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Rubber Stamps : 10 Great Tips For Making Multiple Cards
You know the feeling. The kids have tons of demands, vacation
is just around the corner, that big project at work is eating all
of your free time. How will you ever make those handmade cards
for the big party, or mail the invitations for the guests at the
big wedding? What started out as a great idea for some very
special cards has turned into a stressful project. These ten
simple steps will maximize your time and free up your creativity
when making multiple cards for any size project.
1. Determine and plan your cardmaking schedule. Do you want to
set aside a few hours or just 30 minutes at a time? Pick a design
suitable for the available time. Make a simple "assembly line"
schedule to maximize the time you have to spend on the
project.
2. Work on individual elements, individually. It may sound
silly, but working on one element of the cards will retain the
"look" of the cards while creating a "unity" among them. Start by
stamping all of the impressions, then work on cutting out all of
the backgrounds, folding all of the paper, tearing all of the
sheets simultaneously. You don't want to spend too much time on
any one card.
3. Have a party! Kids and relatives love to involved. Make the
work fun and don't be overly concerned about the smaller details
of the project. You will ultimately put all of the individual
components together, giving you plenty of time to add any special
touches. Working together with other people will also add a new
level of uniqueness to your cards.
4. Stop writing. One of the most frustrating tasks of mass
producing cards is hand writing messages. Find "handwriting
fonts" available online, at your nearest craft supply store, or
your local computer store. Sign the finished card or pen in any
details or RSVP information as you would with a store purchased
card.
5. Use a paper trimmer. If you need a fast way to make
background frames or trim down embellishments, scissors just
won't cut it! Stacking paper in 5-10 sheet groups and trimming
all at once will provide perfect multiple shapes. Often, your
scraps can be stacked in such a way to trim them into useable
pieces with a trimmer. Rotary trimmers will also allow you to add
perfect "scalloped" edges to the base of the card(s).
6. Punch It. Remember your time is valuable. Whether it's a
heart, circle, flower, even a fork and spoon, your local craft
store will have a perfect punch for the card. Cutting out shapes
by hand is tedious and rarely looks well. Circles can be
particularly difficult.
7. Stamp, Stamp, Stamp. When placing stamped images on a card,
use one stamp at a time and make as many impressions as needed.
Don't clean stamps or switch colors until all of the cards have
been stamped. This keeps your ink pads from becoming "mixed" and
makes the impressions uniform.
8. Avoid difficult embellishments. I am sure that rows of
bows, lines of brads, or glued dots would look wonderful on each
card. Finding a simpler alternative will save you hours. Paper
tears, taped bows, even stylish stickers can be just as
attractive without the hours of difficult handy work.
9. Customize backgrounds. If you absolutely must have a "look"
provided by a stamped background, make a "master" copy on white
paper EXACTLY how it should look. Scan the paper design into a
computer at 300 dpi. (If you're already confused, spend a minute
with the scanner manual.) Print onto colored cardstock or paper.
When done properly, no one will even notice!
10. Have fun?with a budget. These are the two biggest factors
when mass producing cards. You don't want to get partway through
the project only to realize you have far overspent your intended
budget. That special patterned paper and those cute hologram
stickers can max out the cost of the cards. Alternatively, when
the project simply becomes a duty, it is unlikely you will ever
finish. Remember to always plan lots of time. After all, this is
by far the greatest hobby in the world!
Kathy Williams is a rubber stamp addict! She writes
informative rubber stamp articles that focus on techniques,
trends, and styles. From chalking, antiquing, crimping, trimming,
inking, and even shadowing, her ideas are sure to inspire hours
of stamping creativity. Find more of her great ideas, stamping
articles, and favorite rubber stamps at http://www.rubberstampingfun.com
 MORE RESOURCES updated Tue. September / 17 / 2024
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