Stamp-a-ma-jig

The Stampin Up Stamp-a-ma-jig is one of the most useful tools I own, but I have not used it a lot in the past. It is so easy to use and makes a much more professional looking card, I think I need to find a spot on my worktable to store it permanently. Here is a short tutorial showing how to use the Stamp-a-ma-jig (SAMJ).
The SAMJ is a black molded plastic guide and a sheet of thick acetate that is smooth on one side and rough on the other.

For the tutorial I am going to stamp one of the Four Frames and then place a sentiment in the center. This is the frame, just stamped on a scrap of Very Vanilla using Lucky Limeade ink. I am going to punch it out with the Decorative Label punch so it does not need to be centered - but I could use the SAMJ to center it if that was needed.

Here is the SAMJ. For this use I don't believe it matters which side of the acetate you place down against the card stock (for other uses like stamping a reverse image, it would matter - but that will be for another tutorial).

Place the guide down on your work area. Slide one corner of the acetate into the right angle of the guide. Make sure it is in the corner and has not slid under the guide.

Stamp the image (in this case the sentiment) by placing the stamp snuggly in the corner of the guide. If you are using the clear mount stamps you must not take the stamp off the acrylic block after performing this step until you have completed the process or your alignment will not be correct. With the clear mount it does work to just 'eyeball' your placement since the blocks are clear and you can see where you are stamping but sometimes I just want that extra little assurance that I get from the SAMJ.

Here you can see the stamped image on the acetate. You can just use the ink you are going to use for your final image but I used Basic Black so it was easier to see.

Lay the acetate on the stamped image and position the image where you want it. Once you are satisfied, hold it firmly against the card stock on the work area.

Keeping your hand on the acetate and holding it firmly, place the SAMJ at the corner of the acetate. Be careful not to move the acetate until the guide is positioned.

Hold the guide and slide the acetate away. You must be very careful to not move the guide or the card stock.

Stamp the image by placind the stamp in the corner of the guide in the same position as the previous stamp on the acetate.

Remove the stamp and the guide and you have a perfectly placed image.

And here it is punched and placed on the front of a card. Items used:

Ink - Lucky Limeade, Calypso Coral

DSP - Everyday Enchantment

Card Stock - Lucky Limeade, Very Vanilla

Embellishment - Calypso Coral ruffled ribbon

Stamp sets - Four Frames, Bring on the Cake