Question About CC Clear Stamps

Yes I always wash any and all clear stamps before using them. There’s usually an oily manufacturing residue on them that keeps your inks, no matter the brand, from adhering and causes your image to be splotchy at first. I’ve heard about the eraser too but felt it didn’t get the oily bits out of the tiny crevices.
Also have a couple of stamping platforms, WRMK and the Tonic one by Tim Holtz, they both made me love stamping again!!

I wash all my stamps with Dawn Dish soap before using them for the first time. I was told that when making the stamps at the factory there is a residue left on them. I wash before and always after using. Hope this helps.

Update: I purchased the We R Memory Keepers stamping platform and this makes a huge difference in my stamping! I also watched one of Sara Davies subscription box videos and she mentioned that if you are having issues getting a clear impression from a stamp to take one of the ink applicators without the foam pad and kind of scrape it across the stamp. I tried this with the Enchanted Forest silhouette stamps. Between that, the stamp platform, and trying different inks I am now able to get a good stamped impression.

Hi Mary,
Thank you so much for your reply! The Harmony ink is plenty juicy it just doesn’t seem to stick to the stamp. I did find that after multiple tries the image was getting better – just not as clear as I would like. Maybe I’ll keep trying on scrap paper.
Thank you for your suggestion about using a stamping tool! I have seen those and wondered about them. Your point that if you don’t get a clear image the first time you can try again is great! I’ll get one and try it.
Thanks again!
Lin

Omg…I purchased those too, but haven’t had the time to try them out. You know more than I do as far as fixing the stamped image. I don’t know what kind of ink you are using but I use Versa Fine for stamps. I usually stamp mine on scrap paper several times and then stamps work fine. Even the cheap ones I order from China. I also use the Precision Press stamp thing from We R Memory Keepers. I never had any luck with those Rock a blocks. I could never get consistent solid coverage…hence I had to invest in one of the stamping platform tools. I have the old and the newest We R Memory Precision Press and love using it. Easy to line up and if not full coverage the first time, just stamp it again without worrying about trying to line up the images.

Also is the CC Harmony ink pad still juicy or wet? Some people were having some problems with those inks. I started to buy them but read the initial reviews…where people were complaining about that. Depending on when you purchased them, they may have corrected that problem. You can look at the reviews to see what Im referring to.

I’m sure this isn’t all the answers you need, but it is some possibilities that can lead to issues. My best advice is to invest in one of the stamping tools. I was never a great stamper until I got one.

I hope someone else can help you further…Mary