The rest of my questions on stamping

[adrianka]

Hi there.

My Tree Trimming Trio stamps have arrived and I have to say I'm impressed (esp. with how they included the CD case and labels and such, really nice).

Now before I proceed to actually using the stamps... There is something I forgot to ask the first time around, which would be cleaning the stamps.

How does it work? If I use the stamp, how quick do I have to clean it? And, even more importantly, what do I clean it with?

I promise this is the last bunch of silly questions to ask in this respect. Or maybe not. :-)

Thank you!

[MamaBee]

Well, I'm not that skilled in stamping... ... but I clean my with baby wipes or a mild soap and warm water. You will get some staining on the stamp from the ink... so the quicker you clean them, the less of the stain...

[Yvette]

I use baby wipes as well for dye inks like memento, for pigment or versa mark I just use soap and water (dish soap). I try to clean them before the ink can dry on them as it's much easier.

[heathergw]

I also use baby wipes or a paper cloth w/ some mild soap and water

[adrianka]

LOL. Might buy baby wipes tomorrow when shopping. Who would have thought. *snorts*

Thanks, gals.

[Andrea Gourley]

Baby wipes if I'm being good or just a wipe on my jeans or my pyjamas if I am being naughty - I am often naughty

[adrianka]

Mwahaha, Andrea! I'm deffo getting baby wipes tomorrow. Hopefully I can locate them in Auchan, it's not a section I visit too often, for obvious reasons, unless I'm buying presents (and I don't do baby wipes as presents, heh). :-D

[chloe]

I bought the cheapest baby wipes, they works great for "normal" ink. For Stazon ink I use the special Stazon cleaner first with an old rag and then baby wipes because the Stazon cleaner is "dangerous" for the stamps, I think.

[adrianka]

Dangerous in what way?

[Andrea Gourley]

I think that over time and with continual use the chemicals in the stazon can have an adverse reaction on the rubber used to make the stamps - I think it takes many years though and none of my stamps have looked like they were perishing. I never really clean my stamps and they are all black and grunged up, it doesn't stop them working they just don't look so nice

[adrianka]

Does it mean that if the ink dries on the stamp, it doesn't in any way prevent the stamp to work beautifully with other inks? That would be a relief, since I can't imagine myself NOT forgetting to clean it at one point.

[julifish]

As long as none of the previous ink is coming off on your project - or worse, a light color ink pad then cleaning is kind of optional. If you are switching from dark ink to light ink then yes, you will want to clean the stamp. Otherwise, just clean as needed to get the color you want. This is why I test my images on scrap paper before stamping on to my final project.

[adrianka]

Will be careful then. Thanks.