I have some experience using a laminator, but I don't understand your situation. I use the laminator to laminate paper between two plastic sheets. All layers are put into a protective sleeve before going through the machine. So it's not clear to me what small pieces might be stuck in your machine?

I don't have a laminator so I am not familiar with the situation.

However, I think that photos would help to diagnose the condition.

All fixed. Hubby ended up taking the laminator machine apart and pulled out the 3 little quisps that were stuck. He said they just wrapped around the roller. No wonder it wouldn't come out. They just went around and around and around.

Thanks anyway folks. Yesterday we just couldn't figure out where all the screws were. Turned out you had to take the rubber pieces off the feet, and the screws were hidden in there. ;)

Soooo, I keep seeing advice from others, to others, involving "washing your stamp." This is the 1st time I've heard of doing this.

Why wash the stamp?
What is it washed with?

This may seem like a silly question, but we are still learning ♡

☆Dawni (Wind)

There are multiple reasons for washing stamps. On the trail, it is a thoughtful, though not necessary, gesture to not leave your ink on the stamp because the next person may want to use a different color. Another reason is that some inks are very juicy and stay wet for a long time in their baggie. In that situation, sometimes even removing a stamp from the baggie can be messy. Again, this is not required yet is why some people wash or wipe off a stamp after stamping it in their logbooks. That said, people do somewhat expect to get their fingers only when letterboxing.

Event stamps can sit for a long time in between events or whenever they might be used again. There are hosts who will wash all of the stamps after an event so that they are as clean as can be and look nice for the next person who might use the stamps. This is also not required, yet it is absolutely considerate. Receiving a bunch of gooky stamps back after loaning them to someone else can create a mess when the owner unpacks them and also leave the owner having to clean them.

I wash stamps with a stamp shammy (which I just learned about last year) or, if they are very inky/gunky, a brush. In either instance, I do not use more than water. I blot dry the stamps and then lay them out to finish drying.

Other people may have different reasons, yet those are a few that I can share with you. 🙂

this link went to a 30 piece set. do they need replacing very often? there's 3 colors....... are they different in how they work, or just different colors. this looks like something that would be great especially for an all day outing.

thanks
condo

Oh, Dear. I thought that I linked to the smaller set, but maybe it defaulted to my last order, which was for giveaways at an event. Maybe this one? I wash them as well as I can in water by rubbing the shammy under the faucet. They stain, yet they still do the trick. Each shammy lasts for a while.

There are a bunch of ways to do this. I will say though, even in the rubber stamping world there is controversy... so who knows what is wrong and right.

Anyway I've cleaned stamps in a few ways. Sometimes I'll use water and a washcloth to wet and blot off ink (vigorous rubbing will damage the stamp so I just blot with this method). Other times I will use one of the fluffy stamp cleaning pads and stamp cleaner (the cleaner smells a little and I think has glycerin in it to "condition" the stamps, but the verdict is still debated on if it pulls moisture from the rubber degrading it faster or if it actually conditions it) I have also found little bottles of stamp cleaning fluid with like a dauber on the end for cleaning on the go? Then lastly I grew up around a woman who was very into rubber stamping and card making, she used baby wipes to clean her stamps.

So what I'm saying is there are many ways to clean a stamp.

warm water
paper towel
dish soap
blot
been washing them this way for almost 20 years
no problems

PS, Don't forget a soft toothbrush for those tiny crevices when needed. ;)

I give my stamps a quick wipe/blot with a damp water and folded paper towel or swipe with an alcohol pad (that's what's on hand sometimes because I am a nurse! LOL) but my sister who takes great care of her stamps uses something like this

https://www.thestampmaker.com/Products/KIT-Stamp-Scrubber__STAMP_SCRUBBER_KIT.aspx?srsltid=AfmBOoqlsBjes1GxoYPCNLjejWl9knsTZ9dFmG6a0mpUxIzcB0GeXfv1tZ0

and the DIY recipe for the stamp liquid cleaner solution is:
2 tablespoons glycerin (able to be purchased at any local pharmacy section of store)
8 oz. distilled water
1 teaspoon baby shampoo/wash (like Baby Magic or Johnson&Johnson)

I don't use a "scrubber pad- I just use a piece of foam--- because I am thrifty like that! :)

Hi! I'd love to start making and collecting LTCs but I'm not really sure where to start, i was wondering if y'all have any advice or thoughts on where a good place to start would be? I also don't know a ton beyond cool stamp trading cards, so info would be great too. thanks!

This will tell you pretty much everything you need to know and more:
https://www.atlasquest.com/about/wiki/browse.php?catId=39

Then send a request to Linden Leaf thru AQ mail for a sample pack of LTCs so you can see examples of what others make.

I have several trackers that are still open. I welcome newbies. I’m always willing to help people learn a new craft.

If you send me your mailing address I'll be happy to send you some LTCs to start your collection.

I have some I can mail to you as well! Send me an aqmail if you’d like.

I'll just add here, that you should take Raven up on her offer, she makes amazing cards!

Start with technique that you are already comfortable with so you can focus on creating quality cards and quality stamps.

