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I went to Michaels today to see if I could find the clear stamps I heard were in the dollar bins. Well, I found them. I was so excited, bought 5 sets and 2 different size blocks, ran right home to play, but was quickly disappointed when the images do not come out clear. Does anyone have any tips? They are squishier than rubber, maybe I am pushing down too hard? It almost seems like the ink won't stick to the clear stamp ... as if it was oily or something.
Oh ooh, something else ... in the dollar bins were also these spiral journals (Mary Engelbright on the cover) and the spiral is the same spacing as our new spiral punch !! I bought one to play ... and will go get more for possible stamp camp projects.
Simmy
__________________ I'm realizing my dream of working with animals every day. I love being a Registered Veterinary Technician !!!
I was at 1 of the Micheals yesterday and they didn't have ANYTHING new in . . . they said they are still trying to clearance out things to make room for the new stuff. I will try the other one tomorrow . . . I so HOPE they have something new to play with and and and . . . is it tomorrow yet ? ? ? snort!
Simmy, here are a couple of things to try with your new Michaels $1 clear stamps . . . these are tips I've read here on splitcoast. Rub the stamping surface with a white eraser (some folks swear by rubbing them on their jeans instead . . . also try stamping with either a chalk, pigment or craft ink. I bought several sets. I used these tips, stamped with chalk ink & they stamped beautifully. Good luck!!
I bought some of these yesterday too. I had a bit of trouble getting a decent image as well. However, I did notice that even though it may LOOK like the stamp isn't accepting the ink very well, it still seems to look okay when you stamp. For the ones with the finer detail, you definitely need to use a lighter touch, otherwise it kind of gets all smooshed together. In fact, I found I got the best image with all of the stamps if I didn't press as hard as I do with my rubber stamps.
The clear is no comparison to SU's stamps, but the clear factor IS pretty cool, hey?
Yes, I love the whole clear thing, but I just don't like the way they stamp. Some of the images look better than others. A couple are just plain old BAD! You can't even tell what it says.
simmy
__________________ I'm realizing my dream of working with animals every day. I love being a Registered Veterinary Technician !!!
A little padding helps the acrylic stamps turn out just right. Look at your rubber stamps, they have padding already in them. Put a mousepad or something soft but not too squishy under your stamping area.
You also don't need to press as hard with an acrylic stamp, if you press too hard, the ink spreads out and you don't get a clear image. Practice on scratch paper, but all you really need to do is place the stamp down and rub the block above the image, remember you do not have to get through the layer of wood, foam and rubber to stamp your image with clear stamps. ;)
I used Stazon ink and got a great image and sentiment, and then I quickly cleaned it with a baby wipe. It cleaned perfectly without any staining! I do find than you don't need to use as much pressure with clear stamps as with rubber stamps. Good luck! I hope they work out for you!
Oh no I hope they dont give me problems... I just got home and bought a bunch of these they were only a dollar and you get like four or more images in the pack for a buck! I couldnt pass it up! Havent tried them yet.....
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OK FYI I have heard that StazOn solvent ink is not to be used with acrylic stamps as the chemicals in it breakdown the material. I could be wrong, but its worth checking into.
I believe a CTMH demo may know the answer as they sell acrylix
Thanks for the information Lauren! I read in the past that it wasn't so much the Stazon ink as it was the Stazon cleaner, but this is certainly worth researching some more. These are the first clear stamps that I've ever used Stazon on and had it all come off with a baby wipe, so I was thrilled! I typically try to use Chalk Inks with my clear stamps (mind you, I only own three other sets...lol), but depending on the stamp, I have had a difficult time getting some stamps to clean well with a baby wipe and had to use my Stewart's Superior Ultra Clean (which states that it can be used for clear stamps). It always something...ugh!
You can use staz-on ink w/ clear stamps. The cleaner will cloud up the stamps and your blocks, so don't use staz-on cleaner with them. :-)
White eraser works wonders on your acrylic stamps. You can do this with your new rubber ones too - it removes a residue that is left on the stamp during processing. The residue resists ink.
