DIY Bride™

Hey DIYers,

Michelle from Lifestyle Crafts responded to our questions about the L Lettepress Machine.

Thanks for your comments and interest in our new product line! I thought I’d answer a few of your questions…
…our printing plates come with an double-sided adhesive sheet that is used to adhere the plates to the L Letterpress tool so you can print as many plates as you’d like at one time.
…the current alphabet printing plate designs are designed to be used as monograms. You could of course use them to spell a word or name but the size and design probably functions best as a monogram.
…the other printing plate skus available all contain a variety of phrase dies that work well for many different occasions
…we are going to offer a custom program that will be announced very soon! This will allow you to create your own words, phrases designs etc.

I’m totally excited about their custom program! Can’t wait to hear more. And, yeah, I pre-ordered mine this afternoon.

Have I confessed my love of letterpress here yet? As some of you may know, I run another blog called I Love Letterpress (not updated frequently). I recently posted about a soon-to-be released product called the L Letterpress machine by Lifestyle Craft and just had to share the info here, too.

The L Letterpress is a kit that is used in conjunction with the Epic Six Tool (a die cut and embossing machine).

{The Entire Kit}

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I love using chalkboard paint for DIY wedding projects (check out the votive seating “card”). Until now it’s only been available in black or that weird shade of green, while ok for some motifs and projects, aren’t the ideal for coordinating with most wedding color schemes.

Thanks to Hudson Paint, chalkboard paint, is now available in 24 colors! {Queue my girlish squeals of delight here.}  Quart cans are only $7.00 making chalkboard goodness within the reach of most DIYers.

In my quest to be a total craft nerd with all the cool toys, I recently purchased a Yudu screen printing machine recently introduced to the market by the fine folks at Provo Craft. I had to see what the hubub was for myself and then figure out if it was worth recommending to you, my lovely crafty wedding peeps.

For the record: printmaking is one of my crafting obsessions. I love doing it. I love teaching it. I adore other printmakers and buy a considerable amount of printy goodness every year. In 2000 I bought my first Print Gocco (and then sold it – doh!). A few years ago I picked up a Speedball screen printing kit. You could say that I have a decent background in the basics of print. I’m no expert, just a crafter who digs getting her fingers inky.

The Basic Info

The MSRP of the Yudu is $300, though you can get it online for around $200. {Oh My Crafts has it for 184.99 at the moment}. JoAnn and Michaels are also carrying the machines in store but do not yet allow their coupons to be used to buy the machine. You can, however, use their coupons to buy supplies – which you’ll need.

In the Yudu box you’ll find:

• Yudu machine
• Adult t-shirt platen
• Blank ink-jet transparency
• 110 mesh screen
• Squeegee
• 2 fl oz black ink
• Platen adhesive sheet
• Instructional DVD
• User manual
• Emulsion sheet

A quick run-down of the process (there are other steps and details in here but are not covered in this review):

1. Place emulsion sheet onto screen.
2. Place screen in dryer. Wait for it to dry.
3. Put your artwork onto glass.
4. Top that with emulsion screen.
5. Burn artwork into screen.
6. Rinse screen.
7. Get your print on.

What I tested:

• Cardstocks – some scraps in my never-ending pile.
• Tshirt
• Silk pillow cover
• Metal flashing
• Wood veneer

What I love about the Yudu:

• Print area. The screens are  11″ x 14″ which is a great size for stationery and many other wedding crafts. By comparison, the ever-popular Gocco PG5, has a max print area of 3-9/16″ x 5-9/16.
• The all-in-one design of the machine. There’s no need to buy a lot of supplies just to get started and the all-in-one makes storing it easier than with my other screenprinting kit. The product design team at Provo Craft did a great job.
• Ease of use. Overall, this was pretty darned easy to use. There is a bit of a learning curve but I think even the timidest of newbies could get the hang of the Yudu with just a few tries. Read those instructions, kiddies!
• Handles large prints and designs beautifully.
• Prints great on wood, metal, and fabric.
• Yudu inks offer nice coverage and opacity.
• Screens are re-usable and were easy to wash out.
• The quality of the machine is very good and I think it’ll last forever.
• No special lightbulbs for the machine.

What I didn’t like:

• The machine itself is pretty big, about the size of a large scanner or all-in-one inkjet printer. For those of us who have very limited craft space, the Yudu footprint is cumbersome. However, it has the 11 x  14 print area so it really couldn’t be much more streamlined than it already is. If you’re used to the Gocco’s size, the Yudu will be an adjustment.
• The process is long. It took about 50-ish minutes to do a single print – not including the drying time of the print. Getting the emulsion set up and everything ready to go takes some time. Once you get going, doing multiple prints is pretty easy and quick.
• The supplies are not cheap. Screens run about $28.00, emulsion sheets (2 pack) are $19.00, 5 pack of transparencies are $6.00, inks are around $22.00 for a 3-pack. You’ll also need more platens (if you’re doing multiples of t-shirts), emulsion remover, blockout, adhesive sheets, registration panels, and then all of your clean-up tools, things to print on, etc. etc.
• Screens are available only in 110 mesh. I found that the 110 didn’t do well with small text and very fine detail. On my test of an invitation with 10 and 11 pt fonts (script and serifs), it wasn’t as clear as I would have liked. I’ve heard Provo Craft is working on different mesh sizes.
  
• It didn’t print all that great on some of the cardstocks I had. The ink was too runny on some of the cardstocks and this could totally be the cardstock itself rather than an ink/Yudu problem. I haven’t had a chance to go back and do more tests yet.
• The inks were drying REALLY fast for me on the day I tested so I had to hustle to get prints made before they clogged the screens.
• There aren’t that many ink colors available.
  
• The demo video is not very good.

My overall impressions:

I really, really like the Yudu and am happy to have it. I am eagerly awaiting other mesh sizes to see if they handle finer text and small detail better – an important thing for invitations/stationery design. Bottom line: If you’re serious about taking on screenprinting as a hobby or career, I think it’s worth the investment especially if you’re new to printmaking. If you’re considering only making your invites and a few other projects this is probably way too cost-prohibitive to make it worthwhile.

In comparison with the Gocco, I have to say that I like the Yudu better. Supplies are readily available for the Yudu, the print area is larger which allows opens up a whole new world of print possibilities, and the process seems more intuitive than what I remember from my Gocco days. (If you have Gocco-specific questions, please ask!)

The Crop-A-Dile from We R Memory Keepers

I think I’ve confessed my love of gadgets here before. The newest, latest, shiniest gizmo on the craft market is always sure to catch my attention, much to the chagrin of my poor husband. ( I’m reforming, honey! I swear! ) With the addition of the new baby into our household, my crafting space got a lot smaller and I’ve been having to downsize my supplies. I’ve been culling my toolbox and paring it down the absolute must-haves. This, the Crop-A-Dile, is one of the keepers.

So, what is this weird-looking gadget? It’s an industrial strength hole punch and eyelet setting tool. Initially I bought it for paper crafting but found it’s also suited to a multitude of craft materials. It can punch metal, thin wood, fabric, leather, and plastic like a champ.

I’ve found that many eyelet-setting tools are a pain to use. They’re awkward, noisy, and overall not very user-friendly. The Crop-A-Dile is a  dream to use. Punching holes in nearly any material is a breeze and setting eyelets couldn’t be easier. It’s quiet, comfortable, and very well made.

The CAD retails for around $20. Don’t let the initial price scare you away. This is one of those tools that will last FOREVER.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Otn2Slgepuc

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wyHffZ-e0Xc

Product: Scor-Pal

Price: $39.95

What It Does: The Scor-Pal is a heavy 12-inch x 12-inch plastic board with premeasured indentations on its surface. Users place cardstock on the board and use a bone folder (included) to press score lines into the cardstock. Every line comes out perfectly straight and crisp every single time. The premeasured lines make scoring boxes, gatefolds, and other complex scored projects super easy.

Khris’ Review: This was not a love-at-first-use purchase for me but I’ve grown to adore this product for projects with a lot of scoring (think boxes, thank you cards, programs). The lines are always straight, clean, and crisp. The unit is very easy to use.

The only caveat: it works best with heavier cardstocks and with a bone folder other than the one it comes with (I recommend Martha Stewart Crafts’ bone folder). The standard-issue Scor-Pal bone folder can be too sharp and will cut right through light weight (and even some heavy weight) papers and cardstocks.

Do check out the Scor-Pal website for some neato project ideas.

Last week I introduced you to the basics of heat embossing. Thank you to everyone who added questions and tips in the comments. That was very cool!

