Have you seen the two newest IOD Stamps yet? They are fabulous!
I still get asked all the time how to use them and what they’re for. Here is a little info! (In a nutshell)
How to stamp
Hover the stamp over your project surface to line up where you want to stamp before stamping.
Once you're ready to stamp, COMMIT and don’t shift. That means, once your stamp makes contact with the surface, keep it there otherwise you might unintentionally smudge or create a double image.
Use one hand to hold the stamp, then use your other hand to run your fingers over all the details of the stamp - apply even pressure and ensure good contact.
Lift the stamp straight up off the project surface when done stamping, again being careful not to shift.
Wipe your stamp clean with wipes immediately after use to prevent the medium from drying on the stamp.
Last, and most important: Practice makes perfect! Stamping isn’t hard, but it does take a little practice to get it just right - especially as you try new medium and different surfaces to get it just right.
What can I stamp?
Oh pretty much any surface!
FURNITURE
Both painted and stained furniture can be stamped. In fact, this is one of the most common uses for our stamps. You can use ink or paint, but generally we like the look of paint for furniture.
FABRIC
When stamping fabric the load of medium should be generous in order to penetrate the fibers. This means make sure your ink pad or brayer is extra juicy with ink or paint when loading the stamp.
You’ll also want to spend a little extra time with the stamp pressed on the fabric surface to give the fibers time to absorb the medium.
The look will be different with different levels of fabric texture. For example, stamping a high thread count pillow will look different from stamping burlap. Décor Ink, chalk paint and other fabric suitable mediums work well.
The ideal material for permanent washables is 100 percent cotton. However, blends and some other natural fibers can sometimes work as well.
Do a small test to be sure. Allow your newly stamped fabric to dry/cure for a minimum of 24 hours, then heat set with an iron on high heat before washing.
WALLS AND FLOORS
Walls are a fabulous surface opportunity for stamping. Create all over patterns that are a level up from wallpaper, and completely custom, or use the IOD stamps to create an old world border. We love using paint for wall applications!
SUGAR ARTS
Using a soft gel paste, you can stamp royal icing and fondant to take your desserts from dull to delectable! This technique uses a brayer to apply the gel paste to the stamp.
CERAMICS
You can use stamps to decorate pottery with glazes before firing or with embossing powder after. Or you can stamp wet clay to create beautiful impressions.
What are the masks for?
After you’ve gotten a feel for stamping (remember - “commit, don’t shift” and PRACTICE) and you’re ready to take it to the next level - learn how to mask.
The purpose of masking is to create visual layers on your project without disrupting or muddying the original stamped image. The mask covers and protects the stamped image so that no impression is made on top of it with overlapping stamps. This keeps your designs crisp and clear.
Masking creates the impression of a foreground and a background on your projects.
You can make you own masks by stamping a piece of paper with the stamp you want to use and then cutting it out along the edge of the design. Or you can use the pre-cut reusable plastic masks included with our 2020 stamps releases. You just need to separate each mask from the sheet by gently separating along the perforated lines.
Before masking, you want to make sure your initial stamped image is dry otherwise you will smudge it when you lay the mask down. Unsealed surfaces are porous and will have a relatively quick drying time. But if you’re stamping on a sealed surface, you’ll want to wait longer to allow for adequate drying before masking.
To mask, simply line up the mask with the stamped design, laying it on top to protect the image. Then you can continue stamping the next layer.
When planning a project that uses masking, you need to think in reverse order. This means stamping what you want to be in ‘front,’ or in the foreground, first. Background, or images that appear in the under layers, are stamped last when you mask.
Other advanced techniques that you can use with stamps are the Batik technique, wet-on-wet flooding, dip pens and more. We show you how to do each one in detail in this tutorial.
How should I care for my stamps?
We find that the easiest way to care for and clean stamps is to keep wet wipes nearby, and avoid letting the medium dry all the way on the stamp surface.
Then, when you have time, wash them with mild soap and warm water. For some mediums you may find that you need a stamp cleaner. Use one that is safe for clear stamps. After thoroughly cleaned, place them back on the clear backing for storage.
DO NOT use your stamps in high heat applications. This means puh-lease do NOT put them in the dishwasher or leave them in a hot car otherwise they will be more like shrinky-dinks than stamps. (Yikes!)
Where can I find these amazing stamps?
You can buy them right here on my website or pop into my shop!
Be sure to share pictures and tag me so I can see!
Till next time!
XOXO
Debi