Vicki
__________________ Vicki Nelson
That's my little 4 month old cutie, Ryne.
Remember no time is ever wasted that makes people better friends...so we aren't all wasting our time here on SCS. :-)
Gallery at Splitcoaststampers
These are the clear stamps from Mike's. I hope I bought all of them. I have not tried using them yet - crossing my fingers that I don't have any trouble...
I called and asked them to put them on hold and was there in 15 minutes to pick them up. The Michael's lady said they just came in yesterday and I got the last of them. I got all 16. They work just great....just use less pressure.
You can use staz-on ink w/ clear stamps. The cleaner will cloud up the stamps and your blocks, so don't use staz-on cleaner with them. :-)
White eraser works wonders on your acrylic stamps. You can do this with your new rubber ones too - it removes a residue that is left on the stamp during processing. The residue resists ink.
Vicki
Oh thanks! That is good to know! I've heard about the eraser too, but forgot about that. Thanks for refreshing my memory.
Gallery at Splitcoaststampers
These are the clear stamps from Mike's. I hope I bought all of them. I have not tried using them yet - crossing my fingers that I don't have any trouble...
Wow! You hit the jackpot! And from the looks of things, I'm missing one of the clear stamp sets...I only bought 15! I'll have to be on the lookout! Thanks so much for sharing with us!
I checked both of my Michael's in Beaverton, OR and NO clear stamps yet. I asked about them and the checkout girl looked at me like I had 10 heads! They still have Halloween, Christmas and Valentine stamps, who knows when we will get them in! Some look very cute -I will keep my eyes out.
Oh poo I hate to say I dont like them and am taking them back tomorrow....The image doesnt stamp clear enough to suit me...and it is softer than rubber....they had some cute ones too...but guess thats why they were only a dollar....
hi, i found some of the clear packs in NJ michaels last night (Rockaway). I wanted to see what they are all about, they are really cute stamps, and i realize, that YES, you dont have to press as hard. I did it both ways, when pressed really hard, it smudged the image together. then with a light press, viola!! the image was much more clear. I have to try with craft ink tho, someone mentioned that, i bet if embossed it would look pretty cool. good luck everyone.
ours didn't have the clear that I could find but the spring stamps are in. No easter stamps.
__________________ WHAT IS A STAMPPIN ADDICT!
It's someone who buys stamps they didn't normally like at first,only to see it in Split Coast Stampers gallery in a different perspective.
I have bought some C Dee's stamp sets made by Sugarloaf Products, They are thin rubber and unmounted. They put a soft pad in each set that I use to stamp on. I lay the paper on the pad and stamp with clear or rubber that has no foam and this works great. I just wish I could buy some clear cases like they have without anything in them! Anyway, I am going to check out my Michael's this week. When I asked a couple of weeks ago, the girl looked at me as if I was crazy! Everything is old by the time the M here gets it in!
Today I was at Michael's again. 3rd time this week already , They now have the clear stamps. IN MA. I stmaped with them and I found they look good. I didn't have any problems stamping with them using the SU classic ink pads. I didn't do anything o the stamp. eraser or anything like that to get a clear crisp image.
__________________ WHAT IS A STAMPPIN ADDICT!
It's someone who buys stamps they didn't normally like at first,only to see it in Split Coast Stampers gallery in a different perspective.
Of course, I had to drive 45 minutes to get them, but oh well! I haven't stamped with them yet, but am trying to get DB (Dear Boyfriend) to go out with the boys tonight so I can play! I have decided to make a catalog of all the word stamps I have, since I have so many and yet keep going to the same ones all the time. I'll let you know how it turns out!
My Michael's (Enfield, CT) had them and they were almost gone already! I bought the blocks and 5 of the stamp sets. I'm not sure I'll be thrilled with the clear stamps but they were too cute to resist.
Clear $1 stamps at Michaels
