Essence Stampy Set and Stampy Designs

Since I started posting anything related to my nail obsession I get asked different questions quite often.  The most asked question is about stamping.  So I’m here to tell you all about the Essence Stampy Set.  That is the stamping set I use.  There are many different kinds of stamping sets available but Essence Stampy Set is most freely available and probably cheapest as well (in South Africa).  I have heard / seen many people speak of the superior quality of other stamping sets and because I have not used any of those products I can’t compare them.  I can say that I have had no issues with the Essence Stampy Set.

(Remember: click on any image to see larger image)

The Essence Stampy Set is available at Dischem for R39.95.  The Stampy Designs are additional plates.  These are also available at Dischem for R19.95

The Essence Stampy Set comes in a compact little box.  Inside the box is another plastic little container.  I store my stampy set in this plastic container.  It keeps everything together and can even hold additional plates.  This set consists of one stamper (a round rubber stamping surface with a plastic handle), one scraper (a metal scraper with a plastic handle) and one image plate (Stampy Design – a metal image plate with 5 – 9 images). When I started doing ‘research’ about stamping I saw many people suggest not using the scraper provided but to use an old debit/credit card instead.  I will admit to only using the scraper provided once and mainly use an old gift card. The gift card is bigger which means you can hold it better.  It’s also not metal.  I am a little hesitant to use metal on metal BUT there is nothing wrong with the scraper provided.

The Stampy Designs image plates come wrapped in plastic with a board cover.  I currently have 5 image plates.  One came with the stampy set and the other 4 were bought separately.

So, how and what?  How does it work and what does it do is the big question right? I am going to do my best to explain it.

Choose the image you want to use and the polish you want to use.  The polish is the tricky part.  You do get special stamping polishes.  The polish you choose needs to be opaque enough in one coat. It needs to be fairly thick.  It really is trial and error with different kinds of polish and once you find one that works, remember it!  I can mention a few that I have tried and worked with.  These are not the only ones that work but these are ones I have tried so far:

• Sinful colors – Black on Black  (used in my images here)
• Tip Top – Armour Plate
• Sinful Colors – San Francisco
• Revlon – Super Nature
• Sinful Colors – Snow me White  (the white base colour of my images here)
• Essence – Fame Fatal (I haven’t tried many Essence polishes but I would imagine most would stamp well)

Essence does have stamping polishes as well.  Essence Stampy Polish in white, black and silver.  I have tried the silver once but none of the others.

Once you have chosen your image and the polish:

1. Paint your polish onto the image on the plate.
2. Using your scraper (or gift card like I did) and, holding it at a slight angle, scrape off the polish.
3. Check your image plate to make sure your image has caught the polish properly (I don’t know how else to explain it really but check my image)
4. Take your stamper and while using a rolling motion pick up the polish from the plate.  Check your stamper to make sure the image was picked up properly.

If, so far, everything has gone well then you use the same rolling motion to transfer the image to your nail. 😀

Important points to note:

• The whole process needs to happen fairly quickly.  Obviously the polish will dry just as quick as it would if you painted on your nail.  Once you’ve scraped it, the polish becomes thinner which means it will dry even faster.  It’s not impossible so don’t worry.  It’s totally do-able.
• You have to clean your plate and stamper after each nail.  I know it sounds like a mission but it isn’t.  I have a cotton pad with remover on it nearby and once I have stamped my nail, I simply rub my stamper on it and then do a quick wipe or two over the plate.  Simple.
• If you scrape too much and the polish doesn’t quite catch the image or if your stamper doesn’t pick up the image well.  Stop right there and start over.
• A really great tip:  Once you have painted your base colour, add a coat of top coat.  That way, if you make a mistake with your stamping you can quickly wipe it off with some remover without damaging the polish underneath.
• Always, always, always use a top coat over your stamping. Not only does it protect your stamping but really brings the design out.  Try it.

If none of what I showed you above makes any sense at all (and I wouldn’t take offence at all) then watch this video instead:

 

If you want to see some of the other things I have done with stamping so far:

 

 

I used black and white for my examples in the photo’s.  I thought it would show up well.  I did not do any clean up before taking the photo’s.  Please excuse if it isn’t neat at all.

I hope that explains everything about the Essence Stampy Set.  Please feel free to ask any questions.  Anything I might not have covered?

PS:  There will definitely be a stampy set in my next giveaway 😛