Thursday, September 12, 2013

Tips and Tricks: XL Squishy Stamper - How to keep the head in the holder


The XL Squishy stamper is awesome for longer nails with deep curves.  I couldn't stamp full nail images to save my life before I bought one.  But, if you have an XL Squishy you have likely already discovered that the head pops out, making it a complete pain to stamp with.  The diameter of the opening in the holder is simply too large for the stamping head.  I've tried a few things to fix this problem, and I've destroyed a few stampers in the process.  

There are some great solutions to this problem floating around the internet, including gluing the head into the holder or cramming the stamping head into a smaller konad or fauxnad holder.  Neither of these solutions really worked for me.  I need to be able to remove the stamping head so that I can stretch smaller images to fit my nails, so gluing it in isn't a good option.  And I found that cramming it into a smaller holder caused tears along the side of the head over time.  Not to mention all the extra holders I had laying around.  So, I became obsessed with finding a solution.  And I finally found it.  Woo Hoo!

Items you'll need:
  • Your XL Squishy Stamper
  • A pair of old scissors or other sharp instrument
  • A hot glue gun

Step 1: Take the stamping head out of the holder.  That's easy, right?  It won't stay in anyway. 

Step 2: Use the scissors to score or scratch the inside of the holder.  The scratches allow the hot glue to adhere to the inside surface of the holder. 

Step 3: Run a line of hot glue all the way around the inside of the holder.
It should look like this the image below.  Now allow the glue to cool slightly so you don't burn your finger on the next step. 

Step 4: When the glue has cooled but is still pliable, use your finger to smooth it by pressing it against the inside edge of the holder.  It should only take about 30 seconds to cool to this point.  This step prevents the glue itself from ripping your stamping head. 

Step 5:  Once the glue has completely cooled and hardened, put the stamping head back in the stamper and  you're ready to start stamping. :)
As you can see, the hot glue decreased the diameter of the opening in the holder so that the head fits a little tighter and stays put :)
If you try it, let me know how it works for you!  I've been using my "fixed" stamper for about a week now and the head stays put even when I stamp the excess onto my super sticky lint roller.  :)

~Michelle

14 comments:

  1. Thank you for this! I am going to go home tonight and try it. I have one similar to this and it annoys the hell out of me!

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  2. Holy cow, you're a genius!! Thanks for sharing this! :)

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  3. Great idea! I would never have thought of this. Thanks for sharing!!

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  4. This is a clever idea Michelle, is the pad actually sticking to the glue or is the glue just to increase the diameter of the barrel to hold the pad in without sticking?

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    1. Kim, the glue only decreases the diameter of the opening so that it holds the pad tighter. The texture of the cooled glue does seem to work with the silicone as well to help it stick in place, but the pad isn't glued to the holder with this method. :)

      Basically, I was looking at the Pueen holder that I had my pad crammed into before it started to rip. A tighter fit seemed to hold it securely, but the Pueen is a little too tight. So I started looking at ways to make the pad fit tighter into the XL holder and this is what I came up with.

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    2. Ah...got it...will have to try with my extra stamper.

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  5. You are so clever! That's such an easy fix and I can see how that would work! I will have to try it (plus I just got the Love Elements set, so perfect timing!)

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  6. You are a LEGEND!!! I get so frustrated with my stamper. Thank you for sharing this awesome tip.

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  7. awesome, I'll have to try this! thanks so much xx

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  8. I just bought a squishy stamper and was about to blow my brains out with annoyance from the head falling out. I did find if I roll over the stamped image The head doesn't fall out. Only happens when I press hard from above.

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  9. What nail color do you have on in these pictures? Beautiful!

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    1. LeChat Mood Frozen Cold Spell :) It's a thermal with a subtle shift. I have full swatch pictures here: http://www.manictalons.com/2013/09/more-lechat-perfect-match-mood-swatches.html

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  10. Brilliant solution––thank you!

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  11. I just saw this now and immediately called my mom to bring her hot glue gun when she comes over today :D Thank you! Just yesterday I was fighting with my stamper and getting frustrated with the head falling off :P

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