WRMK Sew Stamper Review

I LOVE the look of sewing on all my projects.  I use the sewing machine, hand stitch, and use stamps or rub-ons and even hand drawing to mimic the look.

I recently purchased the We R Memory Keepers Sew Stamper set from HSN here.  I already own the WRMK Sew Easy that perforates paper in different stitch patterns to easily add thread so I am familiar with & like the handle and interchanging stitch heads.

The Sew Stamper starter package comes with the handle & double straight stitch stamp.   The other stitch patterns are sold separately.  The set I purchased came with all that is pictured below.  Handle + 6 additional stamp heads.  I think this covers all the basic & decorative stitches I would want so I am pleased with the collection.

What You Get 

Sew Stamper tool with straight head Cross Sew stamper head Zig Zag Sew stamper head Scallop Sew stamper head Burst Sew stamper head Blanket Sew stamper head Hem Sew stamper head

Since each head has ink already inside it's important to keep it covered.  WRMK made that easy by designing a lid that slides away when in use....  This is super impressive to me as someone who easily misplaces things all the time in the chaos of creating - they usually show up again but why risk it right.  (sorry for the blurry photo I was trying out using the iphone 3gs camera instead of dragging out the big boy but you get the idea)

Trying the straight stitch stamp head on plain non textured cardstock.  There was a slight random dotting on the right side of the stamped images as I rolled it the first time (left side) so I did it again & adjusted the angle of handle/pressure slightly & the pretty much took care of the problem (right side).

Then I tried the cross stitch patterned stamp.  There was a slight discoloration on both edges as I rolled along the paper.  You can see how as I adjusted the angle of the handle a bit the marks changed position.  There's a fine line between just enough pressure for a good image & too much pressure with lots of extra marks.  The random marks don't bother me much since I like a "home made" and distressed look

I purchased this for mini books & mini book kits since stitching can be lumpy it's not always desirable but I didn't want to give up the stitch look.  This tool is going to be perfect for achieving that quickly & will great results.

Here is what the X stitch stamp looks like on a mixed media canvas that I was working on.

This picture shows the zig zag stamp head.  The top is a rub-on and the bottom is the WRMK stamp

Finally I love this large folky hand stitched scallop of this stamp.

This is a water based dye ink & it limits the use slightly.  I made the mistake of not looking before I leap so the faux stitches on the canvas pictured above were wiped off as they would not dry over Mod Podge layers & if I would have put more Mod Podge over them it would have reacted with the ink to smear ruining the piece... thankfully I called WRMK customer service when it wasn't drying to ask & they were super helpful.  So I just wiped off with a damp paper towel avoiding disaster.   This was my own fault for not checking before using & expecting it to do more than the product was designed to do.  If you are using on paper for cards, mini albums, scrapbook pages, etc it will work perfectly with no problems.

Pros
Ease of use getting that hand stitched look that I like
Ability to change the stitch head stamps quickly
Ink dries quickly on PAPER
Very economical compared to rub-ons with similar results
Fast to use - in the past I drew my own "faux stitches" with a fine tip marker this was a little time consuming.

Cons
Slight marks show up when rolling depending on the pressure/angle but this lessens once you get the hang of using it.
Waterbased dye ink only limits applications


Summary:
WRMK makes some of my favorite tools (Crop-A-Dile, Brad Setter, Corner Chomper, & Sew Easy).  The Sew Stamper is now added to that list.  I loved the hand stitched look of the length of stitches & it gives me the ability to have a stitched look without the bulk of thread.  I love that the lid is attached so it will not get lost.  It is economical compared to rub-ons since the head can be used over and over again.  It was super easy to change heads.   No more hand drawing my own "faux stitches" this is so much faster & easier with a more even look.  I would recommend this tool to any of my friends and blog readers - 2 crafty thumbs up

Disclaimer - I was in no way compensated for this review or was given this or any other product from WRMK for free at the time of this blog post.  I'm a consumer & these are my honest thoughts on the product.

