Floral stamping swells

[tmroper]

Do you guys draw the pattern and then transfer to the swell are just draw it directly on the swells. Because the swells are an odd shape I am having trouble transferring the pattern

Thanks

[TroyWest]

I draw the pattern directly on the swell. I often use one of those plastic circle templates with various sized circles. I find the circle that suits the size flower I'm tooling. Then I can lightly draw that circle on the swell, moving it around to exactly where I want it, and because it is flexible I can bend it over the curve of the swell. Then I put my flower in that circle with the stem where I want it , fill in the inner circle and then the outer areas.

Hope that helps,

Troy West

[gtwister09]

Drafting supply stores have many types of these as well as ellipses, french curves, flexible curves and such. Here's several types of circle templates.

Drafting Circle Templates

The lighter weight ones work well on the swells but steer clear of the Radius Templates. They are heavier plastic and work really well for drafting work but they don't bend enough for swell work.

Regards,

Ben

[kseidel]

I use a lot of plastic lids from peanut cans, etc. They seem to wrap around a swell fairly well, without distorting the circle. With the crcles in place, you can orient the flowers fairly well from one side to the other. You can use tracing film and transfer small portions of your pattern from one side to the other. The heavy curves you pretty much have to draw on each side.

Keith

[Steve Brewer]

I use a Copenhagen lid,I always have one.

Steve

[hidepounder]

I draw them on also, in the same manner described by Troy and Keith, except I've never used the plastic cirlcles or lids. What a great idea! I've been fumbling with circles cut from file folders which is awkward to say the least! I love this place...learn new tricks every day!

Bob