Tips for using cheap clear stamps with dye ink and markers PLUS embossing!

[@monicaeskridge2806]

Thanks! This was very helpful for someone that's just started stamping.

[@nadianaviwala1217]

I'm so happy to have found this video. As a new crafter, i can't afford the high end stamps yet or the higher end stamp pads. This saved me a lot of headache and money!! Thank you so much!!

[@LizzyLovesSatan]

I swear, you have a video for just about every crafting or art thing I want to know about :P Keep up the awesome work!

[@jdmarr2259]

I'm new to stamping & have purchased wood rubber stamps, a few quality clear Polymer stamps & then the cheap ones. Your video about the cheapies was really good - to the point with demonstrations. And the powder with heat demo along with mentioning the glycerine stamp pad trick makes your video a 💯 % positive experience. Thank you!!!

[@KuddlyKisses]

I use this tip _all the time_ with dollar store clear stamps and it works _so_ well! 🤩

[@StevensK67]

Glad I found this tip! Worked very well! Now I know not all clear stamps are created equal!

[@tina2115]

I just tried this and it works so well. I bought a whole bunch of stamps thinking I could just use markers, but it was not what I expected at all. I stumbled upon this video and changed the game for me. Thank you sm.

[@NunayoBisnez]

The emery board thing is the best stamping tip EVER. I now do this to all of my acrylic stamps and they stamp a lot better!

[@aliciamilligan-biffis5360]

I came across your video when I was searching why my cheaper clear stamps don't seem to work as well. Brilliant! What a difference my little dollar store nail file can make! I know this is an older video, but thanks so much. You've got a new subscriber right here.

[@thefrugalcrafter]

Thanks!

[@deskjockie4948]

I find that after conditioning my clear stamps, using a stamp positioner really helps to get a clearer impression. Sometimes I have to stamp them several times, but it does make a big difference. If someone can't afford the higher priced stamp positioner, there are now less expensive ones on the market, some you can get with a store discount. OR, crafty people can learn to make their own by watching KZbin videos. Just do a Search for DIY Stamp Positioners. I'm enjoying your videos, Lindsey, and getting a lot of good tips from each one. Thanks!

[@thefrugalcrafter]

+deskjockie49 good idea!

[@kkrolf2782]

My WONDERFUL Fella helped me make one, and then, when I’d forgotten to bring it along on an extended trip, I popped into Michael’s, picked up an on-sale “certificate frame” (FLAT Frame edges), got duck tape & “fun foam” from the $ Tree, and made one myself. At home, I STILL use the one my Fella made for me, but the other is lighter weight for travel.

[@gaylejohnson2356]

Thank you Soooooo much. This works. I just starting buying stamps on amazon. They are 1/5th the cost of MLM name-brands and I love the vast array of images and that you can get die-cut/stamps super cheap. I thought I was going to have to go back to the expecsive stuff... then I saw this. I figured, if I over filed the stamps I would toss them anyway and voilà.. it worked. I had to file more that I expected, but the final images is grand. Super thanks; I would have never considered this.

[@paulage1art]

Thanks for the tip! Have never filed them - will give it a try! I have used the Tim Holtz method of stamping with Archival Ink and not cleaning it off. Dries with a nice finish for the ink to hold onto and also colors the clear image so it is easier to see the details of the stamp - particularly sentiment stamps and fine detail stamps. The only downside to that technique is that it is hard to see where you have colored your stamp with markers, so the filing technique would be great. For the person who can't get her stamps to stay on her acrylic mounts - usually they just need washed with soap and water and air dried - paper towels leave lint and prevents clinging to the mount. Glue sticks also work for a temporary hold and washes off easily, but if you REALLY want it to stick, the Tack 'n Peel reusable cling sheets by Tsukineko are awesome! You apply it to a dedicated acrylic block and it leave it on but the other side of the adhesive is an aggressive repositionable adhesive and most anything will stick to it - stamps, coins, buttons,etc, can make a stamp out of anything! It is a tiny bit squishy so you don't need a cushion to stamp on. Saves you from cling foam mounting or applying Tack It Over and Over to all your stamps - clear or rubber.

