On Tuesdays it is our time to chat…to learn, to grow and to hear from others what works and what doesn’t! Today, let’s chat about your ink pads. On Sunday, I watched many different stampers “ink” up their stamps.
Some gave the acrylic block the death grip…
Some kept pounding and pressing….
Some just tapped – tapped – tap!
What do YOU do?
Well ~ here is the truth. When I first started stampin’ I was terrible, just terrible as I was the classic “wobbler” and I was always so frustrated with the end result. Has that happened to you?
The best tip that I can give to you that seems to work for me is that if possible, I place my stamps on the diagonal. I am not sure why but it seems to be easier for me to stamp…and….I tap-tap-tap…and then stamp.
If it is a photopolymer, I am super happy as it is so easy to “see through” but if not, I do like the stamp-a-ma-jig because let’s face it, there are times that you do not get a clean stamp…and there are times that you want a deeper, richer look so double stampin’ is something that many of us do.
I think one KEY factor is the amount of ink on your ink pads. I have found that when I received the new In Colors this year…they were juicy…really, really juicy. I had to “take off” some of the ink and this is how I do it.
The best way I find is to just take a piece of computer paper or if you want to splurge, take a piece of white card stock and place it over the ink pad and press down to let it absorb. I would not recommend using a paper towel as the fibers of the paper towel cling to the ink pad! 🙁
I would… and I feel certain that (we would) love to hear how you stamp…..how do you hold your acrylic block???….how do you mount your stamps???….do you like the ink pads juicy or would you rather have it on the “drier side” ???
This will be fun to hear what you all do!!! I hope to see you tomorrow….WASHI WEDNESDAY!!!! I know that we all “buy it” because it is so darn tootin’ cute and we vow to ourselves, I WILL USE IT…and then it sits….sounds familiar????
I think that I will make you smile! 🙂
Thank you for the tips, Susan. I’ve been frustrated with some of the new ink pads because they created “bubbles” on my stamps, especially solid stamps. I never thought of the ink pads as “too juicy” and to remove some of the ink- but it makes perfect sense! Thank you so much!!!!
Have a wonderful week!
Great tip! I agree with Nancy about the bubbles on stamps from using an overly wet pad. Just yesterday I had that issue. Fortunately when the image appeared I could fix the uneven coverage with a matching pen that saved my project. If you can it’s always best to purchase ink, pens and refills together.
Totally agree with the bubbles issue. I do use the computer paper if that happens…sometimes it needs to be done twice. I look at my inked stamp to make sure it has proper coverage and if it seems “off” I will then stamp it on scrap to see what was wrong. I love the stamp-a-ma-jig….it is easy once you get the hang of it. I also have the misti (mini) which is a great product as well. Love these Tuesday tips!
Mary Ann, I use a mini Misti too and get great results!!
what’s a misti mini?
To “de-juice” my juicy pads, I use the back side of a plastic spoon and gently pull the ink to the outer edges. Some remains on the back of the spoon and I just wash in the sink, dry the spoon and put it back in the top of my ink caddy. I also always use the “I” acrylic block to stamp sentiments, no matter how small, because it gives me good control to have a larger block. If the stamp is mounted on the “I” block correctly, I can line up the outer edges with my grid paper lines and get a nice straight sentiment every time.
Suzanne……brilliant using the larger block!!!! Thanks!!!!!
Great tip for the juicy ink pads…..so frustrating to have bubbles and also ink on the outlining edge of a stamp. I have had that problem more than bubbles actually and even with what I consider a light touch it can happen. So…..I will be trying the copy paper trick which is news to me and makes perfect sense!!!! Reading about it gave me that “Duh” moment!!!!! Hahaha…..thanks Susan!!!!
I have noticed the bubbles and have used the push the extra ink to the side of the pad method works for me. Silly me feels like I am wasting ink if I soak it up onto a piece of paper. I know that is crazy and will have to try it.
