Getting started ~ Rubber stamping

How do I get started in rubber stamping?

When I first started rubber stamping 16+ years ago I was completely overwhelmed with the variety of products on the market so my aim here is to keep the information as simple as possible so that you can go away & make your own choices.

I read somewhere that art is a journey and we are all at different stages – what I have learn't is that everybody’s cards are different- if you give two experienced stamper’s the same rubber stamp they will still produce very contrasting pieces of work – what’s important is that you made it, and over time you will find techniques which you prefer, and develop your own personal style.

Starting Out in Rubber Stamping

I can remember my first trip to a craft & seeing the many stamps & inkpads available and of course wanting them all – but before you buy I would just like to make the following points:

1. Don’t just buy the cheapest inkpads – it is a false economy. Ask around and find out what fellow stampers recommend. There are many forums that give advice to newcomers.
Although some inkpads may cost slightly more they will last you longer in the long term – I’m still using the same black memories that I bought many years ago.

My personal favourites are:
Versamark for embossing,
Staz-on in black or brown for watercolouring images ( staz - on cleaner is needed with this pad.
Brilliance & Versamagic chalk effect for a variety of direct to paper techniques.

2. Rubber Stamps – so much choice & where to start. We all have had impulse buys – I too am guilty of that, but when you buy a stamp, try & think of a number of different ways or occasions you could use it. For example, a simple flower stamp can be used for mother’s day or a female birthday. The petals could be layered, or the stamp could be stamped repeatedly using a mask to create depth. You also need to consider the type of stamp you are buying, mounted, un-mounted, solid or outline?

Types of Rubber Stamps

Solid vs. Outline Rubber Stamps
The fundamental difference between solid and outline stamps is how you add colour to the stamped image. With a solid stamp you need to add colour before stamping, i.e., you apply colour directly to the stamp. Something which can be achieved in a variety of ways, including inkpads or Marvey Le Plume Pens

With an outline rubber stamp, colour is added once the image has been stamped. Stamp the image in an outline colour of choice and then apply colour to the card, material, or whatever using inks, chalks, paints, pencils, etc.

Mounted vs. unmounted Rubber Stamps

The difference between these types of stamps is obvious… One comes pre-mounted on a bloc of wood, the other is a flat stamp that needs to be placed on an acrylic block before it can be used. One thing I would stress here is that you shouldn’t be put off (like I was) from using un-mounted stamps, as there is nothing difficult or fiddly about them.


Unmounted stamps are far easier to store, and they are cheaper meaning you can buy more. We will be covering unmounted stamp & how to use them later on in the course. Talking of unmounted – you also have the choice of buying unmounted rubber stamps or unmounted acrylic stamps, which have the advantage of being see through so you can see exactly where you are stamping. Some people have strong preferences as to what they use, but again it is very much personal choice.