Happy First Day of Spring and Tool Maintenance

Since today is the first day of spring, I thought it might be time again to talk about a little "spring cleaning" for your Stampin' Up tools.  

Your tools are expensive, but will last your for many many years if you take proper care of them.  Here is some info that may help: 

 How to Re-ink your Old Style Felt  Pad 

Remove any  loose threads with sharp scissors prior to reinking. 

1.     To make sure you ink the entire surface without over-loading any area, start in the upper left corner and make a 2"-wide zig-zag line to the lower right corner, giving SLIGHT pressure to the bottle as you do so. 

2.     Turn pad and repeat this process

3.     Then close the lid and put your pad aside to allow the ink to absorb and distribute all over the pad ... about 20 minutes should do it!

4.     Now, make a list of any Refills that need to be replaced.  You can order individual refills for every color ... or order an Assortment of 10 bottles by Color Family. 

How to Reink your New Firm Foam Pad

1.     To make sure you ink the entire surface without over-loading any area, start in the upper left corner and make a 2"-wide zig-zag line to the lower right corner, giving SLIGHT pressure to the bottle as you do so. 

2.     Turn pad and repeat this process

3.  Take a spoon and gently push the ink in a sweeping motion into the foam pad to help it absorb, and not lay on top of the pad. 

Refill Markers:

As you do your maintenance it is a good time to examine the brush tips on the markers and make sure they aren't "smooshed," having lost their nice clean tip- if they are, these markers will need to be replaced.

Now, to refill, use a pair of tweezers and on the brush end of the marker and gently grasp the nib of the tip, as close to the marker as you can, and gently pull the ink nub out.

 Now you can use the re-inker to refill your marker. It will only take a couple of drops so watch carefully.

Make sure to have an old rag under where you are working with this and a paper towel handy too so that I can deal with any spills or overfills.

Once your marker is full, you can return the nib back into the end. Make sure it gets in all the way.

Wipe away any ink that may have spilled out when you put the brush back in.

You only have to do one end - the ink reservoir works for both ends of the marker.

Once you've filled the marker. Return it to the flat storage for several hours to let the ink distribute in the center tube.

There. You're all done. It takes a little time but it's worth the effort to take care of your investment. Remember to store these horizontally.

Now, make a list of the re-inkers you will need to reorder next class. 

Scissors

If you scissors are getting dull, grab a piece of tinfoil and cut the tinfoil with your scissors until they work like new again!

Punches

When your punches are a bit sluggish and not performing as they once did, grab tinfoil and punch punch punch to sharpen and then grab wax paper and punch punch punch to oil

Paper Trimmer

Wipe down with a damp cloth and clean the blade with goo gone and finish with an alchol wipe until all residue is gone. 

Clear Blocks

If your blocks are anything like mine they get dirty!  I remove any goo with goo gone....then into a sink full of hot soapy water they go for a bath.  Then rinse well and dry with a soft cloth.....see them sparkle like new! 

Big Shot

Wipe down with a damp cloth and dry with a soft cloth.  Inspect your cutting plates to see if you need to order new ones....you dont want one to crack and snap and then you will be without....oh no!  

Simply Scored

Wipe down with a damp cloth and dry with a soft cloth. 

Inventory

Now is a great time to take inventory of your supplies.  Check which ink pads and markers you need.  Check which reinkers your need. Check your cardstock and see what needs to be reordered. Are there any tools that you need to replace? 

I hope some of this info was useful to you.  I know I have published this before, but a couple of times a year I like to repost to remind us all about tool maintenance. 

Inky huggs,

Shel