I hope this is the right place for this question. I'm just a newbie in love with this sport.

I have a stamp that requires several different colors. I am currently using Crayola washable markers. But on some of the larger areas that don't have any cuts through them, the ink seems to puddle or to be heavier than some of the other areas. It is also diffucult to get it all inked up for stamping and keeping it moist enough. Are there any suggestions for keeping the ink moist till all the stamp is ready?

I thought about using a misting bottle, but that might leave too much moisture. How about one of those antomizer's? Seems like it would create a fog instead of a mist.

I tried breathing heavily on the stamp to give it moisture. But find that hard, since I have a cold and breathing hard is, well.... hard in itself. Breathing on the stamp, I either don't have enough moisture in my breath or there isn't enough ink on the stamp, but the image on the paper is blotchy, not nice and clear. What should I be do?

Plus I have entered a Postal, (not that I don't have enough to do already) I don't feel comfortable breathing my cold onto a stamp, then sending my cold onto the next person in line. What if the last person had garlic on their breath, would the postal stamp smell like garlic?

Stamp pads are ok if your only using one color or a rainbow effect, but to get precise coloring, wouldn't you use the pens?

Some people use Crayola markers with some success, others have migrated over to markers made specifically for stamping. "Marvy" makes nice brush tip markers. Their LePlume II markers have both the brush tip and a fine point side. They cost more than Crayola, but are worth the cost, especially if you think you will use them a lot!

Hobby Lobby, if you have one in your area, has a 40% off coupon almost every week on their website (I got my $18 set of Marvy markers recently for about $11.) Other places may have similar deals.

One tip, make sure the stamp itself is very clean before you begin coloring, as residual color may taint your markers or cause uneven places on your image.

Happy Stamping!
S of the PEAS

I have found that Crayola markers tend to leave a much more blotchy color than the Marvy Markers. Also, it depends some on the carving medium that you are using. Even Marvys can sometimes bead up when used on orange PZ Kut. As for huffing the stamp, cup your hands around the stamp and breathe on it like you would if you were trying to warm up your hands. And I wouldn't worry too much about your cold or the smell of garlic.

TG

Crayola has a new non-traditional marker out that does wonders. They took out the foam insert.

Aquamarkers are similar and I love my set!

At $5 a set, I decided to try these before I gave in and got the $20 Marvy set

If the stamp is new, sometimes there is still a slight residue on the rubber that will make the ink blotchy. You can Gently rub it on a dish towel or other heavy fabric like denim to take that sheen off so that the ink will apply evenly.

I know that there is some debate about whether to clean a stamp after using it or not. I like to clean mine that are made of Speedy Stamp, but not the MasterCarve. Don't worry about the cold germs. When we get postals in the mail or find boxes in the wild, Trust me, we ink them and even "huff" on them, but we don't Lick them!
Stacy

Thankyou for all your suggestions and tips. Cupping the hands around the stamp, I would not of or didn't even think of that. Thanks!

I'll see if I can find eithe the new Crayola markers or just get the Marvey ones. I tend to start out with a little bit to see if I'm going to like it, letterboxing, or not. Then jump in with both mud hoppers and run with the box. I have carved a couple of stamps, made a few log books, hid my first two letterboxes. Now its time to start to upgrading.

Again, thankyou everyone for your help.

Hope to see you on the trail someday,

TerraKacher
Jan

Quote

Plus I have entered a Postal, (not that I don't have enough to do already) I don't feel comfortable breathing my cold onto a stamp, then sending my cold onto the next person in line. What if the last person had garlic on their breath, would the postal stamp smell like garlic?

Actually, i'm pretty sure that you can't pass a cold like that :D
The garlic, on the other hand.... :P

CQ