EK Success - Stamp-a-ma-jig

Reported by: Katie Renz

My article today is a review of EK Success's Stamp-a-ma-jig. You may see this tool also referred as a stamp positioner or stamp aligner as well. The purpose of this little tool is simple and straight forward. It is meant to help you place any stamped image where you want it. The tool itself is what you see in the package and the only accessory that comes with it is a small piece of plastic called an imaging sheet. I've seen this tool in purple, light blue, and Stampin Up! has one available in black.

I've owned a Stamp-a-ma-jig for many months and until it was time to write this article it sat in my craft drawer unused and still in its original packaging. I knew that it was supposed to be used with stamps, but to be honest, I had no idea how or why. My personal preference is for clear stamps, but I do have many wood mounted, cling cushioned, as well as plain rubber stamps and to be honest, I've stayed away from collecting too many wood mounted stamps because I felt that it was just more difficult to see where I was stamping.

This is the general scenario when I stamped with non-clear stamps. I would either just stamp my image randomly on a large piece of cardstock and then use my punch or die cut to cut it out, thus not having to worry about it being straight. I would even attempt to cut an even square/rectangle around my stamped image - this doesn't always work well either. Another scenario is me stamping a sentiment on a scratch piece of paper and eyeballing the edge of my block to the edge of my paper. If the stamped image was crooked then I would adjust the position based on how much of a slant showed on my scratch piece of paper. Or how about this one, I would stoop as low as I could so that my eye was level with the stamp and paper and stamp that way. Do any of these scenarios ring a bell with you?

Well, I ripped open my packaging and thought hmmm... I stamped an image in the middle of the imaging sheet and thought hmmm... and then I read the directions. Well, that about summed it all up. Read the directions and it is smooth sailing from there. I have decided that the Stamp-a-ma-jig is my new best friend. I have to say I loved using it and have been using it daily since then, even if I didn't need to.

It's really quite simple to use. The key is to align the imaging sheet with the jig in the 90 degree corner. It doesn't matter if your jig is up, down, or sideways.

From there, all you have to do is firmly place your stamp in that 90 degree space without any wiggle room. Stamp your image, remove your imaging sheet and place it over your choice of cardstock wherever you want your image to be. After you have the imaging sheet (stamped image) where you want it on the cardstock then bring your jig back and butt it up to the corner. Then remove the imaging sheet without moving your jig. Ink up that stamp and stamp directly on the cardstock and voila - perfect placement!

Here is one more picture of what the imaging sheet and jig look like while I'm placing the tree into the bed of the truck. You can see that I already stamped my tree on the imaging sheet, placed it where I wanted on my cardstock, re-aligned my jig, removed the imaging sheet without displacing the jig and then stamped my tree. Whenever I stamped, I always thought that it looked weird and that there was no way it would look right, but sure enough, every single time it turned out perfectly.

Here is a card that I made using this tool. I was able to center my truck, precisely place my tree in the bed, stamp the sentiment on the front of the card as well as centering the sentiment on the inside of my card.

Stampin Up! Stamps, PTI Ribbon and base Cardstock, Basic Grey Paper, Copics

The absolute worst is having your sentiment on the inside of your card turn out crooked. For me, I always leave that as my very last step and sometimes that isn't a good thing.

I would like to list some reasons as to why this tool is so great and some neat tips I've gathered while browsing on the web and talking with other stamping friends.

• By using the stamp-a-ma-jig you will save time by only stamping once to get the perfect placement.
• Use the jig for centering alphabets, sentiments, lining up images, for 2 step stamping, mixing stamp sets, creating scenes.
  
• The stamp-a-ma-jig works just the same for clear stamps on acrylic blocks - we all know that just because clear stamps are clear doesn't necessarily mean the perfect positioning all the time.
• Feel free to use vellum, transparencies, or anything clear or transparent to stamp on as your imaging sheet, although I do want to add that the imaging sheet that comes with the jig is very sturdy and cleans off easily.
• Extra imaging sheets are available for purchase if needed/wanted.
  
• Use a permanent ink on the above and save and store your images to use again in the future - just store with their coordinating stamp sets.
• There are great videos and tutorials on the web showing you even more in-depth details as to how to correctly use the stamp-a-ma-jig. Just make sure you type it in with the hyphens. You will get a better selection to choose from.
  

In conclusion, I have to say that I love this tool. I cannot believe that it literally took me this long to use it. The jig is easy to use and literally works every time. I honestly did not feel that by using the stamp-a-ma-jig I added unwanted time to the whole card making process. I do have to add that I used my jig on a soft cushion surface. I have read complaints that the jig would slip, but I had no issues with this and it might have been do to the cushiony mat.

Pros:

• Readily available
• Easy to use
• It does what its supposed to

Cons:

• It would be nice to have more imaging sheets in the set
• Sorry to say, I just didn't find any other cons to this product

The Stamp-a-ma-jig can be found in most of your local retail craft/stamping stores, but it is also very readily available at many online retail stores too.

• Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores
• Scrapinsanity
• Amazon

Retail cost for the Stamp-a-ma-jig is $9.99, it is very easy to use (read the directions) and I believe the value is very good and especially so if you can use a coupon on the item. I would rate EK Success's Stamp-a-ma-jig a 9 out of 10.

As I stated, the Stamp-a-ma-jig is my new best friend. Is it your best friend or your worst enemy? We would love to hear which one and why.

EK Success Memory Pencils

Reported by Kim Fox

EK Success has a very large cache of crafting products including colored pencils - Memory Pencils to be exact.

Sometimes when I am stamping I use a variety of inks: chalk, distressed, pigment, etc. I even break out my heat gun and heat emboss to add a smooth effect. However, color can really make stamped images jump off the page.

That's why I grabbed these pencils that I picked up at a nearby Hobby Lobby and decided to colorize my world.

The primary color pack is just that - a basic set which is quite likable in terms of colors; there are two tones of green - a grass green and a green, blue, red, orange, yellow, teal, purple, raspberry (which looks more like pink), smoke and black. There is also a wedding white; that could come in handy when you are working with darker colors and you do not want to break out your white paint, but you want that white on dark effect. You could also mix colors to get the color that you desire. The pencils do, however, come in two additional color packs: earth and primary.

The natural wood pencils come in a box that makes them easy to see and use - the box converts into an easel so that you can visibly see the colors, yet keep them from cluttering your work area.

The price is ideal. They run about $4.99 for each set of 12 pencils. That's a good deal for a craft product that is so simple to use and it could brighten up your project. You can find the colored pencils at most of the big box stores like Michaels, Joann, A.C. Moore and as I mentioned Hobby Lobby. You can find this item online too, try Scrapbook Finds, Shopping.com and Joann Online.
If you are good at freehand drawing and doodling, these pencils will add a light and colorful touch to your projects. They are acid-free, photo safe, fade proof and waterproof.

I did not do anything earth shattering in my project samples, but I like the way the colored pencils do what they are intended to do - add color. The good news is that I did not encounter any issues with this product.

Pros

• Easy to use; no directions needed
• Affordable
• Available in 36 different colors (12 in each pack: earth, primary and pastel)

Cons

• The colors available may not exactly match your projects
• No pencil sharpener included (for when the pencils dull)

I rate these colored pencils at 9; I'd give them a 10 if a pencil sharpener were included. Just super simple and fun!

How are you using your colored pencils? Let us know your thoughts.

EK Success Rub-On Tool Kit

Reported by Carolyn King


I am not too much of a rub-on girl--I have lots of them but seem to have a deep rooted rub-on phobia! So, when I saw this kit....I thought---THIS might be the answer for me. The EK Success Rub-On Tool Kit comes with one rub on tool that has a broad tip and a detail tip, one adhesive remover (in the photo it looks like a crayon), and six rub-ons. I purchased this kit at Hobby Lobby for $4.99!

The rub-on tool is made of a hard plastic. There is a nice softer area in the middle where you hold it. The adhesive remover is a shaped like a fat pencil to help with detail work. It is bendable and it feels like rubber.

I tested out the rub-on tool on buttons, glass and paper and found that the detailed side really does a good job at getting those tiny parts of the rub-on to transfer. The broad side is pretty comparable to the good ol' Popsicle stick that is included with most rub-on packages. It has a soft comfort grip in the center, which makes it particularly useful if you were working on a large project.

But, what really impressed me was the adhesive remover. I really thought this was awesome. Since I tend to be lazy when using rub-ons, I often will not cut out the rub-on before transferring it. The remover takes off any mistakes without damaging the paper.

For this demonstration, I used Stampin' Up! whisper white cardstock and transferred a portion of a rub-on design:

After using the adhesive remover, this is what was left:

It removed all of the rub-on without damaging the paper at all! And even better---it was simple to remove. The design came right off with minimal effort.

Here is a card I created using the rub-on tool from the kit:

Although this kit is great, I am not sure this kit is worth purchasing for those who do not use a lot of rub-ons. For occasional use, I still think the Popsicle stick works fine. Also, I think it would be great if the kit included another tool that had an even smaller edge for very detailed work.

However, I do feel that the EK Success Rub-On Tool Kit is a great deal. You get the tool, adhesive remover and rub-ons for just $4.99. I my opinion, the adhesive remover is worth it alone, but it is nice to have a cute tool to add to my collection. I think my rub-ons might be getting a lot more love from now on!

As I said before, I purchased my kit at Hobby Lobby but you can also find the EK Success Rub-On Tool Kit online at: EK Success, KraftyatKrafts, Scrapbooking Supplies Online

Let me know what you think of this review and if you have this kit, I would love to hear what you think of it!

EK Success Curvy Cutter

Reported by Julia Stainton

I just love my new circle cutter. I’ve been wanting to post this review & tutorial since I first bought it but time has been in short supply. It didn’t take me long to fall in love with it…from the first perfect cut with it…I’ve been so enthralled. The EK Success Curvy Cutter Circle Template is so slick and easy to use and I’m so impressed with its abilities. I’ve always loved circles and they are so hot and trendy right now in design. Usually I’d tend to stay away from circles as I just wasn’t happy using the shape cutter I had. It would leave spots where I had to trim. I do love the Nestabilites circles but I found I was limited in size of what would run through my die cut machine. With my new Curvy Cutter Circle Template, I’m just loving adding circles of all sizes as they are so quick and easy to incorporate.

