What is Rubber Stamping? Rubber Stamping is the art and craft of using a rubber or polymer stamp and ink to create pattern or design on a surface. Once this has been mastered you are only limited by your imagination as to where this art can take you.
If you are new to stamping it can all seem a bit daunting with all the stamps and ink pads that are available. Hopefully, here we will help you to understand what everything is and what you need to get you started!
Types of Rubber Stamps
Woodblock Mounted Rubber Stamps The stamps are the obvious place to start and probably the best ones to have first are designs that you like. Stamps can be wood mounted, foam mounted or un-mounted. Clear stamps are not rubber stamps, they are made of polymer but are used in exactly the same way as the rubber ones. There are two basic types of designs:  (Left) Flat, solid stamps. (Right) Outline Stamps.
Flat, solid stamps normally have less detail to the image and all the colour is applied to the stamp prior to stamping, by using marker pens. Outline stamps produce just that, an outline, to which you can add colour once it has been stamped onto card or paper. Occassionally you will find a combination of the two on one stamp. Unmounted Rubber Stamps  
Unmounted stamps and plates
Unmounted stamps are exactly that – just the rubber part of a stamp. They have two major advantages. The first is that they take up a lot less space in your valuable craft area. They are stored unmounted and used as and when with an acrylic block. The stamp can be attached to the block either by using a glue stick or by using a mounting foam, such as EZ Mount. 
Acrylic block and glue stick to attach unmounted stamps
If using the glue stick method, once you have finished using the image, drop it and the block into warm soapy water, which will both clean the stamp and remove it from the acrylic block. Make sure you dry the stamp carefully before storing it away.  
EZ Mount on rubber stamps (left). Umounted rubber stamps backing (right).
If you use EZ Mount, attach the rubber die to the foam, trim around the image cutting through the rubber and the foam. The backing is then removed and this side temporarily attaches to the acrylic block. When you have used the stamp, simply peel it together with the foam, off the block and store it on a plastic file. Artifacts unmounted sheets of stamps come with a laminated storage sheet, making it easy to keep all the images together.
...so on to the ink pads There are a multitude of ink pads available to you and when choosing one you will need to think about the surface you will be stamping on, i.e. glossy or matte, leather or vellum, shrink plastic or wood etc. Here’s a quick run down on the more basic pads… Dye Based Ink Pads 
Impress Dye Based Ink Pad
Kaleidacolor Dye Based Ink Pad
Dye based pads are quick drying translucent inks that are water based and normally come on a reasonably hard felt pad. The colours tend to be non-permanent, although there are a few exception. They can be used on most cards, vellums and papers and will give a brighter image when used on glossy card. These pads are available in solid colours or as multi-coloured rainbow pads.
Pigment Ink Pads 
Opalite & VersaColor Ink Pads
These pads are opaque and are usually on a foam pad. The ink itself is thicker than dye ink and they are available in many colours and colour combinations. Some are available as pearlescent, metallic or chalk finish ink pads. The original pigment ink pads were slow drying, but new technology has meant that now some pigment ink pads are faster drying. The slower drying pigment ink pads can be used for embossing as well, which wewill explain later These ink pads may be used on most surfaces, but check the labels to make sure. The newer, faster drying pads work well on shrink plastic, acetate, leather, clay, glass and foil. VersaMark ink pads fall into this category and they are used to create a lovely watermark effect on card by taking the colour of the card down a tone. They can also be used as an embossing ink pad.
Embossing Ink Pads 
Embossing Stamp Pads
These pads are used in combination with embossing powders and a heat tool to give you the raised embossed image, that we will talk about later. These slow drying pads allow you time to add the embossing powder before they dry. The pads are available in a clear or a tinted ink. The same ink is in the embossing pens and these again are used with embossing powder.
Specialist Inks 
StazOn Ink Pads
Fabric and Crafter's ink pads can be used on wood, fabric, unglazed ceramics such as Style Stones and shrink plastic. They need to be heat set, using a heat tool, for the ink to be permanent. 
