Seven fixes for perfect stamping
What to do when the image comes out patchy, doubled or crooked, and how to repeat the same impression without drifting.
Nearly every stamping failure has an identifiable mechanical cause: pressure, surface or ink load. Once you know which of the three is off, the fix is immediate.
Supplies
- A stamping platform or positioner
- A soft mat (a few sheets of paper or thin foam)
- Stamp cleaner
- A white eraser
Step by step
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Patchy image: you need a soft mat
Put two or three sheets of paper under the cardstock. The cushioning lets the stamp sink just enough to touch the whole paper surface.
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Doubled outline: you rocked the stamp
Press straight down without rocking or sliding. If you need more pressure, push harder in a straight line rather than working around the edges.
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Blurred lines: too much ink
You are dragging the stamp across the pad or over-inking. Tap instead, and if the stamp is heavily loaded, stamp once on a scrap first and then on the project.
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A new stamp that repels ink
Fresh photopolymer carries manufacturing residue. Rub the surface with a white eraser or wash it with mild soap before the first use.
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Crooked sentiments: use a stamping platform
A hinged platform holds the stamp in exactly the same place every time. It lets you re-stamp until the impression is perfect and keeps lines straight without measuring.
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Faint impressions that will not cover
With a platform you can stamp two or three times in exactly the same spot. It is the clean way to get solid black without overloading the stamp.
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Smudges as you release the stamp
Lift the block straight up, and hold the paper with your other hand: if the cardstock lifts stuck to the stamp, it drops back misaligned and leaves a ghost.
Practical tips
- Clean the stamp as soon as you finish. Dried ink in the recesses is what ruins fine detail over time.
- To stamp right at the edge of a card, place a scrap of the same thickness alongside so the stamp does not tip into empty space.
- If you repeat a sentiment often, mark a very light pencil guideline and erase it afterwards.
FAQ
Do I need a stamping platform?
Not to get started, but it is the single tool that most improves results if you stamp sentiments often or work with large background stamps.
Related products
A few products from the shop to practise what this tutorial covers:
