The Inky Flamingo | Stamp with Jen Vitek

If you’re new to stamping, I’d like to give you some basic information that will come in helpful in your stamping journey.  This includes the different supplies you’ll need, optional supplies that will come in useful, the differences between photopolymer and rubber stamps,  how to protect and clean your stamps, and how to stamp inked images so you get a good result for your crafting.

Supplies You’ll Need

Stamping is a great craft to get into because you really don’t need a lot of supplies to begin.  At the basic level all you need is paper, ink, stamps, an acrylic block, and adhesive.  I’ll explain each of these, and then recommend some optional supplies that you may want to invest in.

As appropriate, I will insert Stampin’ Up! links so you can view the product.  The products Stampin’ Up! sells are high quality and you don’t need to worry about receiving inferior items.  I do, however, fully encourage you to use what supplies you have available to you.   I want to encourage you to move forward with stamping, and it’s perfectly fine to use other products you have access to.

Paper    The two traditional sizes of paper are 8.5 x 11 inches, and 12 x 12 inches, but it does come in other sizes, such as 4 x 6 inches, and 8 x 8 inches.   The size you select for cardmaking is based on your personal preferences.  I like the 8.5 x 11 size because it’s easier to store, but you would be able to get more card options out of a 12 x 12 sheet of paper.    

Paper also come in different weights, ranging from approximately 20 pounds to 120 pounds, with variations on either side.  The heavier the weight, the heavier the paper will feel to you.  Printer paper usually has a weight around 25-30 pounds, most decorative scrapbook papers are in the 60 pound range, and cardstock is more in the 80 to 110 pound range.  

When making your card bases, you definitely want to use a heavier based paper or cardstock.  It gives your card a nice feel to it and a sturdy foundation on which to stamp and glue embellishments onto.  Click here to learn more about card bases.

Ink    This allows you to take the impression of the stamp and transfer it to paper in whatever color you desire.  There are two types of ink pads:  felt and foam.  The foam pads typically outlast the felt ones, but you usually don’t have a choice in which one you receive when you buy the ink.  Stampin’ Up! sells the foam pads, with a patented flip-top lid that keeps your ink moist for years to come.  You can also purchase bottles of ink that will allow you to reink your stamp pads and thus keep them for years to come.

Stamps   There are two main types of stamps that you can purchase:  rubber stamps and clear stamps.  Rubber stamps use the red rubber and may be what you initially think of when you think of stamping and card making.  They may or may not be mounted on a wood block.   Clear stamps are also referred to as photopolymer stamps, and they get the name  based on the material they are made from.

Acrylic Block    Stampin’ Up! sells both red rubber and photopolymer stamps, and you will need a clear acrylic block to place them on in order to use the stamps.  They are available in a variety of sizes but I recommend getting one that measures approximately 3 x 4 inches.  This size should accommodate most of the stamps that you will use.  I currently use one that measures 3.5 by 2.5 inches, and it’s been adequate for the majority of my stamps.  Pro tip:  you can place stamps diagonally on the block to accommodate them if the block is a little small.

Adhesive    This can be either double-sided tape or glue.  I’ve used both, but I prefer the double-sided tape, as it’s a little less messy than glue, and doesn’t need drying time.  It’s totally whatever you prefer.

Recommended but Optional Products

Paper Trimmer   Many card makers would not consider this to be an optional product but you can use a scissors and ruler to cut your paper.  A paper trimmer will make you card making a lot easier, though, and guarantee you straight cuts.  I highly recommend this item.

VersaMark   This is a watermark ink primarily used for heat embossing, but it also can help reduce staining on your photopolymer stamps.   As you use the stamp on ink pads, the ink will stain the stamp.  The staining does not affect the quality of the stamped image, it just doesn’t look as pretty as it does when new and unused 😉

Embellishments     Embellishments are the little extras you add to your card, such as ribbon, self-adhesive gems and shapes, and baker’s twine.

Differences Between Photopolymer and Rubber Stamps

The main difference between rubber stamps and photopolymer stamps is the fact that photopolymer stamps are clear, and you can see exactly on the paper where you are stamping the image.  Both types of stamps provide quality, inked images.  Stampin’ Up! carries both kinds, but each stamp set is either a red rubber stamp set or a photopolymer stamp set.  You may also use markers to color on a red rubber stamp instead of using an ink pad, but you may not do this with a photopolymer stamp.

Stamp Care and Maintenance

Stampin’ Up! provides a clear case with every stamp set you purchase, which provides a nice way of storing and protecting your stamps.  You may also purchase the cases separately. When you buy a new photopolymer stamp set, stamp it with VersaMark ink, then wipe it off right away before it dries on.  This will help to reduce the amount of staining left behind from the ink.

After using a stamp, clean it off with an alcohol-free baby wipe.  You can also just use water and paper towels.  This helps to remove any excess ink that is left on your stamp, and ensures it is ready to go when you want to use it again. Just a note: baby wipes do vary in quality, so make sure the ones you are using do not leave any fibers or soap residue behind on the stamp.

How to Stamp Images

Find a sheet of printer paper (or use this grid paper) and lay it down on your work surface.  This gives you a space to practice your stamping and protects your workspace.

Select the stamp you wish to use, and place it on the acrylic block.  You won’t need to attach anything to the stamp to make it stick.  Open your ink pad, and lightly touch the stamp to the ink pad.  You don’t need to push it in.

Look at your stamp.  If there are any globs of ink where it shouldn’t be, use your finger or a baby wipe and wipe them away.  Otherwise the excess ink will smear as you stamp and will transfer to your paper, which you don’t want.

As you stamp, let it touch the paper but do not rock the stamp or push excessively hard on it.  Do not pull the stamp off the paper immediately; hold it against the paper for a minimum of 3 -5 seconds, to let the ink soak into the paper.  This will provide you with a better image.

Practice stamping your image on the copy or grid paper to make sure it turns out exactly as you want it to.  Sometimes you need to adjust your positioning or pressure on the stamp, or you’ll find you didn’t ink it adequately.

When you’re completely satisfied with the image, re-ink the stamp and place onto your cardstock.  You should re-ink the stamp after each use, then clean it when finished.

I hope this guide has been helpful.  Any questions or comments, please feel free to post below.

Happy Stamping!

Jen