Splitcoaststampers.com - the world's #1 papercrafting community
You're currently viewing Splitcoaststampers as a GUEST. We pride ourselves on being great hosts, but guests have limited access to some of our incredible artwork, our lively forums and other super cool features of the site! You can join our incredible papercrafting community at NO COST. So what are you waiting for?
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).
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 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.
__________________ Lynn
"Sir, my concern is not whether God is on our side; my greatest concern is to be on God's side, for God is always right�--Lincoln
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!!
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.
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!
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.
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?
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.
Hope this helps, and I hope Sharon doesn't mind my referring to her!!
Sandra:-D
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.
__________________ Lynn
"Sir, my concern is not whether God is on our side; my greatest concern is to be on God's side, for God is always right�--Lincoln
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?)
__________________ Lynn
"Sir, my concern is not whether God is on our side; my greatest concern is to be on God's side, for God is always right�--Lincoln
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?
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
__________________ Lynn
"Sir, my concern is not whether God is on our side; my greatest concern is to be on God's side, for God is always right�--Lincoln
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?)
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 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.
Getting a good image with Solid Stamps.
