Rubber Stamping 101- The Basics

Supplies needed-
A rubber stamp or a few rubber stamps
an ink pad (I prefer to use black or brown)
a pack of water-based markers (Crayola is ok)
a scissor
post it notes
cardstock or paper
scrap paper
baby wipes
any other materials would be your choice, colored pencils, beads, charms etc.

RUBBER STAMPING is the simplest way for a 'nonartist' to create beautiful art. You don't have to be able to draw a straight line, all the 'drawing' is done with a stamp.
The most simple, easy thing to do with a rubber stamp is to add color to it and create cards or scrapbook embellishments. Paper is easy to work with.

To BEGIN---
lay out your stamp(s), ink pad(s) and markers on a flat, hard surface (ie 'table' or 'tray')
place your scrap paper on the flat surface.
TO INK YOUR STAMP- hold the stamp firmly and press it straight down on the inkpad. Try to avoid 'rocking' your stamp because anywhere ink is on the stamp, ink will print on your paper.
Lift the stamp and press it straight down on your scrap paper, being sure to press the entire stamp down (i use my palm like I was giving CPR to the stamp if it is a really large stamp)
Lift the stamp straight up, and look at the design. Is there any part missing? you may have not inked the stamp enough, or not pressed down hard enough on the paper. Is the image blurry? You may have moved the stamp.

CLEAN your stamps with a baby wipe. I like the really cheap ones, at the $1 store.
PRACTICE on your scrap paper until you feel comfortable with that individual stamp (they all have personalities of their own LOL)
ok, now you are a bit comfortable with the pressure needed to use a rubber stamp.
Always let a cleaned stamp dry before reusing, and always clean the stamp between colors and uses.

NOW WE WILL FANCY IT UP A BIT
COLOR (these work best on light-colored paper)
1)Take a well-cleaned stamp, and decide on a few colors of water-based markers you would like to use.
Now, literally, color on the stamp with those markers.
Hold the stamp in front of your mouth once you have colored it and 'huff' (blow air) out of your mouth right on the stamp.
Then press the stamp straight down on your scrap paper. Lift up carefully and marvel at the art you are already making LOL
2)Stamps can be colored in with colored pencils. Just stamp with black or brown ink and then once the ink is dry, color in the spaces with colored pencils.

MOVEMENT IN A STAMP
1)Ink a stamp, and press it down on paper. Without lifting the stamp, drag the tail end slightly along the paper, to create 'speed lines' on a car, tiger, anything that can move fast
2)Stamp an image, and without re-inking, re stamp just the back end of the image a few times to make a bunny 'hop'

Masking a stamp can create professional -looking works of art from stamps. Get those Post-Its out, here comes masking-
take two stamps (lets say a cat and a dog for arguments sake)
to put the cat 'behind' the dog and stamp them both, simply stamp the dog where you want him.
stamp the same dog on the sticky area of the Post It note and carefully cut it out. This is a Post It "Mask". Stick your Mask over the stamped doggie, and ink and stamp your cat right over the Post It Mask.
Let it dry, then peel off the mask. Your cat is behind your dog.
To put the Dog behind the cat, stamp the kitty and make a Mask of him, then stamp the dog over the Cat's Mask.

HEAT EMBOSSING-
do you like the raised look on fancy wedding invitations? You can get the same effect with Heat Embossing
SUPPLIES FOR HEAT EMBOSSING-
rubber stamp(s)
PIGMENT ink pad (pigment dries slower than dye ink)
Embossing Powder
Heat Gun (OK you can use a bare 75 watt bulb LOL but it ain't pretty)
paper or card stock
scrap paper

to Heat emboss, ink up your stamp really well and press it down on paper.
QUICKLY, before it dries, sprinkle the Embossing Powder over the paper. Use a lot, make sure it really covers your image, then pour the excess back into the embossing powder jar. tap the back of the paper, make sure the powder is only on the stamped image.
Turn on the heat gun and pass it slowly back and forth about 5 inches from your work. You will see the powder turn to liquid and bead up together. Do not over-heat as powder will over-liquify and the image may run.
REMEMBER TO ALWAYS PRACTICE NEW THINGS ON SCRAP PAPER BEFORE USING THE GOOD STUFF

SOME TIPS FOR PURCHASING-
INKPADS-
ok, i am a big cheapo, and i am also a stickler for quality. The best inkpad I have is a ColorBox pigment inkpad. It is more than 15 years old and still juicy and moist. At $6, these are an investment.
I use a lot of InkIt Up pads, from AC Moore. At $1.39 a piece, I don't feel bad if they go dry. I use the Dye Based Ink It Ups a lot, but find the Pigment Ink ones very shabby.
STAMPS-
look at the stamp, is the rubber attached to the wood in a way that mirrors the design printed on the wood block.
Is the rubber firmly attached.
Smell the stamp, it should smell a bit like an eraser, but never 'sour'.
Is the rubber sticky or brittle? That stamp is a no-no.
A GOOD rubber stamp should be deeply-etched (carved), smell fresh, be firmly attached to the wood, and mirror the design on the wood block.
As for cost, there are Bargain Bins in every craft store, AC Moore has Seasonal Stamps for $1 and $2 each, depending on the size. Michael's has sets of 4 mini-stamps for $1. Even stores like Target have time to time featured $3 and under stamp sets. Buying Lots on eBay is a super way to save big.

BASIC STAMPS TO HAVE-
These are the ones I seem to use most-
Hearts, Stars, A set of Simple Geometric Shapes
Alphabets
A few sentiments "Happy Holidays", "Thinking Of You", "Happy Birthday"
Even when I use seven or eight stamps in a project, the bulk are from the above list.

LETS DISCUSS USES-
you can make
greeting cards with pre-folded cards and rubber stamps
Bookmarks and Book Covers
Decorate a gift bag and tissue paper to match...even a gift tag
Simple Scrapbook Uses-
stamp all over 12x12 cardstock, using different directions each time you stamp an image, to make background paper for books. Or trim to make Mats, Tags, or Border Strips
Stamp just around the outside of a page or mat to create a border
Easily co-ordinate different paper lines by using the same rubber stamps to unify layouts

REMEMBER-
store your stamps away from the sun or any source of heat. Like wise, do not let them freeze either.
Avoid storing them in plastic, as the rubber may get funky. I use clean, small Pizza Boxes, and separate stamps by theme
store your inkpads lid side down so the ink stays at the top of the inkpad. You can store the ink pads in a Cassette rack

CLEAR (ACRYLIC) STAMPS-
Clear stamps work best for positioning letters because you know exactly where the stamp will go on your page. Clear stamps take up less room than rubber stamps, they are stored flat on a piece of plastic, and put in a binder or CD cases.
To use clear stamps, peel gently from the plastic and attach to a clear Acrylic Stamp block. Ink and stamp like you would rubber stamps. If you 'missed a spot', you can re-ink the clear stamps and stamp directly over your first impression.
Clean clear stamps with s little dish soap and warm (not hot) water. Swish the stamp around until ink is gone, and dry flt on a piece of paper towel.
Clear stamps remain 'sticky' and can be used over and over again.
You can use the clear block and arrange many stamps on it at once, and create an entire greeting card in minutes.