Clear Stamps????

I am new to scrapbooking and I went into a store last night and saw clear stamps. What are these and how complicated are they to use?? Do you need alot of supplies once you buy the stamps? Help me!!!!!

Welcome!

I find that clear stamps are actually a LOT easier to use than wood-block mounted rubber stamps. With clear stamps, you can see exactly what you're doing and re-stamp the image perfectly if needed. I am not much of a stamper, but since I've started using clear stamps, it has made me want to stamp more. They are much more user-friendly.

With clear stamps, you'll need a clear acrylic block to use, or some people use CD cases or other smooth, flat surfaces. You just peel the clear stamp off the backing sheet and apply it to your block. Then, ink it up and stamp!

I usually clean mine off with alcohol-free baby wipes, but there is stamp cleaner you can get especially for cleaning them.

I would suggest getting a set and an acrylic block and just play around with them! You will most likely love them!

Have fun!

Clear stamps


You will need a clear acrylic block to mount your clear stamps onto.


1. Peel, or gently roll your stamp off of the protective plastic it is on


2. Place the smooth side of the stamp onto the block; you should have the rough image side facing up.


**If it doesn't seem sticky, just clean it with plain soap and water or stamp cleaner. Make sure you dry with a lint free towel. It is like a vinyl cling on the back side, so if it gets dirty, or has lint on it ...it might not cling to your block****


3. Some clear stamps require you to season them. You will know if they need seasoning if your ink beads up like water drops on your stamp.


**To season rub a white eraser across the image or some prefer light grit sandpaper across the top. Whatever you do ...do it gently!!**


** Technique Tuesday Stamps DO NOT require seasoning**


4. You can use ANY ink or paint with your clear stamps. Some inks will stain your stamps and that is totally OK. It will not harm your stamps at all.


5. Lay your block down with your image facing up and ink your stamp by pressing your ink pad onto your stamp. If your do the opposite by pressing your stamp into your ink pad you may press too hard and get too much ink. By doing it ink onto stamp you have more control.


6. Ready to stamp. If this is your first time stamp onto a scratch piece of paper first so you get used to how your image transfers. I like to stand up over top of my project, so I have even pressure and I can see exactly what I am doing.


** Some recommend using a piece of foam under your project so that your image gives a deeper impression. My personal preference is a hard surface, so you try and see what you prefer**


7. Press down with even pressure. Straight down and straight up. Try not to rock or roll your stamp, you could get smears or smudges. And don't worry if there is a part left too light or uneven that is why the stamps are clear, so you can re-ink, and re-stamp over your image.


8. To clean your stamps you can use a spray cleaner and a scrub pad…the way this works is you spray one side of the pad with your stamp cleaner, then with your stamp still adhered to your block rub across the cleaner until your stamp is clean (remember some staining will happen) Then dry your stamp on the other side of the scrubber.


You can also use plain soap and water, just be sure to dry your stamp with a lint free towel.


And alcohol free baby wipes can also work. Just be sure they do not leave lint on your stamps.


You can also just stamp off the ink...stamp over and over on a scratch piece of paper until you no longer see ink coming off.



Now you are a stamper!!!

Ami, thank you so much for your time and your advice!!! I will probably buy a few clear stamps and try them that way if I don't like them I wouldn't have wasted alot of money,lol. Thank you again and have a great day

You're welcome! Have fun!!

Clear stamps are the easiest to use...especially if they don't come out dark enough the first time. It's easy to line the stamp back up and reapply the ink.

Definately invest in the clear acryllic mounting block as suggested and get pigment ink.

I also like the chalk pencils so you can color the shape stamps in (like a butterfly, etc)

I just love clear acrylic stamps! They are so easy!

The instructions above are perfect!

You really only NEED one acrylic block, just get a good sized one and you will be fine. Be warned...acrylic stamps are addictive!

They are fairly easy to use. All the advise above is good. I only want to add get a few cheap ones at M's or J's. Play with them, some dye inks, pigment inks or paint. You can attach them to small jars to roll, cd cases, or as I like the quilters rulers. They come in many sizes with grids and you can always use a coupon on them!

You received some wonderful instructions on stamping with acrylics. I hope you enjoy them. I use to only buy the wooden stamps but since I tried the acrylics, that is all I have bought since then.

Yes invest in a larger acrylic block and you can use all of your stamps on it!!

HL has their stamps on sale for 30% off

Don't skimp on ink. That can make or break your stamping images.

• Technique Tuesday, LLC Said:

YES definately. I wasted alot of time and money on cheap ink pads that didn't work on the textured cardstock or darker color cardstock.

Now I buy the good stuff even if it is more expensive. It goes a long way when you only have to apply it once.

All of this is great advice, even for the not so new/but not a veteran stamper!

I feel silly asking this, but I've only ever worked with rubber stamps (and that was a long time ago - think kindergarten!) and I have to ask: what exactly is the point of the acrylic block? Why can't you just ink the stamps and press them onto the paper?

I think the answer is that they would be too thin and slippery to easily hold and also very messy. Plus, like for some of the alphabet ones - especially, with the blocks/CD case you can line them up more perfectly than you could do with clumbsy fingers (maybe I'm the only one with clumbsy fingers)... they are just too small to easily handle.

I also recommend using a VersaMark watermark stamp pad before you use your color inks. It helps the color not bead up on the stamp and also makes it easier to clean. Especially if you are using solvant inks which will stain any stamp. HTH.

Rhonda

Great tips as well!

I bought my first set of regular stamps and clear stamps today and the clear ones are much easier to use.

clear stamps are floppy. the block holds them in position otherwise it would be like stamping with a piece of cooked lasagna..

Clear stamps are the best....jsut love them

clear stamps are awesome!! they are pricey but totally worth it!! i am liking martha stewarts ink the best with them!