Autumn Leaves clear stamps
 

I purchased some of these stamps and have to say that I am not very pleased with the way they stamp. They don't give you a nice crisp stamp and the ink doesn't hold to the stamp like it does with rubber.

Am I doing something wrong? Any suggestions are appreciated.

TIA,
Judi

I haven't had a problem with these, although they are not as good as some other brands, such as Impression Obsession and Technique Tuesday. I think you may need to use different inks until you find one that works and also play around with the amount of pressure you are using. Clear stamps are great, but sometimes do not result in the same image as rubber. Good luck.

Is it the first time youre using clear stamps? They take best to craft/chalk inks and require a lighter hand when pressing.

I find that they will work better with pigment or chalk inks. The dye inks on my Autumn Leaves flourish set tend to bead up a little bit. This works nicely if you are going for a distressed look, but frustrating if you want a nice clean image. Also you shouldnt press as hard as you would if you were using wood and rubber.

I have the *Swirls* and *Flourishes* sets. I used VersaFine black and they worked great. I haven't tried any other ink yet but am anxious to try my Colorbox chalk ink since Suzy_H said they do well. HTH
Have a blessed Sunday, Stormy

I meant to add that Versafine is an oil based pigment ink. I've really enjoyed working with it on both clear and rubbah! I bought it at Michael's w/ 40% off coupon!

The Autumn Leaves stamps are not photopolymer (the superior but more expensive stuff used in brands like the above-mentioned Technique Tuesday). They are the cheaper vinyl/silicone material and require more effort for the images to look as good as rubber or photopolymer clear stamps.

I really like the Autumn Leaves Stamps. I use versafine and it works well with them. I also use Encore metallics, and they work well also. Eileen

Just as a side note - Palette Hybrid Ink is recommended at papertreyink (they sell clear stamps). I do use them sometimes when I want a more sheer look, but still like the thick, tacky consistency of chalk ink as it gives results with the least effort.

As has been mentioned, the Versafine pigment ink works incredibly well with these stamps - crisp, clean and skipped spaces on the stamps.

Acrylic stamps deflect dye inks like oil does water - you can see the ink bead up on the image lines after you stamp it on a dye ink pad.

Chalk inks do work well, but the image is not crisp like the Versafine pigment pad. There is no "skipping" with the chalk inks but the lines are thicker and less defined.

I have AL Flourishes and haven't had a problem unless I press too hard. I use mainly Palette inks with them. I have used SU classic inks, but have found that I need to move quickly as it likes to pool on the stamp.

I am having the same problem! Very frustrating as I basically only own SU classic ink. I do have stazon black and brown and I find they stamp MUCH better! It's a bummer that just about all my clear stamps will have to be brown and black until I save up enough to buy some palette hybrid ink pads.

I like to match with my SU colors so much I may just sell off my clear stamps and stick with my rubbah!!

Thanks for all the info re the clear stamps... I've been reluctant to use stazon - because it does stain.. but I have pallette noir, versafine, and lots of small pigment and chalk inks... really appreciate the info..So far I haven't had any problems with my clear stamps, but I've just ordered some new ones from stampendous...and I have some new ones from MFT... but I hope they are okay.

thanks a lot for the info!

All this info has been very helpful. I have been trying to use my SU classic ink and it does pool up. I'll pull out my SU craft ink and try them...if all else fails I guess I'll have to invest in some other types of ink. I have the Flourishes set and really like the look of the stamps and want to use them. I have some older petal point ink sets that I haven't used in a long time...I hope they aren't all dried out! I'll give them a try today.:p

Thanks!

I have lots of the AL stamps and have never had a problem, though I use Versafine too

Hope you solve your problem!!

The Autumn Leaves stamps definitely have that oily "residue" on them when they are first opened. Rub them on a plain white sheet of typing paper or with a white eraser, and that removes the residue and most of the "bubbling" that happens when you stamp. You will never get the crisp image of a rubber stamp or higher quality acrylic, but it definitely helps.

I use all kinds of clear stamps (cheap mostly..because I am..and expensive). The first thing I do to a new stamp is put it in versamark (clear) and then into the dye ink (SU etc). I have had no trouble with bubbling or non inking. I repeat this process every once in a while while I am working.

Does Versafine pigment ink come in more colors than just black? Do they carry different colors at Michaels?

I have the AL swirls set and I have used SU dye ink, staz on, and ancient page inks on them. I've been satisfied with all the inks so far.

I have both the cheap($ stamps from Michael's) and some from Papertrey and others. What I do, and it works with them all , is to lightly go over the top of new stamps with some fine sandpaper. I then have no problems using the su classic inks and get a nice crisp image. Hope that helps.

Mine work beautifully once I got the hang of how they are best inked and the amount of pressure to use. I use chalk ink only. They have about 15 different sets at Walmart for about 1/3 I see them in LSS.

Versafine pigment ink comes in several colors - brown, blue, two different reds, green, purple. Those are the ones I have, there are probably more than that now. Not sure if Michaels carries them or not. I'm sure someone here will come up with an internet site that has all of them. Hope you find them!

for those of you who only have the SU classic or dye inks. Try inking first in versamark, then into your dye ink pad. Then stamp as usual. This will get the ink to stick to the acrylic stamp much better.

This topic showed up a couple of weeks ago (naturally I can't find it now!). Someone posted they took an emery board and lightly "sanded" their acrylic stamps and they don't have a problem with getting a good image anymore. I also have the AL Swirls set and that's what I did. It did seem to help quite a bit.

Pam

I have also heard that if you use permanent ink first, it conditions your stamps and they will take any other ink more easily.

GIL, my Michael's carries only the VersaFine black and medium brown. Sorry, DD has them borrowed or I'd give you the actual color names. I bought both and stamp my images (with rubbah & clear) with them to do Prismacolor/Gamsol technique. They haven't smudged or ran. I LOVE the images I get from VF. -fine and crisp and no skipping!
Reminder- VersaFine is an oil based pigment ink.

The Versafine Black pigment ink is called Onyx Black and the brown is Sepia Brown. Hope this helps! :D Those are the one I saw at a local Michael's last week, so I'm guessing those are the only two colors of Versafine that they carry.

I've heard that if you're having a problem using classic ink, you should first ink your stamp in Versa Mark then in the classic. I haven't tried it yet, but it seems that it would work.