HOW TO...
HOW TO.... Pick Stamp Pads
DYE INK STAMP PADS
These dry very quickly, making them great for multiple prints. They can be used on glossy and coated paper. They are transparent and do not show
up well on dark colors. They can absorb into the paper making the image feather out on the edges and the color fade.
These are good to use when coloring an image in with markers, copic markers or watercolor pencils.
PIGMENT INK STAMP PADS
These take longer to dry and will not air dry on coated, mirror or metallic
surfaces. They are available in a wide array of colors.
The opaque ink lets the color sit on top of the surface so
they are perfect on dark papers. They are acid free and fade resistant.
To dry pigment inks on coated or metallic papers, use a heat gun
to "set" the ink. Just apply the heat evenly until the ink doesn't
look shiny or wet.
SPECIALTY INK PADS
There are many specialty pads on the market such as:
Versamark: creates a faux watermark on most papers.
Brilliance: this pigment pad dries 100% without smudging or heat
setting, making them the perfect pad for vellum.
Staz-On: this stamp pad will stamp just about anything, try it on glass,
plastic, or other slick and hard to stamp surfaces.
These dry very quickly, making them great for multiple prints. They can be used on glossy and coated paper. They are transparent and do not show
up well on dark colors. They can absorb into the paper making the image feather out on the edges and the color fade.
These are good to use when coloring an image in with markers, copic markers or watercolor pencils.
PIGMENT INK STAMP PADS
These take longer to dry and will not air dry on coated, mirror or metallic
surfaces. They are available in a wide array of colors.
The opaque ink lets the color sit on top of the surface so
they are perfect on dark papers. They are acid free and fade resistant.
To dry pigment inks on coated or metallic papers, use a heat gun
to "set" the ink. Just apply the heat evenly until the ink doesn't
look shiny or wet.
SPECIALTY INK PADS
There are many specialty pads on the market such as:
Versamark: creates a faux watermark on most papers.
Brilliance: this pigment pad dries 100% without smudging or heat
setting, making them the perfect pad for vellum.
Staz-On: this stamp pad will stamp just about anything, try it on glass,
plastic, or other slick and hard to stamp surfaces.
CLEANING YOUR RUBBER STAMPS
Your rubber stamp image can only be as perfect as your rubber stamp. If your stamp is cracked or damaged the stamp will show marks. Rubber stamps will remain in good condition for many years if you take good car of them, so be prepared to clean your stamp each time you finish using it.
Stamp Cleaners and Conditioners are available at Country Lane. The cleaner usually comes in a spray bottle or with a rub on applicator. One surface is used to spray the cleaner on, and the other surface helps scrub the cleaner and ink off without harming your rubber. If your cleaner has a rub on applicator you may just rub it directly onto the stamp and then scrub it back and forth on the Cleaning pad surface to clean and dry your stamp. We also carry the replacement for these. When they become dirty and worn out.
The sooner you clean your stamp after you
use it, the easier it will be
to get it properly cleaned. Many people find that simple stamping the stamp on scrap paper is enough to clean their stamp. Reds, yellows, and oranges can often be tapped away without further cleaning. But be sure it is cleaned thoroughly, or these colors will show up in your next stamping project. Or, when you try to re-ink your stamp,
you may contaminate the color of your ink pad.
Some types of ink will stain the rubber die.
Be careful that you are
not trying to remove a stain. Clean the stamp as carefully as possible and don't worry about stains. They will not contaminate the quality of your stamped image and they will not come off
when you are trying to stamp another image.
Be sure not to immerse your stamps in warm
water in an attempt to clean them.
You will loosen the adhesive to the block and eventually have to re-glue the rubber back on.
Remember to store your cleaned stamps
away from extreme temperatures and dust.
They should be away from direct
sunlight and in a covered container,
that is loosely packed.
---------------------------------------------
STORING YOUR INK PADS
Store your ink pad upside down to keep
the ink to the top of the ink pads.
Your rubber stamp image can only be as perfect as your rubber stamp. If your stamp is cracked or damaged the stamp will show marks. Rubber stamps will remain in good condition for many years if you take good car of them, so be prepared to clean your stamp each time you finish using it.
