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I just bought my first Stickles the other day (diamond). I thought I would just have to squeeze the bottle over the part of the image I want to "bling" up, let it dry and that would be it. But I'm having a heck of a time just getting the stuff to come out of the bottle:mad:! I have tried sticking a pin down in the tip to loosen up whatever might be clogging it. I have tried shaking the bottle. I am squeezing the bottle so hard either my hand is going to cramp up or the bottle will explode. But still all I can manage is maybe one drop of the stuff and then it seems clogged again. Is there a trick to this thing? What am I doing wrong? TIA
maybe you rec'd a bum bottle - I had one, too and it kept getting clogged...can you call/email wherever you purchased it and they may send you a new bottle.
__________________
Lori Prince , SCS #26330 - Nothing surprises me, I can only be amazed.
Do you have a piercing tool or something similar that's just a bit bigger than the needle you're using? I have a couple of colours that stick, I just widened the nib slightly using my piercing tool and that usually does the trick.
Hope you get it sorted, Stickles are one of my fav things!
I have found that when that happens, it's more often a bit of the stickles is in a stringy mess. I pop off the top and wash it out and the usually solves it.
__________________ ~Tori Pink Cat Studio's Digi DT Member * GD Whiff of Joy Stamps - April/May 2010
Check out my Blog! - The Fishy-Scrapper's Chronicles
I have this happen with some of my bottles. I just use my piercing tool to loosen up the clog. Beware though-a few times after loosening it I've gotten a really large clump of stickles come out!
Have fun with your bling!! Diamond is my fave color!! It's so fab!
Returning/exchanging it is not an option since I live an hour from the store I got it at. And at only $2 for the bottle, if it didn't work, it wouldn't be a big loss.
I did try the piercing tool idea. It was a squeeze, but I got the tool down in the tip. Then, when trying to get the tool back out, the top popped off. Ok, this will make it easier to clean, I think. But I was having a dickens of a time getting the top off the piercing tool. I tugged and tugged... then it flew off, across the room and landed who knows where. I can't find the stupid thing!
Well, at least I don't have a clog anymore. I guess I can always get out a paint brush and dip into the bottle to paint on the stuff instead of squeezing it out.
Unless you are trying to outline an image, you could try the following:
Put a dab of stickles on a piece of cardboard, and use a toothpick to pick up a little dab. It will give you more control. I like just a little bit of stickles as a highlight, and this works foro me. That way, you won't get a glob on your project. Eileen
__________________ The best things in life aren't things.
ROFL!!! Peebsmama, your description cracked me up. I can see all that drama happening over a little bit of bling. Hang in there though, stickles are a lot of fun, and add just the right touch to many things. Sorry about all the trouble, but don't give up on the bling!
I find that some bottles clog ALL the time, other ones NEVER clog. I just stick a pin in mine and it clears it up right away.
I've got a couple bum bottles too - I do the pin stickin thing sometimes it takes more work, mabye next time I will wash the whole top out- hope you find yours! ;)
I did try the piercing tool idea. It was a squeeze, but I got the tool down in the tip. Then, when trying to get the tool back out, the top popped off. Ok, this will make it easier to clean, I think. But I was having a dickens of a time getting the top off the piercing tool. I tugged and tugged... then it flew off, across the room and landed who knows where. I can't find the stupid thing!
LOL!:p Great description. I could just see it happening and I had tears in my eyes.
Don't give up on stickles. They truly are a wonderful bling addition. Next time a bottle clogs, just make sure that you hang onto the top.:mrgreen:
Tammy:cool:
giggles! I needed this tonight. I only own one bottle and it has never clogged so I am no help there, but everytime I use my stickles I will think of this description. You made me smile! Thanks I needed that!
I cut off the tip on some bottles too (but cut very little, cut more if necessary. Don't cut too much at once or you will have a mess. guess how I know?).
And as you use more and more of the bottle I find it hard to get the stuff to come out. And I found the perfect solution. I use my Mary Kay acrylic lipstick holder and place the bottle upside down. Tori, looks like you are a MK consultant. If you have one of these lipstick holders, it works perfectly.
Unless you are trying to outline an image, you could try the following:
Put a dab of stickles on a piece of cardboard, and use a toothpick to pick up a little dab. It will give you more control. I like just a little bit of stickles as a highlight, and this works foro me. That way, you won't get a glob on your project. Eileen
Yip, that's what I do too. I love Stickles and have them in lots of different colors but do find the even application of them a little challenging. After several "blob" situations occured, I came up with a version of the technique Eileen is describing and it works for me.
The couple of bottles that jamming were driving me crazy. I took pliers and removed the top and used a toothpick to put the stickles on my project. Then I put the top back on after I clean it out. Stored the bottle upside down. That seemed to work since its not jammed now. I had a straight pin in one but it rusted so I'm avoiding that solution now. Even with the problems, I love my stickles. Peggy
Then, when trying to get the tool back out, the top popped off. Ok, this will make it easier to clean, I think. But I was having a dickens of a time getting the top off the piercing tool. I tugged and tugged... then it flew off, across the room and landed who knows where. I can't find the stupid thing!
ROFL - I wonder that top will turn up!!
Some of the colors seem more blobby (is that a word?) than others. I've used several bottles Xmas red and it seems to always blob.. Maybe it because I'd rather they call it "Christmas" instead of "Xmas".
Perhaps some bottles have more clumps than others because of some manufacturing or temperature issue. If you have one that tends to clog alot, maybe you could remove the top and fish around in the glue for clumps with the needle or a toothpick or something similar and remove any clumps that may be lurking.
Another thing that I do is store them upside down. I think I read that tip on SCS somewhere and it seems to have helped. I found a little scrappy bag with lots of pockets and I have them stored in that. My stickles stash! LOVE it!
Returning/exchanging it is not an option since I live an hour from the store I got it at. And at only $2 for the bottle, if it didn't work, it wouldn't be a big loss.
I did try the piercing tool idea. It was a squeeze, but I got the tool down in the tip. Then, when trying to get the tool back out, the top popped off. Ok, this will make it easier to clean, I think. But I was having a dickens of a time getting the top off the piercing tool. I tugged and tugged... then it flew off, across the room and landed who knows where. I can't find the stupid thing!
Well, at least I don't have a clog anymore. I guess I can always get out a paint brush and dip into the bottle to paint on the stuff instead of squeezing it out.
Yep, I've had this happen as well. Some bottles just seem to be more clumpy and hard to squeeze out than others. What works for me is cutting the tip a little on those and then doing a practice squeeze on scratch paper before using it on my project. I've given up on using my piercing tool or a needle since it always seems to get stuck and is more trouble than it's worth. Maybe I'll try to remember to buy a smaller needle at some point :-)
__________________ Kathy
Proud Mama to Mason 4/3/99, Miles 5/25/02, and Maya 8/26/04
I am having the same issue with the Diamond Stickes. I've tried to stick a saftey pin needle in & it's still won't come out. Only the clear glue comes out & no sparkles. Help....???? I'm not sure what to do next. How do I pop the top off???...and without it flying across the room...lol! My other stickles work fine except for this one!
I am having the same issue with the Diamond Stickes. I've tried to stick a saftey pin needle in & it's still won't come out. Only the clear glue comes out & no sparkles. Help....????
I used a beading needle just recently, which is really tiny in width. I poked around inside the nozzle with the needle and the glitter started coming out with the clear glue again.
I poked and prodded mine and then when I gave it a squezze it blew out everywhere, all over the card I was making, all over the wall. I lost half a bottle.
Returning/exchanging it is not an option since I live an hour from the store I got it at. And at only $2 for the bottle, if it didn't work, it wouldn't be a big loss.
I did try the piercing tool idea. It was a squeeze, but I got the tool down in the tip. Then, when trying to get the tool back out, the top popped off. Ok, this will make it easier to clean, I think. But I was having a dickens of a time getting the top off the piercing tool. I tugged and tugged... then it flew off, across the room and landed who knows where. I can't find the stupid thing!
Well, at least I don't have a clog anymore. I guess I can always get out a paint brush and dip into the bottle to paint on the stuff instead of squeezing it out.
rofl I can see it now , been there done that. One good reason to craft with your cats. They are usually pretty helpful at finding flung lids. I try to store all those types of glitter glues, all glues in fact, upside down. It helps prevent the tip from clogging with dried glue. Gotta have our bling!!
Well, mine is the green, so it doesn't seem to be a particular color. I used small needle nose pliers, working them back and forth to pull the top off. It is a tug, so be prepared for a bit of a mess. I will now try to store them all upside down.
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I found a safety pin stuck in the top works well for me if they occasionally clog. It seems to work a little better than a pin just because it's a tad wider around. It's amazing how the teeny tiny glitters can get stuck in there....you DO feel like the bottles going to explode, haha. Good luck!
I found a safety pin stuck in the top works well for me if they occasionally clog. It seems to work a little better than a pin just because it's a tad wider around. It's amazing how the teeny tiny glitters can get stuck in there....you DO feel like the bottles going to explode, haha. Good luck!
That's funny that you posted this. I just recently realized, too, that a safety pin works better. I think you're right - it's a little bigger than a pin and pushes the clog away.
I keep my Stickles in a zip lock bag, and keep a safety pin in there too.
__________________ Bugga in OK
"Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible." Dalai Lama
I had a clog in one of my (many) bottles of stickles. When I stuck a long pin in it to unclog it, I could see that the clog was a long sting of dried glop, so I had to tease it out with the tip of the pin and get ALL of it so that it would not get shoved back in the bottle, only to cause more problems the next time you try to use it.
I store mine in a background stamp sized clear SU! box. It holds quite a bit!
I use stickles alot. Before using I usuallt roll the bottle fromside to side in my hands or place on a warm radiator for a few minutes. Dont know what it is with the heat but it seems to flow alot better when slightly warm.
Read your posts with much laughter, yes, cats do help you find lost lids, only problem is then you have a grumpy cat when you take the lid back 'cause they've lost 'their' toy .
To keep my tops un-clogged, I use a hat pin, it is slightly thicker than a normal one, it is stainless steel (at least the ones I get here in Aus are), & they have a decorative tip to them so they are easier to hang onto. Also, over here, I don't know why, (I just checked my bottles, both Stickles & Ice Stickles) the bottles have screw-top lids, so you can just un-screw the lid, poke the pin from the underneath side to get rid of the clog or to easily remove the problem without sending parts across the room.
Stickles - What Am I Doing Wrong?
