Applying Ink to a Stamp
12 March 2009
Author: Spotted Canary
How hard can it be to apply ink to a stamp? Not hard at all, but it’s important that you do it correctly so that your stamped images are clean and even.
There are two ways to apply ink to a stamp with an ink pad:
1. Place the ink pad on your work table and gently tap the stamp on the pad until you fully cover the raised image area of the rubber.
2. Place the stamp, rubber side up, on your work table and tap the ink pad on the rubber until it is fully inked. This method allows you to quickly see how much ink you have applied and if you have missed any sections.
Either method is fine, but there are important things to keep in mind:
• Foam ink pads tend to be softer and usually require less pressure to ink the rubber.
• Felt ink pads have a harder surface and require a bit more pressure to ink the rubber.
• With either type of ink pad, remember not to press too hard on the ink pad or the stamp in order to apply more ink. Doing so may result in unwanted ink around the border or between the cuts of the image. This excess ink may then transfer to your stamping surface.
• Check the stamp before you make your impression. If you do see any excess ink, carefully remove it with a cotton swab dampened with stamp cleaner.
If you follow these tips each time that you apply ink to a stamp, your images will come out clean and even.