Clear stamping for card making or scrapbooking or any other paper crafts is a great hobby. Clear stamps usually come in sets so you have multiple stamps. You can use them to stamp on different surfaces such as paper, vellum, acetate, and more!

What are clear stamps?

Clear stamps can refer to stamps made of photopolymer or acrylic. Photopolymer stampers are of a much better quality (meaning they generally give a better stamped impression).

Features of clear stamps

• Usually sold in a stamp set and sometimes individually
• Clear, you can see through them, which makes for a better impression and layout
• Slightly sticky, you peel them off and stick them to an acrylic block like this or a stamp positioning tool to stamp them
• Stored on a backsheet, acetate, cd/dvd plastic cover. There are more clear stamp storage ideas here.
• Can come in layering sets to add dimension

The benefits of clear stamps

• Allow you to perfectly position your image on your surface.
• Less expensive to manufacture than wood rubber stamps
• Flatter than wood rubber stamps
• Take up less space therefore they’re easier to store
• Often come with multiple images on one sheet, so you get a set of stamps that coordinate

How to use clear stamps

• Peel clear stamp off backing sheet
• Place stamp on acrylic block like this or a stamp positioning tool like this one
• Apply stamping ink to stamp
• Stamp your image on your surface
• Clean ink off stamp for next use or ink color

Clear stamps tips

• Popular Stamping inks include Dye, Pigment, or Embossing
• Before your first use, it may be helpful to condition your stamp by inking in versamark ink or rubbing a rubber eraser over it to remove any residue from the manufacturer
• Practice stamping on scrap paper to get a feel for stamping & your new stamps.
• Stamp straight down & apply even pressure – do not wiggle or rock the stamp.
• If stamps lose their ability to stick, wash them in warm water and air dry to get them sticky again
• Never throw away the protective sheet that goes with the stamp
• Do not store in direct sunlight
• A stained stamp usually doesn’t affect quality

Read on to Part 2 on How to Clean Clear Stamps

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• The Big List of Must-Have Stamps for Card Makers
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• Best Inks for Stamping and Techniques for Card Making