Laura’s Top 5 Tips for Stamping

Designer Laura Nicholas has long used inking techniques on scrapbook pages and cards. Lately, though, Laura’s been putting ink to paper with clear acrylic stamps! Whether you’re a stamping newbie or a pro who wants to brush up on the basics, Laura’s stamping tips are for you!

Tip #1: Lay it out. Since I’m a visual person, I like to lay out the clear stamps on my project prior to stamping. That way, I can make sure I’ll have enough space on my card or scrapbook page. It also gives me the chance to see if I need to angle the stamp, or if I want the stamped design to overlap any other elements.

Tip #2: Stamp a straight sentiment. When using alphabet stamps or if I want a row of straight images, I lay the stamps along the edge of a ruler and pick them up with my block as shown here. Press firmly so the stamps cling to the block. The stamps are then ready for inking.

Tip #3: Stamp on embellishments. Stamping isn’t limited to paper! Silk flowers and fabric leaves are perfect surfaces to stamp for added detail and texture. I like to use both a repeating pattern or words on these embellishments. The best inkpad for this is a Staz-On because the ink won’t blur, smear or bleed into the fabric. Simply place the flower or leaf onto scrap paper, then stamp. If your stamp is smaller than the flower or leaf, you can stamp the image at the top, then re-ink and stamp again below.

Tip #4: Easy borders. Clear stamps make borders easy on scrapbook pages and cards. Simply stamp the image, then re-ink. Line the stamp up with the first impression, then stamp again. Continue until your border is complete. Because the stamp and the block are clear, it’s really easy to see where you’re stamping!

Tip #5: Careful clean-up. While you can clean a wood-mounted stamp with a baby wipe, the lotions and additives in baby wipes can destroy acrylic stamps over time. Instead, peel the acrylic stamp off the block and wash it with a mild hand soap. Pat it dry, then replace the stamp onto the clear liner. (Don’t forget to clean your blocks, too!)