I usually keep my ink pads on the dryer side. I like polymer stamps. I can see the ink coverage on them and manipulate the placement better. I have learned to stamp first on a scrap. That helps me a lot. I also have a misti mini and use it a lot so I can double or sometimes even triple stamp. I find that when I have good ink coverage a tap gives me the best image. With all that said, I do like wood block stamps and how easy they clean. Guess you could say I just like stamps!
My solution ….MISTI and Stamping Spots ! I very seldom use a regular size ink pad anymore .Of course I use one for large background stamps and the ink swatch stamps .
Yay we`re gonna have a Washi Wednesday !!
Juicy requires the tap-tap-tap method for me. I liked tap dance and ballet lessons when I was a kiddo but hated the acrobat part. I think the acrobat part has carried over as when I stamp at the local demo’s house I am down too low and then my stamping is not straight and sometimes I rock the block. There is generally not room to stand up and stick your booty out and stamp which I like to do. I have been trying to stamp on a scrap first too. Oh, I agree don’t use a paper towel as I had a bigger mess with the fibers. I will try the spoon as I hate to waste the ink! But, it is funny or ironic that I, too like Sonny, like the little stamping spots more as lately I have been tapping on the ink to the stamp. I think I do hold the block a bit too tight but I have dropped it a few times and messed up some really good cards. I have pretty small hands and have trouble holding the bigger blocks. But, my real problem is getting things straight – either the paper onto the card or the stamp straight. Maybe I need to try using grid paper or something like that. But I still would rather have a juicy pad than one needing reinked as you can always stamp off easier than stamping the image a couple of times if you don’t have the proper tools.
Susan, I don’t think you’ll like this tip because I know you like to keep your acrylic blocks really clean. But I have no patience for stamps that fall off the block so I just use a little snail on the stamp to adhere it to the block. My blocks are ugly but the stamps stay on.
With larger stamps I always Bring the pad to the stamp rather than the stamp to the pad. Check stamp for even coverage and wipe away any ink that might get on the edge of the stamp and make a dreaded “ghost”. Also, use just the right amount of pressure – too much can blur the image. This comes with experience. “Straight down, straight up”
True confession–I never liked the older SU ink pads even though I loved how everything is matchy matchy (ink, markers, paper, dp, etc) so I never got any. I am way impressed with the newer pads but I do only have one (mint macaron) since I have other ink. I used to be a Marvy ink girl until polymer stamps became a thing. Marvy does not work with those–blobby, bubbly, or streaky. Now I have mostly Memento… someday I may have more SU ink. It could happen. My heart and home is open to it. My wallet… well, I need someone else’s wallet for that. 🙂
Like a couple of other people, I push the extra ink to the side of the pad. I hate to waste that ink! Did that last night with Mint Macaron that I just opened. It made a big difference in the image.
If I was going to take ink of onto paper, I would probably do it onto a piece of whisper white so I could use the inked paper itself.
I have washi tape I have never used, too! I see some projects using washi that I like, but don’t remember to try them. I also see a lot of washi projects that are just not my style. Those are the reason it took me a long time to even get washi tape. I need to try using some soon (after swaps are done).
I totally understand you Princess Judy. I have only a few SU ink pads and would love to have more of the new type. But since my old pads from various companies still work (albeit not as well) I am committed to using them. I did not like the old SU pads because I never got good coverage because they sunk in the middle. The new ones are super, but a gal can’t have everytihng, right?
The newer SU ink pads do get too juicy. I’ve discovered that you can sponge some of the ink off after inking up a stamp and get a nice even coverage even on flat photopolymer stamps. You do have to make sure you don’t get a halo around the image, though.
I must agree with Sharon on stamping straight up and straight down. When the new pads came out that was the hardest thing for me to remember. They are juicier then the old pads, but I also find myself reinking the black and smokey gray more often as one I use for a bold look and the other for a softer look, so I use a lot of both.
A lot of good ideas, thanks for sharing ladies.