Hi friends! Happy Weekend! I hope that fun things are in store for you this fine Saturday! I have something really cool and fun to share with you today! I was graciously offered the chance to try out and test drive the new Tonic Studios Tim Holtz Stamp Platform. The fine folks at Tonic and Scrapbook.com sent me one so I could review it for all of you! I have to say that this tool was one of the buzz worthy items at CHA in January and I had the chance to watch Tim demo it. I wanted one from the moment I saw him use it. My review, after trying it out for several projects, is that it is just as great as it seemed at CHA! I love it already and it has a permanent place on my stamping table. I made a project with the Stamp Platform to share with you today - using new stamps from Tim Holtz that have been on my desk! I'll give you some tips as we go along and then my final review at the end of the post. You can order the Stamp Platform now! (UPDATED POST 7-13-17) I know it's gonna be a hot ticket item!
Here is my finished card - made using the Stamp Platform, Two new Tim Holtz Stamp Sets, Distress Inks, and Distress Markers! I always love a beautiful stamp set of butterflies, and these are the perfect size and scale for cards.
The Stamp Platform is on the left, and you can see that it will join my other favorite tools (also all from Tonic) on my desk space. I use my Trimmer every single day! The Stamp Platform has a base that is 8.5 x 8.5 inches - nice and big. Also, you can see that the edges do not have a ridge, so you can actually fit a 12 x 12 piece of cardstock inside! Brilliant! The Platform is perfectly smooth which makes for super easy clean up.
The lid on the Stamp Platform snaps out and reverses. One side is to be used for unmounted red rubber stamps (what I used today) and the other side is to be used for clear stamps. The lid very easily pops right out and right back in for ease of use. The sides are clearly marked in the upper left corner so you know which side to use. Here is the rubber side...
And this is the clear side....
One of the first things I wanted to try out was a large background stamp! I have a hard time finding the right clear blocks to use with these large stamps. And it seems I never get a good impression the first time. Here you can see that I mounted one of the new Tim Holtz Vines and Roses background images inside the stamp platform.
I used some pretty Worn Lipstick Distress Oxide Ink and it came out PERFECT with the first try! I'm already thinking about how much paper I'm going to save! It looks lovely! So easy too. This is a game changer for me already.
For my card I'm sharing today, I used Antique Linen Distress Ink on the same background stamp for a soft look. I squirted it with some water to soften it even more. Right on the Platform! The water just wiped right up.
Next I stamped the butterflies onto a piece of scrap paper. I was able to stamp both butterflies at once! Another thing I love about the stamp platform. I could have stamped all the butterflies in one fell swoop! So easy to ink and stamp, especially if you are making multiples of the same cards. See how I put the paper right up in the corner of the platform? That's because after I colored the images with Distress Markers, I went back and stamped over it again in black a second time - for a really rich dark and vivid outline!
The butterflies were colored using various Tim Holtz Distress Markers.
This is how they looked after stamping a second time in black. Gorgeous and rich!
I made an A2 card base out of pretty green cardstock and then trimmed my background panel. I used Antique Linen Distress Ink and a sponge dauber to ink the edges. I hand cut out the butterflies and then distress inked the edges of those too. I mounted them onto my card with foam tape and added just a bit of Tonic Nuvo Glitter Accents to the edges of the wings. I used some new Tim Holtz word stickers for my sentiment. (Supply links below)
Thank you for stopping by my blog today! I hope you've enjoyed reading about this cool new tool and how I made this card. Best wishes for an awesome day! XOXO
My final review of the Tonic Studios Tim Holtz Stamp Platform:
I give it two thumbs up as a working craft tool for my studio.
Good tool for stamping larger/background stamps.
The grid lines are in the lid, making it easy to position letter stamps and get perfect placement.
I like that you can use any size paper from a tiny scrap to a 12 x 12 sheet.
VERY sturdy and perfectly smooth for a crisp stamped impression.
Great for hard to ink images: you can re-stamp in the exact same place.
Easy to use, and easy to clean up.
Great value at $40.00
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Disclosure: My blog uses affiliate links, meaning that if you click on a link and make a purchase, I may receive compensation. I use affiliate links to Papertrey Ink, Simon Says Stamp, Amazon, Hero Arts, and Scrapbook.com to link you to the products I use and enjoy. I am a contract employee of Papertrey Ink, meaning that I receive payment for the design work and blogging I do on their behalf. I believe in all of the products I showcase here on my blog, and represent them honestly with my personal opinions. My affiliate information is disclosed HERE.
Nice review. I have already preordered and am excited for its arrival. I never jumped on the Misti train due to price, but I do believe having a stamping tool like this one is going to help me with larger images that always turn out blotchy when I try to stamp them.
Posted by: peggysue | 04/15/2017 at 08:51 AM
I have been wanting a stamp tool for a long time but couldn't get past the cost for the MISTI - have you used the MISTI and how does the Tim Holtz stamp platform compare? Thanks for your help deciding!
Posted by: Brenda | 04/11/2017 at 12:00 PM
Great card, I am thinking this is just a MISTI copycat. But I love this stamping concept, much improved from the Stamp-a-jig from the old days. :)
Posted by: Tracy | 04/10/2017 at 08:57 AM
Thanks Wanda for your great review. Love your card!
Posted by: Jane | 04/08/2017 at 02:11 PM
When I saw your card on Instagram, I was so impressed with those beautiful butterflies and hoped you'd share your technique. Adding the second layer of black really made them pop.
Posted by: Julie | 04/08/2017 at 08:19 AM
Those butterflies are gorgeous Wanda. As much as I love my Misti, I knew it wouldn't be long till other companies jumped in. Tonic products are very good. With Tim Holtz endorsing it, I sure it will do well. The price is also very good. I do love that you could use it for 12 x 12 papers. Lots to think about. Thanks for the information. Good weather in Michigan this weekend. Might even make 70 degrees.
Posted by: Anne Sturgeon | 04/08/2017 at 07:50 AM
Thanks for this review! Your card is GORGEOUS!!!!!
Posted by: ~amy~ | 04/08/2017 at 07:25 AM
Such a beautiful card Wanda. I love my Tonic 12 x 12 trimmer (I could not live without it!) and I am sure the stamp platform is amazing too, it look sturdy! Thanks for the review.
Posted by: Teresa Doyle | 04/08/2017 at 06:09 AM
great review!!
and Gorgeous card!!
Posted by: Holly Saveur | 04/08/2017 at 04:29 AM
beautiful card! loved your review. appreciate so much that you clarified that you got it for fee. I can see, however, that it is a great tool!!
Posted by: Joan B | 04/08/2017 at 04:00 AM