I'm In RE-ME Mode

I was reading a book by Mary McDonough (she played Erin on the Walton's TV show) called Lessons from the Mountain.  As a fan of the show... lately in reruns even more than when the show first ran... I was interested in this book not only because of the show but also because Mary has dealt with auto-immune illnesses.   She writes very honestly & authentic sharing the good along with the bad.  The chapters that she writes about the pain, fatigue & isolation really hit home with me at the same time being such an encouragement.  We are all learning and growing from those in our lives & the "mountains" we must deal with and they all make us who we are at this point in life.  Mary is now a life coach & activist (speaking before congress about the dangers of silicone breast implants) in addition to acting and I loved her term "RE-ME".  That is what I am doing this year - no I don't have control over everything in my life but I can choose how I deal with it & make each day the best it can be.

 Along the same lines I decided to do Body Restoration the current course from Brave Girls Melody & Kathy - you can get all the details here.   Soul Restoration I was life changing for me to learn to be kinder to myself & set boundaries.  I have suffered from negative body image forever so I'm on a journey to accept who I am & be the best I can be inside & out.

I will be having some new mini book kits coming out at EMI Scrapbooking.... Some of my prior ones are available at the online Etsy store here.

Kit available that are pre-cut & bagged by the page with detailed photos:

Teresa Collins line filled with lots of fabric & interactive pages

Fully completed mini albums (these were the samples that was photographed)

December mini using Fancy Pants papers & diecuts

Family using Crate Paper 

(this is one of my favorites I've created... lots of Unity Stamp Co journaling spots)

 There are also several others available in the online store.  Go check it out the really are a deal and jam packed full of goodies.

I'm so looking forward to the first weekend in March (2nd & 3rd)... why... because Teresa Collins is coming to teach again at an EMI Scrapbooking sponsored event.  There will be 3 different classes taught & if you have never taken a class from Teresa I have to say they are absolutely incredible!  The kits are PACKED full of goodies valued at well over the price of the class.  Teresa is such an inspiring teacher.  She not only shares how to make the project in the kit but also lots of tips, techniques, and antidotes... she has such a fun personality & such a fun, honest & authentic person with creativity just oozing from her.  I feel like it spills off on me as I'm sitting in class lol.  If you are local to Atlanta or want to come for the weekend (we will be staying at the Holiday Inn so join us for the creative fun).  All the details are here there are a few spots left.

Last but not least I wanted to share with you a giveaway that a "Paperclipping" friend (we used to chat while watching Noell Hyman host her live online Paperclipping Live show on Tuesdays).  Lorrie Jonas is very creative & I wish I could paint like she does.....  Visit her blogs here for all the details of the giveaway.  There are some Spellbinders dies & a great art stamp so I know you will want to enter.

Well I'm off to do some creating... Hope you have a great day & do something creative.

Happy New Year & OLW

Happy 2012!

I love the promise of the new year.  Even though I'm not one to make a bunch of resolutions, since I feel they set me up for failure, there is just something fresh and full of possibilities on January 1st.  This year I'm trying to be easier on myself.  It seems I fall into the trap of always nurturing, comforting, and just plain being kind to others while beating myself up for little things.  So I'm making a conscious decision to treat myself as I treat others.


Each year I pick a word, inspired by Ali Edwards One Little Word, for me it's quite a process thinking about what really applies to my life now & will help make the subtle changes for the new year to be who I want to be.  I usually don't commit until the very last moment right before midnight lol yep it takes that much thought for me... it's important.  This little idea can make a big difference.

This year I've chosen AUTHENTIC.

To me it applies to being who I am and embracing the good, bad & everything in between.  "I am what I am and that's all that I am".... no I'm not Popeye the sailor man but it applies lol.

I have the best kids (they are grown men but will forever be my boys).  They bought me a new laptop for Christmas - similar to the one in picture.  No more little netbook that I actually played World of Warcraft on and did Photoshop for a while before the new Windows came out & the updates slowed it way down (my conspiracy theory of MS making the older computers so slow that you cave in and buy a new one).  I am loving it even if it isn't an apple.  I have the sweetest sons they are so thoughtful & take such good care of their mom!





