Quick Tip: Getting Clear Stamped Images

Hi there. I have another Quick Tip video for you today. (And this one really is quick!) I thought it was about time I share a tip for getting a clear stamped image with a new stamp.

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[All supplies are linked to multiple sources in the thumbnails at the end of this post. Compensated affiliate links used at no cost to you. To watch the video in HD on YouTube, click HERE.]

The trick of using VersaMark Ink to prep a stamp before using it really helps me and I am hoping it helps you, too! Please keep in mind there are lots of tricks for getting clear stamped images… this is just the one that worked best for me. Give it a try!

(Note: It is important to take care of your stamps. Be sure to clean them with a safe stamp cleaner, such as Ultra Clean.)

Have a great day.


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113 thoughts on “Quick Tip: Getting Clear Stamped Images”

  1. Deb Williams says:

    Thank you! I hadn’t seen this before!

  2. LeslieS says:

    Jennifer, THANK YOU!! This is so timely for me. I was using my brand new “Beautiful Day” stamps and Altenew inks last night for the first time and boy were there little dots everywhere. Took a lot of ink, paper and time to get better, but not great results. I had never had this happen and was a bit freaked out, frankly. You solved my problem. Love my new Altenew products, and can’t wait to get back at it now. Hope you and yours are all doing well.

  3. thepurpleplace says:

    Thank you!! Such a wealth of tips and hints….

  4. Berina Febin says:

    Thanks for sharing this tip!! I’ll give it a try! Hope you are doing good.
    -Berina
    Moxie Craftie

  5. katy says:

    Thank you so much Jennifer, what a really helpful tip!

  6. Cindy C. says:

    Cool!! Thanks for the sharing the clever tip!

  7. Shelly says:

    Such a great tip! Thanks for sharing!

  8. Pattyg says:

    This is brilliant! Thanks for taking the time to SHOW us exactly how this works.

  9. Susie says:

    Just like Leslies, I encountered this same issue and was confounded. Thanks Jennifer for “the lightbulb” being turned on! Great tip.

  10. Mary Beth says:

    Thanks you sooo much for sharing this great tip. I have not had good luck with clear stamps so will give this a try!!!!

  11. Linda Grady says:

    I’ve also just rubbed the new stamp on my clothes or with my fingers w/o using Versamark and it has worked for me.

  12. Anita A says:

    What a great idea Thanks for sharing!

  13. Katherine says:

    Thank you Jennifer! I bought some really, really cute non US stamps from Michaels recently and have been struggling with them taking ink the way I want! I will definitely try this tip and see if my results improve!

  14. Gloria Reynolds says:

    Just love it when you publish these tips and tricks, so helpful. I had never tried the Versamark trick but I have often rubbed a soft white eraser over a new stamp before its first use, and that works very well. Thanks so much.

  15. Roz R. says:

    I started getting the Lawn Fawn Inks, and ran into this problem. I was told to try VeraMark, the eraser idea, or take a nail file and gently run it over the stamp. All ideas worked.
    Love your tips, they are always spot on.
    Hope you are doing well.

  16. Wow! Jennifer, who knew?!! will definitely be using this tip from now on….thank you so much for posting this x

  17. Sandra Wingate says:

    Thank you! I’ve been thinking I would never be a good stamper, and have been ready to go to just die cutting. Thanks to you, I’ll keep trying to stamp until I get it. I’ve seen you rub a stamp after cleaning it. Is this for the same reason? Is our natural oil a good thing for a stamp?

  18. carol mcclure says:

    tim holtz suggests a similar idea…black archival on new stamps…then set aside for a little while…clean off with baby wipe or damp towel, just til the black no longer transfers…this will accomplish the same thing…it keeps the ink from beading up…when he stated that he doesn’t really clean his stamps well, you would have thought he had committed a felony…some people were horrified…i had to laugh…life’s too short to be that anxious.

  19. Linda w says:

    Great idea Jennifer. I was wondering if you found that you only did this the very first time you used a particular stamp. Or do you need to do this multiple times for a stamp?

  20. Rosy Newlun says:

    After all these long years of not knowing this trick, I just want to thank you thank you thank you for sharing. I had no clue. I hope you do not mind if I link this video from my blog to share with others who might have missed it. I doubt they will miss this, but maybe they’re on vacation or something. I could and would hug you for this Jennifer.

