Brayer Techniques

Door Hanger Ideas

Ink Refill Techniques

Rainbow Pad Techniques

Incredible Inks (11 Techniques)

Ink Pad Maintenance

  1. Stamp all over the pad so you don't get a dip in the middle of the ink pad.
  2. Store the ink pad upside down to keep the ink near the surface.
  3. You can remove the lid by squeezing the base and wiggling the lid back and forth by grabbing the lid where the indentations for your thumb and fingers to ink large background stamps.
  4. You should re-ink the pads by scribbling the refill ink across the pad.

Eleven Techniques Using Acid Free Ink Pads

  1. Direct to paper - Take the ink pad and wipe or streak it across the paper.
  2. Edging - Ink your stamp with one color and then roll the edges of the stamp in another color to obtain a depth or shading look. Demonstrated using a pear stamp.
  3. Emboss - You can use one of the 48 exclusive colors to emboss on Vellum or metallic cardstock because they have a longer drying time and don't soak up the ink immediately like the other papers.
  4. Misting - Use a spray bottle and mist the paper before or after to get different looks. This technique is best used on color, natural, or confetti paper.
  5. Polished stone - Use glossy paper, a couple of the 48 exclusive colors refills, metallic gold ink refill, a cotton ball, and alcohol. Drop ink on a alcohol soaked cotton ball and then dab it all over the glossy card stock to produce a marble effect.
  6. Resist - Stamp an image on glossy card stock and use a brayer with one of the 48 exclusive colors and coat the entire piece of paper including the image.
  7. Smudging - Like the direct to paper technique but apply to the paper and twist.
  8. Sponging - Lightly tap a stamping sponge on an ink pad. Tap the inked sponge on the card stock to apply ink. Repeat for more intense color. Note: To create a soft border, hold the card stock in one hand while lightly sponging along the edges of the card stock. Speckle Ink (small fleck of color, usually added to a watercolored stamp image): Dip a damp toothbrush or stencil brush into ink or paint hold about an inch away from item to be flecked rub finger or thumb over bristles, splattering ink or paint as bristles snap back into place.
  9. Stippling - Stamp on glossy paper and use a stipple brush on a regular ink pad and then stipple the stamped image.
  10. Tie-dye - Use 2 sheets of plastic or transparencies, apply several drops of ink refills in different colors, then place the second sheet on top of the drop and squish back and forth to mix the colors slightly. Separate the plastic sheets or transparencies and place glossy or ultra-smooth cardstock on top of the ink.
  11. Water color - Press your thumbs on the lid of a closed ink Pad. Open the lid and use a wet watercolor brush to pick up the accumulated ink to paint your stamped image. Don't worry about staying in the lines-watercolor is most beautiful when it bleeds outside the lines! Large Background Stamps: Place the background stamp face up on your stamping surface. Completely ink the stamp by tapping the ink pad on the rubber. Carefully place the card stock on the inked rubber. Cover with a piece of scratch paper. With smooth, firm strokes, rub the card stock, making certain to rub all areas of the stamp and to keep the card stock from sliding. Remove the scratch paper and carefully lift the card stock off the stamp.

Heat Embossing: Rub Embossing Buddy pouch over surface to be embossed. This anti-static powder will keep any stray specks of embossing from spoiling your project. Ink and stamp with embossing or pigment ink. Liberally sprinkle embossing powder on stamped image. Shake off excess powder onto a clean sheet of paper and funnel it back into the bottle. Heat with Stampin' Up's embossing heat gun just until powder becomes shiny and raised. Be careful not to heat too long, as the powder will actually melt into the paper and the paper may be scorched. Allow to cool for a short period of time before touching.

Dry embossing with Brass templates: Secure the brass template to a light source with a small piece of tape. You can use our light table or a window. It is necessary to have sufficient light shine through the open areas of the template. To allow the stylus to glide more smoothly, lightly rub waxed paper over the surface of the card stock. Place the paper over the template, positioning it so that you'll have the image where you want it. It may be easier to add these accents after the stamping is done. For a raised image on the front of the card, place the paper with the front side down. Using the large end of the stylus tool, trace the open areas of the template. When the paper is turned over, the image will be raised. If a colored raised image is desired, replace the brass template on the right side of the card. It will act as a mask to protect the unraised surfaces. Apply color with a small sponge using our ink pads or chalks or with Dauber Duos™.

Wheels: Insert ink cartridge into self-inking handle, with the tab in the slot on the handle. Press down until it clicks. Snap wheel in place. Press ink cartridge tab forward to engage cartridge with stamp. On scratch paper, roll stamp forward two or three times to get it thoroughly inked, always stamping in the same direction so cartridge will continue to ink wheel. Some people find it easier to control the wheel when they place their forefinger on the curved part of the handle that covers the wheel. When stamping on an actual project, always start rolling before the bottom edge of the project and continue off the top edge.

Watercolor with embossing, markers, and blender pens: Use an embossing ink pad to stamp a line image. Emboss it with Gold (or color of your choice) Embossing powder. Color it with markers. Use blender pens to blur the colors in ways that please you.


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