Stamping - It's not just for Cards!

A lot of people say they aren't interested in rubber stamping because they don't make cards...they are more into scrapbooking. Boy are they missing out! Stamps can be used for alphabet titles, backgrounds, embellishment accents, journaling and much more! Plus, they are a great investment in that they can be used over and over again.

If you want to break out of the mold and stamp on your pages you will need to know a few things about the products first.

Ink Basics

Stampin' Up!'s revolutionary pads feature a patented, flip-top design that stores the inking surface upside down so it is always moist. The type of ink used depends on the look you want and the material you will be stamping:

Dye - Dye based inks may fade with time, making them less attractive for scrapbook enthusiasts. However, card enthusiasts love our Classic Ink pads because they are fast drying, resist smudging and are permanent. They are great for general craft projects as well.

Pigment - Colors tend to be more vibrant, and ink is a bit thicker than dye-based inks. Our Craft Ink pads contain rich pigment that is ideal for scrapbooking, embossing, and other craft projects, and are the best choice for long-lasting color. 

Versamark - Perfect for watermarking which creates a subtle tone-on-tone image. It is also perfect for heat embossing.

Staz On - This is a solvent based ink. It dries by evaporation, not absorption like water-based dye inks. It is perfect for smooth surfaces, such as glass, acrylic, metal and photographs. Clean your stamps immediately with Staz-On solvent cleaner when using this ink.


Other products you may like to have on hand include embossing powders, a brayer, sponge daubers, stamp cleaning solution & scrubber..

Then, of course, you need the stamps!

Our high quality rubber stamps are sold in sets, in both wood and clear mount. The deeply etched images on foam-backed rubber create sharp and clear stamped images, giving a far superior result over materials such as acrylic or foam stamps.

If you are just starting out, consider purchasing sets that will work with many of your scrapbooking projects, such as alphabets, basic shapes, floral, holiday, baby, etc.... These basic images can be used in many different ways on your layouts without being repetitive.


 Try these ideas:

* Change the stamped ink color or use Versamark for subtle backgrounds..

* Use basic shapes and different ink colors on white or light colored cardstock to create your own unique    patterned paper.


* Try watercolor pencils, markers, chalks, glitter, acrylic paints, or embossing powders.

* Use a portion of a stamp as opposed to the entire image.

* Change the paper or surface, such as patterned paper, fabric, acrylic, vellum, or textured cardstock.

* Add mixed media, such as brads, eyelets, ribbon, tags and buttons.

There is no end to the techniques one can learn with inks and stamps. To get started, try these basic techniques:

Direct to Paper - Images and inks are pressed to paper, either directly on your layout or on a separate piece of paper which is then cut out and mounted on your page. For larger stamps such as background stamps, it is often easier to lay the stamp image side up and tapping the ink pad onto the image. Press the image onto the paper firmly with your palm and don't rock or twist the stamp. Pick the stamp straight up and allow the image to dry. Color the image if desired.

Heat Embossing - This technique gives a raised impression to your stamped image. Rub an embossing buddy or dryer sheet over your paper. Stamp your image with our Craft Ink or Versamark. Place your image over a sheet of plain copy paper or a powder tray. Pour embossing powder over the entire stamped image. Pick up the stamped image and tap it lightly to remove the excess embossing powder. Return the excess powder to the jar. Heat the image with an embossing gun being careful to slowly move the heat gun over the image. To avoid overheating or scorching your paper, constantly move the embossing gun around in a circular motion. You will know it's done when your image begins to change texture, becoming slightly raised..

Shadow Stamping - This technique is done in two steps: stamping the shadow stamp in a light color and re-stamping in a darker ink over that shadow. Shadow stamps are typically a solid rubber shape, such as squares and circles, many with unique edges.

Resist - With this technique, the image is the only area of your paper not colored by ink. Stamp your image on glossy paper using a Versamark pad. Ink a brayer and roll it across the paper and image.

Masking - Masking is done when you want to bring an image to the forefront of a scene. To create a mask, stamp your foreground image on a post-it note and trim, cutting just inside the edge of the image for best results. To use the mask, stamp your image on your cardstock or paper. Place the mask over your image when it dries. Stamp your background layer(s) and allow to dry. Remove the mask to reveal your layered art.


With these products and techniques, you can create beautiful and unique scrapbook layouts. You'll soon realize that inks and stamps are a versatile and artistic way to preserve your memories!

Happy Stamping!