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I love my SU stamps, but I have a question. On some of the ones with the bigger rubber surface area, like a solid square, or a circle or something (anything with A LOT of rubber, not just the lines), it seems that the ink from the pad (no matter how hard I push on the pad) kind of beads up on the rubber. It's almost like the rubber is "oily" or something. When I look in the SU cattys, it's always perfectly smooth and perfect looking. I know they can touch it up on a computer for the catty, but I'm sure that there must be something to do. Do I condition the rubber stamp? Do I use a certain paper? What's the trick?
THANKS in advance for your help... this is REALLY bugging me. I just bought All About U and I see it happening again with the U.
I have the same problem but just keep using them - they get better. It has something to do with the release reagent used to release them from the molds. A little is still left on the stamps. I have heard to try rubbing them on your jeans first, try using an eraser and gently "scuff" up the stamp, using an emery board to "scuff" up the surface, priming it with versamark (but can't remeber what they said to do with this). I have found it gets better with use. Just keep using them and cleaning them- the agent comes off pretty quickly. You could ink them up several times, and clean several times - using the scrubby pad and it should take it off. I've found a really moist ink pad works best as well...so if you have a reinker - try reinking a pad, let it sit for an hour or so and try the stamp again. It might pick up the ink a little better. I think the catty uses a lot of craft ink which is just thicker and sometimes you get a better image especially with those solid stamps. You might try the craft for those particular stamps.
Hi I've heard all the same stuff that amahanes said too. Although I'd be scared to try the emery board thing, the eraser should be quite safe, especially if you use one of those white ones. I have also taken the stamps to the sink and used an old toothbrush on them. just make sure that you let them dry really well before you close the plastic box. That said you will always get a better image on your solid image shapes if you use SU whisper white or very vanilla, cause the are Utrasmooth. When I first started stamping, I was frustrated, cause my stuff didn't turn out like the book, or even like the make'n'takes at the workshop. Then when I became a demo I got a pkg of the whisper white and wow things sure looked better. In fact I experimented with the same stamps, watercolor pencils, pastels,and markers and everything looked way different and better on the SU paper. before that I figured white was white and just used my scrapbook store white, but never again. I hope this helps.
This is a common issue, as it has to do with the manufacturing process. It's NORMAL.
Here's a quote from The Rubber Stamper magazine:
Quote:
The rubber portion of a stamp tends to get hard, especially if it isn't used frequently, causing a "splotch." The solution to the problem is probably right on your craft table: a good eraser. Take the offending stamp in the palm of your hand and give it a good scrub with a common, pink eraser. Brush off any eraser dust, ink the image, and stamp. No more "splotch." This process softens the hardened rubber and makes it more pliable. For more severe cases where erasers don't work, try fine grit sandpaper. I use the automotive sandpaper that I keep around for polymer clay, but any sandpaper from 120 grit and up works fine. The process is the same as with the eraser: scrub, remove dust, stamp.
Inking SU stamps... big question