I have been downloading some of my favorite fonts from Kevin & Amanda's blog on the new computer.  I like the casual handwritten look & use them all the time.

I went to the movies to see Sherlock Holmes 2 A Game of Shadows Saturday with my mom & sister.  The movie was really good & it was fun just us "girls" we don't do that enough.  Robert Downey Jr. is always so funny & Jude Law plays so well with him.  They really are the perfect pair.   The Studio Movie Grill had comfy seats, tables,  full menu, & bar - my son Andrew goes there all the time but this was my first time.  Yummy home style popcorn with real butter (though I didn't use it I was being good even if a little spilled out of the cup in the basket).  The ticket & food prices were actually cheaper than the mall AMC theaters so we will be going back again.

On the scrapbook creative front I'm working on some new mini albums for EMI Scrapbooking.  I can't thank Susan enough for allowing me to design for her - she is so good to me.  They will be available in the coming weeks.  If you are local to Atlanta be sure to stop on in - she has a great selection of all the new lines from our favorite companies.

Hope you have a great day & take time to be creative

2 Mini Kits at EMI

Here are 2 mini books that I designed and pre cut kits are available for sale at EMI Scrapbooking.

First is a 8x8 Halloween mini using last years Teresa Collins Spooktacular line (her stuff never goes out of style - I still adore the kitchen & family one she did years ago).  It's got a classic look & filled with canvas & other fabric

The other is perfect for all the random photos that we take of little ones.... using some sweet My Mind's Eye papers & diecuts

Speaking of EMI they are hosting a super crop tomorrow at the Holiday Inn in Cumming GA from 10 am to 10 pm.  There will be make and takes & lots of prizes.  Last CHA we had all the "celebrity" scrapbook industry people sign a tag to attach to some goodies from them  (some names are Teresa Collins of course lol, Jenni Bowlin, & Tim Holtz to name just a few).  There are still a few spots open so it's not too late to sign up and join in the fun.  Call the store at 770-888-2417 see you there! 

Favorite Product Lines & more Mini Kits for sale

It's the time of the year when we have so many fantastic new lines to create with.  I have a hard time limiting myself as so many are "calling my name"....

I am totally crazy about the Studio Calico Mr Huey spray inks.  I love them so much!  For me they are more versatile than Glimmer Mist since I have guys in my life glitter isn't very masculine in their opinion at least... shhh don't tell them I sneak shimmer goodness on their pages every once in a while.  But Mr. Huey's allow me to use spray ink on all my projects. 

My favorite of all is the opaque white it's perfect for misting then journaling over

I love the colors of Studio Calico's Memoir line... the perfect blue, some golden yellow & cream are catching my eye right now & of course look great with kraft paper

 and everyone knows how I am about my die cut ledger paper (or any ledger paper for that matter & SC never lets me down since they include one in most of the lines)

 They also have die cut geometric full sheets that can be used on a project or even saved and used as an inexpensive stencil

Another company I was very surprised I would like as much as I do.  When Susan from EMI Scrapbooking forwarded me a link with a sneak peak of Simple Stories I like it because it had lots of journaling & title cards but they showed it in the individual plastic pockets which I think is great for others but not really my style.  So when I saw it in person I was very excited about all the possibilities.  The lines are very well thought out & make great mini albums.

I loved the soft colors of their baby line that can easily be used for either a boy or girl.  It's a very budget friendly company but they sure don't skimp on quality or style

 Look at all those tiny type style letters on that sheet - it was a must have

Super cute images to embellish & add style

Here's a mini kit I made using it that is for sale at EMI Scrapbooking online and in store here

I'M back.... My blog has been MIA

I know a lot of you noticed (even before I did since I was on vacation in Destin FL) that my blog was MIA.  I had thought my son had paid the Go Daddy bill (since he owes me money each month for cell phones it's how we trade off) but even after forwarding 2 notices my normally super responsible son picks this moment to act more like his younger brother & forget to pay it..... 

