Starting Your Crafting Journey: A Joyful Guide to Cardmaking & Scrapbooking

TIPS TO MAKE A GOOD STAMP IMPRESSION

You don't need to buy everything at once. Begin with stamps which can be used in a variety of ways, adding more stamps, supplies and accessories as you discover your own areas of special interest.

You can start stamping with very few supplies. Simply make your selection from these basic product categories: Stamps, Inks, Paper (or other surface), and Plus (SIPP). More stamp images to mix and match multiplies the fun. The Plus category of Embossing Powders, Glitters Plus, punches, die cuts, etc. is optional, but offers an endless variety of project enhancements.

Tip #1: Make sure you have a good solid flat surface to stamp on. A couple of pieces of paper, some thin chip board or a magazine will give your stamping surface protection and padding for stamping your image. Card and craft tables tend to bow when pressure is applied to your stamp. This could cause problems stamping a good image on larger designs.

Tip #2: Press or tap the stamp firmly onto the stamp pad several times. Large stamps can be inked easily on the raised pads by moving them around over the surface. Some stampers prefer to lay the stamp face up on the table and apply the pad to the stamp. Either way is effective. Make sure the stamp is well inked by looking at its surface. If there are areas that appear "dry," you need to ink the stamp more thoroughly.

Tap lightly on the pad (tap, tap, tap) to ensure good ink coverage without inking the extra rubber or stamp mount.

Tip #3: Apply firm, even pressure to the stamp. Do not rock the stamp or slam it down. This will cause over stamping or blurring of the image.

Don’t rock the stamp – The best impressions will be achieved when you stamp straight down, hold the paper down, press firmly, and lift the stamp straight up. Rocking the stamp side to side can produce a blurred or double image.

Tip #4: For large stamps or designs with a lot of filled in areas, more pressure can be applied if you stamp standing up or by using a Stamparatus that helps you perfectly align stamp images, stamp multiples of the same project quickly and precisely, and get complete ink coverage.

Tip #5: Keep your stamps clean with either a Simply Shammy or a Stampin Scrub and Stampin' Mist cleaner - You'll get the best images from clean stamps. Some need to be cleaned before use to remove manufacturing residue. Particles of glitter, embossing powder, dust, etc. can ruin an image. Clean after use.

EXPERIMENT, GET TO KNOW YOUR STAMPS, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY - HAVE FUN!!!