Getting a good image with Solid Stamps.
 

Hi guys, I'm reasonably new to this stamping caper and I need some help.

I've got a few solid Stampin' Up sets (Birthday Whimsy, Good Things Grow etc) and I'm struggling getting enough Ink on the stamp to give it a really crisp image. Whenever I dab the pad onto the stamp (or vice versa) I still end up with a small amount of "blotchiness" on the stamped image. (I'm using the SU! Classic Pads).

Index Card of Good Things Grow - all the images appear to be lovely and smooth.
Index Card of Birthday Whimsy - mine tend to look like the present

Is there a trick to getting a solid even coverage of ink onto solid stamps?

Thanks in advance,
Nikki

Nikki--

This may be more of an issue with the surface under your paper than the amount of ink on your stamp. I've found that with solid stamps, it really helps to have some sort of padded surface under your paper rather than just a tabletop. I have a cushy pad made for this purpose, but I've heard other people use mouse pads or even a thick magazine. Try it and see if it makes a difference, and good luck!

I have found that good cardstock makes a difference. Also, let the stamp sit on the cardstock for a few seconds before you pick it up.

I have the same problem, and I have a pad under my paper (a foamie sheet)...the only thing that helped me was to rub an eraser over the stamp first, and then also to let the stamp sit for a few seconds on the paper like Jana said. Even then, I sometimes have trouble, arrgh. I actually was going to post about this myself...I'll have to find some examples later.

on solid stamps, i find the Embossing (Pigment or Craft) ink pads work best. with dye ink i get a lot of blotchiness
-laura s

Thanks for all the tips! I'll give them all a bit of a try, and see what we come up with. I love all these stamps, so hopefully I'll work out a way to make them work!! :D

I have always had the same problem. I have had best imprints using pigment ink and rubber mat under my paper. I have also used this technique. Crinkle some paper and then lay it flat and then stamp off on it, then stamp on your cardstock. The image will show the crinkle marks which in turn will cover up any missing ink. I love the way it looks.

I make sure the stamp is inked up really good -- sometimes I'll clean it right before I ink it. When I stamp it, I'll hold it on the paper and slowly count to 5 so the paper can absorb the ink.

Great tips! I hope to improve my stamping abilities!

I don't have all the craft inks but I have a Versamark so I stamp Versamark first then use the SU! Classic pads. It made a huge difference. I was never using solid stamps before. Now I do!

tutorial
 

Sharon Johnson, a fabulous/super/wonderfully talented stamper (blog: No Time to Stamp) wrote a tutorial on how to condition solid image stamps. It is actually about Just Rite Stamps; but works on all solid image stamps.


http:////www.splitcoaststampers.com/...ustritestamps/

Hope this helps, and I hope Sharon doesn't mind my referring to her!!

Sandra:-D

Addicted to Stamping, do you mean you put versamark on the stamp and
then ink the stamp, or do you versamark, stamp on other paper, then ink the stamp and make the final stamp that you want?

That's a great tutorial, but anyone have any idea what to use if you don't have those specific products? I have sanding blocks etc. but they aren't SU, so the instruction to use side #1 on your file, etc. don't apply.

never mind, duuuuh...up at the top it shows that they are generic products! :rolleyes: I still didn't have the file with the numbered sides, but I just basically used my Making Memories sanding block, which has 4 sides of different "grit" and it made a HUUUUGE difference! Thanks soooo much for that link!!! (but, is it just me, or shouldn't we expect a quality stamp to give a good image without fussing with it?)

I also did this, and it did help (Versamark first and then ink again with dye ink, BEFORE stamping)...not as much as the filing, but my stamps were really bad

That's so funny. I am the same way; when I read instructions or take a class, I always feel like I have to have the EXACT same stuff, or it won't work. It's nice to see someone else is just as "goofy". LOL!!!

I rub the stamp completely across the Classic pad, then tap a few times. This gives me a pretty solid image. I will have to try leaving it on the paper a few extra seconds too.

I treat my solid image stamps with StazOn cleaner before I use them the first time. This makes all the difference.

I tried this, and it did not help on my horrible stamps...

PS you're making me thirsty!!! are you from the south, by any chance?! I grew up in MS

I get a really good stamp impression with solid stamps by using "chalk ink" pads.

I put my stamp rubber side up, and press the ink pad down onto the stamp. I think because of the way the pads are designed so they slide into themselves they have a little bit of "give" in the center, so when you press from the backside you're really getting the ink to make good contact.