HOW TO: Use Digital Stamps featuring Colorado Craft Company

Join me for a tutorial on how to use digital stamps featuring the new line of digital stamps by Colorado Craft Company.
About 80 stamps are currently available from Colorado Craft Company and many stamps are set to be added on a regular basis. Due to copyright and licensing agreements, images by Anita Jeram and Kris Lauren are not available as digital downloads. However, you’ll see a variety of images from the Big & Bold, Lovely Legs, Whimsy World and Savvy Sentiments lines as well as some designs that have never been seen before.
More information available at rowhousegreetings.com
Affiliate links below. Items marked with an asterisk (*) were provided by a store or the manufacturer. All other items were personally purchased.
#rowhousegreetings #coloradocraftcompany #tutorial #digitalstamps
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• * Try Me For Free | Colorado Craft Company
--- shrsl.com/4ek4y [ 3C ]
• * Digital Stamp Sets | Colorado Craft Company
--- shrsl.com/4ek52 [ 3C ]
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Cover Image Photo by Greg Rosenke on Unsplash
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As a result of participating in design teams, I currently receive or have received products that I promote and endorse for free or at a discount. Although compensated by these companies, I will never share or recommend a product that I do not like or would not personally use. Period.
Affiliate links are used. For affiliate and product disclosure, visit rowhousegreetings.com/about/d...
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[@melissamcdonald7180]

Thank you so much for sharing.

[@marilynmcleod1196]

Very helpful. I've used digi stamps before, but never thought either of making the paper size match the card front size. I would just kind of eyeball it and then print. It should be noted, for newbies, that even with an inkjet printer, we can still use them.. just don't color them with alcohol markers. I use my watercolor pencils to color them with ease and they look gorgeous! Once the ink is dry, water does not make it run!

[@RowhouseGreetings]

Yeah - like I said alcohol markers are the divas. But you can certainly use watercolors or colored pencils. You just need to test your printer to see what it can handle in terms of cardstock and what you can do with the printed image.

[@suekujawa2405]

Thanks for the tutorial. I learned alot. I am an older person who never learned some of these techniques

[@RowhouseGreetings]

Glad it was helpful!

[@charminsilver]

That was a great tutorial, I’ve never thought of making the paper size to match.

[@RowhouseGreetings]

Thank you! 😊It just helps me with the layout to see everything in proportion.

[@virginiapanto6284]

Excellent video tutorial! Will definitely try the digi that I downloaded. Thank you!

[@RowhouseGreetings]

Have fun!

[@KellyTaylorCards]

Brilliant Tutorial! I will definitely send people this way!

[@RowhouseGreetings]

Awesome, thank you!

[@pattiepan]

Thank You I really appreciate this....I'm not a technical person so it helps when someone shows me how to do it so I can see it visually....I learn better by seeing ........pat

[@chrisreinhart5072]

Thanks for this tutorial. I’ve always wanted to dry digital stamps but didn’t know how to use them. Since I don’t have a lasted printer, I’ll save the file to a thumb drive snd run to Office Depot with my card stock and print it there.

[@RowhouseGreetings]

That's a great alternative option if you don't have a suitable printer.

[@carolestrawn8755]

What a great video. I love digital stamps. I get them right away, don't have to wait for the mail or UPS and they don't take up any room in my small craft room. I have plenty of room on my computer. Thanks for sharing. I love CCC and will certainly buy many of these.

[@RowhouseGreetings]

Thanks Carole!

[@tinawilstrup955]

Oh, yay! for digital stamps, I'll def ne checking out the catalog 🎉

[@RowhouseGreetings]

Have fun shopping!

[@Bunny_the_Rabbit]

Nice tutorial. Digital images are great. Like with anything, the more you use the programs the easier it becomes to you. People normally fall in love with being able to make an image smaller or larger. Cropping is a blessing too. I have a MAC computer and digis work well with it. If your printer smears ink you CAN heat set the image with a heating tool. My Wagner heat tool works great as most of my coloring is from Copic markers.Try this if your ink smears. If you have scan and cut you'll be happy to not have to fussy cut. I usually build my scene with digital images. I wish everyone had someone to show them this in person. Some people learn by example in person and some can read through the tutorial. I am the one that needs to be shown in person. This was a good tutorial and I learned 2 new things. So, thanks Nancy. A definite thumbs up.

[@RowhouseGreetings]

Thank you Bunny! There were moments in creating the video where I wished that I had everyone in the room and could show what to do. And you’re right - the more you use them, the easier it gets!

[@brendapace441]

If you don't have a laser printer, most libraries and Staples stores have for-a-fee printers.

