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I am using Celebrate Today SU set, trying to stamp the BALLOON and it is solid, flat and I can not get the ink to cover..I've tried many colors, they all stamp blotchy..There must be a trick to using a very flat solid stamp and I don't seem to have it.. I've seen them stamped but mine is awful looking.. Please, tell me what I'm not doing and how to get it to stamp SOLID ..Thanks so much Gals
__________________ Grammy of 3 beautiful girls.I love my new hobby of rubber stamping.I've not found one stamp that I don't 'need'
My problem is with reverse silhouette stamps...you know, the ones where you're stamping the background solid.
My solution has been the MISTI. It allows you to ink up and stamp the image again exactly on top of the previous time you stamped it.
I've also heard that some inks work better: pigment inks or chalk inks, for example. And that a good cushion under your paper makes for better images. I have a Darice stamping mat that is 11x17 or thereabouts, is 1/2 inch thick and costs less than $5. I got it at Joanns.
Personally, I like the look of the blotchy image. But, if you're cheap like me, you could color in the balloons with a marker or paint without paying $99 for the MISTI.
__________________ Debbie "Make it work, people." - Tim Gunn My Gallery
Sometimes I find it helpful to have a foam mat (piece of fun foam, thing from SU, old mousepad, etc.) underneath while I am stamping, even though that's mostly supposed to only be necessary when you use clear stamps with no foam cushion.
Something you could try is to clean that stamp well, then go over it with a white eraser (like priming clear stamps). I sometimes feel like my rubber stamps have a residue on them, too.
But mostly I think it's just physics, and I think that most solid stamps do not mix with most dye based inks. Pigment inks are "stickier" and will give you a more solid image, but I hate pigment/chalk inks (they never dry as far as I'm concerned). I've had some good luck with the Versafine inks, which I bought in the cubes to save money. But those aren't perfect, either, and there aren't any pastel colors.
Mostly, I just decided to stop having that fight with my stamps, and acknowledged that my stamped image is never going to be as perfectly filled in as the printed index image.
I sand the heck out of all of my rubber stamps (especially the solid ones) that stamp splotchy. I used to sand them lightly, gently, and then just a tiny bit more if that wasn't enough, and then a little bit more, etc...but now I have lost all patience for these types of stamps and just sand vigourously the first time. That always solves the problem for me.
Having a piercing mat (or other cushiony pad under the paper) works really well. I had the same problem with this stamp set, and found the piercing mat made a world of difference!
You will have better luck with a pigment or chalk ink than with dye inks. I use Versafine Onyx for all of my stamped images and it works well and dries pretty quickly for a pigment ink.
Use a mat of some sort underneath when stamping.
When you apply the ink, put the stamp face up and apply the ink to the stamp that way, so you can see if you are getting even coverage.
Press VERY firmly and evenly when you stamp the image. Don't stamp too quickly. Leave the stamp on the paper for a bit, so the ink has a chance to absorb to the paper and transfer the ink.
Be prepared to do it over if it doesn't work the first time.
PS If you can afford it - get a MISTI. I've heard it solves this problem!
__________________ Bugga in OK
"Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible." Dalai Lama
Yes, pigment inks work best for me when I'm using a solid image. I also put a cushion underneath if it's unmounted. If you want or have to use dye ink, try inking the stamp up with VersaMark first, and then your regular ink. That helps the ink to stick to the stamp better.
Something you could try is to clean that stamp well, then go over it with a white eraser (like priming clear stamps). I sometimes feel like my rubber stamps have a residue on them, too.
I had the same issue with this stamp set the first time I used it & was going to suggest this trick as well.
Lightly sanding should work well too. There is a residue left from the manufacturing process and it's worse on the solid images if you don't prime them first.
My last blog posting uses the Celebrate Today set inked with SU! newer foam pads and stamped on Whisper White cardstock. As you can see, nice solid images.
If after trying these tricks you still cannot get a clear, solid image you could possibly have a defective stamp. If that is the case you would need to contact your demo or SU! to have it replaced.
__________________ My Blog Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things. ~Robert Brault
My favorite trick has always been a light mist of water on the stamp after inking (dye ink or Versamagic chalk ink) - that seems to help the ink lift and soak into the paper, and gives a more even impression.
I have been using the foam separater from inside the SU clear blocks storage case as a mat under my paper when I stamp with clear stamps. It works great!!
Be sure your ink pad is inked well. Sometimes it helps to turn your stamp over, rubber side up, and press the pad to the stamp until you can see that the stamp is well covered. Finally press the stamp to the paper firmly and hold it for a bit until the ink can sink in properly. Also, good paper can make a big difference, as has been mentioned. Now if you are using polymer stamps, I can't suggest a thing. I am a rubber stamp only gal.
Sometimes what works for me is to take a blender pen and go over the part that didn't get stamped. Sometimes it doesn't work but sometimes it does! Also, I try to fill in the part that didn't stamp with a marker... Hit or miss.
Man, I thought, "When did the MISTI get so expensive? $99.00?"
But no, you can still get it directly from the source for $50.00.
__________________ Linda E
Caution: You are entering an artistic zone. This is not clutter - this is creating. These are not pajamas - it's my work uniform.
Man, I thought, "When did the MISTI get so expensive? $99.00?"
But no, you can still get it directly from the source for $50.00.
And it's the best $50 I ever spent on anything for stamping. It eliminates frustration from blotchy or incomplete images. You can restamp easily with perfect alignment every time regardless of what type of ink you use. It also makes stamping on die cuts foolproof. I love mine so much that it's ridiculous. Hands down, it's my favorite tool ever.
No really I just try to use a very flat surface and put even pressure on it. This works most of the time. But if the Stamp itself is made uneven doing what I do isn't going to work no matter what.
a lot of stamps; I turn the stamp over with the rubber to the top; then apply cardstock
and rub cardstock onto ink to get a better coverage. usually when just applying the first stamp with maybe the most coverage on cardstock
__________________ Carolyn
my avatar: (such desparation), Dear God, if you can't make me thin; make my
friends fat"
Stamping with a solid FLAT stamp
