Beginning Stamping

INKS
Dye Based Inks (lasts 50-75 yrs)
Characteristics – dries instantly

1. a. Distressed inks take longer

Waterproof

1. Ancient Page – (black) waterproof, most inks aren’t
2. Stampin’ Up Inks - black & brown – waterproof

Not Waterproof

1. Adirondack – not waterproof
2. ColorBox Chalk
3. Kaleidacolor - sliding pad keeps colors from bleeding during storage. When ready to stamp, simply slide the pads together. When finished stamping, separate the colors again. Multicolored!

Pigment Inks (lasts 100-175 yrs)

1. Characteristics – does not dry instantly, more archival
2. Versamark – doesn’t dry instantly, used for wet embossing
3. Encore – used for stamping in bulk, must use heatgun. Match embossing ink color to embossing powder
4. Color Box – use for embossing
5. VersaFine – black ink, deeper black, super rich. Doesn’t stay wet long enough for embossing

Solvent Inks
Not covered in beginning class

1. Characteristics – any ink which is non- porous.
2. StazOn – solvent, lots of color. Used on velum, plastic, acetate – can use heatgun

PREPARATION HINTS

1. Create your own card with 8.5x11 paper is easiest. – A2 card when cut in 1/2
2. Use Fiskars paper cutter – allows you to rotate card. Mark cutter permanently where you will cut.
3. Tap stamp on pad several times. Test stamp on workpaper. Normally by the 4th time, it’s primed.
4. Bone Folder is used to score cards (or scorer on the paper cutter)
5. Reveal describes the border between the cardback and the stamped front if you use two pieces of paper to create the front. ½” cut to make ¼” on each side of card!
6. A 6 or A7 per envelope sizes waste more paper

CLEAN UP HINTS

1. Spray Stamp Cleaner on the stamp
2. Rub stamp on Stamp Scrubber
3. Wash Stamp Scrubber in dishwashing detergent

PROJECTS
Project One - Stamping

1. Using Kaleidacolor tap stamp on pad several times, test on workpaper.
2. Press stamp in a random fashion on tag.
3. Dip small piece of sponge onto inkpad and pull ink onto tag from off-paper to on paper, sponge gives a softer tint – use a small piece of foam to give a denser tint. Looks like a matte
4. Drag tag edge along stamp pad to create a colored, more finished, harder edge
5. Sponge Dauber – used to create colored circles, use it around the reinforcer on the tag. Fits perfectly on the tag hole

ADDITIONAL IDEAS

1. DTP – means Direct to Paper – use Distressed ink to create an antique look with sponge/foam pulled from off paper onto paper
2. Bigger stamps, turn the stamp upside down, tap from top down onto stamp
3. Distressed photo works best on matte finish photos
4. Use Versamark stamp to leave an image in background – make white less white!
5. Art Impression Stamps – good stamps for embossing beginners

Project Two – Chalking

1. Use Ancient Page Ink – chalking doesn’t matter if ink is waterproof.
2. Big Stamp for project – paper on top if stamp and ink pad are different sizes.
3. Use Pebbles chalks which have a variety of pom poms with each color. Pebbles - I Kan'dee Chalk Sets has fixative in them, so no fixative spray is needed.
4. Some chalks may need to be sprayed with a workable fixative – to affix chalk on paper.

Project Three – Embossing

1. Use Versamark Ink – which is clear
2. Select stamp and use Versmark pad
1. Embossing powder should say detail fine/superfine
2. Normally use black, silver, brown, copper powder
3. Rub Embossing Buddy on paper to eliminate powder, static
4. Stamp paper
5. Cover paper with embossing powder, use brush to remove any stray powder
1. Tupperware type container works great to keep embossing powder in, and to put paper through.
6. Heat up card until it looks plastic like

Coloring Embossed Image with Watercolor

1. Use Aqua-Flo Brush to watercolor the stamp.
2. You want ink to bleed. Squeeze Adirondack ink pad (non waterproof ink) to put some ink on the cover of the ink pad
3. Use the ink on the top of the pad to color the stamp