Budget Crafter's Tools: Rubber Stamp Cleaning Pads

A good tool sometimes takes time to find.

Anyone who crafts know how expensive this hobby can get, especially with all the new gadgets and tools the industry is always parading in front of us. But if you are like me you are always on the look out for ways to save and when it comes to tools, have tools that still work well.  Honestly, sometimes some of the tools craft supply companies come up with are not the best things out there nor the only tools that will work for that application.  Take rubber stamp scrubbers for instance.

Back when I began creating with rubber stamps I purchased a stamp scrubber pad for around $13.00 through The Angel Company (TAC), now Red Rubber Designs.  All my friends in my paper crafting group used this scrubber and loved it.  Being a newbie to the group I figured they must know what they were talking about so I bought one too.

TAC Stamp Scrubber detail

My friends were right, it is a really good scrubber and thoughtfully designed too.  Basically it is a folding plastic case that contains a replaceable foam backed scrubber pad on the bottom where the cleaning solution goes, and another thin scrubby pad on top for drying off the freshly cleaned stamp.  The top pad that is glued onto the lid, presumable to keep it dry and is non-replaceable.  Because it closes the cleaning solution doesn't evaporate much and you don't have to worry about accidentally laying things on top of a scrubber full of cleaning solution, which as every busy scrapper knows happens....so that lid is a great idea.  And yes, it is one of the best scrubbers I have used and works well for most stamps but I had issues with it.  I didn't like to use it to clean larger stamps on due to the hard edges of the case that kept me from being able to scrub the entire stamp on easily.  Either the edge was in the way of moving the stamp around or it kept the stamp up off the scrubber pad.  That is what got me started in looking for other options, something without hard plastic edges and a less expensive option too.

Next came the day I started using Stayzon Ink and Stayzon cleaning solution.  I love this ink because works on non-pourous surfaces like glass and plastic and it is my favorite ink to use when indexing my rubber stamps so I use it a lot.  Because it is a more permanent ink it stained my fancy shmancy TAC scrubber pad...not that it was perfectly clean or anything but it just looked gross.  And because I only had the one scrubber pad I suddenly realized I didn't want to be stuck using the Stayzon cleaner as my only option.  But I wasn't going to shell out $13.00 for another one so the hunt began in earnest. 

That was when I found this Stampendous scrubber pad at Craft Warehouse for around $6.00 on sale.  Only problem was it didn't work as good as the TAC one did so I was a bit bummed out.  For one the pad is glued in so it cannot be taken out to give good wringing out if needed and there are those darn edges again.

So I was back to searching and determined to keep looking until I found something that would work this time, even if I had to make it myself.  After all, the material those scrubbers was made out of isn't that unique.  When I am out on these hunting forays of mine I look in all kinds of places for knock off options just for that reason.  Well I am happy to say my perseverance paid off this week and I discovered a product that was FABULOUS!   No kidding...it really is!

I was poking around the paint department at our local Fred Meyer store before I dove into the grocery shopping I was supposed to be doing.  (It's a one stop shopping kind of store.)  I love pocking around every department in whatever store I go to because it helps me maintain a running list of sorts of what goodies they have that may connect with a need I have at home.

SCORE!  My new favorite scrubber.

As I got about half way down the isle I spotted this painting tool made by Shur-line called a "Handi Painter".  (Oh happy day...my prayers have been answered!)  I think I did the happy dance in the isle after discovering it.  I mean I was so excited after looking for so long.  This "Handi Painter" may have been originally designed as a painting tool but not in my world.  To me it was one handsome looking stamp scrubber and I couldn't wait to try it.

Just look at that...and a handle too!

I don't think it could have been more perfect if I had designed it myself.   No hard raised edges to run into while running the stamp over the scrubber pad, light weight with a well fitting handle to hold on to, washes up easily with soap and water and HEY...it was only $2.99!  Oh happy day...my prayers have been answered! (More happy dancing.)  AND...You can either apply the cleaner to the scrubber or the stamp which I liked to do sometimes because those detailed stamps benefit from a little extra spritzing of the stamp cleaner.  So aren't you just dying to know how well it worked?

Yesterday morning the mail carrier delivered a big ol' box of goodies I had ordered from Red Rubber Designs yesterday.  (Hallelujah I get to test drive this baby!)  Wow...I have to tell you it works like a dream. The foam handle was surprisingly comfortable and it's light as a feather to hold but still sturdy enough to scrub with.  I just layed the stamps rubber up on my work surface, spritzed them with a tiny bit of cleaner and with a few easy rubs they were cleaned and ready to dry.  I wiped down the scrubber with paper towel and used it to dry them off.  It worked slick!

