In this section we will try to provide you with helpful information and some general guidelines.

UNDER CONSTRUCTION!

STAMP MAINTENANCE
Rubber stamps require very little maintenance and will last you for hundreds of impressions if properly cared for. Before using a rubber stamp for the first time be sure to give it a clean scrub. Some stamp companies package their shipments with a powder to keep the rubber from sticking together. This is also a good way to see how your stamp inks up. After inking or using your stamp be sure to clean it with a paper towel, baby wipe, or a specially designed scrubber with water to clean the ink off the stamp. Please note that some pigment inks or specialty inks require a special cleaner to remove the ink.

Caution: do not run your stamp under water to clean them, as the water can damage the wooden mounts.

Note: Some stamp enthusiasts like to use clear nail polish to protect the wood on their stamps before use. This is a personal preference and it is not a requirement.

INK
There are many types of inks on the market today. Inks come in a pad or marker format. There are several different formuals of inks including dye, pigment, child-safe, specialty, and fabric inks. Having a general understanding of the inks and their physical characterisitcs will help you in your ink selection and provide you with a good foundation on which to build great stamping. Your choice in ink will depend on your project's surface, as well as the look you wish to achieve.

DYE BASED INKS
Vivid, Adirondack, Marvy-Uchida, Tsuneiko
Dye based inks are water-based and fast-drying inks that will fade over time. These inks are not intended for embossing, but do produce wonderful sharp detail images on either a matte or glossy card stock. It is an ideal choice for highly-detailed stamps. Available in a myriad of colors in either a solid color or rainbow pads (several colors side-by-side). They are also available in a brush marker. Dye-base ink cleans up with water. Please note that some dye-based inks may stain your rubber stamp, but this will not effect your stamping, as long as you clean the excess ink off.

For the Tombow Marker Color Checklist Click Here

For the Marvy Brush Marker Color Checklist Click Here

Dye based ink pads are one of the standards in the stamping industry as a quality, acid-free ink that comes in a wide range of wonderful colors and gives elegant hues of color on any surface. They can be stamped on most types of papers, although they may bleed on very absorbent papers. Their colors are most vibrant on glossy coated papers. Stamped images with most dye-based inks are not colorfast and will fade over time, especially if exposed to light.

Dye ink is a water-based ink which dries quickly on all types of paper. Dye ink does come in acid-free, permanent, and waterproof formulas.

Dye ink is a wonderful ink to use with water coloring, since dye ink is permanent and does not run. As dye ink dries, it becomes lighter and more muted, which gives a wonderfully soft effect.

Also, dye inks are acid free, which means they work nicely in scrapbooks, journals, and other keepsakes.

Dye pads soak into porous papers and thus become more muted as they dry. (In some cases, this can be a disadvantage in card making if you are looking for rich colors.) Also, dye pads can "feather," which means as they dry they soak in and thus loose some of the image clarity as it dries. Finally, most dye inks are not truly archival, since they are acid-free but not pH balanced, which means overtime they can react with paper fibers and fade when they are exposed to light. However, the Memories line of dye ink (which is the base formula for Shadow Ink), is the most archival of dye inks because of its acid-free and fade resistant characteristics.

PIGMENT INKS ColorBox, Versacolor, Dauber Duos, Encore, Brilliance
Pigment ink is a very thick ink that has long drying time. This longer drying time gives stamper's the time they need in which to apply embossing powder and heat set it.

They offer a myraid of rich, opaque, saturated colors that produce a crisp and clear impression. They work wonderfully with embossing, Pigment inks are acid-free and fade resistant and usually archival safe. Pigment inks will resist fading overtime. Pigment ink stamps well on glossy or matte card stock.

When not thermal embossing the ink must be heat set (especially metallic's) on glossy stock.. Be sure to heat set the ink if not embossing when using glossy card stock. , rainbow pads, and metallics they work will on all types of paper and look vibrant even on colored paper.

They will not dry on coated papers unless they are embossed, although they can be used without embossing on uncoated papers.

Pigment inks work best on non-glossy papers since the ingredients are "particles of pigment" that sit on the surface of the paper and do not absorb. Thus, to obtain softer grades of color with pigment inks, use the second or third stamped impression (which will have less particles). Stamp the first one or two times on a piece of scratch paper, and then stamp again (without re-inking) onto your card using your Shadow Stamps. The third impression is lighter and often the perfect shade for your background impression.

Alternatively, use dye ink for the background impression, and then use pigment ink to stamp an image over it. And then you can just let it dry, heat set it with a heat gun, or emboss the impression.

Pigment inks are ideal for your cards, particularly on porous surfaces, and most are both acid-free and pH balanced which make them archival, as long as you let them dry adequately. Pigment inks also have the most vibrant and widest selection of colors available. Embossing - these are glycerin-based and are generally clear or slightly tinted. As with pigment inks, they are designed to be slow drying so that embossing powders can adhere to the stamped image.

