Shade & Song Stamp

 

TO REMOVE THE BACKING OR NOT TO REMOVE THE BACKING

 

Some of our stamps work best if you pull the stamp off the backing and use a thin mount when stamping. Others work best if you leave the backing on and then there are some that we keep the backing on, but cut each stamp out separately. Let’s break down what you should do with which types of stamps.

 

 

INDIVIDUAL STAMPS WITH MULTIPLE DESIGNS

The majority of our stamps fall into this category. Examples are Painterly Rose, Pavo, Fronds, and Crockery: Leave the stamps on the backing. Cut each design out separately making sure to round the edges of the backing when you cut. The backing will work as your mounting surface.

DIFFERENT MOUNTS FOR DIFFERENT SURFACES

 

IOD THIN MOUNT WITH GRID & CURVED GUIDELINES

This is recommended for surfaces that are perfectly flat, for example, if you are doing word art on a wood sign. Use the grid or curved lines as guides for the lettering layout and for centering your stamps on the project surface.

 

FREESTYLE STAMPING

This is what we call it when you use a flexible piece of plastic, such as the backing sheet that came with the stamps, as a mounting device.. This is great for irregular surfaces such as walls or furniture (surprisingly, many furniture surfaces that appear flat have dips- this method will conform nicely).

 

NO MOUNT

This is when you use the stamp without mounting it to anything. There are two common scenarios that call for no mount. When you’re stamping a very curved surface, such as on a flower pot or around the corner of a dresser.

When you need the stamps to have a little stretch For example, I stamped the front of my cowboy boots, and was able to stretch the stamp and conform it cleanly to the surface even though the boot is very curved. When using the bare stamp make sure that your fingers don’t stick to it, this could cause the stamp to lift from the surface and create an unintentional smudge.

Whichever mounting method you use, the backside of the stamps and the mount must be perfectly clean in order for the stamp to cling firmly to the surface. If you find that your stamp isn’t sticking to your mount, wash it in warm soapy water or, for a quick fix, you can wipe it clean with a baby wipe.

 

PAINT

Paint works wonderfully with IOD Stamps. When using paint we recommend creating a small puddle to roll an IOD Brayer in. Make sure you get an even load and roll onto the design side of the mounted (or if using unmounted, proceed accordingly) stamp. This part takes a little practice to get the feel of the load so that it’s enough to give you the impression you want without being sloppy. Also keep in mind variables such as the surface you are stamping, the medium you are using, as well as the look you are trying to achieve.

INK

IOD Décor Inks work best with IOD stamps, however most other craft inks will work as well (depending on the project surface). Ink gives finer detail and tends to be a little more translucent than paint.

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.

Click here for more inspiration on using IOD products on fabrics.

CARING FOR YOUR 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!)

 

TOP TIPS FOR STAMPING

 

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.

STAMPING TECHNIQUES

 

MASKING

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.