When to prime a stamper and how to prime it correctly!

There are a lot of stamping alternatives in the market. Different stampers, different sizes, different shapes. Not all the stampers are the same, therefore you should not attempt to prime them all in the same way. I've learned this even before I even bought one stamper. Rubber, silicone and marshmallow stampers are made from different materials and you should never use or treat them in the same way. Not all stampers need to be primed.

Basic red rubber stamper (ebay)

First we have the basic small red rubber stampers. These stampers  were a nightmare when we tried to stamp with them. The red stamper head has an empty gap and needs priming in order to transfer. When I started watching videos in you tube I noticed people used files to prime them, not bad if you know what you're doing. But as a nail tech I know how files work, they can leave small indentations on the rubber that you won't even notice but definitely will ruin your work surface, happens with acrylics, happens with gels and happens with natural nails. It will happen with rubber! So I decided to prime it with a 240 or above sponge buffer. This is the tool we nail techs use to do the final buff to our sculpted artificial nails. You end up with a smooth and even surface. Don't go hard on it because you will end up ruining the surface and getting an uneven stamper head that will ruin your designs and manicures.

Deluxe Double Stamper (Messy Mansion)

Then we have the solid  silicone stampers. These stamper heads are found in a range of firmness from squishy to firm, sticky or non sticky and there is a difference in how you should prime them. Never use a file or buffer on this stampers. As the material they're made of is different it is possible you end up ruining their shape. When I ordered the Messy Mansion Deluxe Double head stamper it included a card scraper, an extra stamper head (firmer and purple) and a magic eraser, the ideal tool to prime this type of stamper. But be careful, do not use too much pressure, as  you might damage the stamper head ruining its shape. A ruined shape may lead you to uneven misshaped stamped images on your manicures. Just use a gentle circular motion in order to get a matte surface, this should give you the best results.

XL Stamper- Not Marshmallow (Ebay)

Another alternative (and a cheaper one) is the XL stamper. You can buy this at Ebay or Aliexpress. This one has two ends also. A really small one made of red rubber and intended for accent designs and a larger one for general stamping. As the basic red rubber stamper head, these stamper heads have an empty gap. You can prime them with a 240 grit sponge buffer as you would prime the basic red rubber stamper head.

Marshmallow sticky stamper (MoYou London)

Looking into the stamping market you can find the "Creative Shop Style" marshmallow sticky stampers. These stampers consist of a stainless steel holder and a bigger stamper head. This stamper head is extra squishy and really sticky. This stamper should never be primed. Do not intend to use acetone, polish remover o any type of file or buffer with them. This stampers have a thin coating that gives them the stickiness and protect their shape. If you intend to file or buff them you'll end up ruining them. If it has color that color will transfer to your polish and ruin your stamped design. If you see it doesn't pick up correctly just give it a wash with mild soap (such as Dawn) or rub it with isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol. The only thing that will improve your stamper's ability to stamp is using it and practicing how to manage it.

The XL non sticky Stamper (Uberchic Beauty)

As the sticky marshmallow stamper arrived so did the non sticky version of it. Available in many brands and different firmness than the sticky one. I opted for the firmer, larger version from Uberchic beauty. This stamper does not require any type of priming either but a good wash with a mild soap (like Dawn), and that is only to remove any greasy residues the mold might have left behind. Do not attempt to file or buff them as this will only damage the stamping surface. Do not use acetone or polish remover on them because you will only get to damage the stamper head. I did this with mine and it stamped just right.

Clear Jelly Stamper (Born Pretty Store)

Another option in the market is having it's best time with most stamping supplies online sellers right now. I am referring to the Clear Jelly stamper. It's original version was very delicate and expensive but the new version is more than affordable with most sellers. This stamper does not require any priming. Absolutely do not attempt to file o buff it. And do not rub it with anything because it will loose its transparency. Just use a lint roller with it. It should stamp beautifully.

New tool from us to you!

Have you swatch your stamping plates on paper or paint demo cards and then thrown them away? Is it hard to organizing them because the name of your plate goes in the back of the card? Do you feel ashamed when you pick up sample paint card at the department stores, and prefer not to pick them up? Well that has happened to me. I decided to develop a way to organize my swatches in a very convenient way. The stamping plate review card is my newest tool. It's available in two sizes and its made to print on index cards. As "The Printable Mat" this tool is free. Only a few terms and conditions apply.

Terms and conditions

1. Must be a Follower of all my social media.

     a. Join this blog. Hand Crafted With Love Nails (Join This Site)

     b. Follow @lhn_designs on Instagram (Badge Button on sidebar)

     c. Subscribe to Handcrafted With Love on You Tube 

     d. Follow @Licy76 on twitter (Link Button  on sidebar)

     e. Follow Handcrafted with love on Google+ (Badge on sidebar)

Note: If you are on a cellular or tablet you need to access the link to the full website on the bottom of the blog to be able to view the buttons.

