How do I stamp?
It might seem like a basic question but actually even experienced Stampin' Up! addicts need to be reminded of the basics sometimes. So, how do you stamp?
Choose your stamp
If you have multiple stamps, then how you prepare the to stamp will depend upon what type of stamp you have. Are you using wood mount or clear mount which are both your 'class rubber' stamps, or are you using photopolymer?
On the left above we have wood mount rubber stamps, in the middle we have clear mount rubber stamps, and on the end we have photopolymer. If you have a wood mount stamp you are ready to go.
If you have a clear mount stamp or a photopolymer stamp then you need to mount them on a clear block. If your stamps are clean (front and back) then this should be as simple as pressing it onto the clear block. If the stamp is not clean then you should clean it, and the bit of moisture that is left after cleaning it will help it to stick to the clear block.
If you have a photopolymer stamp then you also need to have a piece of rubber underneath your card stock, like the Stampin' Pierce Mat. Because photopolymer stamps are designed to be see through there is no rubber between the the stamp and the block like there is with clear mount stamps or wood mount stamps. The rubber is there so that there is a little bit of give or bounce, this ensures an even image.
If you want to know what a Stampin' Pierce Mat is, follow this link.
Ink your stamp
Regardless of which type of stamp you have, you need to ink your stamp.
Remember when inking your stamp that you don't need to press hard. If you press hard on a new ink pad then you end up with extra ink in the fine details of your stamp, and ink around the edges which might come off on your page.
When you are pressing down on your ink pad, and when you are pressing down on paper later, remember you are not squashing a bug.
If you press hard on an older dryer ink pad you don't necessarily get more ink, what you need to do with an older stamp pad is tap it on the ink pad multiple times.
The image on the left is what happens if you either press too hard, or rock the stamp while it is on the ink pad. There is ink on the edge of the clear block that might get onto your project, and there is probably too much ink on the image for a clean stamp. The image on the right is where I tapped the stamp lightly a couple of times on the ink pad.
Stamp it on your card stock
As previously mentioned when you press the stamp onto your card stock it is important to remember that you are not squashing a bug, you are stamping an image.
Do not press hard on your stamp and do not rock your stamp. Both of these might result in ink from the edge of your stamp getting onto your card stock.
Remember, ink is meant to come off, it is meant to colour things, that is its job. You don't need to press hard to make it do that. If you have done a bit of stamping then you know how easily you can get ink all over your fingers and clothes, ink stains things, that is its job, don't press hard.
If you get unwanted ink on your card stock then have a look at this blog that tells you how to avoid it, and if it happens want to do about it.
Here is a video of me putting my clear mount stamp onto a clear block, inking my stamp and then stamping the image onto the card stock. It isn't great quality, but it should give you an idea of how to stamp the image onto your card stock.
