How to Use Foam Stamps

Learn how to use foam stamps to embellish your next craft project. They are inexpensive and easy to use.

Foam Stamps

Die: The rubber or image part of a stamp
Cushion: A layer between the die and the mount
Mount: The base the die and cushion are placed onto.

• Foam stamps are made of an absorbent material that soaks up some of the ink or paint (liquid forms of color) for stamping an image.
   
• Foam stamps vary in absorption. Some are very dense absorbing very little while others are more porous absorbing more liquid than you might think! Practice with your foam stamps before using on your project. The more absorbent the foam stamp the better off you are using paint as your color.
   
• Foam stamps are the least expensive of all stamps. Perfect for the beginner who isn’t sure yet if he or she wants to make an investment in stamping. The images are usually bold, solid, and very simple. Foam stamps are also excellent for children. Foam stamps are best for bold images or patterns, not detailed or line images.
   
• Some inks and paints can stain the foam. This will not hurt the stamp unless the stain is really excess ink or paint that wasn’t removed during cleaning. If excess paint or ink remains in the foam, the foam will harden and no longer absorb color for stamping. Make sure you clean foam stamps immediately after each use.
   
• It’s best to brush or dab on the ink or paint rather than dip the stamp into the liquid. Tap the inked image on a paper towel to remove any excess liquid. You want the stamp image covered, not dripping.
   
• Press inked foam stamp to surface gently. You do not need to press down hard as you do with other types of stamps. If you press to hard, the excess ink or paint will spill out the side of the image and puddle.
   
• Like other types of stamping, get your placement figured out, lay the stamp down onto the surface and press gently. Do not rock or wiggle the stamp. Pull stamp straight up to remove.
   
• Since foam stamps are opaque, you may need a guide for placement. There are tools available to help with image placement or you can mark the surface softly with pencil.
   
• The real key to foam stamps is to not over-ink! Less is usually more with this type of material. The only way to really get a feel of a foam stamp is to practice, practice, and practice. You can brush on chalk or pastel for a very soft image. Remember that the chalk or pastel needs to be “set” with some type of spray sealer or over time the chalk will rub off.