Howdy folks! I just wanted to pop in and share some beginner stamping tips with you today using this quick tag as an example. The cool camouflage ribbon I am using is from Papermart.
One of the biggest mistakes new stampers make is not leaving the rubber on the paper long enough and not using the right ink or paper. Here are some easy tips to improve your stamping now:
- Choose silky smooth paper for stamping. You can visit a print shop and buy a few sheets of the different kinds they have, it is a great way to try out paper inexpensively and they can order you a ream of paper at a lower cost that the office supply store! Notice how crisp and clean the orange stamped image looks on the white paper. That is my favorite cardstock: Neenah 80# super smooth in Solar White, it also is great for alcohol ink markers!
- Choose the right ink: notice the difference in sharpness between the orange stamped image and the brown wood-grain on the manila tag. I used Stampin Up Dye base ink on the white panel (a stamping ink) and distress ink on the tag (a specialty ink made to give a distressed look). Also, white manila tags are fun to stamp, and stamp pretty well, they are not quite as good as a super smooth stamping paper. It is totally fine to stamp on anything, but you should try out different stuff so you can learn to get the effect you want!
- Don’t rush it! I know it is exciting to stamp and you wan to see the image ASAP (step away from the stamp ma’am) but you need to give the ink time to transfer. First ink up the stamp well, tilt it to the light to make sure the entire surface is shiny, you might even want to breathe on the stamp to moisten the ink a bit more. Gently but firmly press the stamp to the paper and hold it in place for a few seconds (roughly the amount of time it takes you to sing the song “happy birthday” then lift the stamp straight up. Viola a great image!
I hope these tips helped some of the newbies out there! I also recommend curved stamp mounts like Rock-a-blocks and the Mega mount because they make even the most finicky detailed stamps stamp well. I have a tutorial on using those here. Thanks for stopping by and til next time happy crafting!
Thanks for the tutorial on the Rock a Blocks. I have them but didn’t read the directions either. Now I don’t have to mount a gazillion butterflies which saves money in mounting material also. The stamping hints were great also even for an experienced stamper.
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I’m not a newbie, but found your hints helpful. Finally have an idea what the problems could be. Thanks. First time commenting, so taking the opportunity to say “I love your blog”!
I look forward to it every day. Thanks for the information and the humor. Dorothy
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Hello Dorothy! thanks for popping in and saying “hi!”, glad to help:)
Lindsay
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great tips!!
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although I’ve been a stamper for years…i’m one of thoses impatient kinda stampers. great tips and I’ll have to see how it works for me….
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I would like to know where you got your #300 water color paper-+. I get weird looks when I ask for it. Thanks Nanette
Original Message —– From: Thefrugalcrafters Weblog To: quiltbee@bellsouth.net Sent: Tuesday, February 05, 2013 9:08 AM Subject: [New post] A Stamping Tip for Beginners (or anyone frustrated by splotchy stamping!}
thefrugalcrafter posted: “Howdy folks! I just wanted to pop in and share some beginner stamping tips with you today using this quick tag as an example. The cool camouflage ribbon I am using is from Papermart. One of the biggest mistakes new stampers make is not leaving the “
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If you live in the US I recommend ordering it online from Blick art materials, cheap joes art stuff or Art Supple warehouse, they all have great prices and good customer service…i think the blick website is a bit easier to order from and they have free shipping deals sometimes, you might need to buy a couple of sheets though. If you have a local art supply store you should be able to get it by the sheet. Look for hot press. I have to say that for stamping #140 lb paper is more than thick enough to paint on at that size, the 300# is usually reserved for large paintings and is quite a bit more expensive:)
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I had some paper that I bought from Stampin Up, plain white paper that their site said was perfect for stamping. But no matter what ink I use it NEVER dries (I have stamped then waited over-night and it still wasn’t dry). Any ideas as to what is going on here? I live in Germany and so don’t have access to a lot of the products from Color Box, Martha Stewart, Versa Color, and Memento. I have an entire pad of paper now that I can barely use. Ugh.
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Need to clarify my earlier statment – the ink that I have tried to use is from Color Box, MS, Versa Color and Memento. That’s what happens when you think but don’t actually type what you think. What?
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Hi Jeanette,
Stampin Up cardstock (I assume is is the regular smooth white and not glossy?) is formulated for dye based ink so your memento pads should work great on it. It is also designed for watercoloring and waterbased markers so use those types of materials to color on them. If the other inks do not dry you can sprinkle it with a bit of clear embossing powder and heat set. If you do not have that you can zap the paper with a hair dryer or perhaps iron it between typing paper. Let me know if that works, I bet we can figure out what is wrong, I occasionally use stampin up paper with all kinds of inks and have only had trouble usign alcohol ink markers on it:)
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Thanks for the info I am a beginner and everything seems overwhelming – what kind of paper, what kind of ink. I’d love more tutorials of the beginner type on inks also. I know I have lots of practice times ahead. Do you buy different colors of ink of certain kinds or how do you choose your ink for your project?
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Hi Pam, Ink pads are one of the biggest investments you can make as a stamper. I have different inks I use for different types of stamping. I have 3 black ink pads is use several times a week, it is important to invest in a good black because you will use it a lot. The 3 pads I use the most are: Stampin’ Up Basic Black dye based waterproof ink for watercoloring, Memento Tuxedo Black (dye based)for use with Copic and other alcohol ink markers and Verafine Onyx black beautifully detailed stamping that I might want to emboss or stamping on fabric. I was lucky to buy a full set of stampin up inks when a demonstrator I knew wanted to get rid of her stuff, I grab those first but I would not have been able to afford them at full price. Truly a waterproof black ink pad and a cheap set of watercolor pencils will allow you to make lovely cards and you can build from there. I will recommend the memento dew drop pads, you can get 4 packs of coordinating colors at Joann for $10 but they often go on sale 40% off so you can build a collection of colors for little cost and the ink is great, I bought all of the colors when they were 5o% off last spring and I keep them in my crop bad, they can be colored over with solvent markers too adding to the value. As for pigment inks (they are opaque and slower drying) you can get Colorbox petal point option pads that feature 8 inkpads for about $17 but they too go on sale all the time for around $11. Keep a shopping wish list and keep an eye out for sales because you can find bargains and build a collection you will use. And if you have any questions or need advise leave a comment and I am happy to help:)
Happy stamping!
Lindsay
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A refresher is always a good idea for all of us! Thanks for the tips.
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I wind up reading The Frugal Crafter in odd moments when I don’t always have time to take notes (now I’ve started with an excuse, my request question follows). In one of the reply sections, a reader volunteered that one type of Neenah cardstock paper (smooth) bled less than another type of Neenah cardstock paper (super smooth?), and then she said she loves a particular cardstock which is white but with subtle little sparkles or glimmers in it. Can anyone remember which date this was, or what these two cardstocks’ names were?
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she said she likes smooth, not super smooth and the sparkle card was cryogen white;)
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