Today I’m going expand your embossing repertoire with 3 different ways to use the embossing skills you learned last week. Using 4 different products, we’ll create some really beautiful and unique textures to give your projects that “wow” factor. We’re going to cover: clear embossing, glitter embossing (my favorite), and flocking.

Because this post is going to be super long, I’m putting all of the how-to stuff after the jump.

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{Workshop Wednesday is a new weekly feature at DIY Bride. Every Wednesday, I’ll be presenting a new technique to help you create some crafty wedding goodness.}

That I am a rubber stamping fiend should come of no surprise to long-time DIY Bride friends. I’ve professed my undying love for it many times in these pages. Part of the reason is that it’s what got me started in crafting and part because stamping is just plain fun. The technique I’m sharing today is one of my favorites and one that adds a beautiful finish to nearly any paper craft project you can stamp on.

Heat embossing is the act of melting a plastic-based powder onto paper. The result is a shiny, slightly raised surface on the embossed image. It’s a great way to add a little pizazz to invitations or favor packaging. And it’s pretty darned easy to do.

While the finished project (above) is black-on-white embossing, I’ve used white embossing on black cardstock to better illustrate the technique.

Tools & Supplies

• Paper or cardstock
• VersaMark Watermark stamp pad or pigment ink stamp pad
• Embossing powder
• Rubber stamp
• Heat embossing tool
• Scrap paper
• Embossing buddy or anti-cling dryer sheet (not shown)

Directions

1. The first step is to rub the face of the paper project (in this case, the invitation) with an Embossing Buddy or a used dryer sheet. This helps remove static from the paper which will help the embossing powder stick only where it’s supposed to. Set the project aside.
2.   Ink a rubber stamp with the VersaMark pad. For larger stamps, I like to turn the stamp on its back and tap the pad onto the surface of the stamp. This lets me see where I’m putting the ink to make sure the stamp is evenly covered.
3. Stamp the inked image onto the invitation. Set aside for a sec.
4. Fold a piece of scrap paper in half.  Open it. Place the invitation on the opened scrap paper. The scrap paper is to catch excess embossing powder. The fold will act as a funnel when you pour the unused embossing powder back into the container. (One of my favorite tips. Ever.)
5. Pour a generous amount of embossing powder onto the stamped areas of the invitation. Do be stingy here.
6. Now carefully pick up the invitation and shake off the excess embossing powder onto the scrap paper. Set the invite aside.
7. Pour the unused embossing powder back into its container. (Spilled e.p. is a pain in the butt to clean up! It’s almost as bad as glitter.)
8.   Turn on your heat embossing tool and let it warm up, about 30 – 45 seconds is usually sufficient.
9.   {Shot of grainy embossing powder, before melted}
10. Now, point the heat tool over the embossing powder, about 2″ – 3″ away from the surface. In slow, steady movements move the tool back and forth over the powdered images. You’ll be able to see the powder melt and go from slightly grainy to glossy. It’s important to note that the heat tool is HOT. The air coming from it is HOT. It will burn the paper (or you) so keep it moving. Linger too long on a spot and it’ll turn brown or it’ll catch fire. I know this from experience.
11. Once the embossing powder has completely melted, you’re done! That’s all there is to it.

Notes:

• Embossing powders come in hundreds of shades, different opacities, several textures and can even be found metallics and with glitter.
• If you’re going to do a lot of embossed projects, I recommend getting a wide, flat Tupperware type container with a lid.  Pour all of your embossing powder into it. Hold your paper projects over the container and use a spoon to pour powder onto the paper. The rest will just fall back into the container.
• Embossing Buddys are small bags of cornstarch that you rub over paper to help prevent static cling. Because most embossing powders are plastic-based, the powder often will stick in places you don’t want due to static cling. Embossing Buddys (there are different brand names for them) are available at most craft stores in the stamping section.
• We’ll talk about VersaMark and pigment inks in another post, but I wanted to give the reason you need either one of these. Pigment inks and VersaMark are “sticky” inks that give embossing powder something to grab on to. Dye-based inks dry too fast and aren’t sticky enough (they don’t have as much glycerin) to use embossing powders with.

The finished project measure 5.25″ x 7.25″. The template for the invitation is available here: 5×7template.doc. It measures 5″ x 7″ and is mounted on a 5.25″ x 7.25″ piece of contrasting cardstock.

Rubber stamp: Baroque Motifs set from Stampin’ Up!