VersaCraft & Crafters pigment ink pads
Permanent ink pads are good on semi and non-porous surfaces such as glass, acrylic, metal foil and acetate. 
VersaFine Vintage & Archival ink pads
New ink pads are being brought into stamping all the time, so read the labels to see if they are dye based, pigment or one of the other types and you will not go wrong. Looking after your stamps and ink pads 
StazOn & Stampendous Rubber Stamp Cleaners
With a little care, your stamps will reward you with many years of use. Never clean your wood mounted stamps under running water and don't immersethem in water. To clean them use a tray with damp kitchen paper in it. Pat the stamp on this to remove the ink, then pat it on some dry kitchen paper. A soft toothbrush can help to remove the ink from any fine detail. An alcohol-free baby wipe may also be used to remove the ink residue. Specific stamp cleaners are available in bottles with a felt applicator on them. 
Opalite, StazOn, ColorBox re-inkers
Ink pads do run out of ink, but they can be re-inked using the small bottles of ink that are available. Make sure you use the correct re-inker for the pad you need to re-ink. Just add the ink evenly over the surface of the pad and use a piece of thick card to drag the ink across the surface. Do not apply the entire bottle of ink!
Basic Stamping   
Ink the stamp and press firmly onto the card
Simply pat the stamp on the surface of the ink pad and then press it firmly onto card or paper. Make sure you press all over the back of the stamp using an even pressure and make sure you do not rock the stamp as this will result in a blurred image. Lift the stamp off while holding the card down. If you want more control of where the colour goes on the stamp then you need to use the Brush Marker pens to apply that colour. They are available in many different colours, so the colour combinations are endless.  
Use brush markers to add multiple colours
Place the stamp rubber side up, then apply the large tipped Brush Marker directly to the surface. To use more than one colour of pen on your stamp, start by using the lightest colour pen, then graduate down to the darkest colour. This will avoid contaminating your pens. Next you will need to 'huff' on the inked surface, as the moisture in your breath will re-activate the ink. All that remains is to stamp the image onto the paper or card.
Basic Embossing 
Embossing Heat Tool
This gives you a raised image that is created with an embossing ink pad, embossing powder and a heat tool and it is like magic! You can emboss on many different surfaces including card, foil, wood, paper and heat proof acetate. Embossing powders range from metallics, pearlescents, glittery ones, coloured and clear powders. The metallic and coloured powders tend to be opaque, the clear is transparent, pearlescent powders are seem-transparent and the glittery ones can be any of these types. VersaMark ink pads can also be used for embossing. For the transparent or semi-transparent powders think about the colour of pigment ink pad that you use, as this colour will eventually show through the embossing. Do not use a hair dryer for embossing as they create too much air and not enough heat and all that will happen is that the powder will be blown away. Make sure you protect your work surface with an old wooden board or a thick piece of card, like mount board. How to Emboss  
Fig 1. Ink the stamp (left). Fig 2. Stamp the card (right)
Ink your stamp with one of the embossing ink pads (above left), then stamp it onto your card (above right). Place the stamped card onto a sheet of scrap paper and sprinkle your chosen embossing powder over the wet image. Tap off the excess powder onto the sheet of scrap paper. This can then be put back into the container for future use. 
Fig 3. Embossing powder in place on the design
Fig 4. Heating the powder with a heat tool
Fig 5.The embossed effect
Now put the card onto a wooden board and use the heat tool to heat the image. Hold the tool about 2.5 cm (1 inch) away from the image and, as the powder melts, move the nozzle to the next area. As soon as the image has gone from the powdery finish to a shiny finish, stop heating and turn off the heat tool. If you overheat the powder it will look oily and seem to sink into the card rather than look shiny and stand proud.  
Fig 6. Adding colour (left), Fig 7. The finished effect (right)
As soon as it is cool enough to touch, you can add colour using Le Plume pens, coloured pencils, watercolours or whatever colouring medium you prefer. So there you have the basic techniques. Now all you need to do is to have a play! 
Essentials...
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