| Have you ever stamped an image and been | | | | design to help prevent excess ink from accumulating in |
| displeased with the result? There may be times when | | | | such places. Steady and True - After deciding where |
| using your clear stamps that you don't want a perfect | | | | you want your clear stamping image, be sure that you |
| image, but usually it is a crisp clear stamped image you | | | | bring the clear stamp straight down on the area, |
| desire. Here are a few tips for achieving crisp, clear, | | | | stamp, and then straight up. Any wavering to the side |
| printer perfect stamping images. | | | | will distort your image. |
| The Nature of Paper - Smooth paper will give you | | | | Condition Admission - Each time I read stamping |
| crisper, clearer lines and images. You can test this by | | | | material that recommends conditioning your new |
| using different textures of paper. Try clear stamping | | | | stamps with sandpaper or even an eraser, I get a little |
| on a paper bag, textured paper, and smooth | | | | nervous. Sandpaper is abrasive and by its very nature |
| cardstock. Compare the clear stamp image results. | | | | is designed to remove raised edges - I can't imagine |
| Think when you Ink - Inking the clear stamp is simply a | | | | applying it to a new clear stamp. The best conditioning |
| matter of daubing the clear stamp lightly on the ink pad. | | | | advice I have seen for clear stamps simply |
| Do this several times to achieve a uniform layer of ink | | | | recommends a quick wash. If you are worried about |
| on the surface of the stamp. You do not want to get | | | | staining, you might try using a light colored ink the first |
| ink on the shoulder of the image or on the stamping | | | | time you use the stamp. This won't guarantee against |
| block itself, doing so will run the risk of creating a blush | | | | staining but will help. |
| of color in an undesired spot. | | | | On the Surface - Consider your stamping surface to |
| Lighten the Load - Clear stamps require even pressure | | | | be one of your most important tools in creating a clear |
| over the surface of the stamp. Pressing too hard with | | | | crisp image. Clear stamps do not have the spring that |
| the clear stamp and block can create a hazy | | | | a wood mounted rubber stamp has. It is very simple to |
| impression. As you stamp watch for the ink transfer | | | | create this spring. Simply stamp on a softer surface |
| through the clear stamping block. This is a good judge | | | | such as a small stack of paper or a magazine. My |
| of how much force to apply to your stamp. | | | | preference is to simply stamp on a sheet of craft |
| If you have over inked your stamp, getting ink on the | | | | foam. Achieving crisp clean images from clear stamps |
| shoulder, floor or clear stamping block, you may find | | | | is an effortless endeavor as you consider the nature |
| the extra ink showing up in undesired places. Good | | | | of the paper, ink, pressure, motion, and stamping |
| quality clear stamps are trimmed close to the image | | | | surface you use. |