EDITED! Rubber-Stamped Images #1

There have been several swaps like this actually, but they definitely are useful :)

I have hosted several image swaps, too. I would love to join in this one, but I am moving soon and ALL of my crafting stuff is packed :(

There have been many of these swaps, I've hosted several too, problem is that you usually end up with badly stamped images on thin paper, no matter what the swap requirements say. I've had 5 swap-boters resend to me, and being very mad at me for that, because of swaps like this.

Watching for now.

okay, thanks for letting me know - I've just never really seen any about and I agree that they're useful! I'm glad to hear that they're not so rare as I thought - Thank you ladies! :)

It's a shame about badly stamped images and I can see how it would be frustrating to receive. I found a technique (purely by chance after a UM stamp I had got mounted poorly) that almost completely eliminates this problem when I stamp; perhaps I should share it? of course it's not completely foolproof but it makes a huge difference (I find).

Anyway, if anyone is super unhappy with the quality of images they get sent to them, I'll try to rectify the problem by sending them some of my own - so let me know if this happens to you.

Strawberry, please do share your thecnique. Thanks. Sue

Sure! It's a very basic thing so some veteran stampers may scoff at it, but it works for me so I have no reason to complain (results are the important thing, right? :) Chances are someone discovered it before me but I've found it almost always makes perfect results (and the ink is evenly applied rather then some places printing thicker then others) so I always use it.

1. What you do is, after inking your stamp well, press it down firmly onto the paper but DON'T lift it of.

2. Instead, very carefully slide the whole sheet of paper (with the stamp still pressed down firmly) to the edge of the table so that half of the stamp is peeking over the edge - it's important keep your hand under the paper as it moves over the edge of the table to ensure that it doesn't drop away from the rubber stamp (that would cause a jittery image).

3. Keeping your hand in place, make your hand flat (fingers together) and gently rub over the paper below the part of the stamp that's over the edge of the table in a gentle, slow stroke (try to keep the stoke even in pressure too - don't press too hard and don't lift your fingers off). As you're using your whole hand from fingertips to palm, it should only take 2 or 3 seconds to do one half.

4. Then you carefully turn the paper and stamp around (without lifting or moving the stamp off the paper) and do the same thing for the other side.

5. With the stamp still pressed down, move everything slowly back to the table and lift it off. Done! :)

Note: this is an almost fool-proof way of getting clear images, however at first it may take a few tries to find what pressure or technique works best (after this you'll know what works for all images you do).

Good luck! Let me know how it works for you all and if you have any further questions feel free to ask! :)

another way to get a completely even image is to take a second stamp, the same size or larger, and press it onto the first stamp on the paper. the added pressure allows it to stamp more evenly, without missing a part. and it doesn't require moving the paper (which i'd be sure to screw up).

Yes, these are really common swaps. In fact, I have one running in the Crafty Recyclers group right now. Feel free to check it out Here It is three partners, with 25 stamped images each. I enjoy these swaps because you usually get a wide variety in return.

@dreamerkins - great idea! I'll try this too. I don't have too many wood-mounted stamps (most of mine are acrylic or rubber mounted on acrylic), but I'm sure anything similar will do to give it an even weight. :)

Also something to be mindful of is some tables (especially hand-crafted ones) can be slightly uneven so it's worth trying to use a hard-covered book or something a an underlay to create a perfectly flat surface.

Experiment experiment! :)

As to moving the paper it is actually really easy and honestly I've rarely screwed it up when I've done it (and that's saying something because I'm a totally un-co - if there's something to stuff up then I usually achieve it :D) - as long as the table doesn't somehow cling to the paper it should work out fine. :)

@wolfeagle - I'll apply to join the group right away! :)

are hand carved stamp images ok?

What do you do with the stamped images once you receive them? Scrapbooking? Some other purpose?

Fiskars has a great little stamp press that works awesome for acrylic and unmounted stamps - I've seen it in two sizes - I have the larger one and love it!!

@snarkystitches - it depends on the quality of your hand carved stamps - if you consider them very good quality and think your partner will like them, then you can send a few stamped images from them, but please don't make all 30 hand-carved stamped images (I hope that made sense. lol).

@Winkie - there's plenty of things you can do with the images when you get them. You can make cards out of them or collages or ATC's or yes, even scrapbook with them. It's totally up to you! The reason why this swap is specifically for black ink on white paper is so that recipients can use chalks, pencils, watercolors, etc to color the images how they like them. :)

@LisseasLuxuries - I'll have to check that out! It sounds like a great system - what price range are we talking and what are the results like? does it print evenly without some parts coming out thicker then others? In any case, until I have the kind of money to afford something like that, the basic method will have to do for now (still saving for a Cricut!). :D

thank you everyone for sharing....so much great information. I'm very excited about this swap :)

Does this mean any kind of stamped image can be used ?

the bulk of the images should be from rubber o acrylic stamps, however you may send some made form hand-carved stamps if you think your partner will like them (but please ensure most of them are from the rubber/acrylic kind). Of course all 30 should be black ink on sturdy white paper or card; you can add extras in other ink & paper colors if you like.

@Strawberry - the larger one is around 12-15 dollars and the smaller one is around 8-10 dollars - you can always use your Hobby Lobby or Michael's coupons!!!

It says newbies welcome and that it's international..... but it won't let me join because it says that I don't meet the minimum requirements. :0(

Anyone know why this might be?

I am having the same problem and would really like to join this swap!!

@PixelPixie & @emayees - PMed you both regarding my stuff-up.

@LisseasLuxuries - I live in Australia myself so no Michael's or Hobby Lobby here, but I might try good old Ebay or something like that. Thank you for the info! :D

Just to clarify...are we to be stamping 30 different designs?

30 for EACH partner - 60 total.

they should be all different images, but you can include some doubles or extras if they're extra special, and of course if any of the images are smaller then 2 inches, or text, then do several extra (for example - each "small"/"text" image should only count as 1/2 of 1 of the 60 images).

Hope that makes sense! lol

is there a requirement for the stamped images to be huge in detail or can some be less detailed then others ... for example a fairy which is detailed or a simple but nice leaf?

use your own judgment about what you think someone might like to receive - if a simple leaf is nice looking, then it's fine to use. Not all images have to be super detailed and such - simple can be just as lovely. Mix it up. :)