Ann, what kind of a stamp is it--acrylic, photopolymer, rubber? What are you stamping on--regular cardstock, glossy, something else? What kind of ink are you using--water-based, oil-based, solvent-based, dye, pigment, hybrid?
Below the stamping pad (foam, magazine, mousepad, etc.) that others have mentioned, you need a hard, firm surface (wood table, kitchen counter). I use a heavy acrylic cutting board since my Lifetime folding table has too much give to it.
One stamp that I have only stamped well if I stood on it. No kidding, that worked great!
When I've have stamps that don't stamp well, I start with the least invasive method to try to remedy the problem. I start with a white eraser and rub it all over the surface of the die and then clean that off. If that doesn't help, I use a sanding block, the kind you use on shrink plastic, or a fine nail file. If that doesn't work, I try a very fine grit sandpaper.
Other possible remedies:
When I bought some black rubber stamps, the manufacturer said to stamp the first few times with ColorBox Fluid Acrylic Ink. They said that would prime the rubber, and after those initial inkings, the rubber would accept all kinds of ink. I have actually had very good luck stamping with CBFAI when others have failed.
I'm going through Tim Holtz's Creative Chemistry 101 online class, and he gave a tip for working with photopolymer stamps. (Actually, I think he does this with his rubber stamps too.) He primes the stamp by stamping first with Archival Jet Black Ink, an oil-based ink. He lets that dry. Then he just wipes it off with a cloth until no ink comes off on his finger. After that the stamp accepts other inks. He demoed by stamping a photopolymer stamp on plain cardstock before and after priming it with the Archival Ink. He stamped with Distress Ink. The before image was splotchy and incomplete; the after image was perfect. He cleaned the stamp with spritz of water and wiped it with a cloth. The die was still black, but it was clean.
Tim said that the conditioners in many stamp cleaners actually repel the ink. That's why he only cleans up with water.
A few participants mentioned that they ink up with embossing ink and then ink up with dye ink when they have a problem.
I hope one of those solutions helps.
Daria
