A Handy Trick for Solid Stamps

Hmmm...let's see... we have changed the schedule up a little bit over at SSD so I don't have a specific post for today and I'm SO used to posting my SSD post on Tuesday, I wasn't sure WHAT to bring to you today.  That being said, I decided to share a tutorial that I did last week for the SSD blog!  HA!  Yes...I get stuck in my ways at times.  Just say'n.  So...here you are...a tip, a trick, and a tutorial all rolled into one happy card!

Okay, so we all have them in our stash...those solid stamps that never seem to transfer ALL of the ink onto the paper.  If you are like me, this drives you crazy, as you would like to have a nice, full, solid image.  I have the solution for you today!  VersaMark!


Yup! That's your solution! Nice and easy. No. I'm not making you heat emboss, although, that is also an option! :-) Simply ink your stamp with VersaMark first and then....


...without cleaning it, ink it up with your colored ink! I used both black and grey to demonstrate. This double ink layer gives you a beautiful, smooth ink application with your solid stamps! I love it!


Now, if you choose to heat emboss another image over this, be sure to heat set it first, as the ink will be more wet than your simple dye ink because the VersaMark is still sticky! I say this, because that is what I chose to do to finish my card.


For my card, I stamped the coordinating butterfly stamp over the background stamp with VersaMark and then heat embossed that portion with Snow Pearl Embossing enamel by Stampendous!. I mounted the butterfly on a simple pale pink card and stamped the sentiment for a beautiful finish! This beautiful stamp set is the Breathtaking Butterflies set!

Jingle Out!

Oh...and the Stamendous! team is having a bit of a contest, and I would LOVE to win, so if you would so kindly click on THIS LINK (it goes to the Stampendous! website of happy things!) just once or 500 times, that would be GREAT!  kthnxbyenow.  Just say'n.