Welcome to Stamp Tips

Radiant Pearls Official Site

You can visit the Radiant Pearls official website to view a complete color chart; samples of cards done with RP; and many other things like tips on how to use it.

Metallic leaf - tips for when using it

When using gold leaf you will have to handle it very carefully and make sure that there is no wind/breeze/airconditioning running in the room. It is very very light and will fly away at the merest breath of a breeze. Also, if you are using the sheets of real gold leaf, try not to touch it with your bare hands - a thin pair of white cotton gloves is good to wear when handling the sheets. The flakes are a little more robust and you can use bare hands with those.

Fun Flock - what sort of images can it be used on?

Fun flock is great on sheep; santa beards; snow scenes; snowmen; teddy bears; slipper images; dressing gown images; flowers; leaves; grass and many more.

Buttons & Beads

Don´t forget that good old buttons and beads can make great embellishments. You just need to finish off your card and then add some thick glue and press the buttons or beads into it and wait for it to dry. You could also try sewing buttons onto your paper or cardstock - this is a great look.

Freezer Paper - what is it used for?

Freezer paper is quite often used in creating collage cards. You can use it to adhere small light objects (eg: stamps, dried flowers, leaves etc) to your work.

Foil - What is it?

Most stamp stores stock foil in sheets. This is a great product to use for adding extra shine to your finished projects. It is a colored foil which is attached to a very thin layer of clear plastic.

Fun Flock - what is it?

Fun Flock is "fluff in a jar"! You can buy it from good rubber stamping and craft shops. You can add it to cards to give a "fluffy" feel and look to the finished product.

Radiant Pearls Color Chart

If you want to buy some of these wonderful pearlescent paints, then visit the Online Color Chart at Impressive Stamps. If you haven´t seen these before, then you´ll be in for a wonderful treat.

Freezer Paper - what is it?

Freezer paper is a type of paper which has a thin layer of plastic on one side. When heated the plastic helps the paper to adhere to other surfaces.

Where to find Radiant Pearls projects

You can try visiting ArtKat which is the site of the famous Kat Runge. She travels the world demonstrating for the Radiant Pearls company, and is constantly coming up with new ideas and uses for the product.

How to use Pearl Ex

Pearl Ex is a powdered pigment that is sold in small jars. To use it you just need to mix it with water or with a painters medium like Gum Arabic. You can then use a paint brush to brush it onto your cards. Pearl Ex comes in a variety of colors including gold,silver, bronze and also comes in a variety of clear interference colors.

Gold leaf - using the sheets

When using the sheets it is best to buy the special adhesive that is sold for use with them. First you will have to brush the adhesive onto the areas that you want leafed and then let it dry. Then, handling the leaf carefully, place the leaf onto the glue and rub very gently with a dry paintbrush. You can save the leftover flakes for use on a later project.

Foil - how to use it with a hot foil pen

You can buy a special "pen" that you can use to adhere foil to your cards with. The nib of this pen heats up and you then lay the foil (with coloured side facing up towards you) onto your card/paper and use the pen to draw on the foil in the areas that you want it to stick down. This melts the foil onto the paper.

Stockists of Radiant Pearls

The The Merry Stamper stocks the full range of Radiant Pearls paints, as well as some great stamps. Make sure you look at their examples too.

Gold leaf and metallic leaf - What is it?

Gold leaf can be bought from craft stores in two different forms. The first one is in very fine sheets of beaten gold (this is very expensive). The other way you can buy it is in packets of gold and metallic "flakes" - this way is much cheaper and is quite easy to use.

Foil - How to use it with glue

You need to find a glue that dries to "tacky" (I use the Sailor Roller Ball Glue Pen). Put the glue onto the areas that you want to be foiled (a nice thick coat) and then let it dry for at least 20 minutes, or preferably an hour. Then lay your foil on the glued areas with the coloured side of the foil facing up towards you. Rub the foil gently with your fingers and then pull away from the paper. The foil will adhere to the areas that you have glued.

Glitter Glue

Glitter glue (in particular I love the clear glitter glue) works really well on card fronts. Just finish off your card and then spread a thin layer of glitter glue on the areas that you want to "sparkle".

Pearl Ex and your blending pen!

If you love using Pearl Ex or are just beginning to use it, then you´ll be pleased to know that you can use Pearl Ex powders with your blending pen! Just pick up the color of your choice with the end of your blending pen and "paint" it across your image wherever you like. You will not have to use a spray sealer to seal the color to the page because the blender ink will do that for you.