Now I have an arthritic thumb on my right hand and a wrist that was howling at me yesterday so I can assure you that if you have arthritis you just might find this cleaning method and tool easier to use too.  It's because you don't have to grasp the stamp in your hand but will be holding the light weight scrubber tool instead.  I sure helped me.  All that aside it is just plain easier to use any other scrubber I have used anywhere hands down.  The only down side, and it's not much of one, is that the "Handi Painter" does take up a bit more space than other scrubbers do.  For me it works so much better that it's a non issue.

Now that I am in love with my "Handi Painter" I'm going to have a hard time going back to my other scrubbers. Oh and in case you're wondering, I used this on cling foam mounted stamps, not wood mounted.  Setting the wood stamps on a towel will help keep them from sliding around too much as you scrub them.   And those tiny ones, you'll have to hold those in one hand most likely. 

TOOL CARE NOTE:  I recommend that you wash it up right away after using it to keep it in good condition.  I washed mine in warm water with Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day dish soap which worked great.  I found the sponge (that green part) held the soapy water and I had to sort of squeegee it out with my hand two or three times to get all the soap out but that was no biggie.  It probably didn't help that I put the soap straight onto the scrubbing pad either...words to the wise...dilute the soap in water first.  Then it needed to be pressed it into a towel to help get rid of the excess water in the sponge and  propped up on edge on a paper towel to finish drying.  This morning I have a nicely cleaned scrubber all ready for next time.

I know there are other rubber scrubbers that I have not mentioned out there, but before try them I highly recommend that you give this product a try.  Oh and before I forget...I have seen smaller versions of paint brushes like this so watch for those too.  I bet they would work and if storage space is an issue might be just the ticket for your craft tool box.  So have fun and give it a try.


Copyright © 2013 by Patty Hicks

All rights reserved. No part of this blog may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including printing, recording or by any information storage and retrieval system without written permission from the author, except for the inclusion of brief quotations in a review. All reviews must include author's name and a link back to this blog.

Hey Sailor: Message in a bottle

Valentine message in a bottle

Guys usually don't care for fussy gifts and honestly, they can be real stinkers to shop for.   If your guy is like mine, finding just the right gift can seem virtually impossible at times, especially when you have been married as long as I have.  Thankfully every once in a while I do run across one that is perfect, one that says "Honey I love you".  This idea from Rusty Crafts and Chic Decor that I found on Pinterest, a message in a bottle, was it for me...only mine was more like "I'm still nuts about you!"...complete with peanuts.

He really was a sailor and still loves boats

To make the heart I used white core card stock in red which I tore into the heart shape and a black Sharpie marker.  Be sure to test which way the paper tears to reveal those white edges so it looks the way you want it to.  The note in the bottle is made of a nautical theme scrapbook paper.  I tore the note along it's edges to give it a little more character, wrote "I'm still nuts about you." inside, rolled it up and secured it with a little piece of tape to keep it from unrolling in the bottle.

A little tape and a length of thread

To make it easy to lift the note from the bottle I laced thread down through and back up the outside the rolled up paper, tying a knot in the thread at the top so it formed a secure loop.  I made sure there was enough extra thread at the top that it could be taped to the back of the heart (About 3 inches) leaving the note to hang in the bottle with the heart dangling outside.  Thread was perfect because it was thin enough it did not hinder the lid clamp.  Now to finish up the package.

Look Ma...no glue!

To create the label I used more of the same scrapbook paper, hand wrote the sentiment, wrapped it around the bottle taping it closed at the back.  No glue, nothing fancy, it took less than twenty minutes to pull together and the whole thing cost me less than seven dollars.  And HE LIKED IT!

Waiting for the postman...tee hee

When my husband got home from work the bottle was sitting on the end table next to where he always sits.  He said "Who is this for?" I smirked and told him it was for the postman.  You should have seen the look on his face...really, did he think it was for the postman? (No kidding this really happened.)  Finally he sat down, pulled out the note, chuckled after reading it and mumbled something about he wasn't expecting to get anything and then dove into the peanuts! Oh well, what was I expecting, to be swept off my feet with a "Honey you shouldn't have."?  He got the message and feasted on his peanuts, so my mission was a success.