Well someone bought my domain name.  His name is Anthony & he lives in England.  He was very cooperative in allowing me to purchase it back (making a tidy profit without gouging me TOO badly).  But the big problems came with trying to get all his forwarding codes out of the Go Daddy sight and put mine in to send people to my blog.  It was so easy when I attached the domain to the blog in the first place I remember 2 clicks and it did it for me.  Not so easy undoing his forwarding for someone like me though.  Anthony was sweet in responding to my emails and trying to walk me thru how to tech articles (which sounded like gibberish to my mind).  Topping it off I only had internet if I went to the club house during their business hours (they shut it off when they weren't open) it was a slow connection to boot and the changes I would make on go daddy would take over an hour to show up so the back and forth was making me even more crazy).  My Mom learned fast not to push my buttons when I'm having computer problems lol.... sorry Mom for snapping.

I couldn't even make my blog a free blog again at that point because either I'm not tech savvy enough (most likely that answer) or it was in an endless limbo.  Regardless if I didn't get the domain back I read I would loose everything from the past 2 yrs and have to repost.  Not an option so that's why I bought it back.

Andrew was my savior last night logging into email, blogger, go daddy in multi tabs and copy/pasting codes, website names, and who knows what else but I AM BACK!!!!!

Lesson learned that even only I will pay for domain in the future to make sure it's done.

The vacation was AMAZING.  I'm so thankful to have spent time with both of my parents alone and to top it off in such a beautiful place.  Destin Florida is so wonderful. 

Sun is not my friend with lupus it makes me burn even worse than normal with my Casper the Ghost skin.  I loved walking on the beach early in the morning watching the sun rise & water sparkle.  The lighting was amazing on the water & I would come back each day with a camera full to capacity of photos. 

The sea birds were so unafraid of people and would walk along with me at the waters edge.

We were only supposed to stay a week then Mom got the ok from Dad's cousin to stay a second week.  Only problem was Dad had to go back to home so Mom & I stayed without a car (that was interesting NOT... why is it when you can't do something the desire to do it becomes almost overwhelming lol I needed more groceries for sure and was ready to ride on the little 3 wheel scooter Mom gets around on down there).  One night we were raiding what was in the pantry for dinner and came up with generic mac & cheese (without butter since we ran out) and Van de Camps Chunk Light Tuna (WARNING NEVER BUY THIS IT LOOKS LIKE THE LOWEST QUALITY CAT FOOD YOU HAVE EVER SEEN) once prepared & mixed together it almost looked hairy because the tuna was just mush (not even one chunk of put together fish like you usually see) and the taste was so disgusting we were tasting it for hours even after brushing teeth & mouth wash lol.

Destin has very little restaurant delivery places.  Wednesday I was so desperate I found a mom & pop type pizza place with good reviews.  It was OK (better than the only other choice which was Domino Pizza yuck)  and the chinese place had horrible reviews so we stayed clear of that one.  You would think that such a busy tourist place with every restaurant known to man would have delivery..... I would love to open up a business down there delivering food.... make good money & be able to live the good life in paradise.

Thankfully my son Andrew came to pick us up and was able to stay 1-1/2 days (too bad his job is so busy since he loved the beach .... but we'll be going back).  Andrew arrived at night with Chick fil A in hand (they were the best sandwiches EVER)

Sunday morning before leaving Andrew & I walked the beach at sunrise

Pelicans diving for food

Well that's all for now blogger photo loader is acting wonky

I have lots of mini book kits to create & cleaning to do (my guys left me quite a mess being gone so long) so I have to nudge the dogs off my feet (they are literally sleeping on them) & leave the computer to get busy.

EMI Scrapbooking is getting in all the newest & best product lines with several shipments a week being delivered by our trusty "Mr. Brown" aka UPS guy.  So if you are local make a trip up there and you sure will not leave empty handed.  If you aren't local Susan sells all the latest & greatest on her online ebay store & ships world wide quick as lightening.  Check it out here.