Hobbies

Creating Rubber Stamps: Not All Methods Created Equal (Part 2 of 3)
 by: Gwendolyn Lee

Welcome back! In part one of this three-part series, the advantages and disadvantages of laser-engraved rubber stamps were discussed. As discussed in the first article, although laser engraving has a high start-up cost, its quality and efficiency are second to none. In this segment, you will learn the benefit and fallbacks of a photoengraving stamp-making method.

Making a rubber stamp through a chemical or photopolymer process will also require significant start-up costs. Depending on the equipment capabilities, quality, or size, a photopolymer stamp-making kit may cost anywhere from $400-$4000. This process requires a significant amount of labor and tends to have a higher turnaround time.

The first step of the photopolymer process involves creating a negative of the image to be engraved. To begin, create or obtain a completely black graphic on a completely white background. If the graphic has colors, save or convert it to a monochrome or two-color format. A simple graphics editor, such as Paint (which automatically comes with a Windows OS) will allow the user to “Save As” and choose a “Save as type” as “Monochrome Bitmap.” This will convert the colored graphic into a black-and-white bitmap file. Once the image is completely black and white, using a graphics editor (again, Paint will work), invert the colors. This will create a white image on a black background.

Basic Preparations for Canvas Work
 by: Jo Kefford

To begin canvas work, you must first prepare a piece of canvas large enough to receive the design. ‘Large enough’ means the finished size of the design plus a margin of at least 5cm along each edge. When you are working with an uncharted design, finish size equals the dimensions of the drawing you will follow.

When a design is charted, finished size depends upon the number of canvas threads called for by the chart in relation to the threads per inch in the canvas. If the canvas is too narrow, lengths can be joined to get the necessary width. Make a pattern of the prepared canvas - it will be need when it is time to block the worked canvas.

Placing the design on canvas - method 1

This design transfer method places both the shapes and the colors of the design on to the canvas. The stitches are then worked right over the painted design. This method is recommended for use with any uncharted design, especially one that uses tent stitches only.

Rubber Stamps - Advice To Help Choose The Right Product For You
 by: Nicky Whatmore

Many of you may have used rubber stamps before either while crafting or in the office. Rubber

stamps are pieces of rubber that can be carved and molded into an image or pattern. The rubber

can be mounted onto a stable block and then the ink is coated onto the design and then pressed

onto some sort of fabric or paper so the colored image is transferred.

There are three basic types of stamps. These are listed below;

1) Regular Rubber Stamps

These are the basic kind that are used with a separate ink pad. They are easy to get hold of

and cheap to buy. However they may be messy if not used properly. This type is ideal for

crafters since you can own a variety of designs to decorate almost anything. However, these

stamps are also perfect for office workers. The stamp does not need to be replaced only the

inkpad when it runs out, which is another advantage.

2) Self-inking Stamps

Understanding Canvas Work Charts
 by: Jo Kefford

Some canvas work designs are presented in chart form, that is, the position of each stitch in the design is recorded on graph paper. Graph paper is used for charting because it is structurally similar to canvas. The vertical and horizontal lines correspond to the canvas threads; the squares and intersections made by the crossing lines are like the holes and meshes of the canvas.

Both come in several gauges, related to the number of sub-divisions (squares with graph paper, threads with canvas) to the inch. There are two ways to make use of these similarities, and each produces a different type of chart.

Box Chart

With a box chart, the squares on the graph paper represent the threads and/or meshes of the canvas. For a tent stitch, one square means one mesh. With straight or ornamental stitches, a square means one thread or mesh of the stitch’s total span. The total span is represented by the requisite number of squares, heavily outlined. For example, a straight Gobelin stitch, for threads long, is represented by an outlined row of four squares. A large Algerian eye stitch, which spans four meshes, is represented by a group of four by four squares with a heavy outline.

Scrapbook Ideas for Your Baby Album - Part 1
 by: Lisa Fleming

A scrapbook album of your baby’s first year is one of the most special albums you’ll ever complete. There are so many magical memories, beginning with the pregnancy itself and continuing right through your baby’s first birthday. Below are a number of scrapbook page ideas to help you capture those precious moments.

Title Page

A great way to start the album is by matting a 5”x7” or 8”x10” of your baby’s hospital photo on the first page. Then add the baby’s name and birthdate as the title and subtitle respectively. This makes a very simple yet very beautiful page.

Baby on the Way

How did you celebrate the news that your baby was on the way? Maybe it was a quiet dinner just for you and your husband or a gathering with family and friends. Either way, remember to include some pictures of the celebration. Capture peoples’ reactions to the annoucement in photos. In addition, you may even want to take a picture of the pregnancy test showing the positive results.

