How to: Rubber Stamping for Beginners

A rubber stamp is a hand-held device that uses a type of ink to leave behind an impression of a design or message on a surface. The name comes from the carved or molded rubber, often featuring text or an image, that is used to make imprints on other surfaces. Rubber stamps can be made from a variety of materials, including wood, plastic, and rubber. They are often used for official purposes, such as marking documents with a seal or signature. However, they can also be used for decorative purposes, such as creating custom stationery or scrapbooking embellishments.

Today, rubber stamps come in many different types such as traditional rubber stamps, clear stamps, wooden rubber stamps, self-inking and pre-inked. Each type of stamp has their own use case for crafting, business branding, or business correspondences. Find the stamp that is right for you.

• Wood Vs Clear Stamps
• What are Self-Inking Vs Pre-inked Stamps?
• What Are Embossers?

It's easy to upload your own graphic if your looking to add a custom design or logo to a stamp. Just remember that when you upload your design, everything in black will be the areas of your design that leave behind an inked impression.

There are a few simple things to know before you start stamping such as how to use your stamps, how ink your stamps, how to care for your stamps and what tools we recommend getting started with.

• Different Types of Stamping Inks
• Ink Pad vs Re-fill Ink
• Pigment vs Dye Ink
• How to Use Stazon Ink
• How to Stamp with Multiple Colors

Rubber stamps are easy to use for both adults and kids alike, but there are a few tips to follow when applying ink and using your stamp.

1. Make sure your stamp is clean and dry.
2. Apply the ink by lightly daubing the ink pad onto the stamp, not the other way around.
3. Evenly coat the entire surface of your rubber stamp.
4. Stamp with even pressure, begining at the four corners and then evenly moving your pressure to the center of the stamp.
5. Remember: Don't rock the stamp!

There are also a some simple rubber stamp techniques perfect for getting started! Some easy techniques to try are heat embossing, stamping on fabric, using a perment ink to stamp on non porus surfaces like plastic, ceramic, metal or glass. there are also many ways to stamp with multiple colors.

• How to Heat Emboss: Embossing for Beginners
•  How to Stamp on Fabric
•  How to Use StazOn - a perment, solvent Ink

With proper care, your stamps will last for many years. Caring for your rubber stamps isn't hard, but you should know the do's and don'ts of properly cleaning and storing both your rubber and clear stamps.

Do's:

• Consider using a cleaning solution to safely remove ink from your stamp.
• A scrubber pad is commonly used for a deeper clean.
• Store your rubber stamps in a cool, dry place either in a flat or upright position and out of direct sunlight.
• Use an archival ink cleaner to remove permentant ink from your stamp.
• Rinse clear stamps with mild soap and water to retain thier stick.

Don'ts:

• Don't submerge your wooden stamp in soap and water.
• Avoid baby wipes that contain alhohol, but alcholol free wipes can be used for cleaning.
• Don't use abrasive scrub brushes or pads.
• Don't leave ink on your stamp, they must be cleaned before storing away.

Rubber stamps are a tool with limitless creative possibilities and, it can seem a little daunting at first but, once you learn these tricks, stamping should be a breeze. Go ahead and grab your stamps, whether they're clear or traditional rubber, and give one of these beginner stamp projects a try! Don't be discouraged if you're first couple tries don't work out, it just takes a little practice, and soon you will be stamping like a pro!