Contact Linden Leaf for a newbie packet or just ask people to send some "quality" cards your way as examples.

I'm gonna say it, there are a lot of cards being shipped around that have deflated many in the community, For what looks like lack of effort, lack of craftsmanship, etc. There are highly effective ways to create beautiful yet simple cards. ways such as: 1) clearly and boldly stamped image, 2) matted, 3) burnished or inked edges, 4) building a tone/mood not just slapping stickers on alongside a stamped image, 5) ...

Having hosted MANY trackers, the biggest sighs come from the lack of quality. Other hostesses are frustrated by the tardiness or not following their guidelines, and each host gets to set their own guidelines and without blowback from the participants.

Also put your stamped image on the LTC boards including the facebook group LTC FAnatics. Ask for ideas! Thats one of the major reasons the group was created-- to inspire creativity and to inspire quality and community.

Know that some people will not give feedback or a comment on your cards once swapped and logged. Dont worry about that. It's not personal. Some people just are not into commenting, or don't know how to comment or validate others work. You'll figure out who is encouraging and who is, well, not.

REuse stamps unless the host says that it must be a new carving for that tracker. Also consider, having a plan for the stamp after you have made a set of LTCs or two. Send it away as an event box. Plant it nearby to build your own LB community in your area. So sometimes, the plant I want to do is what inspires my choice of carve for the LTC tracker.

If you buy crafting supplies, buy med to higher quality, even for colored pencils and cardstock. Ask other LTCers what they consider to be a basic start for crafting materials for LTCs. Please Dont use computer paper to make LTCs, well, at least the base or mat. Flimsy cards are ick.

Look on craigslist for people getting rid of crafting supplies. EVen the thrift shops have some stuff, sometimes.

Connect with other crafters so you commit to crafting. Without Kiss'n Karin I wouldn't even be on AQ right now.

Let your ideas simmer instead of jumping in and being uphappy with your cards when finished. check out my blog for some ideas: https://amazeingadventurefrog.blogspot.com/

anyone else still hosting a blog or other forum for LTCs?

AGain, keep it simple, but keep it quality. Read and follow the guidelines. Invest in good printing ink pads and use the right kind of ink for the surface you're stamping on. Somewhere on Aq and definitely on the web, is a chart of stamp pads and what they can be used for. They don't all work together or with other media.

Stay away from glitter or other particles that come off. Some people are allergic to some glitters. Seriously.

Be sure all the elements of your card are secure to the card.

Label the back of every card and your mailers include: trail name, Aq #, title, tracker, etc. I was always exhausted trying to figure out whose card I was looking at or sorting. Follow the guidelines.

Feel free to reach out to me cause I need inspiration to get back to the LTC world.

Oh and never send or plant one of your carves without first making a stamped set of the image that you might use later as or on an LTC. They come in handy!

Happy crafting!

"Oh and never send or plant one of your carves without first making a stamped set of the image that you might use later as or on an LTC. They come in handy!"

This is such a great piece of advise, why didn't I ever think of that!!!!

I have seen several cards where the image ink has a raised quality and is shiny. How do you get this or what type of ink do you use. I am trying to give the illusion of a piece of leather, so I want it slightly raised and very shiny. Can I do this?

This is probably an embossed image.
Black (versifine brand) ink followed by clear embossing powder and a heat gun. Look up embossing card making on YouTube.

The person who made those probably used embossing powder. Have you tried that yet?

Welcome!! All the suggestions here are spot-on and awesome to give you a good start and help you get comfortable! I also host an LTC Zoom chat once a month that anyone can join(posted on AQ Events), to ask questions, get ideas & inspiration, and to meet and get to know others who share our interest & enthusiasm for our crafting of stamps and cards....please join us any time!🥰

I have not tried that I may have to though.

This is most likely the way, it's how we do it.

Note that it doesn't have to be versafine ink - most pigment inks will work. Dye and solvent inks are faster drying, so the embossing powder may not adhere as well. Also, and this is key - if you use clear embossing powder, you can use any color ink you want. For leather, possibly some shade of brown would work well.

Wow, aMAZEing adventure frog, what a truly comprehensive post! That needs to be bookmarked somewhere. Northwardbound, use that post as a guideline and you can't go wrong.

I will quote this for emphasis:

Take your time and put effort into your card. Use quality papers and as AAF notes, matt them. We will also send you some examples if requested.

The only part that I don't necessarily agree with, especially for a newbie is:

We generally prefer to carve a new stamp for each tracker. And as a newb, carving new stamps gives you practice. It's not that we never re-use stamps but we only do it if the stamp really fits the theme.

I would also add that the clear over colored ink is great and is the most economical option (can also color small amouts of clear with mica pigmentfrom what ive read), but sometimes the colored embossing powder just has an effect that you can't get using the clear.

Also consider alongside the embossing powder and heat gun and pigment based ink, the anti static bag. Pounce the bag on your cards before you stamp them. The chalk powder will absorb any oils, static, etc. that are hiding on the card. Those oily spots from our crafty fingers will attract the pigment and create unwanted splotches of embossing. Once you pounce the powder, give it a quick puff. Be generous.

Anti-static bag

Same :)