[@RowhouseGreetings]

That's good to know. I didn't think of that!

[@ChrystalsChreationsWycoff]

I have an arsenal of Digital stamps because I used to be a Guest designer for a Digital stamp company. I miss them. I agree a good printer is a must. I have printed with my water color card stock too, so that I could water color with my Lunar pastes and stencil butters. I really loved your humming bird and party animals since there was a dog in there. I like your style of techniques that you do with you digital stamps of how you lay them out on your card stock.

[@RowhouseGreetings]

Thanks!

[@seamslikemartha]

Who else offers/sells didital stamps?

[@chrisreinhart5072]

Chrystal, would you mind sharing which printer model you use?

[@RowhouseGreetings]

@@seamslikemartha I still color for Power Poppy (you can see some of my coloring videos for PP here on my channel) and Marcella Hawley offers absolutely gorgeous floral digital stamps. Whimsy Stamps, Lily of the Valley (LOTV on Etsy), Mo's Digital Pencil, and Tiddly Inks are just a few of the companies that offer digital stamps.

[@1lizzielou]

Excellent. Very helpful. Easy to understand. I'm ready to try.

[@RowhouseGreetings]

You can do it!

[@barbaracampbell5239]

Yeah for you Nancy! Loved your video.

[@RowhouseGreetings]

Thanks Barbara! 😘

[@dishajain2026]

Awesome.. Thanks for your efforts :)

[@RowhouseGreetings]

Most welcome!

[@tanlady8819]

Thanks that was nice and easy I now need to get a laser printer lol.

[@virginiaellison8227]

Great tutorial Nancy.... I love that you use Microsoft Word which is what I have and I don't need an additional program that I do not know how to use..... TFS....

[@RowhouseGreetings]

Glad it was helpful!

[@athenamay30]

You can use an Epson ecotank dye ink printer with alcohol markers. Just run the cardstock through a laminator heated for about 20 mins. I've done it with Altenew alcohol markers and no smearing occured. Do you know there are many possibilities with digi stamps? One can "draw' the svg file on an electronic cutting machine like the Brother Scan N Cut using glitter pens, or the Sakura glue pen then heat emboss the image. It just takes more time. If the design is a plain outline, one can even cut them out of metallic adhesive vinyl ... no need to use fine-thin glue to put them on cardstock.

[@UsernameBarbF]

Thank you for taking the time to make this video. It seems that one must own the most current Microsoft Word program? Because I am an older, retired woman, I have been using my old program and it doesn't have the features you demonstrated. Second question please...in the event of a computer "death" will Colorado Craft Company keep on file the various digi stamps I've purchased so I can reload them onto a new computer? (Can you tell that I'm speaking from experience? My last computer went toes up with no warning and nothing on it was retrievable...and I had not been backing up my computer so there was nothing to fall back on). Thank you so much!

[@RowhouseGreetings]

I did a similar video a couple of years ago with what was then the current version of Microsoft Word and the technique is slightly different. See if this helps you: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rWSYeKiQea6tmtU As for "computer death," I can't speak for Colorado Craft Company. You're best bet is to maintain a backup (something that I meant to address in the video, but forgot!). I keep a local backup on a removable hard drive, but I also use a cloud-based back up service that takes care of it automatically. Can you tell that I'm also speaking from experience?

[@dinacarroll9211]

Great tutorial. Just curious, which printer do you use? I just got a new Epson Eco tank printer. Does anyone know if that works with copics? My older HP did work with copics but the ink way too expensive. I have not tried your method of printing on cardstock cut down to card front size. Instead I print 4 images (in different orientations) on one sheet. Then cut it, and have 4 prints ready to go.

[@RowhouseGreetings]

I have two printers. For years, I used a Canon PIXMA printer and my current model is a PIXMA MegaTank G6020 Wireless All-In-One Inkjet Printer (bought in 2020). Generally speaking, it seems to be OK with Copics. But it is an inkjet printer, so I'm hesitant to recommend it outright. It's one thing if I'm unknowingly damaging my own Copics, but another if I recommend a printer that damages someone else's markers. However, I've heard others have success with the PIXMA models and some of the Epson inkjet printers. The HP inkjet printers seem to be hit or miss. A few months ago, I bought an inexpensive Brother monochrome laser printer (model HL-L2370DW) to have nearby when I work in my studio (the Canon is downstairs). The printer is OK, but it does clamp down hard on the top edge of the cardstock when using the manual feed so the paper curls a little on that edge. That's the only thing I don't like about it. But this might be something unique to mine (or some setting that needs to be changed) because I haven't heard anyone else complain about it. It's been fine with Copics and the added benefit is the potential of using it for foiling. That's my next experiment!