[@kkrolf2782]

I’ve had T R O U B L E (big time!!!) getting SILICONE stamps to stick to my stamperatus!! Should’ve known better than to have bought them!! The major “favorable” factor of silicone IS just that feature ... nothing is SUPPOSED to stick to it!! ANY one with ANY suggestions would be warmly received!!

[@RobertasArtisticAdventures]

Thank you so much, Lindsay, for this wonderful tip!!!! I am a newbie and have believed my stamping troubles to be me and not the stamp or ink pads. I have some old emery boards and will try to file them slightly to see if that improves the quality of my stamping! God bless you and your family. I am one of your biggest fans!

[@rachaebby]

I LOVE YOU! !! I've been trying to figure out what I've been doing wrong with my clear Stamps! So i haven't used them in forever because they were driving me insane! Thank you thank you thank you! !!

[@Kathy-ju1hy]

I can't thank you enough for this video! I stamped a sentiment today with clear stamps and it was spotty and uneven...ruined the entire card!! Sure enough, I took my Emory board to it and its solid like it should have been in the first place!!! Thanks so much Lindsay, you are a huge talent and a wealth of knowledge!!!

[@thefrugalcrafter]

thanks:)

[@sued877]

I am new to stamping and have a few sets of cheap clears, maybe now that I understand how make them work I will get better results and not feel so frustrated. Thanks for this tip - it is awesome - I didn't have am emery board so I experimented with sandpaper and found a 220 fine scuffing sandpaper did a nice job without messing up the stamp.

[@Chillergiller]

Great tip... When I first got into crafting I bought a lot of cheap stuff but the hoarder in me wouldn't let me toss them. Now maybe I can use them. Thanks so much.

[@margaretball8835]

Just wanted to say a big thank you! I had no problem stamping with my rubber stamps, but when I bought some silicone stamps, it was no fun. Now each stamp gives a nice, clear image. Love watching your videos and your exuberance is fun and contagious.😉

[@thefrugalcrafter]

I'm glad it helped!

[@Fancylooks]

Excellent idea, I'll take it into account, the makers of these stamps should too!

[@lisamr40]

You mentioned this tip in a few other video and I have used it several times. I just started stamping and tend to get the cheaper stamps. This tip works wonders! Thanks!

[@sharonfrench1087]

Thank you for this great tip. I always practice stamp sentiments and if they don't stamp well I stamp on scrap paper and cut it out and glue it on. I mess up stamping a lot.

[@betsyzelinger]

You just saved me a ton of money, Lindsay. I'm new. So I enthusiastically bought a bunch of cheap clear stamps...and they were BAD. So, I was going to send them to recycle...but the emery board did the trick! I wish you had a link in your descriptions to your Amazon Wish List, so I could do some give-back. Thanks again😋

[@Phyllis-nk5ji]

I made one of those frugal stamp cleaners. (wet on one half, dry on the other) and am really pleased with it. Just thought I'd mention it. It's pretty nifty if I do say so myself. Thanks :-)

[@tracyvis2101]

Oh man I'm so appreciative of this! I bought a bunch of cheap stamps and was so disappointed that they didn't work well and this fix them!!! THANK YOU!

[@SH-ev1do]

I am so thrilled that I learned your tip for big stamps, it worked like a charm!!

[@luvcreatincardsnkeepsakes]

Thank you Lindsay for this great tip, I’ll try it out next time I’m using some cheap clear stamps that I bought recently and haven’t stamped as well as I hoped they would😊

[@Dainty1158]

very informative! thank you sooooo much! I just bought some cheaper clear stamps and that's exactly what happened when i tried stamping.will try both methods

[@TheEdnac]

I was so dissapointed with the quality of the image I was getting with my cheaper stamps, but now your tip was so appreciated. Thank you Lindsay!

