cleaning permanent ink from stamps

This probably won't help you for now, but in the future. BEFORE I use permanent ink, I ink my stamp with VersaMark THEN ink it with the permanent ink. It comes right off after use. I've used VersaMark to "pre-ink" when stamping in candles and other things where I didn't want it to stick or stain.

Cecelia

The thing about permanent ink is that it's, well, permanent, It's not water-soluble; it's solvent-based. There are special stamp cleaners that will do a reasonably good job of dissolving the stuff once it's dried; they're marketed as not being damaging to stamps.

Better to get the ink off the stamps while it's still wet. Keep a few folded paper towels on your stamping workspace; as you work, immediately blot your stamps on the dry paper until you don't see an image. If necessary, follow with stamp cleaner when you're all done.

What a clever idea! (And finally a use for the Versamark pad I bought a while back - I can't seem to get interested in using it as intended...)

I use my Versa-mark pad instead of my embossing pad. I get better results with it. It seems to hold the ep better. Peggy

I mostly use Colorbox Crafters' Ink, which is sticky enough to hold the EP but sets when you heat it. Kills two birds with one stone (and I often like a bit of color under the metallic or clear EP I favor.)

-- Pat Kight snipped-for-privacy@peak.org

Yes - and red or green under gold are interesting, too; the former gives it a warm undertone that works beautifully with Asian images, and the latter adds a kind of antique patina.

I mostly don't use colored EP, mainly for economic reasons - I'm afraid that once I get started there will be no end to it! I have economy-sized jars of clear and gold ultra-thick EP, and use an old coffee grinder to whir them into smaller granules if I want something like detail powder.

-- Pat Kight snipped-for-privacy@peak.org

Hi Pat,

How do you c>

Trial and error, and starting with very small quantities - maybe a teaspoon. For my grinder, hitting the button for a count of "onethousand one, onethousand two" seems to work.

I do my embossing inside the lid of a large shoebox, which usually catches most of the stray stuff.

One thing you have to remember about rubber and ink -- some rubber will release ink more quickly than others. And different inks -- even permanent -- release easier than others. Something about the chemical compsition of the rubber and ink. I place my stamps on top of baby wipes and let them "think about it" until I am done stamping. I get them as clean as I can and go from there.

Mary Ann Mary Ann snipped-for-privacy@aol.com

My favorite cleaner for permanent ink is Cleansit from Ranger. That stuff seems to take of ANY ink. It comes in one of those 2 oz. bottles with a scrubbie top and I see it from time to time at many general craft stores, always at stamping stores.

-Crystal in Houston

The VersaMark is a wonderful idea. I do not currently have one of those stamp pads, but I bet I will right after work tomorrow night. LOL I haven't ruined any of my expensive stamps yet, so it is most timely information. I constantly use "baby wipes" now also, they sure have improved them since I used them on my daughter who is now 22 yrs. old. BTW, they are also great for dusting or wiping up small spills etc.

Hey, thanks to all who replied.

eliquint

Just wondering, where can you get economy size jars of EP ??

Hugs, Joanne

I bought mine at a local store 3 or 4 years ago; half-pound jars of clear and gold, Stampin' Stuff brand. I can't seem to google up a source for it, so they may have gone out of business, but Suze Weinberg's Ultra-Thick Embossing Enamel is available in 180-gram jars from various suppliers.

thanks Pat, UTEE is not really the same as EP. If ever you find another source, can you let me know ? I have bought some in the past as well and can't remember who sold it to me, vbg.

Hugs from France, Joanne

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I was surprised to see that you haven't been happy with your Versamark pad. I find it wonderful for embossing. Better than anything else I've tried. It holds the powder beautifully and there are no irregularities in the texture of the finished items. It has saved me hours in a recent batch of wedding cards.

Pam.

It is if you grind it up in a coffee mill. (-:

Seriously, it's all exactly the same thermoplastic, just different sized granules.

I don't emboss a lot, and when I do, I generally just use my ink of choice (ColorBox Crafters' Ink) rather than a special embossing ink. It's nice and thick and sticky until you heat-dry it, and works like a charm.

I confess I don't spend a lot of money on specialty inks or single-purpose items; I got out of the habit after realizing I had a ton of nifty stuff that I'd only used once. These days I go for multi-purpose products to save money for the stuff that really counts - like fabulous paper!