Fixing Stamp Lines

Yesterday afternoon my internet at work went out and I didn't get through all my e-mails, so if you asked me a question, please have patience! Meanwhile, a quick post about stamping.

Something happened to me a day or so ago that I'm sure has never happened to you, so I figured I'd share my experience :)

I had the perfect scrap of paper, the perfect size stamp, and I knew what colors I was going to use. I ink it up, and stamp. Oh bother, I missed a spot while inking. Now I have to go use a full sheet of paper to get a clean impression. What a waste.

Actually, this didn't happen.

I had the perfect stamp, I had the perfect size of paper, I knew what colors, I inked up and I missed a spot. No problem. I reached for my black Copic multiliner in a size that matched my stamp line and I fixed my image. No paper wasted and my line won't bleed when I color over it.

Copic Multiliners are pigment based, archival, acid free, and come in two body styles- disposable in 9 different sizes / 5 colors or refillable Multiliner SP's in 10 different sizes and 12 colors in two sizes.

These pens are perfect, since I know that if I have a line I missed and I draw it back in with my multiliner it won't bleed when I color over it on matte cardstock. The different point sizes are perfect, since each stamp has a different line width. note: On glossy or coated papers let it dry well so it doesn't bleed when you color over it. These are waterproof, so if you're going to watercolor a picture these will work great. I strongly suggest that if you work with stamps, get these pens for fixing mistakes. Keep a few line widths in your supplies, right next to your favorite stamp pads.

I personally love the Multiliner SP pens for all my illustrations as well, since they will last me forever. If I ever break a tip, I just swap it out, if I run out of ink, I get a new cartridge. They are a fine quality inking pen that I truly love. (On a side note, these are also the very pens that Karen Lockhart uses for drawing her stamps).

You may not consider yourself an artist, but they're also great for adding a bit of grass or a ground line to your work that looks like it came with the picture. Add swirls, patterns, dots, and if you match the line width of your stamp, no one will know that it didn't come on that image originally! This is a great way to personalize your coloring. Match a pattern on your image to your paper. Use a super-fine line pen to add really tiny details. Experiment! Try the colored multiliners to draw details in that won't get blended out when you color over them.

Stamp images: Pears by Lockhart Stamps, Tire Swing by AMuse, ink: Memento Tuxedo Black Paper: Neenah cardstock