[@faigie2002]

I used a medium 100 grade sandpaper.. worked VERY well, and the details on the stamp werent hurt at all!

[@juliea.3495]

You saved me! I was so sad and frustrated because nothing would work and now I can use all my cute cat stamps! Thanks❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@jennymullins593]

Hi Lindsay, always enjoy your presentations. Just thought I'd mention that Tim Holtz suggested inking up clear stamps with a Ranger Archival Ink Pad & letting the ink dry on your stamp. This works especially well with Distress Ink Pads which bubbled up & gave useless stamped impressions with Polymer. He said it conditions stamps & won't hurt them in any way. This system works brilliantly: I just hope he's right about not damaging stamps as mine are like old friends!

[@KLThames]

I get great results using a Mr. Clean eraser doowhoppie on my stamps that are new and want to repel inks. It works so well and all I do is give the stamp a good scuffing and it works for good. When the stamps give me issues by not sticking to my acrylic blocks, sometimes if I'm in a rush I just use a little double stick crafting tape. Then I use a baby wipe, and hit it quick on the back of the stamp with my heat gun.

[@thefrugalcrafter]

Katheryn Thames good idea!

[@kkrolf2782]

And the heat gun makes the stamps adhere better to the block?!? (Can I hope? Be still, My Heart!!)

[@KLThames]

@@kkrolf2782 unfortunately I use the heat gun to help remove the sticky strips. But I can imagine that since it softens the glue, it might work to help them stick better. Or the opposite might happen. Good luck, and hopefully you will have a good result!

[@joannecarroll5504]

Really useful info, thanks Lindsay. To those stressing about using a 'nail file' - as a nail technician/beauty therapist, an emery board is quite different to a nail file, far gentler & causing much less damage to the nail (and of course to the stamp lol).

[@photoxityforever9503]

Excellent tip as I've bought a lot of the cheap stamps. Glad you shared with us. Thanks.

[@reneenagy5280]

Love all you share with us. So here's my share with you. New to stamping and just got a free T. H. ink palette with the purchase of distress oxide reinkers. I used it to store my newly invented and created homemade ink blenders. I cut a piece of foam a little smaller than the spaces on the palette. I gorilla glued fabric that stuck on the velcro I found in the craft room. Used a small wooden piece that looks like a chess piece but isn't. Now I have 36 ink blenders in a labeled container with a color swatch. I love it. Too bad Tim's crew didn't make it big enough to fit the ink blender pads he sells. I still have to store those in pill bottles. : (

[@kkrolf2782]

Renee Nagy Oooooo...PILL BOTTLES!!! What a Great Idea for keeping some of those lil gems outta the landfill!!! (My blenders are a Frugal design using short lengths of pvc stuffed with a cosmetic foam circle over a wadded up foam wedge. For now I store them in 2 covered egg containers I found at a Ross’ or T J Maxx or some such.)

[@PreciousArtCreation]

Wow! Thanks for that Tip! I've been crafting since I was a kid and didn't even know that you could get a better image on a stamp just by filing it down a bit! Great to know.

[@elizabethkerckhoff1259]

Thank you, I'm going to try it. I think a lot of the cheaper stamps are cute and fun.

[@habituallearner7680]

Thank you so much! I was just about to give up trying to stamp with clear stamps and markers (and with ink).

[@elkeartsandcrafts]

Good subject, Lindsay, FYI, The clear stamps that I prefer are made by 'Clarity Stamps' (Barbara Gray.) An English woman who invented clear stamps because she wanted to be able to see where she was placing the image. The quality is outstanding, although not cheap. Well, you get what you pay for! I can understand having to work on a budget, but I think it is better to choose a few versatile stamps than a lot of cheap ones that don't perform well.

[@caroll5682]

I just started getting into stamp I didn't know about The diff type of stamps So I bought cheaper ones And had this problem and Now I thank you for this video At least I can stay in my budget till I can afford better ones Thank you

[@bmmcwhirt]

Thank you. I don't know why I didn't think of this but it works brilliantly. Love the fact your using Tombow markers too. So far I have found them to work the best for the price. They may not be alcohol based but I can get a whole package for the price of two copic.

