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I think I am stamping impaired. I have been stamping for a few months, and am wanting to become a demo so I've been practicing alot. I can't seem to stamp a solid evenly stamped image! It doesn't matter if its a solid stamp itself like a whole circle in Simple Shapes, or if its the outline, my image always comes out uneven and not solid. Does that makes sense? Like with the box of four squares in What Could be better than, part of it come out light where part comes out dark.
When I ink the stamp, I usually rub it instead of blot it because blotting never gets much ink on the stamp. I do have fairly new stamp pads, not sure if this has something to do with it or not. Then, after inking the pad, I usually stand up and put all my weight on the stamp an it still doesn't come out even. What's going on? Do I need serious stampin help or what? Thanks!
Don't feel too bad - it's not your fault! Get a good quality eraser, like a "Pentel Click Eraser" or one of those white rectangular erasers that artists and draftsmen use. Simply run the eraser over the entire stamping surface of your eraser. "Dust off" the crumbs and then clean with your stampin' mist as usual. You won't believe the difference this makes. The stamps come coated with release medium that helps them come out of the molds. You don't notice it on fine line stamps, but solid stamps usually have the problem you describe.
I just went back and reread your note that says you rub instead of blot. I do both. If you just rub, you can get an uneven image.
Location: My very hot stamp room, in Phoenix! It's a dry heat.
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I often have the same problem with solid stamps. I find that if I wipe the ink onto the stamp and then tap, tap, tap it onto the pad I get a more even coverage of ink. Look at it before you stamp it and make sure it is inked evenly. That's the best tip I have. Good luck!
First of all, if you rub the stamp on the ink, you need to tap it after that. So, rub it to get ink all over, then tap it to even it out.
You shouldn't have to put all your wight on it, unless it is a big, full stamp. Certainly not for a line image.
If it is a big full stamp (like canvas background) try this:
-lay the stamp on the table wood-side down
-place the paper on top of the inked rubber
-place a piece of scratch typing paper over that
-run the side of your bone folder over the paper
-lift and it will be evenly stamped
If all else fails...get another demo over to help you out!
hard to tel what is going on.... does this happen with EVERY stamp you have? what kind of surface are you stamping on? is it a hard, smooth table, or what? (i have found it difficult to get a good image on a card table they are too sqwishy) also, i have found you don't need to press too hard, you might be warping the stamp?
wow you ladies are fast, the original post was the only one up when i started typing, great ideas, i didn't think about "new stamp shine" i always rub the new stamps on my jeans before i stamp the first time with them!
I usually rub my solid image stamps over a brown paper grocery bag several times in different directions then clean off with stamping mist and they seem to then hold the ink.
__________________ Angela,
Life is 10% what you make it and 90% how you take it.--Irving Berlin
Just my 2 cents:
When I ink my stamps I tap them and twist a little at the same time. It seems to help me not get streaks or lines especially on solid stamps. Also, I have heard that inking a stamp with versamark once will help other ink get on it later.
This is a common problem with new stamps. I always clean my new solid stamps on the stampin' scrub to rough up the surface a bit.
Also, I am wondering what kind of paper you are using. If you haven't tried Ultrasmooth White or Vanilla, you really must! It will make a BIG difference with your solid stamps.
I find that the dark colors are harder to get an even image with. I use the craft ink instead of classic ink and it solves the problem cause the craft is thicker and coats the stamp more evenly.
I have a stamp mat that I put under my cardstock to stamp. I have them in two sizes, a very large one (about 15 x 10) and a little one (about 4 x 3) and are about 3/4" thick. It seems to even out the pressure that I use and I get a very even coverage. It also seems to mean I have less pressure on my wrists, so they don't ache as much after stamping all day.
I have a stamp mat that I put under my cardstock to stamp. I have them in two sizes, a very large one (about 15 x 10) and a little one (about 4 x 3) and are about 3/4" thick.
I'm so curious! What is a stamp mat and why do you use it?
Wow thanks for all the ideas. I will try "toughening" up the surface of the stamp with the paper bag, versamark, or eraser ideas. After rubbing on the ink pad I do blot to get the lines out. It seems like its covered evenly but when I stamp it, it is not even. I stamp on a hard dining room table. Keep the ideas coming though. I do have a friend who is a demostrator and I'm going to go over to her house and see if she can tell me what I'm doing wrong. She always stamps beautiful clear images so maybe she can tell me whats up. Thank you all ladies for your help!
Make sure you have a solid surface that you're stamping on. Some of those plastic fold up tables have 'give' in them and you can't get a good solid image.
One more thing is that cardstock quality makes a huge difference! SU has great cardstock for stamping, but I've seen some cheap brands of cardstock where the image just doesn't show up that well.
A stamp mat is like a paper piercing mat if you have ever seen one. It is about 3/4" thick, so it is much thicker than a mouse mat. Here is a picture of one but it is not very clear http://www.deltacrafts.com/PaperCraf...mps/basics.asp
I find that it stops you rocking the stamp or putting more pressure on one side than the other and that you don't have to press as hard
Do you need to re-ink your stamp pads?
Also I agree with the surface questions - we have an edge on our counter and I have problems stamping on that and also I have one of the big Cosco tables downstairs and that can give a little and not provide a good stamping surface. I bought a vinyl cover for my table and now I can stamp away without any worry (this tickest kind at WalMart works awsome you buy it by the yard) and it also save the table from the 3 and 6 year old boys!!!
__________________ Kyloe
The lesson from Charlie Brown: The people who make a difference in your life are not the ones with the most credentials, the most money, or the most awards. They are the ones that care.
1.I take my stamp, and turn it upside down,
2. Pick a ink pad, Then hold my ink pad in my hand and tap all over till Stamp inked well.
3. Pick up my stamp and turn it over.
4. Apply slight pressure om paper...Making sure it's even pressure.
5. lift stamp and continue stamping
I've never had a problem with my stamps...
Although I clean mine first before using with a stamp cleaner..
Ally wrote:
I have a stamp mat that I put under my cardstock to stamp.
I think you can do the same thing with a mouse pad...
_________________
Martha
You can also go to the craft store and buy a large thick piece of craft foam to use at the stamping pad!! :P
__________________ Leeci ------------------------------------------------------------------- God sometimes lets life turn you upside down so you can learn to live right side up.
I love the SU grid pad. Besides roughing up the new stamp (I twist my stamps on the clean grid pad), I would not stamp on just a hard dining room table surface. I would bet that is the problem. the pads are a great deal and well worth the investment. PS, Don't wait to become an SU Demo. You are going to be great! SU is having the best promotion this month only...30.00 off the starter kit. (let me know if you need an upline..tee hee)
When I took an Intro to Stamping Class some time ago, they taught us that due to the intense heat and then intense cold that is used when the stamps are made, they end up with a coating on them that can prevent the stamp from stamping a solid image. I was told that the stamps need to be 'broken in'. Some stampers do this by rubbing gently on an old pair of jeans, some stampers just ink and stamp, ink and stamp, ink and stamp until the image starts stamping evenly and solidly. I've heard some folks say that craft ink seems to help break in the stamp. I have an old computer chair that I use at my stamping table that has that rough fabric on it. When I have a problem, I just rub the stamp gently on the edge of the chair on the nubby fabric and it seems to 'break in' the stamp - and it's handy :-)
Once the stamp is broken in, sometimes you need something really solid underneath when you stamp - especially the large stamps. I had my next door neighbor cut me a few pieces of 1" thick pieces of wood (approx 8x10) that we use when we are stamping.
Can't stamp a solid even image!!!!
