This will make you CRINGE!

[tesoro72]

:eek: Hey gals,
I know there are many ways posted to help with the "first stamp image", but I have found a way that will not stain your new stamp! It will make you cringe, but try it! Take a look:

Click here ----> Designing Duos: New Stamp Tip: This is going to make you CRINGE!! (but it works!)

[katestamps716]

I always use a sanding block or pink eraser on my stamps first.

[Rachelrose]

Yes, definitely does help. I have done it. And Penny Black clear stamps are infamous for being difficult to ink until they get some wear on them, at least in my experience. They are not photopolymer, I think that's why.

[Beate]

I always use my sanding block and it works like a charm.

[Rachelrose]

I think I'm going to try it out on some of my better quality solid photopolymers, which remain challenging to ink evenly, despite their high quality.

Thanks Beate - your saying you do this makes me feel more confident to try it out on a larger scale.

[Minneapple]

Do you mean you rub your sanding block over cling and rubber stamps? Doesn't that scratch the stamp? Beate, can you explain more in detail what you do and why?

[nancystamps]

I use an ultrafine sanding pad on my stamp the first time I use it. It does not scratch, just makes the surface more able to take ink. It also takes off the "fuzzies" when your cardstock doesn't cut cleanly.

[smokiesgal]

Love this tip!

[lindsaymay]

I've been doing that for years, much better than an eraser;)

[Ambelleina]

Yep, I do this, too. I was told to use a white eraser on photopolymer, but it never worked. Someone here mentioned she used a sanding block on her photopolymers as well as rubber, so I tried it and now it's the first thing I do when I get new stamps, rubber or clear: sand, clean and stamp!

[graffiti]

I just use stamp cleaner on my new stamps before I ink them for the first time. I may have to ink them a few times and stamp on scrap before I get a good image. If your afraid to sand your stamps this also works great

[shellsq]

All I do is stamp with Versamark and stamp off. Then I stamp in whatever color I want.

[happy-stamper]

I sand all of my clear stamps with a sanding block before removing them from the plastic sheet they come on. They always seem to be reeeaally stuck on initially, so that makes the sanding easier, especially if some of them are small. I just sand the set like it's one giant stamp.

I've also sanded red rubber if it had a large solid area that just would not stamp completely for me.

[cr8iveme]

When I first started using acrylic stamps I did that all the time. Occasionally I still do. But, now I first try to see if putting a little foam sheet under my cardstock to stamp.

A lot of my friends still do the sandpaper trick on their acrylic stamps and have even taught others to do it as well. My friends are kind enough to let people know that I taught them the trick.

[xayide2]

I just use those foam nail files on some of my stamps if they do that. You don't have to rub very hard to get the clear stamps to turn "white".

[hoptownracer1]

Thank you so much for sharing this! I've got some stamps I thought were bad, and I think I tried the eraser on them, but didn't have any luck. Hope this will help!

[Margy]

I rub the new stamps on my arms. It works great!