Recently you may have heard the term ‘digi stamp’ being bandied about and wondered what on earth they are? Also known as digital stamps, they are line images that you print out and colour in, much like a traditional stamp. Guaranteeing perfect results every time, they are now hugely popular, with many designers producing some fantastic ranges! We asked four of them how digi stamps can up your crafting game. Debbi Moore Designer and tutor Debbi Moore loves the versatility and variety that digi stamps provide “To me, digi stamps have changed the perception of stamping. All you need to do is download the image, plus it can be resized however you want, which enables crafters to become more flexible. To me, digi stamping has become its own unique technique. Some people are put off from normal stamping when they can’t achieve a crisp finish, but with digi stamping, you are guaranteed to get sharp results every time.” Top Tips: ❤ Always keep the original file separate from any altered versions. That way, if you want to make other changes to the image later on – for example digitally masking an area, or making it smaller or larger, you will always have the original download to work from ❤ Experiment with different mediums; for example, if you print your image onto glossy coated paper, you can use embossing powder on the printed area for a 3-D effect. Other options include printable acetate which you can colour to look like a stained glass window, or even fabric transfer paper so you can print your design on a T-shirt. debbimoore.co.uk Lisa Barnes Lisa Barnes, director of Lili of the Valley, has created a digi stamp success story “Now that more people have access to the internet, my friend and business partner, Laila Ansbergs and I decided a couple of years ago to diversify into offering digi stamps for several reasons and we have found that people love the idea! There will always be a place for traditional rubber stamps, and we have noticed a resurgence in these too, but digi stamps are growing in popularity and will soon become a permanent fixture as well.” Top Tips: ❤ They are very easy to buy, download and use, and you don’t need an expensive printer, as a basic inkjet model will work fine. Just wait a few minutes for the ink to properly dry before colouring them in. ❤ You can use any card or paper that will go through your printer – most take up to 160gsm, and some will print up to 260gsm. Don’t worry if you do it wrong – you can just print it again!” liliofthevalley.co.uk Diane Carubia Diane Carubia of Di’s Digi Stamps enjoys creating her own designs Like many crafters, Diane became frustrated when she couldn’t find the exact stamps she wanted for her designs – so she decided to draw her own instead! “I had some difficulties to start with, as I didn’t have a clue how to make a digital stamp! It was nearly eight years ago when I started, and there weren’t many examples around at that time. I taught myself how to convert a jpeg to a vector via Youtube, then slowly set about creating a website and a catalogue of images. Digi stamps are so popular because they’re cheaper and can be resized to fill any space you like. Top Tips: ❤ Digi stamps can not only be shrunk down, but they can also be enlarged for colouring as well. I enlarge all my images to fit on A4, colour them in, then scan it back into my PC so I can shrink it down to fit my card ❤ They can also be made opaque which allows you to colour with water-based inks – otherwise, the ink from your printer will usually run when using these mediums. disdigistamps.com Nancy Watt Nancy Watt loves this new addition to her papercrafting tools and techniques “Digi stamps are a sign that crafting is always keeping up to date with technology and staying as accessible as possible. I think crafters like the idea that they can’t be lost, as you can always store copies on flash drives or email attachments. Personally, I’m not a great stamper, always smudging or leaving gaps, and I want to get to the colouring straight away, so digi stamps are perfect for me. Top Tips: ❤ When using digi stamps, make the most of the format; they can be transformed easily which means you can resize or rotate them for projects of all different shapes and sizes. ❤ Save them all on a cheap and cheerful flash drive that will fit in your pocket – no need to keep a big case of stamps and ink-pads. ❤ If you’ve got an artistic flair, you can make your own digi stamps and even share them with others if you’re particularly proud of your designs. tatteredlace.co.uk Find your 76 FREE digi stamps below and download them all straight away