Waffle Flower Grip Mats Re-Release!

 Hello everyone!  I popping in today to share my thoughts on the recently re-released Waffle Flower Grip Mats.  Waffle Flower sent me what they call the Stamper Bundle of grip mats to try out.  The Stamper Bundle consists of two grip mats.  One mat fits the Mini MISTI and measures 4.7 x 6 inches.  The other mat fits the original MISTI and measures 6.5 x 8.5 inches.  Just like the original grip mats these mats also come with grid sheets that can be placed on one side of the mat to help with alignment.   Full disclosure I did not use the grid sheets as I did not use my grip mats in the MISTIs that I have, but placed them directly onto my Tim Holtz glass mat.  I most likely will continue to use them this way because I did not have much success in getting the grid sheets to adhere correctly to the old grip mats that I have.  Here is a direct link to the Stamper Bundle.   Let's take a look at what I created using the mats.

Along with the grip mats Waffle Flower generously also sent me a few other products to use with the mats.  Included in my package was the super fun Oversized Daisy Die-n-Stencil set.  I used the products to create this shaped card that I will be sending off to my great niece who is turning 8 at the end of this month!   

In the above photo you can see my grip mat positioned on my glass mat with the die cut pieces placed on to.  I was using the 4.75 x 6 inch grip mat and all the pieces fit nicely with room to spare.   I then used different oxide inks to ink up the flower. 

Here the stencil is placed on the flower and you can see how the stencil is being gripped by the mat below it.  I didn't have to hold anything down with my free hand which was so nice!  I stenciled everything very quickly resulting in the flower that you see in the first photo.  Once I had the stenciling done I created a card base for the flower by using a folded white cardstock base and then using the large daisy die to cut out the base.  I also cut out a second single white flower to add to the back for a clean look.    I finished the card by sandwiching the leaves inbetween the back of the stenciled flower and the front of the card base and then adding the pre-print Waffle Flower sentiment strips.   I'm going to add this to the Time Out challenge to be inspired by a quote.   You can see the quote in the graphic below.

For the second card I used the Postage Collage Blocks stencil that Waffle Flower also sent me.  For this card I made a Christmas card using several different Waffle Flower products that I already have.  I used the Layered Poinsettia die set, the Mistletoe Branch die, Small Ornaments die set and the Merry Christmas stamp set.   I used distress oxide ink in Antique Linen to ink up the openings.  I used a Christmas paper from Echo Park to die cut all the different pieces, adhered them together and then added them to the card front after I stamped the sentiments.  I don't own the Waffle Flower postage collage die so I found a rectangle die to cut the panel to size and adhered it to the kraft cardstock base. 

As you can see even though the stencil is larger than the grip mat, it still adhere nicely to the mat allowing me to stencil the panel fairly quickly.  

I used the new Tim Holtz tiny ink blenders to do precise ink blending of the openings and they worked like a charm!  

Overall, I have to say that I like the new grips mats alot and plan to use them frequently.  In a few weeks I will be sharing how they work with stencil pastes and two cards that I made so stay turned.  I hope that the information I provided was helpful.  Here are graphics showing the grip mats that I used and the full bundle. 

Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful day!

Waffle Flower Crafts Grip Mat Giveaway!

 Hey friends!  Popping in to let you know that Waffle Flower Crafts has given me the opportunity to give away a 4.5 x 5.5 grip mat!   If you haven't seen the grip mat, you can check out the Waffle Flower blog for information and videos on how it works.  Here is a link to the introduction video put together by Nina of Waffle Flower Crafts.  Here is a link to a playlist of videos created by different crafters using the grip mat.

I have really enjoyed using the new grip mat.  It makes inking up die cut pieces so easy.  Because the mat is made out of photopolymer cleaning it up is easy, too.  I have just simply wiped mine down with my Lawn Fawn stamp shammy.  The mat comes with two acetate grid sheets, as well, that allow you to align your cardstock when stamping images or sentiments.   Waffle Flower has recommended keeping the acetate sheets that the mats come on.   It is my recommendation, as well, especially if you have not decided (like me) if you will be keeping them in your stamping tool, ie MISTI, etc.   Here is a link to a blog post I did showing how I have used the grip mats that I received. 

Leave me a comment by July 30th, for a chance to win.  This giveaway is open to everyone.  Those outside the US will receive a gift card.  Thanks for stopping by and good luck!

birthday wishes

 Hello!  I'm popping in to share a card that I created using the brand new Waffle Flower Grip Mats.  Waffle Flower generously sent me two different sizes of the Grip Mat.  For today's card I used the larger 6.5 x 8.5 grip mat.  I do show a photo of the smaller 4.5 x 5.5 grip mat in it's new home, my mini MISTI.  I haven't decided if I will put the larger grip mat in my regular size MISTI, but most likely I will.   My card today is for the Paper Players. I went with anything goes. 

The Paper Players challenge is a color one of two shades of pink, a teal color and black.  I used the Waffle Flower Layered Box die set, Small Prints stencil and a sentiment from the Subsentiments Birthday die cut set for the card.  The background was embossed with a Spellbinders embossing folder.  I die cut the bows for the presents from glossy black cardstock.

Below are photos showing the grip mats and how they work.  The grip mats are made from high quality photopolymer, just like your clear stamps.  If you have a glass work surface like a Tim Holtz glass media mat the grip mats will grip onto the glass surface and not move.  In my photos I place a piece of white cardstock behind the grip mat so you could see the grid.

These are the two that Waffle Flower sent met.  There are two more sizes to pick from.  If you decide to try out the grip mats I would suggest watching a video that Waffle Flower put together for the launch of the Grip Mat.

This shows how I set up my grip mat in preparation to do some stenciling.  The grip mats come with two clear grids.  The grid is actually smaller than the Grip Mat.  Waffle Flower did this so that the mat can grip onto whatever surface you are using.  In my case the Tim Holtz glass media mat.  When you remove your mat from the packaging the mat is sandwiched between two clear sheets.  Hang onto the sheets to provide extra protection for your mats.   As you can see I laid my white cardstock on the mat and then place the stencil on top.  The stencil didn't move one bit!

Here you can see the stenciling after I finished.   The grip mat held everything tight and I didn't get any color seeping underneath.  I used Spun Sugar distress oxide ink for the dots, Kitsch Flamingo distress oxide ink for the stars and Mermaid Lagoon distress oxide for the stripes.   The next photo shows the tops of the presents on the grip mat after I inked them up with the same inks.   They held in place nicely.

Cleaning up the mat was pretty simple.  I just used my Lawn Fawn stamp shammy to wipe off the ink.  I haven't used dye ink on my mat yet, so cleaning that up maybe a little different. 

Final photo shows the smaller mat inside my mini MISTI.  The grip mat replaces the piece of black foam that is in the MISTI.   I added one of the grid sheets to the back of the mat before placing it in my MISTI.  I placed the second one on top to keep the mat clean. 

Overall I really like the grip mats.  I will say that it was my experience that the mat doesn't seem to work well with textured cardstock.  I needed to stamp on some watercolor cardstock and decided to try it out.   Even after pressing the cardstock firmly onto the grip mat, it would stay in place.  But I was still able to get the images stamped, as you can see. 

Thanks for staying with me for this long.   Have a wonderful day!