The Ultrasound

History of Needlepoint
 by: Jo Kefford

There are conflicting opinions as to the terms describing needlepoint. The differences may result from the fact that needlepoint has come down to us from various countries and in various stitches. Briefly, needlepoint is embroidery on canvas, the most common stitch is half of a cross-stitch, which is also called ‘Tent stitch’.

Needlepoint-tapestry is an often-used expression which shows the relation of needlepoint to the tapestry designs of the middle ages. This is especially true when the needlepoint is worked in an upright Gobelin stitch, which gives the effect of woven tapestry.

This early work was done on a loosely-woven material like coarse linen. Later, canvases were made specifically for the purpose; both in single thread canvas, or with threads arranged in pairs to make ‘double thread canvas’. This was often worked in needlepoint combining the fine petit point stitch, used for detailed shading, with gros point used for large flat design areas. To make this combination, the double thread canvas was ‘split’ - that is, the meshes opened with a needle or pin to form a single thread canvas for working in petit point.

The Real Secrets to Getting a Good Deal on Stained Glass
 by: Tim Jeffries

Did you know that you can find stained glass deals if you look hard enough? There are a number of places to buy stained glass - let’s look at a few of them.

The easiest and least risky way to buy glass is in a kit. You can purchase kits online: simply search for “stained glass kits” and you’ll see dozens of online suppliers. Or you can buy kits at Michael’s Arts and Crafts, Ben Franklin, or your local craft store. Many smaller craft stores may not stock kits, but they will be glad to order what you want.

The kit will only include glass you need for the project; you don’t have to worry about leftovers. If you’re new to the hobby, start with a kit or two - that way you won’t invest in glass inventory you may find you don’t need.

Guitar Lesson: How To Improvise The Classical Guitar Way
 by: Peter Edvinsson

When I was a fifteen years old guitarist playing rock solos and classical guitar pieces I remember that I had a desire to be able to improvise on my guitar in a classical manner.

Nowadays I have developed this skill and I love to improvise in the style of composers like Sor, Tarrega, Paganini or others or just trying to find myself somewhere among the notes. These special moments are a form of meditation. They clear my mind and also helps me as a composer to stimulate my creative abilities.

The most important reason for learning classical guitar improvisation is that it’s fun!

If you learn classical guitar improvisation it will benefit you in many other ways too:

1. It will be easier for you to memorize classical guitar sheet music.

2. You will find it easier to compose your own guitar pieces in a classical guitar style.

3. You can make up your own techniqal exercises on your guitar on the go.

4. You will understand your guitar better.

There are many ways to develop classical guitar improvisation. How?

Civil War Uniforms: Top 10 Things to Do with Your Trousers
 by: Paula and Coach McCoach

You want to be comfortable in your trousers right? Follow these tips and not only will your impression be accurate, you will have trousers that fit and feel great!

1. Military pants of the day came right off the patterns of the civilian pants. Irregular or civilian pants were very common since pants wore out quickly.

2. A little bit of patch work on pants would be fine, but I wouldn’t go for the dumpster look. I would patch if I needed it. I would make a proper hand-sewn patch.

3. Use a color of fabric that blends in with the material of the pants as closely as possible. You don’t want to look like a walking quilt.

4. You have a little more leeway with pants. I don’t recommend making a pair of pants off of a modern pattern and wearing them low.

5. Use an old pattern and make them so you can wear them high above the waist as they wore them in that era.

Basic Embossing with Rubber Stamps
 by: Lydia Trimmer

This is a simple technique using Rubber Stamps and Thermal Embossing that will add dimension to your cards and artwork. Nothing looks as elegant as a stamped image that has been embossed in gold and has rich color added to enhance your artwork.

You can use rubber stamps and thermal embossing on many different surfaces such as paper, glass, wood, leather, tile and ceramic objects. It’s fun to experiment and create your own unique and individual sense of style. Don’t be timid and have fun.

The following steps will teach the beginner where to start Embossing with rubber stamps takes practice and the more you do it, the better your results. Remember your art is unique to your personal style. It reflects your personal experience. It conveys your emotions. So use your imagination! Use color!!

The colors you choose to use with your rubber stamps can convey your personal style and make a statement. Reds reflect warmth and blue can reveal cool and soothing moods. Greens and violet contain both warm and cool elements.

MATERIALS:

Rubber Stamps

Embossing Ink Stamp Pad

Embossing Heat Gun