Some people took to their stamps with erasers, some insisted that if you stamped first with chalk inkpad then dye inkpad that you would get the best image. Others used Versamark then dye. Still others began using press machines, standing on the stamps or putting the stamp on your work surface, then inking it and then putting the paper over. Still others insisted that inking it with a brayer was the only way to go. I just remember how delighted we'd be when we finally got it to look like an inked photograph.
I didn't have those kind of issues thanks to the stamp platforms that are popular now. I used one color of ink and let the stamp image control the shading and highlights. I did do some stamping off when I added the foliage at the bottom. My first practice sheet - which is a very glossy but thin printing paper - kept lifting off the stamp platform. The magnets didn't help hold it nor the sticky backing from the Little B Perfect Positioner. The paper was the back sides of printouts that were supposed to be taken for sale at convention by my daughter. The printouts had streaks, smears or wrong size ruining the images. Waste not, want not - the back was still clean, glossy and fine for stamping on. For the full practice sheet, I went ahead and used the Stamper's Secret Weapon and that worked fine. I found that scrubbing at the stamp with a shammy to take off any residue made the stamp work better. Also discovered that more than 2 stampings without cleaning the stamp would produce a duller image - some of the detail was lost. If the stamp wasn't completely flat onto block and you had an air bubble under it, it would show when you stamped. So for the best image, clean seasoned stamp completely flat on pad or platform, not overinking from stamp pad and even pressure to the paper and leaving it there for a few seconds to give time for the ink to transfer. I think my issues had to do with the type of paper I was using but once I got the technique down, then stamping a card went fine. Well the second time it did because the first time I got a green streak across one of my lilies so I had to flip the card front and start over (stray ink - disadvantage of block vs platform). I ended up fussy cutting one of the practice images to make the second card. Here they are:
I shared them to my Stampin' Up team page but they were underwhelmed. The stamp set came with the phrase "I adore you" but I just wanted the "adore" so I covered the other words with post-it notes, inked the "adore", removed the post-its and stamped it onto my die cut. The "today and always" was also part of the stamp set. I think they are pretty and am pleased anyway because they look exactly as I'd pictured them in my head. I will play with these more - more than 1 ink color, highlighting the center, watercoloring, etc. I haven't seen anyone use the irregular blob in the set but I intend to stamp that in a light color as background to a sentinment with a dark color. Not sure if that was the intent of the stamp when created but that's how I see it. Or maybe I'll use it to make an entire background. Definitely need some playtime!
Stampin' Up offers a coordinating die set for $27.00 for these stamps. I have a Scan n Cut so didn't buy those dies. The item is: LILY FRAMELITS DIES 150071 $27.00:
The Paper Pumpkin set for April will have a Distinktive stamp set. Paper Pumpkin subscriptions are $19.00 and include a stamp set, usually an ink cube or two, all the paper supplies needed and instructions to make 4 cards. To get the April set, you must subscribe before April 10th. They sell subscriptions of 1, 3, 6 or 12-month periods. If you see the preview for the next month and don't want it, you can suspend your subscription for that month by the 10th to skip getting it. You can also subscribe month-to-month and have it charged to a credit card each month. I prefer prepaying for a certain length of time and then entering that code into the paperpumpkin.com site. If you subscribe for 6 months, it's $108.00 so they take $6.00 off the price. If you subscribe for a year you pay for 11 months and get the 12th month free for $209.00.
Anyway, that's my stamping update. As always, would be happy to have you join me as a customer or if interested, as a fellow Stampin' Up rep. My site: Shop SU with Vee
