Good image with background stamp?
 

How do you get a nice clean image with a large background stamp. I find mine uneven or missing some parts of the image so I have stopped using them. I love the look of the new canvasbackground stamp but don't want to invest in it if I am not going to use it because of frustration in not getting want I want.

I ink mine up pad-to-stamp, then put my cs down on the stamp, then press the whole piece with my fingers (put a piece of scrap paper if you don't want to get your fingers inky). This works for all my BGs, but sometimes the canvas doesn't come out perfectly. Sometimes you can see marks from the edges of the pad, and it's hard to get even coverage because the image is so dense. I personally don't mind this effect. But if I needed a perfect impression, I'd ink with a brayer (if I had one!).

I use my brayer. Perfect every time! :D

Background stamp
 

First I ink my stamp (rubber side up) with the pad. Then carefully turn over the stamp onto your cardstock. I find if I carefully place my stamp down on my cardstock then go over the entire stamp with the heel of my hand, nice even pressure, I get a great image every time. I have tried with the cardstock on top but I always end up moving the cardstock (even with the brayer).

I LOVE my background stamps, but it has taken some practice.

Good Luck.

Dana

Background stamps
 

I turn my stamp rubber side up, ink it and then put my cardstock on top of the stamp (if the cardstock doesn't cover the whole stamp then I put a piece of scrap paper over it) then I rub my bone folder across the background stamp.

Debra

Julia. I had the same issues with my background stamps and I was ready to give them up as well until I found out how to do it perfectly. Now I can't get enough of my background stamps!

Using a brayer, ink up the stamp. Leave the stamp rubber-side up and place your cardstock on top. Place scrap paper over both stamp and cardstock and rub the entire surface. Lift scrap paper and turn over stamp to release stamped cardstock.... Tada! Perfect image every time!

Re: Background stamp
 

Are you using the brayer to apply the pressure to the cardstock or are you using the brayer to ink up the stamp?
I use the brayer to ink up the stamp. Then apply pressure to the cardstock with my hand.

Background stamp
 

I use a peice of thin foam under the paper. Works great!!!
In HIm,
Shawna

I use the above method, but I can't believe no one has chimed in to explain butt stamping!

Carolyn

post subject
 

One of the first tips I got from my demo was about using background
stamps. And I found her advice to be true and effective. Here goes.
Lay the BG stamp rubber side up on the table. Pounce your inkpad
all over the stamp to lay down the ink. Then I go over it again a couple
more times with the inkpad to blend in any of the pad lines. Next, lay
card over the stamp, cover with larger piece of scratch paper. Rub over
it a few times all over with the heel of my hand. Voila! Perfect image!
Please don't give up on the wonderful bg stamps! Give it a few more
tries. You WILL master it!

Funny you should mention butt stamping, I'm a recent convert! I don't have a brayer yet so I ink my stamp rubber side up with my pad then turn it over and sit on it (did this on the coffee table). Luckily (?) my butt is plenty big to provide nice even coverage and plenty of pressure.

Try it, you'll like it!

Betsy

Re: Background stamp
 

I have tried the brayer to both ink the stamp and apply pressure to the cardstock. I have also tried to use my hand but the paper slips more times than not and my image gets blurred. I find that the stamp on top works for me (I have even mastered getting By Definition and French Script straight). When I demo this to customers I show them your way and mine. You never know which way will work best for them. I let them try both and tell them to practice it till they feel comfortable.

Dana

I just use the regular ink pads to ink, rubbing the whole stamp to make sure it is covered.
I prefer to have my paper on a table, and then stamp down on it as opposed to laying the paper on top of the stamp and rubbing it. I used to to get uneven images where some ink didn't get on the paper. I found that my table had too much "give". If you use a hard countertop or wood table that doesn't sink down when you're pressing hard, the image comes out just right.
I also used to have a hard time setting my eyelets, and found that, again, the table I use for stamping isn't a hard enough surface. Setting the eyelets on a really hard surface makes all the difference.

The easiest way to get a complete image is to put an old mouse pad on your work surface and cover it with a piece of regular copy paper, then put your CS on top. Ink up the stamp, and....well....stamp it. Press hard. I never have smudging.

Gotta love the Butt Stamping, though! LOL

I, too, am a huge fan of butt stamping! It's the only way I can get decent coverage with my Outlines series of stamps! All hail Lana for her ingenious technique. :lol:
Now it's the only method I use for all of my larger and background stamps.

Personally, I think the Canvas BK stamp looks better when the image doesn't cover all the space on the cardstock. Looks more vintage-ish or more worn...whichever look you are going for.

Thanks so much for all the great ideas.. I had never thought of using my brayer or my backside. We are expecting our 5th child and there so be NO question on whether it is big enough to use. :)

I advocate butt stamping, too! I even taught my 6 and 9 year old boys to do it, but we have to call it bottom stamping because they're not allowed to say butt! ;)

Heck, my butt can accomodate at 12x12 stamp if they ever made one that big.

background stamps
 

I also use an old mouse pad. I use a brayer to ink up the stamp and then put my cardstock on top of the mouse pad and stamp. Perfect image every time.

Kathy