What I like about the Curvy Cutter

• easy to use
• easy to position
• very quick to set up
• huge size variety of circles from 2.25″ to 7.5 inches …you can also cut outside the circles for greater flexibility and a full 12″ cut
• 1/8″ increments mean you can cut and mat with great flexibility
• two circle positioning templates make it easy to position your photo or paper in just the right place
• ergonomic handle swivels easily for cutting in a single motion
• no torn or ragged edges….a crisp perfect circle
• gripper feet keep the template easily in place
• works well on cardstock, photos, vellum etc.
• double sided blade means you can cut in both directions
• expandable….you can use the Curvy Cutter part with other templates such as the Oval Template and the rounded squares
• you can use the glass cutting mat for other applications such as free hand cutting etc.
  
  

Things to note:

• This cutter does not work well with small scraps of paper
• The cutter is sold in two pieces…the circle template and the Curvy Cutter blade mechanism itself…you will need both
• This cutter works best with a glass cutting mat. Self healing mats are not recommended
• When cutting multiple circles…start at the smallest size and work out.
• This cutter is not inexpensive but I find it is well worth the money. Well made and flexible I know it will give me great cuts for years to come.

How to Use:
To cut thin circles…

1. Lay cardstock on glass mat.

2. Position circle template on top. Remove guide and place cutter in desired track.

3. Swivel blade around track.

4. Push blade in until it clicks at the next increment. Cut circle.

5. Repeat.

To position on photo and cut out…

1. Place photo on glass cutting mat.

2. Position circle template with positioning insert where desired on photo.

3. Adjust blade to correct size. Remove insert and place blade in track.

4. Press down on template to hold steady and swivel blade with other hand.

Quick Tip: When cutting rings of circles…I often cut out a full sheet of circles at once. This allows me to have some precut circles on hand and play around with which size best suits my design.

Where to find it…

• I purchased my cutter from my local scrapbook store.
• You can also find it at Michaels, Hobby Lobby and other craft stores
• On-line stores

Things to do with it…

• make a circle card
• make thin 1/8″ circles
• cut circle spotlights
• make circle windows
• cut out off-set circles
• line up the side of your card to create a semi-circle edge

If you have questions about this product…please feel free to ask. And be sure to leave comments and let us know what you think about it.

Edited to add...thanks so much for the response and questions. I wanted to answer the question about creating a circle card with this cutter. I'm happy to say that it worked extremely well cutting through a double thickness of cardstock weight patterned paper to create a darling circular card design. Thanks so much for the question as I'm loving this possibility!

EK Success= Punching Success

Reported by Heather Strenzwilk

When I began stamping 14 years ago, personal die cut machines didn't exist. Instead, we had specialty punches- they were heavy, clunky and the designs were very limited. Punch technology has improved greatly through the years and some of the best punches on the market are Paper Shapers by EK Success.

Paper Shapers come in 3 sizes- small, medium and large. Many of the styles come in assorted sizes which makes it easy to layer the punchies for different looks. There is also a line of square and circular nesting punches which graduate in size by 1/8" increments. The squares range from 1/2" to 1-3/8" and the circles from 5/8" to 1- 1/2" wide. These round and square punches are staples at my craft table.

"Thumb-Punch" technology makes these punches very easy to use. They also have guidelines on the top and sides of the punch, making it easy to line up multiple punches. The paper loading area is generous, making it easy to load and remove paper or cardstock.

I own 14 EK Success punches (various sizes) and approximately 20 punches from other companies. I have never had any problems with my EK Success punches aside from an occasional piece of cardstock (caused by operator zealousness). My EK punches range in age from 6 months to 5 years and I am very pleased with how smoothly they punch through paper and cardstock. The true test of a punch is cardstock through a circular or rounded punch and the nesting punches work extremely well. They are so easy to use that my 7-year-old daughter can use my punches without any help.

The nested circle punches are my personal favorites and I use them several times a week. They have definitely held up to heavy use. My other favorite is the Whale of a Punch- Retro Flower. It is 2" wide and a fun and bold flower. Tip- Add texture to cardstock before punching as in my flower card above.

The nesting punches are very clearly labeled with their size, making it easy to grab the right size for a project. I own five sizes of the circle punches and layer them or use them to make easy scalloped borders as in the above photo. The other thing I really like about the nesting punches is that they come packed in plastic boxes. This makes it easier to store the punches and to keep them dust free.

EK Success punches are widely available at most chain craft stores and at local scrapbook stores. Prices range from $3.50 - $10.50 and when combined with a coupon, make these a bargain. I don't think punches can compare to personal diecut machines, but they can offer an affordable option for crafters who need to make their own diecuts for projects. EK Success punches are easy to use, widely available, affordable and most importantly, dependable.