Stamp Cleaners and Conditioners are available at Country Lane. The cleaner usually comes in a spray bottle or with a rub on applicator. One surface is used to spray the cleaner on, and the other surface helps scrub the cleaner and ink off without harming your rubber. If your cleaner has a rub on applicator you may just rub it directly onto the stamp and then scrub it back and forth on the Cleaning pad surface to clean and dry your stamp. We also carry the replacement for these. When they become dirty and worn out.
The sooner you clean your stamp after you
use it, the easier it will be
to get it properly cleaned. Many people find that simple stamping the stamp on scrap paper is enough to clean their stamp. Reds, yellows, and oranges can often be tapped away without further cleaning. But be sure it is cleaned thoroughly, or these colors will show up in your next stamping project. Or, when you try to re-ink your stamp,
you may contaminate the color of your ink pad.
Some types of ink will stain the rubber die.
Be careful that you are
not trying to remove a stain. Clean the stamp as carefully as possible and don't worry about stains. They will not contaminate the quality of your stamped image and they will not come off
when you are trying to stamp another image.
Be sure not to immerse your stamps in warm
water in an attempt to clean them.
You will loosen the adhesive to the block and eventually have to re-glue the rubber back on.
Remember to store your cleaned stamps
away from extreme temperatures and dust.
They should be away from direct
sunlight and in a covered container,
that is loosely packed.
---------------------------------------------
STORING YOUR INK PADS
Store your ink pad upside down to keep
the ink to the top of the ink pads.
TO INK A STAMP THAT'S BIGGER
THAN THE INK PAD
Lay the stamp onto a flat surface and tap the
ink pad repeatedly over the surface of the rubber stamp. It is important to apply gentle pressure, too much pressure will result in
inky or uneven images.
TO INK A STAMP THAT IS SMALLER THAN THE INK PAD
Small rubber stamps can be inked by gently tapping the stamp onto the ink pad. Several small, gentle taps are better than pressing the stamp into the pad. This might risk over inking the stamp.
TO INK A LARGE OUTLINE STAMP
If a large outline stamp has lots of open areas within the design, it is important not to get ink into the open areas which might result in spoiling the finished stamped image. It is possible to clean the ink from the open areas using a cotton bud or corner of a cloth. It is better, however, not to get ink into these areas to start. The best way to ink a large outline stamp is to take an ink pad and tap it around the lines of the stamp. Angling the ink pad slightly will help to direct the ink.
USING MULTI-COLOR OR RAINBOW INK PADS
Multi-color or rainbow ink pads can give beautiful stamped images, the different colors giving gentle colored stripes. Although this is fairly straightforward, and the same process as detailed above, it is important to carefully place the stamp. This will help to ensure that the inks in the ink pad do not run in to each other, which might result in spoiling the ink pad.
THAN THE INK PAD
Lay the stamp onto a flat surface and tap the
ink pad repeatedly over the surface of the rubber stamp. It is important to apply gentle pressure, too much pressure will result in
inky or uneven images.
TO INK A STAMP THAT IS SMALLER THAN THE INK PAD
Small rubber stamps can be inked by gently tapping the stamp onto the ink pad. Several small, gentle taps are better than pressing the stamp into the pad. This might risk over inking the stamp.
TO INK A LARGE OUTLINE STAMP
If a large outline stamp has lots of open areas within the design, it is important not to get ink into the open areas which might result in spoiling the finished stamped image. It is possible to clean the ink from the open areas using a cotton bud or corner of a cloth. It is better, however, not to get ink into these areas to start. The best way to ink a large outline stamp is to take an ink pad and tap it around the lines of the stamp. Angling the ink pad slightly will help to direct the ink.
USING MULTI-COLOR OR RAINBOW INK PADS
Multi-color or rainbow ink pads can give beautiful stamped images, the different colors giving gentle colored stripes. Although this is fairly straightforward, and the same process as detailed above, it is important to carefully place the stamp. This will help to ensure that the inks in the ink pad do not run in to each other, which might result in spoiling the ink pad.