Some days just don’t go well.  Today was the day I bound my birthday calendar book.  I watched the videos on how to use the Zutter.  I read the manual.  Apparently it did not prepare me for the journey that I was embarking on.  I thought I knew how to use the tool.  After all, I did read the 3 x 3 booklet with six small pages of information.  I had a general idea of how to use it but in reality, had no idea what to do when my paper was too short to evenly distribute the holes.  I had no idea how to fix this problem and should have stopped and re-watched videos, but didn’t.  In the end, not only did I punch holes off the page, but I punched the back cover on the wrong side and did not have large enough spirals to make my book flat.  So I’m disappointed and I put a video out that I’m not proud of.  I can’t redo this project.  It took over fifty hours to make and I’m not sure if I have it in me to redo it.  All I really need to do is both covers but that’s at least 20 hours of work with sealing it over and over.  I’m disheartened by my failure and wished I hadn’t just forged ahead, but did.  I’m taking the video live, because I want people to see that all YouTube videos do not end in a beautiful perfect project.  The inside of my project is beautiful, but the outside, not so much.  I am not giving this away, it’s mine to use, so I don’t really have an issue with using it as it is.  Do I wish it had come out better?  Sure, but reality is what it is and I’m glad that the project is done and that the video will go live tomorrow.

In price order-

A clear ruler — under $1, works really great for long thin stamps.

Stamp Show No Name Acrylic Block $2–Terrific for smaller stamps and very convenient.  I love the handle on it, but it has a couple of downsides.  The problem is the handle is so visible and it makes it so you can’t position a stamp in the center.  It requires you to put the stamp in the upper or lower quadrants so you can see it, which makes it so ink ends up on the edges where you don’t want it.

Forever in Time Clear Stamp Applicator Set–Set of 3 from Amazon $7.46.  The handle moves from one to the other, but their quality control is not consistent and some of the handles are not easy to remove, others are.  Looks exactly like the Stamp show no name block.

Tim Holtz Fragments $9.99 full price at Joanns, plus Tim Holtz Idea-ology Curio Knob $7.99 full price at Joanns for a set of three.  You can use the Fragments for a lot of different projects but there are two in the set that are the size I am showing in the video.  I used a Sharpie and drew grid lines on it so I can position stamps properly.  Please make sure you always use a coupon when buying anything from Joann’s, Michaels or Hobby Lobby.  Download them from their websites and use them on your phone or print them out.

Set of 3 from Oriental Trading –here is the link to them and they are $12.99 for a 2 x 3, 4 x 6 and 1 1/2 x 6.  http://www.orientaltrading.com/clear-…

Crafters’ Companion Rock A Block -Joann’s sells a set of four of them for much cheaper than I paid for the set of two that I bought from HSN.  They are $26.99 full price at Joann’s before any coupons.

Impression Obsession Mega Mount–The lowest price I found was from Amazon for $33.97 Amazon Prime.

Misti –Usually the cheapest price is from the maker mysweetpetunia.com.  The size I have is $60, but the smaller, newer version is $45.  I recommend buying more magnets though, because you only get two and I like to use four and one of mine just broke in half.

Noteworthy items–
You should always stamp on a softer surface.  Put a telephone book or magazines or a foam pad under your stamping surface.  I bought a stamp pad at a stamp show and it works well, but you don’t have to pay anything to do this.

Stamp a Ma Jig -$8.99 full price at Joanns before using a coupon (always use a coupon).  Makes it so you have consistent stamping images.

One additional note before I go further. I didn’t do my research on price until after filming the video.  The Crafter’s Companion Rock A Block set is now a set of four and since it is now $26.99 full price for four at Joanns’, you should normally be able to get the set for under $15 with a coupon.  Because of the range of sizes and price, this set might be all you need  (with the ruler) to do all of your stamping if the handle on it works for you.  One additional thought, you can’t use the Stamp a ma Jig effectively with the rocking blocks, but the rocking action does create a much cleaner image so you might not need the Stamp a ma Jig.

Additionally, although the MISTI is a great tool, I have to remind you that I use my foot on it a lot to get a good image and that is something you definitely need to note when spending $60 for a stamp tool.  You also need to buy two additional magnets as the two you get with the MISTI are not sufficient for bigger projects.

If you don’t choose to replace everything with the Rock-a-Blocks, then here are my recommendations.

1  Clear Ruler

2. Small acrylic block like the one I got at the Stamp Show or make your own using the Tim Holtz products so you have a clear field of vision (without the big pink handle in your way) Or, you can buy a small acrylic block and add the Idea-ology Curio Knobs to them with super glue as well..

3.  Rock a Block OR Impression Obsession Mega Mount for larger images that you need to have a good handle on.  I would base my decision on which handle you think would work best for you.

4.  Misti– Although the MISTI works well, for me, it is not the absolute because I sometimes have to use my feet to get a good image,  I don’t have to use my feet using the Rock a Block or Mega Mounts so if price is a consideration, buy one of the others instead.

5.  Buy a Stamp A Ma Jig-  It’s imperative for consistent stamping, but doesn’t work with the rocking acrylic blocks, fyi.

I made a video for which acrylic blocks would work best and then did my price research after the video.  That was a HUGE mistake.  I had purchased a set of two Crafter’s Companion Rock-a-Blocks from HSN last year.  They were not inexpensive.  I included that information within the video.  They are now being sold at the big craft stores so the price has gone down and the number of acrylic blocks in the set has been increased to four.  Since the price is now $26.99 at Joann’s before a coupon, you should be able to purchase this set for around $15.  The recommendations I gave were based on the price being higher and no small acrylic block in the set.

If I had the option to revise my video, I would say this.  If you can use the handle on the Rock-a-Blocks, then that set could, in essence, replace every other acrylic block I recommended.  You might need to continue to use a ruler for really long stamps, but otherwise, these could be the only set you need.

