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I know it can't be this difficult, but I can NEVER get background stamps to work right. Either I'm missing half of the design, or it smears all over the place. Does anyone out there in SCS world have some tricks for using background stamps? Thanks in advance!
Not sure if these are tricks, but here is what I do. I always ink my backgrounds with my brayer. After I get it inked up I put my cardstock on top of the rubber and rub over the cardstock with my finger. (I NEVER try and stamp the rubber down onto my cs, works best for me to put the cs on the rubber) Sometimes I cover my cardstock with a piece of scrap paper and rub over the whole thing with my fist. This works best for me. I have a friend to puts her paper on the floor, puts the stamp on top and steps on it. Works for her. Never tried that though. Hope that helps a little.
__________________ Heather
Proud owner of Paper Pretties - Where your creativity comes to life!
I've also found that you can put a piece of foam UNDER the paper and then you can stamp the larger stamps onto the paper that way. When I put the paper on the stamp I always end up with a double image...I'm not too coordinated! ;)
When I do a BG stamp, I flip it over and tap the stamp pad on top of it so that I can see that I have full coverage of ink on the stamp. Then I stamp in the usual way with the paper on the bottom, but I use a mouse pad as a cushion ( or a magazine). Sometimes, I will ink the stamp, any kind, not just a BG stamp and I will test it on scrap paper first, then reink and do my final copy. It seems that with some stamps, I get a better print with the 2nd time than the first, sort of like priming the pump, I guess.
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Be patient and practice I HATED them and now I can't do without them. I told everyone how huge they were and I just couldn't work with them. My biggest challenge is to really get it inked enough and find a hard surface. I have tried the brayer to and that works also. Keep trying you'll get it!
I ink up my background stamps and then put them face up and lay the cardstock down and then a sheet of copier paper and rub it in. You can do this a little hard so that you definately get it on all the paper.
__________________ Cassi R Mom to Tommy born June 5, 2009 ΦΜ �No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.� Eleanor Roosevelt
I also place the BK stamp rubber side up, apply the ink with the pad,then place my CS on the stamp. Instead of using a scrap piece of paper and my fingers, I use another stamp to rub the CS. I think the pressure is more even that way (more like a brayer) and this way I don;t need a scrap sheet because the stamp top gets inky, no my fingers. If you;re particular about keeping your stamps clean, however, I would not recommend this method.
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Sometimes when I really need a rich color, I use the SU Markers instead of the stamp pads... looks nice and just takes a little more time... before you stamp the image after you markered it... huff a couple times with your breathe to moisten things a bit...
I do the cardstock on the stamp thing and use scrap paper and a bone folder to get even pressure across -- I have more pressure than I can get using a brayer. I get excellent results.
Do your stamping upside down! That is, place your inked stamp upside down on the table, then place your good paper on top of the pad (be careful not to move the paper around or it will smear). Use a piece of scratch paper that is large enough to cover your good paper and the stamp itself. Press/rub on that scratch paper around the image of the stamp...again, being careful not to move your good paper.
You may need to experiment how best to ink your stamp. If your ink pad is quite dry, ink the pad, then pass the ink pad over the rubber stamp to even out the ink. It may also work best to ink your pad upside down (i.e., press the ink pad on the stamp, not the stamp on the ink pad).
I stamp my bg's (and some of the larger non-bg's) upside down as well.
I think the most important thing I point out to those I am teaching to use the bigger stamps--never take your hand/finger off the cardstock once you place it on the background. If you just remember, even when you are grabbing your scrap paper, to keep a finger on your cardstock. . .it usually doesn't smear/shadow. A small thing, but sometimes people don't remember to do that!
Good luck!
__________________ Robin a.k.a Caffeinated Mingler
I have found this system to work very well when using large background stamps.
Lay the stamp rubber side up on the table. Thoroughly ink it. Place the inked side down on your paper. Take a SECOND large stamp and place it wood side down on about half of the inked stamp. Press firmly. Move the second stamp down to cover the second half of the inked stamp and press firmly again.
