Beginners Stamping Info Sheet prepared by Stamposaurus
Dye Based Ink Pads
Waterbased ink
Come in a wide range of colours
Suitable for paper and card (will take some time to dry on glossy card - unless heat gun is used)
Dry very quickly
Not suitable for embossing
Pigment Based Pads
Glycerine based ink
Come in a huge range of colours including metallic, fluorescent, multicoloured and clear.
Pigment ink dries slowly - speed up with a heat gun
Suitable for paper and card – but not shiny surfaces unless embossed
Suitable for embossing (lovely with a pretty coloured pigment pad and a holographic embossing powder
Usually acid free and non-toxic
Embossing Pads
Glycerine based ink
Transparent or Tinted (I prefer tinted)
Dry slowly
Specifically designed for use with embossing powders
Is available in pen form
Usually acid free
Archival Permanent Ink Pads
Solvent based (StazOn), oil based (Versafine), or dye based (Momento)
Solvent based ink pads stamp on any surface including glass, leather, card, metal
Quick drying ink, but this can depend on surface
Permanent – so good for colouring your stamped image, especially when using a waterbrush
Acid free and fade resistant
Fabric Pads
Permanent Ink
Suitable for paper. Card and fabric – needs to be ironed
Versamark Pad
A very sticky pad which can be used for lots of techniques
Stamp and emboss
Create a resist image by stamping onto glossy card and brayer over the top dye ink
Stamping and allowing to dry with give a watermark effect – especially on darker card
Use as a glue to apply chalks and pigment powders.
Felt Pens
Colour directly onto your stamp with non-permanent pens
Breath on the stamp to refresh colours before stamping (eg Marvy Le Plume or Superpoints)
Handy Hints
Size of Pad
Ink pads are raised and so a small ink pad can ink up a large stamp – by tapping pad over stamp
Storage of Ink Pads
Store ink pads upside down with the exception of metallic, pearl and multicoloured pigment pads. This will ensure that the ink stays at the top of your pad and will be ready for use.