessed to have such support from the handmade community and the appreciation speaks loudly to me and encourages me greatly to create more things that says, “What a geek!” “cool yogi” “awww so cute” and “wow, this is beautiful”.

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Coloring Extravaganza

On November 20, 2012 by Mei

I had a blast the last two days stamping and coloring. One of these will be available on Etsy but the rest will be for personal cards and perhaps giveaways.

Which one is your favorite?

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Legend of Poinsettia

On October 16, 2012 by Mei

Poinsettia Gift Tags

I made these gift tags last week and posted onto my etsy site.   After posting, another crafter shared this really amazing story and I had to share:

Dr. Joel Poinsett, who was the first ambassador to Mexico, brought the bright red star-shaped flower to the United States. Hence, it was names as Poinsettia. It is also known as ‘Flame Leaf’ or ‘Flower of the Holy Night’. The legend related to this favorite Christmas flower is Mexican too. However, there are two versions of the story. In one version, the two small children of the story are known as Maria and her little brother Pablo; while in another version, two cousins are mentioned by the names of Pepita and Pedro. Whatever be the names, the story goes like this:

There was once a brother-sister pair who was very poor. They lived in a village and they had barely enough to eat two full meals a day. As the Christmas time approached, festivities, parades and parties in the village attracted the children. The gaiety of the season in itself was quite charismatic. Moreover, a large manger scene was being set up in the village church and all the children were eager to go to Baby Jesus and give him the best present. Mario and Pablo also wanted to give expensive presents to the Holy Child that He will love. While all children were discussing, what they think is best for the baby and what they will buy as the gift for Him, Mario and Pablo knew that they had no money to buy the presents and had nothing that they could gift to the child.

Yet, they could not let go of the temptation to see the baby just once and give something to Him. On Christmas Eve, Maria and Pablo set out for church a little earlier than others to attend the service. Since they had nothing to give to the child, they thought of plucking some weeds that was growing along the roadside to make a soft bed for Baby Jesus and decorate his crib. While they were still decorating the crib of the Baby, other children also arrived. Now, children can be very cruel when it comes to teasing and making fun of others. Mario and Pablo were almost in tears for shame and helplessness when a miracle occurred. Suddenly, the weeds burst into bright red petals that looked like stars and were so beautiful that everyone was awed by their beauty. Everybody realized and said that a gift of love is dearer to Jesus than the most expensive presents that money could buy. Ever since then, Poinsettia flowers have become favorites for Christmas decorations.

I love this story!

Credits to http://www.worldofchristmas.net/christmas-stories/legend-of-poinsettia.html

Have you heard of a different version? Please share it if you have heard other versions.

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Christmas Shopping and Make It Vancouver!

On October 4, 2012 by Mei

Are you counting down to Christmas?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Not that Halloween or ThanksGiving isn’t a big deal, but have you started your Christmas shopping yet?

I went to Canada Post the other day and picked up a 2012 holiday season suggested mailing dates list and there aren’t a lot of time left for Christmas online ordering if you would like to get your items in time before the cut off. In fact, after December 10th for shipping to US, there is no option for air parcels to arrive on time! This means I need to launch all my Christmas items online now if I want to get my sales in for my customers order in US or overseas.

In the meantime, I’m planning Make It Show happening the first weekend in November (Nov. 8-11). Hopefully, the sales are great and the items I have lined up will be good enough for me to return next year. It’s my second show and I’m excited!

Please click on “Make It Show” and check out the local vendors at the show. There will be some promotions going on in a couple weeks so stay tuned!

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Draw Your Own Stamp Contest!

On August 23, 2012 by Mei

Do you like to draw?
Do you like stamping?
Do you like to be appreciated for your work?
Want to win some FREE Stamps? That’s right, I said FREE!

Draw your own stamp contest

Not too long ago, my good Etsy friend SUPER SOCKasked me if I could make a stamp with one of his drawings. Of course, I said and off I went and made an elf stamp.

SOCK drew this for me to make a stamp.

This gave me an excellent idea because I love making original stamps but I don’t necessary have all the drawing talent and time in the world…I thought if I set up a contest, I could make original stamps from drawings from my geek fans, friends and people from all around the world! How COOL is that?!

Okay so here’s what I’ve come up with. Please comment or email/ facebook me with your questions!