Cones and Common Things: A Christmas Decoration Tutorial

Glammed up fir cones ready to make a festive mark

We here in the Pacific Northwest have a bountiful supply of Douglas Fir trees and a seemly never ending supply of fir cones from these trees.  (If you have ever lived or camped beneath these trees you know what I mean.)  So when I told a friend of mine I was using them for Christmas decorations I got "that look"...you know, the one that has unspoken words with it that says "You're kidding right?".  It made me laugh...and I still chuckle about it today as it is a reminder to me of how differently my eyes see things sometimes and how wonderful that really is.

Being a plant nerd keeps my eyes connected to the natural world and being a creative type means I'm always looking for how plants can be used for crafting.  I cannot remember a time when I didn't look at plants for what they could be used for actually.  So it's no surprise that I grow things for their utility or craft-ability.  I'm forever scanning the neighborhood for trees such as Liquid Amber, Oak, Pine and others that will grant possible gleaning of cones and pods for my crafting habit.

These little fir cones, and other cones and pods, are so beautiful in their structural design that they are perfect to paint up and scatter about a table centerpiece, place in a bowl or hang on the tree.  The other beautiful part is that it makes these ornaments nearly FREE to make!

YOU WILL NEED
Baking sheet lined with foil
An oven
Rubbing Alcohol
Old tooth brush or cotton rag (for applying alcohol)
1/2" flat tipped paint brush (for dry brushing)
Opaque acrylic craft paint in a variety of colors (base colors and highlight colors)
Glitter Glaze acrylic paint(optional)
A box or flat surface lined with wax paper or silicone craft sheet
Fir cones (or other tree cones or flower pods)
Pretty string, ribbon or wire
Old butter tubs (as many as you have base colors)

PREPPING CONES
Use dry undamaged cones only.  Fir cone scales close up tight when the cones are wet and in order to get paint in between the scales you need them to be dry so they will open and allow the pain in between the scales.

Damp cone with scales snugged in tight

Heat oven to 200 F, line a baking sheet with foil, load it up with a single layer of cones and place it in the oven for 20 to 30 minutes (max), keeping a close eye on them.  The heat will dry them further, kill any bugs that might be living in them (gross I know, but necessary) and should melt away any pitch that might be on the cone.  Let cones cool before handling, hot pitch can really burn so be careful. 

If there is still pitch on them that needs to be removed, use a little rubbing alcohol and an old tooth brush to remove it.  Soak the pitch with the alcohol for a bit and then scrub it off. It should come off fairly easily.  Now you are ready to glam them up.

PAINTING
NOTE: I make up several of these cones at a time in batches and find it the fastest and easiest way to make them.

In an old butter tub or other deep container mix 1 part water and 3 parts paint (more or less depending on how opaque you want it to be). This will create a stain you can dip the cones into instead of having to hand paint each one.  Be sure you have enough room at the top of the container so that when you add the cones it does not overflow.

Dry cone with scales opening up and ready for paint

Dip the cones in the paint, swishing them around to be sure it gets up under the cone scales.  Remove with tongs or a slotted spoon, drain and place on lined surface to dry.  Rotate the cones and dab off excess paint from the bottom side that may have pooled up.  Allow these to dry completely before moving to the next step.

Dry and ready to be glammed up!

When the stain/paint is completely dry you can add the highlight colors.  Gold will give them the appearance of being gilt and white (not too much and just on the tips) will make them appear snowy.

Only hit the raised areas of the cone

To apply the dry-brush highlights use a flat-tipped brush, dip it into the color of paint you are using for highlights and before applying it to the cone, brush off the excess, in essence dry off the brush, so it will only lightly cover the surface of what you are painting.  Drag the brush lightly down the cone from top to the bottom tip so that you hit only the raised areas of the cone with the gold.  This will give you that hint of highlight.  Place your freshly adorned cones on a clean non-stick sheet or wax paper to dry

If you want you can try brushing the entire cone (plain or highlighted) with Glitter Glaze acrylic paint which will give them a shiny, frost kissed look that really sparkles...and who doesn't like sparkles at Christmas!

When they are dry they are ready to be piled into a bowl as a center piece, spread them beneath the candles on the mantle or table or you can just tie a ribbon or wire around the top just below the top layer of scales and hang them on the tree or in a window.  They look fabulous on a wreath too!

With all the wonderful color options we have for Christmas decor these days why not go wild...whatever you decide have fun!

Merry Christmas everyone...now go get your elf on!


 Copyright © 2011 by Patty Hicks
All rights reserved. No part of this blog may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including printing, recording or by any information storage and retrieval system without written permission from the author, except for the inclusion of brief quotations in a review. All reviews must include author's name and a link back to this blog.