After learning this method i never again had that bare middle spot and certainly never had the smears or double images I used to get when trying to place the paper on the inked side of the paper and brayer or or finger pressure it.
I love BG stamps and always use them. You do have to get the hang of it..So keep trying. I ink the stamp really well then stamp my paper that is laying on the desk. If I want a really rich color I spray it with a little mister - but only a little or it will run.
Here is my tip - I had problems with the paisley/floral backgrounds inking unevenly from the pad. Instead of inking with a brayer, I ink the stamp directly with the pad (really inky) and then use the brayer to even out the ink on the stamp. I stamp with it upside down (traditional way) but make sure I press down with my hands on different areas of the stamp to put pressure on the middle. Works every time for me!
I ink up my background stamps and then put them face up and lay the cardstock down and then a sheet of copier paper and rub it in. You can do this a little hard so that you definately get it on all the paper.
this works for me every time! I love my BG stamps!
I ink my bg stamp rubberside up with my brayer or just tap the ink pad all over the bg stamp till I have good coverage. I huff then lay cardstock on top of bg stamp, rubber side up and cover with scrap paper. I then take my brayer and roll it all over the scrap paper. I get a perfect image everytime. This makes cleaning the brayer easy too as all the ink left on the brayer goes onto the scrap paper.
I really appreciate all of the suggestions on how to use background stamps! I was having a real problem with an incomplete inked image, and was considering not even using them - as much as I've wanted to! - until I saw these suggestions.
Thanks, ladies!
__________________ Debbie
You are my refuge and my shield; I have put my hope in your word. Psalm 119:114 My Little Gallery
You can also ink background stamp then turn it rubber side up place paper on top and then use the brayer to roll on top of paper.
That's what I've been doing too. It usually works.
I'm also going to try sitting on one (Butt Stamping) to see if it works better.
Earlier to day I was looking at this thread... BEST thing you ever purchased . The Speedball Block Press shown in Post# 3 might be worth the price. $63.29 at Dick Blick.
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I usually brayer my background stamps, unless I'm feeling lazy, in which case I just rub the craft pad all over the stamp. Then, I take my cardstock, and lay it on top of the pad, and rub the paper down with a paper towel. I play extra close attention to my edges, where is my trouble spot. I then peel some of the paper up to see if it's ready, and if it's not, I put it back down and continue to rub. When it is ready, peel it up very slowly, to prevent smudges.
I have spent some time today, trying the different methods with BG stamps. I, also, can never get an image that was perfectly covered. I love the Baroque Motifs set, but could never get it to be perfect. After trying all these methods (except the butt sitting one). I have found that inking my BG stamp (rubber-side up) with a brayer, then turning it down onto my cardstock I apply pressure using another BG stamp with wood side down on top of the first stamp. This one worked best for me, but I think different technques work best for different people. Thanks for all the input, as I really wanted to do a card at my next workshop using the Baroque Motifs set.
I know it can't be this difficult, but I can NEVER get background stamps to work right. Either I'm missing half of the design, or it smears all over the place. Does anyone out there in SCS world have some tricks for using background stamps? Thanks in advance!
Stand when stamping; the counter should be waist high. Place the stamp, die up, on the counter. Apply a thin, even coat of ink with either a pad (pat gently) or a brayer. Check to make sure all areas of the die have ink.
Remain standing and position the paper on the die, taking care not to to more the paper once it is in position.
Gently rub a smooth twist-top bottle cap (see this entry for an explanation: http://paperfriendly.blogspot.com/20...ydoes-it.html), a furniture glider or a Scratch Art Rubbing Stick over the back of the paper. Be sure light pressure has been applied to all areas of the die.
Lift the paper from the die in one motion. Set aside to dry or heat set.
Another method:
Again stand when stamping. After ink has been applied (see above) to the stamp, check to make sure no ink is on the block. Place the paper on a flat surface, and position the stamp, die down, on the paper. Place a board that is at least 12" thick and four inches longer than the block on the back of the block. With a hand at each end of the board, apply even pressure to the board. Remove the board from the stamp and pick up the stamp from the paper. Allow the ink to dry or heat set.
Using Background Stamps