1) Send me your image. (It needs to be a high resolution, black and white image)
Here’s the one SOCK sent me:

sent by Super Sock

2) I’ll make the stamp at 3/4″ (0.75″) or about 2cm/20mm and post it on my Etsy account. Click here to go to Etsy. You will be contacted with a link as well to view your stamp. [Contact me if your drawing doesn't get posted usually witin 2-3weeks.]

HOW DO YOU WIN?

*When 6 of your stamps sells on my Etsy page, you receive your own 3/4″ stamp FREE.
*When 12 of your stamps sells on my Etsy page, you receive your own 1″ size stamp FREE. (either your own or one from my shop)
*When 18 sells on my Etsy page, you could design a new stamp or choose a stamp in my shop FREE. (up to 1.5″x1.5″)

Just cover shipping and you could win up to $40 worth of stamps just for submitting one of your doodles. :)

***Etchy Things reserves the rights to the images and/or the creation of the stamps. Not all images are appropriate or acceptable for making it into a stamp. We are an Angel company so if your stamps are bought and a favorite, you might see it all over Pinterest, greeting cards, tags etc.
***Please find me on Facebook. => http://fb.com/Myoga.Craft.Cave and send me a message there to request an image review.

Hope you guys enjoy this contest! SOCK, if you’re reading this, just so you know, I’ve entered you into the contest!

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What is a rubber cling mount?

On July 20, 2012 by Mei

How to use your hybrid rubber stamps from Etchy Things

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Most current style of rubber cling in tardis photo below)

Cling Mount (EZ mount) to be used with acrylic blocks

Cling Mount (EZ mount) to be used with acrylic blocks

Etchy Things Rubber Stamps is constantly finding new ways to improve and create the best custom stamps for customers worldwide.

With upcycling and handmade in mind, as well as shipping options provided by Canada Post, Mei, from Etchythings uses rubber cling mounts as an alternative to using wood mounts or high shipping costs.

To use these stamps simply follow these steps:

Peel off the protective film but don’t throw it away!

1) Remove film from polymer backing but keep the film.

Cling backing onto an acrylic/ plastic block.

2) Cling polymer backing onto any acrylic/ plastic block. (Craft stores sells these blocks but any plastic block like a piece of flat lego block will work)

Ink your rubber stamp

3) Ink your rubber stamp.

Looking good!

4) Press firmly and evenly and voila!

 

 

 

 
Cleaning your rubber stamps:

I love using baby wipes to clean my stamps!

Although most will claim having ink cleaners are the best way to clean your rubber stamps, I often use baby wipes to clean mine. I also cut out small pieces at a time to conserve my wipes. A little stamp doesn’t need a big sheet. :)
Tip #1: As long as you clean gently and pretty close to right away after stamping, you won’t find much of a stain on your rubber although staining is common.
Tip #2: If you’re going to be using the same inks on the same stamp, I often just stamp out my ink rather than clean it every time. The abrasion from cleaning will eventually wear out the rubber… these will last a LOOONG time but just another tip I’ve learned over the years.
Addendum: If you use specialty inks, some will inevitably stain your stamp but it doesn’t mean your stamp is bad or it will stain your next image, it’s just the ink. Follow tip #2 and you won’t mix previous ink to your new project.

 

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Craft Hauls 2012

On July 8, 2012 by Mei

I started crafting about 1.5 years ago starting with the Cricut bug.  Back then, I used a lot of 65# paper for all my cuts and cards.

 Here’s an example of one of my first cards I made. The lamb was from one of the Cricut Cartridges. I liked the Cricuts but they were still quite expensive back then, the use of the Gypsy was pretty mandatory and the versatility compared to other cutters were not available to the Cricut. I found it also a bit too slow and the sticky mat sometimes get the better of me so I’ve shelved my cricut for about 6 months now.

I then started buying stickers and made some pretty nice cards using stickers and sentiment stamps. My collection of stickers is pretty big. I don’t have a picture on my computer at the moment to share but I do have tons and I’ll take a snap shot of it some time. (no drooling)

But my biggest love is probably stamps.  Not only have I started buying polymer stamps maker, I’m also making use of laser engraver to make rubber stamps.

The last 2 hauls here were just random crafts I’m collecting for I guess when I next make greeting cards, gift tags etc. but I’m sure I’ll be incorporating my rubber stamps in kits and other creations.

 

So please stay tuned!  Oh I’ll be making Christmas Countdown Calendars if you’re wondering what those packages to bottom left corner are.

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Arts and Crafts, BLOG, Greeting Cards, Paper crafting tips, Rubber Stamps
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