[@vickiweiss311]

WOW, THANKS for great tip!!! I am making 25 watercolor Xmas cards, with clear sentiment stamping inside, which was making me nervous about messing them up... will definitely use your method! Thanks again!

[@creativekat109]

great tips l am addicted to buy cute n pretty clear stamp.

[@dorispettengill6422]

Great tip Lindsay !! I've had to do this before with my cheaper stamps also !! I also put glue on the tops and let it dry in order for them to stick to the block ! Thanks, Doris

[@ELTarTree]

Wow, this is an old video that came up in YT suggestions. How did I miss that before? Thanks!

[@prettypaperthings]

I got a whole bunch of stamp sets at a dollar store where I live. Most of hen are old fashioned style and I couldn't resist. I haven't really tried playing with them though but since they are so cheap, probably would have had a tough time, thanks for the tip!

[@jolang3896]

Have tried the file with okay results. You can also dust the stamp with a bit of powder or cornstarch - don’t know about markers, but works beautifully with stamp pads!!! Saw it on another video. Thanks.

[@Multicrafter1]

I have good results using a palm sander with a fine grit on my clear & rubber stamps. It's about 4" X 6", covers most stamps so there is no chance of making an uneven stamp surface. I use it also to revive old stamps which have developed "skips".

[@lauriemfs8720]

Great video and the tips, I'm happy to see you use the nail file I have been doing it to all mine and it works great! I'm a newbie at card making, lots of good info! Happy Crafting!

[@susanrn1188]

Excellent advice on the nail file and cheap stamps.! I'm going to do this.

[@aoarashi3025]

Hello, the emery board tip worked really well! Thank you

[@lynnetteward7423]

Great idea with the emery boards. Will dig out my cheapys again.

[@bejayroles5820]

Thanks for the great tip, Lindsay. I've got a LOT of cheap clear stamps lol

[@craftqueen417]

Thanks Lindsey! I get the best results if I sand the stamp North-South-East-West, clean, dry and test stamp to see if I need to touch up any offending areas. I'm glad I'm not the only one who can not resist the lesser quality sets. Sets I have to work on are Recollections, American Crafts, $1.00 Studio g and Inkadinkado, Older Penny Black before they started making photo polymer, Fiskars. They are a polymer, just not photo polymer. The packages probably say what they are? Good quality stamps from photo polymer is very sticky to the touch, but easy to remove from the carrier sheet. Inexpensive polymer is very hard to get off of the carrier sheet, almost like it's fused to the acrylic sheet it comes on.

[@alathenasidericus]

Thank you thank you thank you! I've heard in the past that sanding the stamps was bad and would only thicken the line. I never dared. Now I can see it doesn't! Even good polymer stamps didn't give me a good impression with markers. I thought it might be the Tombows (people seem to be using Memento, Stamping up or Tim holtz a lot more). Now I can see how it works. Thank you again!

[@mccosha]

if you sand very detailed stamps you WILL thicken the lines - make sure you sand stamps lightly - you just want to remove the shiny surface not alter the image!

[@emk3234]

I kind of like the way the red one turned out, it look liked it had a lot of shine on it

[@wendyfalk2793]

Hi Lindsay!! Just an FYI of how I make these clear stamps work for me! I have sanded many of them with varying results; but I have found with ANY stamp that beads the ink just dust it with an "embossing buddy". That is the little powder pillow used to de-static paper before embossing. There are probably different names and brands but the only one I am familiar with is the one from Stampin' Up! I usually color my clear stamps with markers and this has worked well for me. I ALWAYS need to "huff" before stamping, I think the powder makes the inks dry fast.

[@thefrugalcrafter]

Wendy Falk great tip, thanks!

