interesting

So I opened convo with a few sellers on Etsy who do custom stamps, so that I can get stamps for the holidays. (You don't exactly find "Yule" at the local stamp store, let alone the major chain stores.)

As part of my request, I said "Ideally, I would receive just a sheet of rubber, which I could back with cling foam and cut out myself for use with acrylic blocks."

I take this as "less work for you, less materials for you, so my cost should be a little cheaper". Makes sense, right?

Of the four sent, three replied. Two asking for more information before quoting, but the one that surprised me...

Hi Jenn~

Thank you for your interest and for waiting!

At this time we offer wood handle rubber stamps and self inking stamps, but not just the sheet of rubber. I do believe that there are other Etsy sellers that may be able to assist you.

Again thank you for contacting us!

So she won't sell me just the stamp part without mounting it on a wood handle? WHAT kind of business plan is turning away easy business? Makes no sense to me...


The main moving happens this weekend, and then I can begin unpacking all my stuff and have time to get creative again. (I hate the mad rush of packing an entire household, but I love the purging because you decide something just isn't worth packing.

... on a roll...

Not only did I finish my ATC cards, I also had time to create a dozen harvest themed notecards! (And then played around a bit with a new stamp set, but didn't end up with anything worth posting.)

The card and image base are Nature Preserve cardstock, which is 100% recycled (30% post consumer). So in addition to being pretty and crafty, they're fairly environmentally responsible. (The inks and embossing powder not so much, but I haven't found any of those yet which are.) The stamp is titled Harvest Maiden from a company called Stamp Oasis. The ink is again Ranger Distress walnut stain. (I like that it's nice and dark, but it feels more natural than black.) The lovely lady was colored with markers from Copic, Stampin Up, and Zig. Her jewels were then glittered with a Stardust glitter gel pen. There are some irregularities in the coloring, because of stray flecks of embossing powder, but I've found that I like the look it gives.



You can't really tell from the picture, because my camera tends to wash color out, but the card base is actually a nice olive green, which makes the oranges of the flowers and leaves pop quite nicely.

Now to find a source for recycled envelopes. (Would be nice if it was local!)