Hi

What kind of stamps are they?
Wood mounted/clear/ foam.
Are they very detailed pictures like etchings?
What is the problem with the impression you get? Are you getting ink transfer from the surround of the stamp, missed areas of stamp? Too much ink in between a detailed image?

Speaking personally, I find Versfine Onyx black an excellent ink for detailed stamps.

I use a thin sheet of funky foam under the paper I'm stampin onto for large stamps, to avoid uneven pressure that I may apply.

If it is those white etching style stamps, I've heard Dawn suggest that people trim down the foam until they are close to the image to avoid access ink getting on to the stamp surround.

Hope that is of help? If not if you can give me some more details about the specific problem with the image you stamp, what inks you are using and the kind of stamps we are talking about, I'll have another go 

Best wishes

Billie

PS Can you post any pictures of the stamp or the problem images?

Hi catzmum 

there is a video presentation of your La Blanche portrait stamps, on QVC.  The video shows Dawn achieving good results
. . . though, you may already know this

http://www.qvcuk.com/ukqic/qvcapp.aspx/app.detail/params.item.588393

As these stamps are not available here in the UK, except for QVC, I don't think it would be unreasonable to write, or send an email, for the attention of Dawn at QVC, outlining your problem. 

. . . failing that, I would ask for a replacement - just on the off chance that they were 'faulty'.

I hope you get sorted
. . . please let us know how things go

Best wishes,
Wendy 

A very big thanks to all the helpful crafters who took the time to offer their help and suggestions on the problem I'm encountering with these stamps.  Because the image is so 'flat' (they are like etchings really, where you can't actually feel any raised image). when I very lightly tap my ink over them it does indeed 'pool' which is a good way of describing what's happening - some bits of image will be blobby and some don't appear!   I don't have any Versafine inks but have tried my Brilliance dew drops; some cube size Hobbycraft inks; some 'Paintbox' inks by Colourbox and Tim Holtz's vintage photo.  I did get a better result with Tim's but literally had to wipe the ink pad over the stamp with the merest touch. 
I did see Dawn demo them using a dew drop ink (can't remember which now) and she didn't appear to struggle which made me go for them in the first place. 
I could try my Ranger black archival ink but don't want to muck the stamps up too much if I decide to send them back.
A couple of you have suggested Versafine but part of me is a bit loath to spend yet more money on inks in order to use the stamps properly.  Ho hum!  Thanks guys anyway.

Hi

When you first start stamping the amount of stuff you 'need' can seem a long list. So its tempting to go for big bundles of inks at low prices. I too have tried the Paint box inks and to be honest they are awful, its not you, it is the ink! In this case the bad workman blaming his tools does not apply! Sometimes products just aren't as good as they could be.

Versafine is a pigment ink and is very versatile, althought it seems expensive you can do a lot with it. You can emboss over it and use it on coated papers and velum as well.

If you are just starting out a good permanent ink to go for is Rangers Archival in black. Heat set it and you can use water colours and pens over it without fear of the ink moving.

Add a versamark inkpad, which is a clear ink for embossing and you have a great all round set. Pigment ink will normally work on just about any stamp. I have found some stamps especially the clear ones resist/repel the dye based inks. You get an effect like water on a ducks back, it just sits in little droplets.

If you are new to stamping, have a practice with some text based stamps or open images. These will help you find techniques that work for you. The very detailed etching stamps are amoungst the most difficult to get good impressions with, so don't feel too disheartened.

Best wishes

Billie

Thanks soooo much to you all for your interest, help and guidance.  Just had to tell you that I've had another go with my Ranger black archival ink pad this time and...... T'Daaaar!  It's worked.  Have stamped onto cheap copier paper and even coloured with a Whispers pen and am thrilled with the end result.  If you saw QVC on Tuesday and the 'Darkroom Door' rubber stamps - it looks like that.  It probably would be nice to stamp them in colour and I may yet succumb to the small Versafine ink pads.  You really do get what you pay for and I now know that not all crafting products are created equal!  I can now leave a glowing review for my stamps. Thanks again to you all.  Catzmum   

So glad you got a result 

I have to agree with Billie that you usually definitely get what you pay for in crafting products. I usually find if it's by Ranger or Tsukineko then you are fine 

Lol Lynn ♥

Ranger Archival pads come in a variety of colours as well as black.  Although the Versafine cubes are a good way to see if you like a product.

catzmum wrote on Feb 25^th, 2010 at 3:45pm: