Tips for
using your new rubber stamps:
When you get
your new rubber stamps, the first thing you want to do is to
clean them. You will want to use a rubber stamp cleaner and
cleaning pad or toothbrush (see our
rubber stamp cleaner recipe
using Simple Green).
Since rubber
is a porous surface, various agents used in the stamp making
process can adhere to the rubber during the stamp making process
and act as a barrier to your ink. Once you have cleaned your
stamps, you will want to prime them for use.
Using a dye ink pad, drag your stamp across the ink pad
repeatedly until the raised part of the stamp is completely
covered. If a portion of the stamp resists the ink, you will
need to re-clean the stamp and repeat the inking process.
Once the stamp is covered with ink, you will want to repeat the
dragging process on a scrap piece of paper. Continue dragging
the stamp across the paper until it leaves no more ink.
You are now ready to use your stamp!
Tips for using Photo
Stamps and Finely Detailed Rubber Stamps:
Use dye ink on detailed images. Inks like Memories, Adirondack,
Chalk Inks, Stazon, and Versafine work well.
Test your image first on a
scrap piece of paper, if the ink is too wet you may need to
stamp it off once on your scratch paper, and stamp a second
without re-inking on your final project.
If the ink is too wet,
or you use pigment ink, it will clog up the details in the
stamp. Embossing also will yield a clumpy look and you will loose
detail.
Before inking the stamp make sure the rubber is clean of all
lint. Anything on the rubber will show up in your stamped image
as a blemish.
I like to run a sticky lint roller over my detailed stamps
before using them (I live with two dogs - dog hair has the
craziest way of showing up everywhere!).
Ink detailed stamps using a brayer. Roll the brayer in the ink
with a spinning motion, lifting your brayer from the ink pad
while the brayer is still spinning then rolling again on the
pad. Roll the inked brayer over your stamp in various directions
to ensure complete coverage, and to avoid overlap marks.
If using an ink pad to apply the ink to your stamp, place the
rubber stamp on your work surface with the image side up, and
ink by tapping your inkpad onto the rubber stamp.
Be sure to look at your stamp to be sure it is well covered and
not over inked before use.
Detailed stamps give their best impressions on glossy paper. If
you prefer a matte finish, try Matte Coated paper. An uncoated
paper will absorb the ink and cause the details to blur.
If your photo stamp is not mounted using a cushion or foam, be
sure to cushion under your cardstock using a craft mat, mouse
pad, or old magazine to retain fine detail.
When stamping your image, be sure to keep the rubber stamp
parallel to the paper as you lower it, and press all areas of
your stamp firmly. Glossy paper can cause the stamp to slide -
place your stamp on the paper carefully and slowly to help avoid
this. Be careful not to wiggle your stamp as this will lead to a
blurred impression.
