Need tips for even inking stamps

Last night I tried stamping for the first time. I have a pretty large rubber stamp (doily lace), and I used the Tsukineko Dew Drop ink, the one that shapes like a little egg and can stand on its own.

The end result was very uneven. I tried my best to apply the ink on every surface and not too much force, but after 5-6 attempts they were all uneven. Especially some of the edges always caught too much ink.

Any tips, or tutorials that I should watch? I lack the most basic skill and common sense about stamps, since I've never done it before.

Lay the stamp on the table, stamp side up, and tamp the ink pad down on it (rather than tamping the stamp onto the ink pad).

The Dew Drops are pretty juicy so don't push too hard, just lightly tamp all over until you've got it covered.

Don't press too hard when you're stamping, press evenly, and don't rock the stamp.

It does take a little practice, don't give up It might be easier to practice a bit first with a smaller stamp.

Exactly what stick said. When your stamp is bigger than your ink pad, definitely stamp the ink onto the stamp, not the stamp into the ink.

I did apply the ink to the stamp, not the other way around. The stamp is too much bigger than the ink to do it the other way.

I guess I pressed the ink a little hard at times. The first time I did it, I didn't press the ink at all and there wasn't enough, and some places were completely uninked.

What kind of ink is good for rubber stamps? I don't want to get big ink pads as I don't have room to store them. That's why I bought the smaller kind. Is Dew Drop too wet? I have chalk fluid inks and haven't tried them, but I think they might be too dry for a large stamp?

It really just takes a little bit of practice, try it on scraps first and be prepared to waste a little bit of paper. I have mostly Distress Ink, Tsukineko Dew Drops, and SEI inks which are about 1" square. Each brand acts a little differently, each pad is differently 'juicy,' but they all work fine.

I find it easier with big stamps to also stamp with the stamp upside down and apply the paper to the stamp then smooth it with your hand.

• Scrapbook Queen Said:

Very interesting, I've never heard of this, I'll have to try it.

If its a large area that you are inking .. by the time you finish inking what you started first might be drying a bit .. my SU ladie taught me to "huff" onto the stamp ... just the bit of moisture in your breath is sometimes enough to get a clean stamp image