Using Hero Arts 6x6 cling stamp??

I don't find that I get a good stamp with my 6x6 stamps on the TH platform anyway, so I'm not sure if that will solve the problem. I'd be more inclined to practice doing it the way you described. It should take ink better with more use, but also lay down a sheet of scrap paper and really smooth it all around, use one of those "pressure tools" if you have one, or the flat of your hand and smooth firmly all over the stamp. I think I usually go in circles.

If you do want to try using the platform you could coat the plastic with pixie spray for temporary hold or give it a good coat of a 2-way glue that you let dry to create a permanently tacky surface.

I haven't encountered that with HA stamps but I'm wondering if they moved away from having them sticky because they really don't work well with platforms or blocks. They always leave patchy bits no matter how well you ink or how hard you CPR your platform.

kmage, I just pulled out a Hero Arts red rubber background stamp (that I've never used, I have way too much stuff) and tried to use my MISTI to "pick" it up and I experienced the same thing as you, it doesn't stick to the lid. I was sorta perplexed because I swear I've seen YouTubers use HA cling stamps with a platform before, so I found this video from Nichol Spohr and she uses a Hero Arts cling stamp in her MISTI around the 9:30 mark and it sticks, so I'm really not sure what's going on! I know this doesn't solve your problem, but hopefully it at least lets you know you're not alone!

You say it has a somewhat hard plastic back. I had some red rubber stamps like that, but the plastic back was more like the thin plastic that clear stamps are stuck to when you buy them, only not thin. I had to look closely to see that there was was a very thin, pliable backing that the stamp was actually stuck to (that is the actual cling part of the stamp), and that was adhering the stamp to the hard plastic. I carefully separate the two when I want to use those stamps.

I hope that makes sense. Anyway, look closer to see if you have overlooked the cling film. If you think of the stamp as in layers, the top layer is the red rubber, the second layer is the foam, the third layer is cling film, and the fourth layer is the hard plastic. The third and fourth layers are supposed to separate, but sometimes that cling layer can be hard to spot.

That was to get the whole stamp to release the ink onto the cs. I was getting a stamped image with gaps in it, and I suspect that the cover of my WRMK stamp platform is warped and doesn't provide even pressure unless forced.

For the rubber stamp that won't stick I would try repositionable tape to attach the stamp to the cover of the TH platform to keep it there until you are done stamping.

But maybe the new stamp needs "conditioning"--I wipe new stamps with a baby wipe to get the coating and cutting dust of them. Other people have inked a stamp with Versa Mark or some other slow drying ink, then cleaned with a soft cloth. Or used a spritz of stamp cleaner. Then lay it stamp side up and ink it. Place your cs on top and press down with a big stamp block or a book. Before you remove the cs, roll over it with a brayer.

And before you start make sure your ink pad is juicy.

Lots of trouble shooting ideas: some that actually work. It is frustrating when a product doesn't work the way it was advertised, or the way you dreamed it would work!

There’s stamping and there’s stomping… 😄

Just chiming in to say I have a couple of background stamps that don't stick well to the door, so I use it backwards as mentioned above. Repositionable tape on the paper stuck to the inside door and the stamp on the base.

For me that works better than putting it on the table, placing the cardstock, then a printer paper over and either rubbing or using a brayer. With this method I always seem to smudge it when removing the paper from the stamp.