What to do first?

[aimee]

Hi there,

I got my parcel of inks, sponges and DVD today (10 days from ordering from the other side of the world, not bad!) and plan to watch the DVD first but wondered if any of you seasoned spongers (who can look back to when you started:) ) have some tips for me as to do's and don'ts and also what you started with when you first got your inks and sponges.

Ruth

[mcmoore]

Ruth,

If you look up in the club forums there is a section about rainbow sponges. A lot of your questions might already be answered in those posts, I know they helped me a lot.

My bit of advice is to make sure you put some tape on the back of the piece of paper that you're going to use, to secure it to the larger scrap paper that you have underneath. This will help avoid the paper moving on you as you swipe the sponge across your paper. And just remember, practice, practice, practice...and save all your first attempts even if they don't come out, as we've learned from the "caca-not" forum, you can always use them to make something beautiful.

Mary

[i.r.stamper]

My best advice is to be ready to work as you're watching the video! Pre-cut some glossy paper (at LEAST 5 full sheets, even that probably won't be enough once you get started!;) ). Then set your inks in front of you, get your sponge handy, like Mary said put two or three pieces of double stick tape down on your sponging surface (DO put something protective on your work surface, the ink will be going off on all sides of your cardstock and you don't want to ruin your stamp table!!!).....a good tip when using double stick tape in this way.....stick the palm of your hand down onto the tape until it looses a little of it's stickiness. That way you won't pull any paper off the back of your cardstock when you try to remove your gorgeous rainbow inked masterpiece!;)
Ok, back to getting ready to sponge.....put a piece of glossy cardstock down onto your tape, stick that video/DVD in the machine and GET READY TO SPONGE! Just do exactly what Dee does, and you'll be having a ball in no time flat! When Dee shows you how to ink your sponge, pause the machine and ink up your sponge! When Dee swipes, YOU swipe along with her! If Dee pounces, you pounce.
Oh, and when you run out of glossy cardstock.....just pause that machine again and run to your paper trimmer and CUT SOME MORE!:D