Stamping Surfaces

[tiamo64]

Hi -
I am very new to stamping and have a question stamping surfaces. What type of surface do you stamp on? I'm using my dining room table that has a table cloth covering it and also a pad protector. I've also tried stamping on a doodle pad. The images are not coming out crisp. I'm getting shaded areas. Please help. Thanks!!

[padawala]

I also have a table pad but I find it does not give me nice images. I either stamp at my kitchen counter. It has a formica top. If I stamp at my dining room table I have a stamping mat. It's made of thick yellow foam. I bought it at Michael's a while back. It's made by Rubber Stampede. Hope this helps!

[tiamo64]

Thanks for the information on the stamping pad!!

[Edie32]

I stamp at the kitchen table (butcher block).
I don't have a pad down but I always have a large cutting mat down.

I learned the hard way not to emboss right ON that - the cutting mat got a little warped on one edge - but it's a big protector for the table.
In the past I've used a large 12x12 floor tile for embossing things that I can't hold - tumbled tiles/magnets. That works out well.

[mamakimberly]

If you have a large wooden cutting board, you can just put it down on your table before you stamp

Emily and I use this at her house because her folding tables aren't strong enough when doing background stamps

[dbeltt]

I use a clipboard that has a few pieces of scratch paper on it. It's a harder surface and you can test your stamps on it.

[tiamo64]

Thanks for the helpful hints!!

[jenny4wheel]

I've got an old hard cover picture book I put under scrap paper and stamp on that.

[Superfan]

I stamp on a cutting mat, which seems to work - the larger the better.

As well, for setting eyelets, I've been using an extra piece of hardwood flooring(extra from the dining room) - it seems to work much better, and I'm not worried about damaging my cutting mat.