[@seamslikemartha]

Can we select the image size then put 2 - 4 of the same images on full size cardstock or watercolor paper then cut the print apart? Can we print an image on one 4" X 5.25" section of a full paper sheet then add the sentiment?

[@RowhouseGreetings]

Sure you can! I've done it, but it's more complicated to explain. I was trying to keep it simple for the video, especially for those who were trying it for the first time.

[@seamslikemartha]

@@RowhouseGreetings Of course, this was an intro video. However, I subscribed to be prepared for future learning. I sew and patterns are digital for printing along with a projection onto fabric. Digital designs will free up sooooooo much storage room!

[@zinalee8530]

Thanks for the tips but it's still pretty involved. The only advantage that I see is no need for physical storage of stamps, ability to play with the size of the image (or does it only operate on the pre-sized A2 dimensions) and saving on shipping charges. Otherwise, all the manipulation, rotation, cropping, etc. is not so convenient. There's the need for WORD, or does it run on other platforms easily. What if you don't have a laser printer and must use a box store service, printing a test run is pretty time consuming and inconvenient. What about using the image with other images like layering, masking or just putting images together? Are dies available or does one need a cutting machine or do you have to resort to fussy cutting. Looks like potential for headache and frustration. Edited to add. I ended up trying the freebee, the bee on the blossom image. Even though I don't have Microsoft WORD I tried formatting it to half the size of the original. The printout of the image was grainy, meaning the lines and shading were not solid but dotted pixels. Certainly not the same as the screen version and certainly not high resolution. Was this due to the image being a freebie or are all the images like this. Finally, the image printed by my laser printed did not bleed when colored with Copic. But in the end the result was disappointing and I won't be going down this avenue any time soon.

[@RowhouseGreetings]

Hey Zina! Thanks for your feedback. I'll admit that digital stamps aren't for everyone, but you did list three big advantages. Another advantage that I didn't cover in the video is that with the right printer, you can also foil digital images. I used the svg file in the video, not the jpg. I apologize that I didn't make that clear in the video. That will make a difference in the resolution. I didn't try the freebee (it became available after I finished the video), but I did download and print the two images that I showed in the video. The resolution was fine (I even foiled one) and you'll see them in upcoming videos. I set the page size to A2 because that those are the dimensions that I normally use for cards. You could size the page to 5x7 or whatever size you want. You don't have to use Word. I use it because I have it, it's readily available and it's familiar. You could use PhotoShop, Gimp or some other image editing software, but I find that they have a greater learning curve. Since digital stamps can be resized, offering dies would be impossible so a cutting machine or fussy cutting is necessary if you want to do that kind of layering. If you think about it, in that respect it's no different than using traditional stamps that don't have coordinating dies. Digital stamps might not be for you, or perhaps not for you right now. But they offer a lot of possibilities, some of which are not possible with traditional stamps. It's all in how you look at it and in the end -- what you want to create.

[@pattibaileydesigns]

Great video Nancy. So I have an Epson inkjet printer and a Brother laser printer. If I print on my Brother, it shows the pixels in the printed image and is not as sharp as what my Epson inkjet printer produces. Any idea how to make the Brother print much sharper? Even if I print at 600 or 1200 dpi, same result. And I know that my Copics are much happier being colored onto laser images than the inkjet images. Any ideas?

[@RowhouseGreetings]

Hey Patti! Are you using the SVG file to print? Make sure that you're not using the JPG that illustrates the stamp set.

[@pattibaileydesigns]

@@RowhouseGreetings Having issues in general printing images. I have found that if I print at 1200 DPI it's better but I don't think I should need to do that.

[@sherrywoods4630]

How can I change the print color to a light grey or tan color to be able to do a “no line” coloring image?

[@RowhouseGreetings]

It looks like you'll need to convert the svg file to a jpg. Then insert the jpg file into your Word document. Once it's in place, select the image and then select the Picture Format menu at the top. There are options for color and transparency that you can adjust as desired to get a no-line look.

[@mugsycreates]

I use a mac. downloaded the freebie to see how it would work. I can't even unzip the file. help!

[@RowhouseGreetings]

I've never used a Mac, but I just did a quick search on opening zip files on a mac and it looks like you just double click the file. Take a look at this page from Apple support: support.apple.com/en-in/guide/mac-help/mchlp2528/mac#:~:text=Unzip%20(expand)%20a%20compressed%20item,zip%20file.