TUESDAY’S TIP: Initiating New, Unused Photopolymer Stamps

Have you noticed that sometimes, when you use a brand new Photopolymer (clear image) stamp, the image is a bit ‘incomplete’? The image isn’t nice and bold and maybe has some unlinked areas?

Well, I have two simple tips for you:

1- EITHER, before you use the stamp, gently but firmly rub it with a lint free cloth. Then ink the stamp using Stampin’ Up!s Classic Ink, stamp it several times on a piece of scrap paper, ink it again and once more stamp on scrap paper until you get that nice strong image.

2- OR, tap the stamp very gently on a VersaMark Pad*, gently stamp it on a piece of paper several times and then ink the image in the Stampin’ Up! Classic Ink colored stamp pad of your choice. “Test drive” it (stamp several times) on a piece of scrap paper for the satisfactory full image you’re hoping for. Happy? Ink the stamp again with Classic Ink (whatever color your project calls for) and stamp away.

Product List

New Photopolymer Stamp Set Sample

This cake stamp below is from the Filled with Fun Stamp set and I’ll use it as an example of getting the ‘sometimes’ manufacturing residue off of the stamps.

VersaMark pad, Classic Stamp pad, photopolymer stamp
Test Drive of VersaMark pad to clean residue from new Photopolymer stamp

Each time you tap your new stamp in the VersaMark pad, stamp it on a piece of scrap paper and then ink it up using a colored ink pad (I’ve used Garden Green above) the image will get strong and more filled in.

Compare stamping an image using the same color ink on the same color card stock with stamping your image using VersaMark ink. Both appear a few shades darker than the card stock. Both make it great for creating tone-on-tone or watermark effects. The VersaMark ink is also perfect for heat embossing. I’ll have more about heat embossing and stamping on basic card stock next Tuesday, October 29th.

I hope you’ll check in for Tuesday’s Stampin’ Tips each week from now on. There’s always something new to learn or at least to review.

Thank you so much for popping in today. Please leave a comment below if you’re looking for a specific project or technique. And don’t forget to make a card and then make someone’s day by sending it to them.

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