CHILD-SAFE INKS
PSX Just-KidsRubber-stamping is a hobby for the ages. Specially formulated with the little ones in mind is child-safe inks. Child-safe inks are water-based, so clean up is a snap. Most of these inks are non-toxic and are often made utilizing fruit dyes. A great choice for the youngsters to stamp with, but as there is very little dye in these pads and color saturation is minimal producing a watery effect when used, not necessarily the best choice for adults to stamp with.

SPECIALTY INK

Specialty inks are those inks that fall into their very own category.

Tattoo Ink is a specially formulated ink to be used on skin. Stamped images using tattoo ink can stay on skin for a duration of time depending on washing habits.

Top Boss ink pads

Walnut Ink "you'll go nuts for this product, it's so versatile! Walnut Ink is fabulous for aging and staining paper, in addition to muting the colors of pre-printed and sometimes too bright commercial papers. Brush on a coat of Walnut Ink, and you've got instant character. Walnut Ink can also be used to change the colors of fabrics, similar to tea dye. Consider brushing on, aplying with a sea sponge, and even using a toothbrush to flick and splatter smaller amounts on for accent. This amazing ink is often used by calligraphers, so try using it with dip pens or fountain pens as well. To use Walnut Ink mix 1 teaspoon of the crystals with 1/2 a cup of hot water then stire to dissolve. A little goes a long way, so save portions of a batch in a tighlty closing jar for up to six months. Experiment with the ink's intensity and shade by adding small amounts of water to the basic recipe until you reach your desired shade. Walnut Ink creates different effects on different surfaces, how many looks can you create?" -Somerset Studio

VersaMark ink produces a watermark effect when applied to your stock.. The inks chemistry will produce the image a shade or two darker giving a watermark effect on your paper.

 

 

 

 

Staz-On ink is amazing! "It lets you do that which most other inks do not - stamp on non-porus surfaces without embossing. Try this ink on surfaces like glass, metal, shrink plastic, cellophane, aluminum foil, leather, and acrylic - you'll love it. The solvent-based ink is transparent in nature, resulting in a beautiful "stained-glass" look. Staz-On is certain to become one of your favorite inkpads, and it's acid-free" -Somerset Studio

 

 

FABRIC INKS Deka, Fabrico, Jaquard, Lumiere, Crafter's Ink
Fabric Inks are specifically designed for use on fabrics. Most fabric ink must be heat set for the color to be permanaetly set.

WATER-PROOF Archival, Ancient Page, Memories
Waterproof ink is specially formulated to be used with watercolors or water-based markers or pencils. When the ink is dry and the watercolors applied there is no smearing or bleeding of the stamped image.

This is a must for all stamp artists (generally start out with a black pad)

PERMANENT INK Ziminks, Ranger 213, PSX
Permanent ink is suitable for fabric, wood, shrink plastic, clay, terra cotta, metal, and plastic. Available ina variety of colors. They usually must be cleaned off your stamps with a solvent cleaner. Permanent - these inks are also available in water-based and solvent-based formulations. They may be used on all types of papers, as well as a variety of other surfaces such as tile, wood, glass and plastic. If you are stamping on a non-porous surface (such as shrink-it) make sure your permanent ink is specifically designed for non-porous surfaces. With the solvent-based version, a special stamp cleaner (usually in dabber form) is necessary to remove the permanent ink from your stamp. Some of these inks may contain toxic ingredients, so be sure to have adequate ventilation and follow the manufacturer's instructions.

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Chalks

Coloring

Silks/Shiummerez

 

PAPERS
With thousands of papers to choose from and all of it a personal preference, there are only a few quidelines.

Catagories of paper: basic cardstock, glossy cardstock, and specialty papers.

Basic Cardstock: available in a plethora of colors, textures, and weights.

Glossy Cardstock:

Specialty Paper: all others

SPECIALITY PAPERS

KromecoatTM Paper a brand of cover weight, glossy paper, double-coated on 1-side of the paper. This glossy paper works well for stamping and gives a crisp look to a stamped image.

Glossy - Kromecoat, Dye ink, markers, and pigment ink can all be used on thesse papers (though pigment inks must be embossed)

Matte do not appear glossy. Mattecoat

Acid-Free refers to the acidity or alkalinity quality of a paper. Acid-free are those from which all acids have been removed dduring the manufacturing to iimprove strength and color. These papers with a pH count of 7.07 or higher, anre not as likly to disintegrate with handling and storage. they should not yellow or become brittle. Manufactureresd are going more to acid-free papers now because they share our conceern with the environment. There is less pollution created in producing these papers. Also, the mills are able to produce a "whiter white" with the acid-free paper.

Archival Quality when doing a project that you want to last, such as a photo alblum, look for archival or acid-free.

Uncoated matte finish papers have a greater absorbency than the coated papers. Most inks, markers, and colored pencils can be used withthese papers. Texture plays an important part with uncoated papers. The smoother the texture the crisper the stamped image will be. Each paper has its won personality, so experiment with all differnt textures so you will find ones that you like to work with.

