Rubber Stamping

The basic rule is:

Dye Ink Pads - quick drying, can be used on glossy and coated card and heat set to become permanent, can not be used for embossing.

Pigment Ink Pads - large range of colours including metallic, can be used for embossing, can only be used on plain card stock and will not dry on coated or glossy card stock unless embossed.

Of course there are always exceptions to the rule!

Brilliance Pads These are a pigment pad but will dry on glossy and coated cards. As they dry quicker than other pigment pads they can be difficult to use when embossing.

Solvent Pads - Stazon Very fast drying pads. Only available in a limited colour range but will dry vibrant on glossy card or acetate without the need to heat set.

Although dye based pads are not recommended for embossing as they dry to quick, you can emboss with the pads when they are new and the ink is very wet, as it takes a little longer to dry.

A stamp pad is not just for stamping

Brayering Using your dye inkpad onto glossy card. You can create vibrant backgrounds using this technique. The multi-coloured dye pads are wonderful for brayering. Simply run the brayer over the pad a few times to pick up the colour, then run the brayer over the card stock.

Sponging Using a regular sponge you can pick the ink directly you're your inkpad by pressing the sponge on to the inkpad and sponge on to your card stock. You can create colourful effects using dye ink on glossy card, and a subtle finish if you use pigment on to absorbent card. This can also be used to shade your cards.

Colouring Use a blender pen with dye inkpads. Press the blender pen lightly on to your pad to pick up the colour and then apply to your card stock to colour in stamped images.

Colouring (2) Use a pigment pad and wipe it directly on to your card stock. Either leave the colour or add embossing powder. If you use glitter or holographic powder you will still see the colour created by the stamp pad but you will have a wonderful glitter finish. You can use your dye inkpads to colour glossy card for a bright finish.