Splitcoaststampers.com - the world's #1 papercrafting community
You're currently viewing Splitcoaststampers as a GUEST. We pride ourselves on being great hosts, but guests have limited access to some of our incredible artwork, our lively forums and other super cool features of the site! You can join our incredible papercrafting community at NO COST. So what are you waiting for?
I didn't do it on purpose, but I have used many clear stamps for the first time with black ink, and then later used colored ink. They still take on the color a little, even if they were inked with black first. I actually think they are easier to identify on the clear sheet when they have been used and are stained.
I am one of those "lucky" people who don't care what my stamps look like, if they stamp well. I don't spend much time cleaning my stamps, but just stamp off on a piece of scratch paper.
__________________ Bugga in OK
"Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible." Dalai Lama
I agree with Bugga. I think they're easier to see when they're stained a bit. And even if you try to stain them with black ink first, if you ink them 30+ times with different colors and blue was the last ink you used, they will look slightly blue to your eye. Just the way it goes.
This doesn't bother me one bit. I can't see wasting the $$ on expensive stamp cleaners when water works perfectly well and they stamp just fine. Gives me more $ to spend on supplies. :-)
This is too funny! I don't purposely stain my clear stamps with black ink, but it just happens to be the color I use most. I was laughing at myself the other day for getting annoyed that I have two stamps I used on my most recent project that got stained with a brown ink and the other with a green ink. It kind of irks me that the other stamps are stained black. I do agree that it is easier to see them when they get a bit stained. I also agree with Bugga...even with a stamp previously stained black, it still has a tendency to take on other colors as well. I don't find this as much when using dye inks, but I find it very true when I use pigment ink, especially my favorite fluid chalk inks.
I'm another one that doesn't care if my stamps are stained. And like everyone else stated, it sure makes them easier to see, especially if you're a messy stamper like me and have things all over your work area. Another thing I have found by accident, is that clear stamps will pick up dye inks better if you don't clean them (or just stamp off a couple times on scratch paper). I forgot a cheapy Michaels clear stamp with versamark on it and it dried and now it works perfectly with my dye inks. So, now back to the original topic, your clear stamps will have a tinge of the colour you last used usually unless its a very light colour (like pale yellow) and your stamp is stained black. I have a lot of pretty clear red, blue, green, orange, black, etc. stamps.
I was very surprised to learn that the way to clean clear stamps (probably not the $1 type) is regular rubbing alcohol. Takes the stains right out! This info came straight from the KSS Queen herself.
But ... and I quote Maria: bourbon won't work!
I'm not sure where that came from - but she's a very amusing lady.
Clear stamps, do you ink them with black so they stain consistantly?