Mulberry Paper is a lightweight paper available in many colors that characteristically feathers when torn.wide variety of textures and colors. Containing long fibers that create a delicate, feathered edge when torn. Thickness variess from lacy, tissue wieght, to sturdy, heavy-weight. The texture may be smooth, rough, or crinkled and may contain embedded bark, leaves, or contrasting color accents. TIP Mulberry paper will tear better if you first run a line of water along the tear line and soak

Handmade Paper

Metallic Paper

Vellum is a sheer, see-through paper that can be used for stamping. Available in a myraid of colors, prints, and weight. Be careful when stamping on vellum as it can smear easily.

Flower Petal hand-made they contain real flowe petals and grasses.

Corrugated Paper

Velvet

Origami

Watecolor paper is available in different grades, textures, and weights. The best choice for H2O, H2O pencils, and Marvy's is 140lb. Look for a smooth finish for a crisp image.

Tools Of The Trade

HOW TO GET A GOOD IMPRESSION
To a get a good impression you must ink your stamp properly. Dye based ink simply requires that you tap your pad several times lightly on the rubber to ink it up. With pigment inks, because they are thicker, more pressure may be needed for proper coverage.

HELPFUL HINTS

Do not grind your ink pad into your stamp. Grinding will eventually cause the pad surface to become uneven and lumpy, making proper ink coverage of your stamp almost impossible.

Try not to rock your stamp. Rocking will cause ink to be applied to the wood or the extra rubber of the die. When stamped you may get inked edges on your paper that you do not want.

For a solid stamp always clean the stamp before using it for the first time.

If you get fuzz on your stamp (a definite for any pet owner) tape is a quick fuzz eliminator.

Embossing

DIRECT TO PAPER (DTP)

SHADOW STAMPING
Shadow stamping is a great technique to offset a stamped image. Hero Arts is the for-runner of the companies that produced the shadow stamping techniques. You can use a variety of inks depending on your project.

Masking

PolyShrink™ Shrink Plastic

Shrink plastic is yet one more fantastic product that expands our creativity. Shrink plastic is plastic stock that has been heated and stretched in two directions until a thin sheet is formed. When heated again, the plastic returns to its original dimension and overall thickness.

Ccreative uses range from fantastic pins, earrings, miniatures, buttons, name tags, and mobiles to just an ordiary embellishment. The ideas are endless! The plastic sheet is usually sanded and design is applied using a wide variety of art supplies. Scissors are used to trim and shape. Holes can be punched using an ordinary paper punch. When finished designs are baked, the plastic shrinks to approximately 45% its original size and returns to its original 1/16 inch thickness. During the shrinking process most art materials are permanently bonded to the plastic.

PolyShrink™ gives you the creative versatility of 4 different types: Canvas White, black, clear, and translucent. Each type has its own special visual quality, so you can choose just the look you want for any project.

CLEAR
Great for see-through techniques where color is applied to the back to be viewed through the front of the finished piece. Color seen through the plastic is extremely vibrant and gives a feeling of depth. Also use Clear PolyShrink when you want a glass-like effect or look.

TRANSLUCENT
There's an appealing soft look to Translucent that suits certain images and themes. It's also the type that many people prefer for simple designs with large areas left as is, without any background color.

CANVAS WHITE
For designs where you want crisp color and high contrast, choose Canvas White PolyShrink. Even extremely detailed drawings or stamped images read well and keep their visual impact.

BLACK
Black PolyShrink provides a dramatic backdrop for many of your favorite art and stamping supplies. Use colored pencils, stamping inks, metallic markers and rub-ons for beautiful, rich effects.

The shrinking process has a wonderful effect on the design and color that's applied before baking. Simple designs become crisper, elaborate designs look amazingly detailed, and colors look rich and vibrant.
No special tools are needed. Before baking, the plastic is thin and can be cut with scissors. Complex cut outs that couldn't be made using scissors at the baked thickness are easy to make before shrinking.

You can also heat PolyShrink with an embossing heat tool. The maximum temperature of different models varies up to 300º F. If you're having the feeling that the shrinking process is out of control and happening too fast, move the gun 4 or 5 inches back to slow things down. Keep the heat tool moving to heat the PolyShrink as evenly as you can. Being directly involved in the shrinking process is fun, and it's easy to see how the shrinking process is going. You can even flip your piece over to help it heat evenly.

Heating PolyShrink with an embossing tool is the method of choice for the Intaglio technique. Please see the PolyShrink General Instructions for details.

LEAFING FOIL
Directions
1. Apply adhesive (liquid leafing adhesive, heated sticky powder or red liner tacky tape)
2. Press foil into adhesive (either foil leaf flakes or sheets)
3. Brush of Excess (using a stiff brissle craft brush remove excess and save scraps)
4. Buff (rub with clean rag until surface is smooth)