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I have quite a few of the SU background stamps. The dot one in particular is causing me so much frustration. I can't get the middle of the stamp to work. The sides come out fine, but there are spots where even though there is enough ink, it doesn't stamp. Suggestions! Tia!
Are you stamping on a flat, hard surface? I find when I use my table that's on carpet, the center never comes out right... and I always stand up to use background stamps so I can get good, even, firm pressure.
I usually ink the stamp, then lay it on the table wood side down and put my paper on top and rub it gently. I think it is too hard to do it the conventional way, and it never looks right. Good luck!
I always stamp by inking up the rubber side and laying it upside down on the table (rubber side up/ wood side down) then I put the piece that I am trying to stamp on top of the rubber, cover with a piece of scrap paper, and rub over the whole surface.
I know that many other stampers do it this way too! This way, you get even inking onto the paper. If you apply the ink with a brayer, you will get even inking onto the rubber as well.
The only way I'm happy using my BG stamps is this:
Ink up stamp well (tap, tap, tap, tap over and over).
Lay the stamp ink side up on table.
Place your card on top of the BG stamp, face down on the ink.
Then put another piece of paper on top of the whole thing and smooth your hand over it all over and over (not hard enough to shift anything). That gets the entire stamp transferred for me.
If I just try to stamp it like a normall stamp, stamp to paper on table, I get alot of blank spots often.
I find that I get the best results with Backgrounds when I stamp them "upside down". Eg, Ink the stamp up, place it on your stamping surface rubber side up, place your card stock on top of the rubber, place a piece of scrap paerp over your cardstock and RUB, RUB, RUB. It may seem s bit strange at first, but you will get the entire image stamped this way. Hope this helps.
Thanks everyone! That was quick! I love that dot background and haven't got to use it because of the blank spots. I am excited to do it this new way this afternoon! Thanks again!
There are a few things that could be causing this, and a few simple solutions....
If you are stamping on a resin table, you might just have too much "give" to the surface of your table. My resin table is too spongy to stamp on without a more solid surface under my work area. I use a small cutting board that I got at the dollar store for a more firm surface. If you are already stamping on a solid wood table, then the problem could be the stamp itself.
Are you laying the background stamp flat on the table with the rubber side up? Try doing it that way. You ink the stamp and then lay the piece of paper on top of it, take a piece of scrap paper, lay that on top of it, then apply pressure with your hand. (I rub the paper to get an even pressure.)
If you are actually stamping the block down onto your paper, then I suggest taking the rubber off the wood and adding a few discs of paper (like the circle punches) to the center of the wood block and reattach the rubber. This will "lift" the center up a bit. I have to do this with a lot of my bigger images, not just my backgrounds.
To remove the rubber from the block, try putting it in the microwave rubber side up for 10-20 seconds. It should peel right up!
I have hand problems, so I have a small acrylic cutting board I place on the floor. I lay my cardstock on it, place my inked up BG on it and gently step on the woor or acrylic mount.
This had given me a very even and full coverage every time!
__________________ Karen
...My life is like a stroll on the beach...As near to the edge as I can go...Thoreau...
I have hand problems, so I have a small acrylic cutting board I place on the floor. I lay my cardstock on it, place my inked up BG on it and gently step on the woor or acrylic mount.
This had given me a very even and full coverage every time!
I agree with the above. Use the brayer to get the stamp evenly inked, then put rubber side up, add cardstock, scrap and smooth. I keep a half sheet of scrap paper right under my work surface so I can grab it quickly.
I've tried other methods, and I still swear by 'Lana's Butt Stamping' method! You ink up your background stamp really well.
Place your cardstock down on your sturdy table.
Carefully place your inked background stamp on your cardstock.
*now here comes the tricky part*
SIT on your stamp! Carefully, so as not to move the stamp.
It works for me very well and I get a complete image every time!
So frustrated