  21. Those stamps look dreamy!!

  22. Caroline King says:

    Jennifer, you are the bomb……..would have never in a million years thought to try this, thank you so much for the video, this also helps to see what you are talking about……love your videos, love your cards, love your blog!!!! 🙂

  23. justasiam says:

    Jennifer, would this also work for rubber or wood-mounted stamps?

  24. Patty Pearson says:

    I was just using the Beautiful Day stamp set and I also had problems. I was using Altenew in and it was the first time and couldn’t decide if it was the ink or the stamp set. Thanks so much, I will definitely try this!

  25. Shirleys in Queen Creek says:

    Thank you so much for this tip. I’ve had the unloved stamping happen to me more than once with a new stamp and without even thinking I have stamped my card and then I have this blotchy mess. Super great tip!

  26. Estamps says:

    Thanks so much. I had forgotten this tip and really need it for a newly bought set.

  27. LC says:

    I definitely needed to hear this great tip. I’ve been having some problems with certain stamps and I look forward to trying this awesome tip. Thank you for sharing your wealth of crafty knowledge!

  28. Iris Esther López says:

    Thank you, Jennifer. I was wondering what I was doing wrong or if my inks were poor quality. This tip is very helpful.

  29. Nancy D. says:

    Hi Jennifer- Do you use the Versamark only the first time? Will I have to reapply after cleaning the stamp? Thanks so much for all of the sharing you do. It is appreciated!

  30. Mary-Anne V. says:

    Thanks for this tip…I first heard about it from Debby Hughes.

  31. Diane says:

    Great tip. I have an odd question. I would like to be able to produce the first look when I wanted it. Is there any way to do that? There are place it would fit in just fine.

  32. Tona says:

    Thanks for the great top!

  33. Peg says:

    Excellent tip Jennifer. Thank you for sharing.

  34. Mendi Yoshikawa says:

    Such a great idea! I’ve found rubbing them firmly with a damp absorber cloth helps remove the residue on new stamps too. 🙂

  35. Miriam says:

    Thanks for the tip! I have the Silhouette stamp kit and found accidentally that using the pad that came with the kit gave me good results when using brand new stamps because I “primed” it first. I wouldn’t use that pad for anything but priming my new stamps. Is “love” the term? 😛

  36. Colleen Howell says:

    Love this tip, will do this for sure thanks

  37. Peggy Lamb says:

    When I am having trouble with a new stamp, I do that, but you are right, it’s a good habit to get into with all new stamps. Actually a time saver.

  38. Martye Green says:

    Cool trick – thanks.

  39. Renee Milner says:

    I’m very glad you shared this tip! I’ve been having splotchy stamping with new stamps & have been so frustrated. I was thinking I was using the wrong ink or something. Thanks!

  40. This is such a helpful tip! I have often wondered about why stamps don’t work on the first try!!

  41. PQuirk75 says:

    Years ago there was a stamp company called Posh Impressions and they produced many solid rubber stamps. In a video that the owner produced she mentioned that in order to get the stamps out of the dyes they coated them and this is what is left on the stamps. She suggested taking a pumice block like you use for your feet and gently scuffing up the surface of the stamp. This method had always worked for me on rubber stamps. For the acrylic I always felt they were too delicate for this method and finally stumbled onto another method to remove the coating. That person suggested a moldable eraser like what the artists used. They can usually be found in Micheals or Hobby Lobby.

  42. Richell says:

    Thanks Jennifer! I have had a few stamps that I had problems with so now I can’t wait to try this technique! Hope all is well. We miss you!!

  43. Harriet says:

    Wow what an easy solution. Thank you very much, I’ve had the splotchy ink often much to my dismay. No More!!!

  44. JulieC says:

    Thanks for this helpful tip!

  45. Keri says:

    You can actually skip the step using the Versamark Ink to “condition” your clear stamps. What works for me 100% of the time is to simply rub my thumb over the stamp a few times, until the “shiny” surface of the stamp becomes “cloudy” and then the stamp is ready to go.

  46. Milli D says:

    I’ve never heard this tip before!! You just saved a couple of stamps from the trash can and they thank you! 😉

  47. Thanks for the tip. I’ll definitely give this a try. Have a BEE-utiful evng.
    Melissa
    “Sunshine HoneyBee”

  48. Stephanie S says:

    Thank you soooo much for creating and posting this video! I always wondered what I was doing wrong and couldn’t figure it out. Thank you!

  49. MaggieB1983 says:

    Hi Jennifer ~ Awesome tip as always. Thanks for sharing. ~HUGS~

  50. El Ivens says:

    Thank you so much. I used to have to stamp several times before it looks decent.

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