Then send message via contact form with your username on each social media (this to verify you are a follower) and an email to send you the card's pdf

2. "The Printable Mat" is for personal non-commercial use only , any unauthorized commercial or online use of the mat violates our intellectual property and copyrights. We will proceed with legal processing.

3. Do not alter or edit the Stamping Review Card or any of its drawings, logos and/or copyright typing.

4. Stamping review card is not transferable, it's solely for your personal use, no group printing! If you'd like to share our card with a friend ,you should share a link to its original post. (this post).

5. Accept the terms and conditions in a comment below this post.

6. Do not unsubscribe or unfollow after you receive your stamping plate review card, it's not honest and you might loose the chance to download more printable goodies from our blog and the giveaways!

Instructions of use

1. Print "The Stamping Plate Review Card" on an index card (4 in x 6 in or  5 in x 8 in)  . Use landscape orientation.

2. Store them in an index card box

3. You might also laminate it.

4. Enjoy your review cards and start swatching!

MoYou London The Pro Collection Plate 04 Review

MoYou London Pro Collection Plate 4

I've had this plate for a while now. But I did not have the time to review it properly. MoYou London was my first experience with international orders. And I have to say the designs are a dream. I love the high quality etching on the plate and the details on the designs themselves. The only negative thing I found on this specific plate is the size of the images. They're good for slim short nails but not large enough for the thumbnails or larger and longer nails. Other than that this plate is great. If you have short nails this is the plate for you.

(Click on image to view larger)

Overall the images are easy to pick up and transfer. I tried them with a basic stamper and they picked up really well. but I got the best results with MoYou's marshmallow sticky stamper.

I had a little trouble transferring one of the images, and it was because the fine details on it dried too fast. But the second time I tried it, it transferred just well.

I do recommend this plate it has images that can be a beautiful complement to any manicure. I used it to complement a sugar skull manicure and I really liked the results!

The theory of color and the basic color wheel

Maybe you and I aren't precisely genius at Calculus.Maybe we don't even use it and we won't. But the man behind Calculus is the same man that has the most influence in the color wheel we use today! The beginning of the color wheel dates from the mid 1600's when Sir Isaac Newton's research with white light led him to the discovery of a visible spectrum of light.

In 1704 Isaac Newton's original color wheel included musical notes correlated beginning with red and dividing the circle by the musical scale starting with D and ending with the octave of  D.It does not surprise that violet and purple colors are located are located next to red on the color wheel since these are considered non-spectral mixes of red and violet light.

Most artist and designers use a color wheel based on red, yellow and blue colors. Through the years scientists and artists have made changes to the color wheel developing the ones we know and use today.

Photo saved from Google

Colors are divided in categories according to their position in the color wheel.

Primary Colors

1. Red

2.Yellow

3.Blue

Primary Colors: Red, yellow and blue

In traditional color theory (used in paint and pigments), primary colors are the 3 pigment colors that can not be mixed or formed by any combination of other colors. All other colors are derived from these three hues

Secondary colors

1. Orange

2. Purple

3.Green

Secondary Colors: Green, orange and purple

These are the colors formed by mixing the primary colors.

Tertiary  Colors

1. Yellow-orange

2. Red-orange

3.Red-purple

4. Blue-purple

5. Blue-green

6. Yellow-green

Tertiary Colors: Yellow-orange,red-orange, red-purple, blue-purple, blue-green, yellow-green

These are the colors formed by mixing a primary and a secondary color. That's why the hue is a two word name, such as blue-green, red-violet, and yellow-orange.

The Color Wheel

A tool everyone that works with color and design must have. Everything starts here. You can find a Color Wheel in any local arts store near you, or buy it online from their website. With it you'll learn which colors to combine and how. In a future post I will go into details on how to use a color wheel.

MoYou London Haul

As a beginner into the nail stamping world I wanted to have at least one or two of the stamping plates everyone was talking about MoYou London is a company based in the UK.  They ship worldwide and have many distributors around the world too. I know of a few resellers like Daschica (based in Netherlands) and Uñas de Menetah (based in Argentina), there is also a seller on ebay, Amare Beauty that carries MoYou London from California, United States. Check pricing and shipping charges and decide which seller is best for you!
This was my first international order for stamping plates, I think I got very good prices and delivery took only 7 days. This order included Princess collection plate #11, Pro collection plate #4 and their Double Marshmallow sticky stamper. I am really happy with delivery time and the plates and stamper themselves!