I really like the MISTI, but let’s face it, it’s not really convenient for a quick stamp.  I also have to use my foot on it for consistent stamping at times and I don’t want others to have to do that.  I’m not sure that I should have recommended it for those reasons.  I know people love their MISTIs and I like mine, but it doesn’t replace the other blocks I own for the reasons I mentioned above.  Should I downplay the MISTI when every crafter dreams of owning one?  Or am I playing into the myth that this is the Most Incredible Stamping Tool Invented (where the name MISTI came from.)  It does have some great features, but I am supposed to be the advocate for the person with physical limitations and frankly, the MISTI isn’t a perfect tool for those of us with limitations, and $60 is a LOT of money for a tool that might not be what the buyer is hoping for.

 

 

I am beginning to think I’ll never get my album done.  I thought Mod Podge would not take so long to dry or cause me to delay the video by another day or two.  It’s frustrating when you think you are on one time line, but your project is on it’s own deadline.

So while the Mod Podge was drying, I decided to do another “Let’s Talk About” video.  This time I thought it was time I tackled acrylic blocks.  All acrylic blocks are not created equally, especially when weight and handles, or lack of handles are a consideration.  I pulled out my stuff, and naturally, I have too many.  The problem was in timing.  The first set I bought, I had no idea what I was doing and bought a really heavy block with no handle.  Then came the inexpensive one that I love, but had some issues.  Then there was the set I bought for a very long, very thin block, only to see a video where they used a clear ruler instead.  Genius!  Wish I’d seen the video before I bought the acrylic block.  Then there are the more expensive varieties including the mega-mount, the rock-a-block and of course, the MISTI.  I do really like the MISTI, but it doesn’t mean it’s the only acrylic block I want to use.  It’s not as convenient and sometimes, frankly, I have to use my foot on it for it to be effective.  I like the Rock-a-Block and the Mega Mount for larger stamps that require the curved surface both of these blocks provide.

It probably is only a matter of personal preference, but I narrowed my large field down to four and I felt confident that together, they can tackle any clear acrylic stamping job.

 

 

Apparently it would have been an April Fool’s joke if I had said I finished the birthday calendar.  In spite of working almost non-stop on it, I am finally at the stage where I put the covers together.  I don’t mean bind them, I mean decorate them.  Geez, I don’t know why it didn’t occur to me that this book would take as long as it has.  Regardless, it looks really good and I’m happy with the results so far.  Now it’s just a matter of putting the decorations on, Mod Podging it and then binding it.  That couldn’t take more than a few more years, could it?

I’m really glad I took this challenge on and will continue to try new projects.  I’m hoping the video for this one is less than six or seven hours, but have no real idea how long it will take.  Hopefully, it will be worth the wait.

My taxes are done.  I make it sound like it’s the event of the century, but honestly, I decided the second semester of my senior year in college that I could not become an accountant strictly because I hated doing taxes.  I’m not sure why, but taxes make me break out into a cold sweat and I feel like whatever I do, it’s not enough, or I’ve made calculating errors, or, well, the list goes on and on.

On a less thrilling note, I’m only up to August in my birthday calendar book.  I guess I didn’t think I would be so all-consumed about making every month perfect (well, perfect for me) and I’ve had to do a couple of months over.  I’ve had the normal run of problems.  Glue attached to the numbers on one month and tore them off.  The blending tool I used fell apart, the Judikins brush actually fell out of the wooden handle.  So I glued it and am hoping it is redeemable.  I’m crossing my fingers that tomorrow I’ll finish the book and start the cover.  Who knows how long that can take.  I honestly didn’t think it would take four or five days to make this book, but I’m only making it once so I want it to stand the test of time.  August is almost done,  so only four months to go.

I’ve been diligently working today on two projects.  First, our taxes.  Yikes, I absolutely hate doing taxes!  I fret and fret and put off doing them for as long as possible.  This is the first time I actually postponed our appointment at H & R Block, though.  I am overwhelmed with the process and can’t wait until they are done.

The second project is the book I am creating.  I’m not sure if I mentioned what the book is, but I’m making a birthday calendar so I stop forgetting friends and family birthdays.  I’ve made it to April and thought I’d never get done with February.  Everything went wrong and I had to start over twice.  Anyway, I’m hoping tomorrow both projects will be in the bag.  I’m counting the minutes (at least for the taxes.)  I’ve had a great time making the book and hope it comes out as cute as I am hoping.  You never know.

I’m not sure if I mentioned the video I just did on blending tools.  I have twelve different types of blending tools.  Who could possibly need that many?  Apparently, I do.  The reason I did the video was two-fold.  I wanted to show the different types and how they performed, but I also wanted to make sure people saw which ones worked most effectively for me.  It is the reason I started the channel after all.  I wanted people to be able to buy one or two blending tools before they found the one or two that worked best for them.  I don’t want others to buy twelve in the hopes of finding the “One” that works for them.  So I made the video.  It really details the ins and outs of blending tools and why they do or don’t work for me. It should be beneficial to people with physical limitations but maybe not beneficial for those who don’t.  I guess we’ll wait and see.

I’m still working on the birthday calendar bound book.  I decided the process was too involved and am having Rich scan the calendar templates so that the name of the month is already on the calendar and viewers will simply print them on cardstock.   Then it’s a matter of cutting them out and decorating them.  A much easier system then what I originally attempted.  I’m also going to show an alternative to a bound book so that viewers won’t need a binding tool to make one.  I might even make two of them to show how to make it without the binding tool.  I’m still considering this since the first one has taken me hours to get to the decorating portion of the program.  Who would have thought photocopying calendar pages would be so time consuming?