Stick it To Me: Glue Stamp Pad Techniques

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Author: Catherine Cray Gelaude

A glue stamp pad is simply a wet adhesive in a stamp pad. These pads allow you to add glitter, flocking, microbeads, and metallic or chalk powders to your paper crafts. You simply 'ink' and stamp your image as you normally would for any other stamped project by pressing your stamp down on the pad surface. Below is a list of some glue stamp pad types. Make sure to read the instructions for your particular pad before you start your project.



Glue Stamp Pads Types:

• Ready to use glue stamp pad – This type of pad already comes with adhesive applied on the pad and is ready to use. No heat activation is required. To use this pad, simply ink stamps as normal – apply the image to paper and sprinkle with glitter or flock. Allow your stamped image to dry for 10-15 minutes before handling.
• Glue stamp pad kits with refill bottles – This glue pad kit usually includes a glue pad which does not have adhesive applied and a refill bottle with clear, acid free adhesive. You will need to use about 1/2 of the refill bottle to ink the pad before the first use. Ink and stamp image as normal, apply glitter or flock, then remember to allow the necessary 10-15 minutes for drying time before handling the stamped image.
• Heat activation glue stamp pad – The glue on this pad comes in either clear or black and is archival. After stamping and applying your image to paper you must activate the glue with a heat tool – either before or after applying your bling accessory item.
  • Heat stamped image before when applying – metallic or chalk pigments.
  • Heat stamped image after when applying – glitter or flock.
    

As with any new technique a little practice is required. Here is a list of helpful hints to get you wonderful results.

Helpful Hints:

• Surface materials – Glue pads work best on glossy or coated cardstocks, vellums, acetate and on shipping tags.
• Tips for glitter – The combination of ultrafine glitter and light colored paper makes a great image using the glue pad technique.
• After applying glitter or flocking – Use your acrylic block or the back of your stamp to press the glitter or flock into the glued image. Wait 10-15 minutes before tapping off the excess.
• Cleaning your stamps with two steps – First, clean stamp with a mild dish soap and water - dry thoroughly. Next, clean stamp a second time using the a stamp cleaner.
  
• Storage – Store glue pads upside down in between use. This keeps the adhesive close to the surface of the pad.
• Using microbeads with a glue pad –
  
  
  1. After stamping the image – apply the microbeads.
  2. Pour superfine embossing powder over the image – remove the excess powder.
  3. Heat the image, using a heat tool, until all the embossing powder has melted.

These additional steps will help to hold the beads in place.
Remember that you do not use all glue pads the same way. Make sure to read the instructions on your particular glue stamp pad and follow the above helpful hints before starting. Glue stamp pads are easy to use and certainly create dimension – while adding the “WOW” factor to your stamped paper projects. I hope you will add this fun factor to your stamping repertoire today!