Card Making - help with embossing machines and clear stamps

[HowdyHeidi]

Hi Everyone, this is my first post to this forum. I tried some other craft forums, but got no help, so I thought i would come back to the DIS since everyone is always so helpful here.

Anyhow, I just restarted doing stamping and papercrafting. I have a pretty good older collection of wooden stamps and am starting to collect the new clear stamps as they just are so fun! I did notice they don't seem to clean as well as my other stamps and wonder if there is a specific cleaner I should use for them?

Also, I really want an embossing machine! I just love the looks of the cards that use them, but I am short on cash. Do you think I could get away with a Sizzix Texture Boutique as a sortof beginner who mostly does cards? I know it doesn't die cut, but at $35 for the machine and a bunch of embossing folders, I really would like that now instead of waiting till maybe summer or even next Christmas to buy a more expensive machine and folders...

Any opinions on that? TIA!

 

[PrincessNancy96]

I don't have that sizzix boutique so I can't answer that...
I have a cuttlebug for my embossing and love it... I bought a whole bunch of embossing plates at big lots for $2 each.... and you can use your % of coupons at JoAnn's for them...

As for clear stamps... I clean mine immediately after use w/ baby wipes... I do have a cleaner downstairs but I can't recall the name right now so I will check tomorrow...

 

[HowdyHeidi]

I will have to try the baby wipes. I hadn't thought of that but I have heard good things about them and cleaning. Thanks for the tip!

 

[PrincessNancy96]

Glad to help... hopefully someone will be around later tonight/tomorrow or this weekend who may have better input on the embossing....

to our cozy corner!!!

 

[rlovew]

Welcome to our corner of the boards!

I normally wash my clear stamps with dishsoap as soon as I finish using them.

I don't know anything about the texture botique either - I have a cuttlebug that I got when it was on sale.

Good luck with your decisions.

Rebecca

 

[morgansmom2000]

I leave my stamps dirty! That way I know I've used them

There are a couple cleaners out there that work really well, one of them being the Stampin Up one.

As for the embossing machine...You should be able to get a Cuttlebug for about $40 with a coupon. I would suggest doing that instead of getting the Texture Boutique (it really only works with the one size folder and smaller). It is NOT a Cricut machine or cartridge, so you can use a coupon on it.

 

[HowdyHeidi]

Thanks for your input. I guess i thought I couldn't use the coupons with any of the machines, but I see Joann's say no electronic machines and I'm not sure what AC Moore says. Those are the two stores I usually shop at. I guess the cuttlebug is $80 regular price. That is probably a good idea.

I have spent a long time looking to see if there are any used one on ebay or craigslist or anywhere, but I haven't found one at a decent price when you think about shipping...

Thanks again!

 

[rlovew]

The cuttlebug is not electronic- it is hand cranked so it should not be something not allowed at Joanns.

Rebecca

 

[missesdisney]

I have a big shot and cricut and just bought myself the boutique for my birthday when it was on sale at ACM last week (or you can use a coupon) for about $20 and I LOVE IT. I never pull out the big shot for little things and this is just the right size.

I use close to my heart stamp cleaner (I also use close to my heart stamps now that I've started stamping more). It works pretty well - I think they tend to tint somewhat with certain colors no matter what though.

Good luck!

Maria

 

[MazdaUK]

I use the CTMH cleaner, and have also used wahing-up liquied. Dark coulours always seem to stain stamps whatever. I've also put the blocks through the dishwasher I've got the Big Shot recently - I toyed with the idea of the embossing boutique, but thought I'd probably regret not having the die cut option. It is quite heavy, but does a good job.

 

[dzorn]

I love my cuttlebug for embossing.

Denise in MI

 

[TinaLala]

I have the Sizzix Textured Boutique and I love it! My little purse! I use the standard Sizzix embossing folders with it and they work fine. Since I have a Cricut I'm not looking to do any die cutting with my Boutique. Yeah you can't use the larger folders with it, but honestly I'm using buying the standard sized Sizzix or Cuttlebug folders with no problem.

I also clean my stamps with baby wipes as well as a spray cleaner that is a mixture of glycerin, J&J shampoo and water. For those thin spots on my stamps I use a nail brush.

 

[LindaBabe]

If I had it to do over again, I'd have bought the big shot - apparently it's on sale at Joann's - reason being - with adaptors, it can use all sizes of dies and embossing plates. FOr cards, I also use quickutz and spellbinder dies and would use larger to cut shaped card fronts, if they weren't too big for my 4"wide Revolution. Fortunately I have a friend with a big shot so I can use hers, but it's a bit of a nuisance .

SO cute in the package but I Don't love my clear stamps and never use them, so I'm not help there.

 

[joyah]

My clear stamps are usually semi dirty. Those (cause they are cheap) are the ones I take to school for the boys to use. My youngest class is mostly boys 14/3 ratio so they get trashed. Since most of them were $1 or less I don't worry. I do use the Stampin up cleaner on them and it takes off 90% when at school, home i'd say 98%.
Now my "hybrid" clear stamps from Stampin Up are the best of both worlds. They clean up like regular wooden ones but you see what you are stampin.

I too have the cuttlebug love it for embossing. I believe I got it at ac with a coupon. Personally I love it, the boys have used it. many of the die cuts I have for it are for them cause I don't want them using the cricut.

Welcome to our little corner of the world.

 

[scrappinstevie]

If I had it to do over again, I'd have bought the big shot - apparently it's on sale at Joann's - reason being - with adaptors, it can use all sizes of dies and embossing plates.

I use the Big Shot for embossing-works really well.

For cleaning stamps, I use baby wipes and then wash and rinse in the sink with a mild dish soap.