Rubber Stamping

I may have asked this before as it's been an ongoing problem but when I'm stamping I often get the edge of the stamp onto my image, I've tried running a cotton bud round the edge but still have blotches that shouldn't be there. Is it just practice or am I doing something wrong?

Oh thats a problem I have as well so look forward to the answer.

Well the edge inks do seem to be less if you apply the ink pad to the stamp, rather than the stamp to the ink pad IYKWIM ... but I think there are some stamps which just blodge whichever way you use them! That's not much help, is it, but I look forward to other people's answers too.

One simple thing will solve this, hun. Trim your stamp.

If you are using unmounted ones, trim your rubber as close as you can to the image. DO NOT undercut though. You only need about 1/8th inch around the image and that will solve it.

Use a stamping mat for stamps that have very detailed images, i.e. photorealistic stamps and don't press too hard.

If you've getting the same problem with mounted stamps, again, don't press too hard, but it's worth taking the rubber off the mount and trimming it anyway.

Also, as Patty said, always take the ink pad to the stamp.

hth, hun.

some of mine do it too.... are you saying actually take the rubber off the wooden block and cut it Lorraine?

I am, Maria. I've done it with loads of mine. Sometimes, I stick it back on the block and sometimes I just clean it up and use it as an unmounted stamp.

It wasn't so long ago, when unmounteds became popular, that people were taking ALL their stamps off the blocks to save space. It won't harm your stamp, hun.

Thanks I'll try all of these tips tonight and practice, I'll definately trim my stamps.
When I'm stamping onto patterned paper you sometimes only have one chance for it to be right or it spoils the whole page.
I'll let you know how I get on.

You can often trim it with a craft knife while still on the block, I have a stamp that is dreadful for blobbing and keep forgetting to trim it.

Trimming the stamp is the ultimate solution, Gillian, but some stamps are so shallowly cut that ANY surround can cause this problem.

As Patty said, take the ink to the stamp. In fact, put the stamp on its back on the table, then gently tap the ink pad onto the rubber. If it's a nice, juicy pad, a very light tap will do: moreso if it's started to get drier. Don't press the pad onto the stamp: that will guarantee you get ink on the surround.

When you stamp, I would recommend always using a stamping mat (as suggested by Lou) or if you don't want to spend the money an old mouse mat or even a thick magazine will do - anything that provides a bit of "give" on your table. Be firm, but don't really push the stamp against the paper/card: this would make the ink on the surround transfer to your work, as will rocking the stamp. You may prefer to stand to stamp: I often do. If it's a long stamp, don't hold it at each end: try to hold it part way along. If it's a large stamp, position your hands, when you pick it up to stamp, in a way that you know will allow good pressure across the whole design, without the chance of wobbling the stamp and getting a blurry image.

Hope this helps.

Lynda

Teabag always takes her stamps off the wood...and trims everything..including her sizzix dies.....

sp01goat wrote:Teabag always takes her stamps off the wood...and trims everything..including her sizzix dies.....

I also find that a sheet of Funky Foam is good for a mat to stamp on. Not too much give in it.
If you can't pick the rubber stamps off their blocks easy then microwave them on the block then they peel off easier.

Teabag wrote:

sp01goat wrote:Teabag always takes her stamps off the wood...and trims everything..including her sizzix dies.....

I also find that a sheet of Funky Foam is good for a mat to stamp on. Not too much give in it.
If you can't pick the rubber stamps off their blocks easy then microwave them on the block then they peel off easier.

Ooh good tip Nona.

or take em to teabag and she will do it...

Bit difficult for me to 'just take 'em to Teabag. Wish I could. I'd love to live
near you two, but then again, probably be disastrous- wouldn't get anything done.

right young lady...as soon as the new room is habitable properly..you and Den need to pop over for the weekend....OK?

I can just imagine the kids faces, what are you coking in the microwave-oh rubber stamps!!

I need to bbe brave and trim some of mine, I like magnolias because they come trimmed very close to the edge

Well what a difference! I trimmed my stamps and used a mousemat when I stamped, I will buy some funky foam though as I can imagine that'll be good for a stamping mat.
I did tend to press the ink into the stamp so that didn't help either.
With your tips I got perfect images. Thankyou.

Nice one, Gillian.