[@Oshie1970]

Thanks to you, I do this to all my clear stamps. They work so much better! Tfs

[@lindacastro2688]

Thanks, Lindsay! I have the PERFECT stamp to put candles and greens on my fireplace. . .but it's solid. Humbug. I'm going to try this. Also, glycerin for a dead stamp pad? Gotta try that too!

[@normalara1417]

Thanks Lindsay! I've got quite a few stamps that I can now use, instead of throwing them away. Great tip!😊👍💕

[@ednac.g.9178]

I just purchased the fiskar stamps that u were using. I was having such a hard time using them. thanks so much for this tip video. I get to use my stamps now.

[@jennymarie1915]

Thanks for the tip! I am eager to try it out. Sometimes its so hard to pass up those super cute stamps! ;)

[@missychan63]

Love your tips! Just wanted to share what I do when I want to use a dye ink for embossing... I simply ink the stamp with Versamark first, and then ink right over it with the dye ink, and stamp and emboss away. I haven't noticed any damage to my dye stamp pads... And actually did it that way the first time because I couldn't find my glycerin. I have to be honest - I got the idea from another youtuber... But for the life of me I can't remember who it was.

[@thefrugalcrafter]

missychan63 col! I tried that but could not get enough ink to stick to my image, I;m glad it worked for you!

[@vixenlarue1998]

Thankyou for this video!!! I have a gorgeous stamp that I want to use., but the ink beads up. Now I know how to fix it!!!

[@rubberartist]

Lindsay, thank you so much for the emery board tip. I just had a lousy print last night, trying to mix fountain pen calligraphy and rubber stamping, and I was focused on the paper. I had a nagging thought that the stamp might just be an issue, as I have had this 'beading' problem many times before (especially on a new stamp that's never even been cleaned). Hah! I've been blaming the ink.

[@donnaburrows8686]

Thanks so much. I have been having a lot of trouble with ink beading 😃 Have a great day.

[@TheSuzyfick]

Great tip. I am going to condition all og my clear stamps today thanks to you.

[@scrappyscrapbookin]

Thank you so much for this tip. I had try the eraser and had no luck, but the emery board work on my cheap stamps, again thank you. :)Cherie

[@TheCraftyOrganizer]

So smart!!! Thanks for sharing!

[@thefrugalcrafter]

Hey Noreen! Love your channel!

[@karenrobertson890]

Awesome tip! and Glycerine! who knew? Thanks for sharing!

[@MissFlux]

Omg!! 😱THIS is what I e been looking for for SO long!!!! I have a HUGE collection of BEAUTIFUL dye based fountain pen/brush work ink & have been DYING (pardon the pun) to use my also HUGE stamp collection & do some scrapbook/mixed media. Omg I can't WAIT to try this!! :)) I'll report back🤘😎

[@thetapequeen5489]

If anyone is afraid to use an emery board, I have had great success with using a white eraser. My favorite clear stamps are from The Stamps of Life. They're excellent quality and reasonably priced and shipping is reasonable too. Also. their stamps take ink without having to rough up the surface. (I don't sell for them. I'm just a happy customer.)

[@Craftyglittergirl250]

Thumbs up! Thanks for the great tips. Im new to stamping and this as very helpful! Thanks for sharing. Hugs-Ashley

[@meghanshea7852]

Love the ring pop!!! Would be super cute as a holiday ornament if you masked off the bottom of it too!

[@PatsTreasuresNCrafts]

Great tips. I have a lot of the cheap stamps so this comes in handy TFS ~ Hugs ~ Pat

[@Loretta54]

This is a great big help! I have had many issues with clear stamps, tried the eraser, and still very frustrated! Thank you!

[@Ookleton]

I think a nail buffer would work great too. Thanks for the tip.

[@kraemerashley88]

I actually like the effect it gave. Kind of give shine spots on the ring pop

[@theocarr1488]

I have to say Stampin' Up inks deserve some credit unto themselves. They are the only ink pads I use. I had tried several other brands, but Stampin' Up outperformed them. And Stampin' Up markers contain the same ink as the pads and give me great results as well!

[@barbarahairston65]

Great informative video! Thanks for sharing😍

[@chauchettagreen5498]

Neat tip Lindsay! I will defiantly use this in the furture! Xxx Chetta

[@deby7821]

Ahhhhhhhh, you solved the mystery. Thank you Lindsay.

[@geminidream4347]

Thank you so much for these excellent tips!

[@lovingmyselfwell4569]

Thanks for your help! I'm referring another to your spot since she's thinking she's done something wrong... You are wonderful! ~X🎨X~

[@lisaw41]

Thank you so much....I have so many that I need to get out and try this with....thank you again....

[@daneekaplan4284]

You got a beautiful image with the Stamin'Up ink even if the markers weren't perfect. I condition my clear stamps with Black Archival Ink which is something Tim Holtz teaches. I have used the emory boards as well and also buy cheap ones to have on had for any small sanding need. I haven't forgot the Wink of Stella but haven't been able to craft all weekend or today. Between my health issues, my kid and the Dog who can't be unsupervised....I lose.

[@thefrugalcrafter]

Danee Kaplan no worries, take card of the kids and the dog:)

[@GoreJess11]

Just used some halloween stamps I got on clearance last night, just in a notebook, but I'm glad I know to do this bc I noticed that was happening to them!

[@GoreJess11]

Also noticed they looked kind of dull so I might try some embossing bc it looks great!

[@createinspain]

I wonder Lindsay, if spraying the stamp with a temporary adhesive before inking would make it act better? I'm not a stamper, so I can't try it to tell you!

[@thefrugalcrafter]

createinspain i think it might transfer to your inkpad or attract dust, you could try on a stamp you do not like very much and see. The scuffing works well though:)

[@missyleftrick5525]

Absolutely ingenious!!! Such an amazing alternative!!!

[@LoversApperition]

Thank you so much! I have been having so many problems with my stamps do to this very issue. I was growing very discouraged. I tried doing just this and it worked perfectly! Thank you!

[@Cyrilmc222004]

Thank you so much 😊 I love ❤️ that. Very useful tip with the nail file 👍😀😀😀😀

[@sandypeiker5319]

Great tip, I have some cheap stamps I will try this,

[@WhackyWhacker]

I think I may know the problem you had with the Versamark trick. The way I learned it (and it does work for me) is to ink up with the Versamark and stamp off the excess, then let the rest dry on or at least "firm up". In fact, I have been told that some stampers never clean their stamps if they are only using Versamark (since the glycerin will help keep it conditioned and it does not build up). I have not been able to bring myself quite that far, but the Versamark trick has worked well as has the nail file trick. For some of the more stubborn stamps I have I actually did both to get the best results.

[@doubleblessings-royalcrowr1669]

Brian Miville is versamark stamp pad what you need to do embossing with?

[@springchick28]

Great tips for using the clear stamps! Thanks.

[@peppermintpenguine]

Also, buffing the cheap clear stamps with a dry magic eraser sponge helps to prime them as well, but buffing with a nail file or nail buffing block deffinetly works the best ")

[@Thaiti30]

Hey Lindsay, I heard using a rubber eraser on the good polymer stamps help took but I'm not sure on the cheap ones. I will have to buy some cheap ones and test it out both ways. 👍💡thanks for sharing your tips. 😉

[@ChrissehCat]

Thanks Lindsay! This is just what I was looking for!

[@JamieAndrick]

I purchase very expensive clear stamps: Iron Orchid Design stamps, they're NOT cheap and they have to be conditioned also. They themselves suggest conditioning them, so I wouldn't worry about some little stamp like from Tim Holtz.. they can take it! :)

[@luizamesquita67]

nice tip! I do the same thing but with baby powder

[@KaneLouiseOconnor]

i will be trying this. i just got the recollections and the inkadinkado mason jar clear stamp sets. and the ink keeps beading up on them. michaels crafts is having a sale on stamps and inks so got got both sets for $4.99 each.