Rubber Stamping
By Angie Felix

Stamping is all over the paper crafting world—from altered books to cards and even scrapbook pages, the popularity of rubber stamping has quickly spread. How can you include rubber stamping in your paper crafting projects? It’s easy—read on for basic tips on how you too can add this artform to your catalog of techniques.

What is Stamping?
Stamping in its most basic form is applying an inked rubber image to a given surface and coloring it. The idea of stamping is to create beautiful images as a focal on a project or an accent. You can even journal with rubber stamps, creating a charming, handmade look.

Before you begin you’ll need to select your stamp—keeping in mind the size of your project—and the type of inkpad you want to use. See our stamp and ink guides with this article for information on stamp and ink types.

Stamp Guide

There are three main types of rubber stamps:

Wood-Mounted
These typically offer the best quality of stamping and are the first choice of most stampers. The rubber stamp surface is mounted onto a wood block with the image shown on the top for easy recognition. The block offers a good surface to hold onto when you’re stamping for cleaner, more precise stamping.

Foam-Mounted
These are most often sold in collections or kits and are typically less expensive. The rubber stamp surface is mounted directly on foam backing. Collections or kits are a great way to stock up on stamps, particularly for a themed-project.

Acrylic-Mounted
These stamps are mounted on a clear, acrylic block. The transparent mounting allows you to see exactly where your stamp image will be applied. These types of stamps are great for aligning multiple images.

Ink Guide

There are also a variety of ink products to choose from, some for certain effects, some that work best for particular surfaces. You’ll want to read the details on a particular ink pad before purchasing, but here are some basics:

•Dye-based inks are fast-drying and tend to hold find detail very well. They adhere to most surfaces—from glossy to matte. Some are acid-free and perfect for archival projects like scrapbook pages. Many are water-based and work well with blending techniques; others are washable and great for crafting with children.

•Pigment-based inks are slow-drying, opaque and lend themselves well to embossing. Most pigment inks dry only when heat-set and many are archival and permanent.

•Chalk inks combine the quick drying time of dye-based inks with the rich-color content of pigment inks. These dry to a muted, chalk-like finish and are permanent when heat set.

Techniques and Tips
After you’ve selected your stamps and ink you’re ready to go! Stamp enthusiast Sara Naumann recommends getting to know your rubber stamps and inkpads before you actually start on a project. You can test the pressure you need to apply to make the stamped image look like you want and check the position of your stamp (they aren’t always aligned perfectly on those wood blocks!). You’ll also want to do a test run on scratch paper to check the amount of ink you’ll need—some inkpads are wetter than others.

Sara also suggests standing to stamp rather than sitting down. If you’re sitting down all the pressure is closest to you. When you stand and press down with your palm you’re distributing the pressure evenly over the stamp, resulting in even stamping.

Remember that stamping creates a unique, handmade look. “Don’t be a perfectionist,” Sara says. The imperfections are part of the charm—especially when you’re journaling with alphabet stamps, the unevenness of the letters adds character to your project. However, if you’re concerned about the position of your stamp in your project, consider stamping on a separate piece of paper (colored or white, depending on your project, then cutting out and gluing the piece to your project.

Here are few simple stamping techniques to try out:

• One-Color Stamping
  To apply ink to the stamp, lightly tap the stamp onto the inkpad for even coverage on the raised areas of the stamp. It’s important not to rub the stamp on the inkpad or rock it back and forth as it will cause the ink to the build up unevenly on parts of the stamp.
  
  
• Multi-Color Stamping
  You can add more than one color to your stamp to create a gradient or multi-color effect. Ink one end of the stamp with one color, then continue with different colors to cover the stamp image. This technique is great for creating a rainbow effect. Using small inkpads is best for this effect as they are easier to handle in a small area. Also try dipping a sponge onto the inkpad, then pressing it onto the stamp to ink specific areas on the stamp.
  
  
• Collaging With Multiple Stamps
  There is no limit to the number of stamps or styles to create a collage composition. You can develop a theme of coordinating images or try completely different ones. Add some non-stamp embellishments for a unique look.
  
  
• Randomly Stamping
  Repeating a stamped image on a surface creates a unique background. It’s best to choose an ink color lighter than the one you’ll use for the main focus image. Re-ink the stamp and change the angle of the image for the random effect.
  
  
• Continuous Stamping
  This technique is ideal for covering large areas or creating a border. You can align the stamped images for a uniform look or slightly change the alignment of a different effect. Use a ruler as a guide to make a uniform look.
  
  

Caring for Your Stamps and Inkpads
Stamps aren’t cheap—consider them an investment that should last for years. Caring for your stamps is very important. One thing to remember is to never immerse them in water—there are many liquid cleaners or wipe cloths available to make the job quick and easy. Use an old toothbrush to clean ink from any crevices. Allow the stamps to dry thoroughly before storing them. Store your stamps image side down and out of the sunlight to keep corrosion from harming them. You’ll find these steps will keep your rubber stamps looking new for a long time.

As for your inkpads, it’s best to store them ink side down (with the lid on, of course!) to keep them moist longer.
Now that you’ve got the basic ideas you can take the time to experiment and really have fun with stamping—try it on your handmade cards, scrapbook pages, sarabooks™ and other projects—you’ll love the versatility of this new technique!