Help- Rubber Stamps Won't Stamp!

[Wild Cow]

I bought a "pound of rubber' on sale from Las Vegas Stamps. It came today and I can't get any of the stamps to work! I am using a stamp positioner. I tried dye inks, pigment inks and different types of paper/cardstock. I tried using foam under the paper, and no foam. I cleaned the stamps with baby wipes. I pressed down on the positioner lid as hard as I could- I even tried standing on it with all my weight! At most, all I get is a light gray shadow. Does anyone know of a trick?

Thank you
Linda

[iamvics]

One stamp at a time?

[Scrapjanny]

Which positioner are you using? If it's the Tim Holtz, you have to make sure that you have the lid positioned for "clear" stamps. Even then, you will need extra cushioning for VLV stamps, since they are probably bare rubber. Have you tried using an acrylic block?

I've never had any problems with their stamps, so maybe you could email or call them about it too. I've had the pleasure of shopping in their store in person, and they are really nice.

[Angelnorth]

It sounds like the positioner is stopping you getting contact between the stamp and the paper. Try testing a stamp using something other than the positioner (an acrylic block if you have one, improvise if you don’t!). I’m guessing it will stamp absolutely fine. If so, as Scrapjanny said, you’ll just need to figure out how much cushioning you need to raise the cardstock enough that it comes into proper contact with the stamp when you drop the lid of the positioner. I’ve used VLV stamps in my Misti without having to do anything different in the set up than I would do for clear stamps but bare rubber can be just a shade thinner so how your positioner is set up could make all the difference. Let us know how you get on!

[Wild Cow]

Thank you. It looked like the stamps were making contact but maybe there was a microscopic space between the paper and stamp I did not see.

I tried adding another foam sheet to the stamp positioner which helped (I use We R Memory Keeepers Precision Press. I like it better than my mini MISTI because it has two open sides so I can use any size paper). Then I remembered that I had a "mounting stamp" from Purple Onion. (It was in my Mini Misti which I hadn't used for a long time) This is working much better. And, I don't have to use any temp adhesive on the stamp.

I do have some nice acrylic blocks that I put "in a good place". Trouble is, I can't remember where that "good place" is- I've been searching!

Thank you again.
Linda

[wavejumper]

You can always just take the raw rubber stamp, press it on the ink pad with your fingers, and onto scrap paper. If it stamps you know it isnt the stamp.