PHOTOSTAMPING TECHNIQUES
So, you've seen the incredible cards other stampers have made and you've purchased your first photo type stamps. Now what do you do?
These stamps require a little special attention. Because of the detail you need to treat them a little differently.
If you bought an unmounted image, you need to ensure you have some cushioning either under the image or stamp into something cushioned (such as a mousepad, kid's funfoam or a magazine).
These stamps require a little special attention. Because of the detail you need to treat them a little differently.
If you bought an unmounted image, you need to ensure you have some cushioning either under the image or stamp into something cushioned (such as a mousepad, kid's funfoam or a magazine).
Look at your image when it's new. You won't believe that it can give any kind of impression, let alone a crisp one that looks just like a photograph when stamped! Have no fear, the picture is indeed captured in very high definition thanks to all the tiny dots packed together that are hard to see.
Make sure your rubber is clean and free of lint, cat hair, glitter and the like. One way to do this is to take a piece of tape and tap it on and off your rubber a few times so it picks up any gunk.
Now you're ready to stamp. These stamps do beautifully with dye ink pads and glossy cardstock. That's glossy cardstock (yes, the Stampsmith sells some), and not photopaper for your computer. (The former has a lovely coating of plastic that lets the ink pop off the page, while the latter has an emulsion coating that inks don't like.) Good inkpads to use include Adirondack, Memories and alcohol-based StazOn and Document inks. Some people rave about Versafine. Just don't use pigment inks with the photostamps as the oil-based inks clog up the fine dots that make up the image.
Black or brown inkpads are great base colors to stamp your main image with.
Now you're ready to stamp. These stamps do beautifully with dye ink pads and glossy cardstock. That's glossy cardstock (yes, the Stampsmith sells some), and not photopaper for your computer. (The former has a lovely coating of plastic that lets the ink pop off the page, while the latter has an emulsion coating that inks don't like.) Good inkpads to use include Adirondack, Memories and alcohol-based StazOn and Document inks. Some people rave about Versafine. Just don't use pigment inks with the photostamps as the oil-based inks clog up the fine dots that make up the image.
Black or brown inkpads are great base colors to stamp your main image with.
Some folks like to use a brayer for spreading the ink, but it's not necessary. Ink up well and then stamp, with good pressure, but not too much. You'll get the hang of it after some practice. You can pick your stamp up off the paper after stamping, or you can peel your paper off like a banana.
If you see any dots or empty areas it means that your stamp has some gunk on it or that you're not stamping on a smooth, hard surface. Don't give up, just keep playing and adjusting and soon you will have terrific results and friends who say they can't believe they're looking at a stamped card and not a photograph.
If you see any dots or empty areas it means that your stamp has some gunk on it or that you're not stamping on a smooth, hard surface. Don't give up, just keep playing and adjusting and soon you will have terrific results and friends who say they can't believe they're looking at a stamped card and not a photograph.
HOW TO COLOR ON STAMPED IMAGES
Here's a terrific technique that we demo at shows and that you'll see on many of the samples here.
Instructions and sample card courtesy of Susan Leclerc.
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