Cardstock: Unknown

Ink: VersaMark

Embossing Powders: Imprintz, White ; Personal Stamp Exchange, Black

Heat Tool: Uchida

Happy August! This month I’m bringing you several articles, tutorials, and resources to get you merrily on your way to a life (or at least a few projects worth) of stamping.

Today I’m introducing the necessary tools and products to get you started. These are, in my opinion, the essentials every stamper should have in her toolbox (besides the stamps themselves).

1. Basic black dye ink pad. (We’ll go over dye ink vs. pigment ink in a later post.) A black ink pad is like your favorite little black dress: it’s perfect for any occasion and it’ll serve you well for years. (My fave inks: Stampin’ Up!, Close To My Heart, Tsukeneko, Fresh Ink!)
2. Rubber stamp scrubby and stamp cleaner. After you’ve used your stamp, you’ll need to clean it. While some people use non-alcohol-based baby wipes, I prefer stamp scrub. It’s a hinged tray with a scrubby material on the inside lid and base. When open, I spray stamp cleaner on one side for cleaning and leave the other side dry for wiping off excess. (My fave: Stampin’ Up! Scrubber and CTMH’s cleaner)
3. Embossing/heat tool and embossing powders. Heat embossing is an awesome way to add dimension to your stamping projects. It’s the act of heating a powered plastic on a stamped image. When the powder melts, it leaves a raised image. Embossing powders come in a vast array of colors, including metallics. (My fave: Marvy)
4. Stamp positioner. This tool helps you perfectly position a stamp where you need it on a page.With clear stamps, you don’t really need this because you can see right through the stamp, but for wood-mounted or red rubber stamps, this is an absolute essential for accurate results. (My fave: Stampin’ Up!’s Stamp-a-ma-jig)
5. A good, sharp pair of scissors. You’ll need great scissors for cutting ribbon, trimming stamps (some rubber stamps need to have excess rubber removed), and other projects. (Any shears by Kai are awesome.)
6. A paper cutter for trimming cardstock and decorative papers. A 12″ one is sufficient for most DIY paper projects. I have 4 different ones. You can read my review of each in the forums.
7. A selection of dye inks and pigment inks in your favorite colors. Inks are available in, literally, hundreds of colors.
8. An eyelet-setting tool and eyelets. I prefer an all-in-one tool that will both punch the holes and set the eyelet. “Setting” the eyelet usually refers to putting a small, metal eyelet into a hole and smashing the back to flatten it onto the paper. (My fave: Crop-o-Dile)
9. A bone folder. Bone folders are smooth, slim pieces of bone or acrylic that are used to create creases and folds in paper. (These are all pretty much the same. I do really like the feel of the ones from Martha Stewart Crafts.)
10. Adhesive. There are so many tapes, glues, and sticky substances on the market right now that it’d take a whole post just to cover the basics. I love double-sided tape and can’t live without it. (My default is the tape runner by Tombow. However, it’s hit or miss in longevity and stickiness. My ongoing quest is to find a good tape dispenser with tape that’s consistently sticky.)

Hi. My name is Khris. I am a stamper.

It all started when I was planning my wedding some years ago and needed a way to decorate some favor boxes. My then-MIL-to-be (now just my MIL) introduced me to the wonderous graphic design tool known as the rubber stamp. She was (and still is) a demonstrator for a direct sales stamping/scrapbooking company and quickly became my connection, doing all in her power to fuel my addiction. It worked.

See, stamping is my creative fix of choice and it served as my slide into the subversive, sordid world of craft. It was my gateway drug. Soon after I got hooked on stamp, I started scoring vintage glitter on eBay, loitering at craft stores on days I knew new products were released, and bogarting my stash of hard-t0-find cardstocks — all because of my insatiable desire for images vulcanized into rubber. (Don’t even get me started on my lust for clear stamps. It’s too painful.)

I tried to hide my addiction but, alas, the tell-tale inky fingers, the paper cuts, and scraps of ribbon gave me away. (And that middle-distance stare after obsessing over the right color & embellishment combination for hours at a time.)

My decision to “out” myself was difficult but one I’m ultimately happy to make. Because, instead of a recovery program, I’m out to get you hooked, too. (When you’re most vulnerable, planning those wedding crafts. Bwahahaha!)

I’m dedicating the month of August to writing about and tutorializing (is that even a word?) rubber stamping. Stay tuned for projects galore, video tutorials, and a whole bunch o’ resources, tips and hints. Prepare to get those fingers all inky, dirty girls.