FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

• How long do orders take?
  
  
• Confirmation email - how come I didn't get one?
  
  
• When using my credit card I get an error saying my address is incorrect, but I know it IS correct. What should I do?
  
  
• Mounted versus unmounted stamps - what's the difference?
  
  
• Are the stamps deep etched?
  
  
• Are you going to offer digital stamps?
  
  
• What is shipping going to cost?
  
  
• Do you offer custom stamps?
  
  
• How can I contact you?
  
  
• What does eat cake graphics look like?
  
  
• What's the process, from start to finish, in creating a rubber stamp?

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How long do orders take?
When orders come in the stamps are made, we don't keep a back stock of inventory. Orders usually take between 5-10 days depending on how busy I get.

Confirmation email, how come I didn't get one?
You will receive a confirmation email with an order number when your order goes through. This should happen within a short period of time if not almost instantly.

If you do NOT receive a confirmation email:
(1) Please check your spam or junk folder in your email, you may have gotten one and it ended up there
(2) Please try logging back into eatcakegraphics.com and checking your shopping cart, if you're items are still in the cart, your order was not submitted for whatever reason
(3) Please email me directly, Holly@eatcakegraphics.com

Please note that I am the ONLY ONE that processes payments. If you happen to hit submit twice I can catch it, however your credit card MIGHT be AUTHORIZED (the bank will check that the amount is good) twice, but it will NOT be charged twice. I only charge credit cards once I'm about to mail your order.

When using my credit card I get an error saying my address is incorrect, but I know it IS correct. What should I do?
If you know your address is correct and my credit card authorization keeps saying that it's not correct you can (1) switch to paying using PAYPAL or (2) use CHECK/MONEY ORDER and then I can call and get your credit card number over the phone or you can put a check in the mail.

It seems that once the error happens with the authorization it will keep happening even if you resubmit.

If you questions or concerns please feel free to email me, Holly@eatcakegraphics.com

Mounted versus unmounted stamps - what's the difference?
Mounted stamps
Mounted stamps are rubber + cushion + finely sanded maple wood blocks. They are indexed on top with black ink, but there are a few stamps that come indexed with clear labels.

Umounted stamps
Unmounted stamps are neatly trimmed rubber ONLY. These do NOT have wood blocks, cushion or any other kind of mounting material.

In order to use them you will need to provide either your own cushion or cling mounting foam. Because these are RUBBER stamps and not polymer (clear) they will not stick to blocks (clear or wood) by themselves.

For supplies you can go to www.rubberstampingdepot.com

Are the stamps deep etched?
The stamps are NOT deep etched, they are just regular. If you're looking at the stamp from a side view, its how high the actual raised part of the image is. Some stamps are lower, some are higher. Honestly most of the time it doesn't make a difference. The only time it might is if there are large blank areas on the stamp (sometimes you can get ink on those areas which then can transfer to whatever you're stamping on) or if you're using pigment ink - they usually have squishier foam pads and if you press the stamp too hard in the pad you're going to get ink in areas you don't want to.

If you're having trouble try any of these:
(1) Lay the stamp image side up and press your stamp pad to the stamp, you can see where the ink is going and if you get ink in any of the unwanted areas you can wipe it off.
(2) You don't need a ton of pressure on the stamp to get a clear image. Use enough to make the impression but not so much that you're putting all your weight on it. Pressing too hard will also distort the fine lines of the image - they'll come out thicker.
(3) You can cut away any large blank areas of the stamp.

Are you going to offer digital stamps?
I get asked this quite a bit and I know a lot of people are going towards this, but at this time I do not plan to offer digital stamps.

Do you offer custom stamps?
At this time I do not do custom stamps.

What is shipping going to cost?
Please see "Ordering" (orange tab on the banner) for shipping charges, stamp costs and payment types accepted. If you still have questions you can always email me, Holly@eatcakegraphics.com

What does Eat Cake Graphics look like?

Eat Cake Graphics is a home based business. No retail storefront here, just a garage shared with furry pets and my husband. :) The shelves shown to the left hold some of the images we offer.

What's the process, from start to finish, in creating a rubber stamp?

	1.	I start with an idea and create a pencil sketch. I scan the drawing into my computer. Using Adobe Photoshop or Illustrator and a Wacom drawing tablet I resize/redraw/refine (refine and refine some more) until it's "perfect".
	2.	Once I have enough for a supplement, I create a new file in Adobe Illustrator and import all the images. I arrange all of the images (usually at least two to three of each). The process is kind of like putting a puzzle together.
	3.	I print the final file on a laser printer (the black crisp lines are better than an inkjet) and check everything over. I send the printed piece of paper snail-mail to Owosso Graphics. They create a magnesium plate. This metal plate becomes the master for the working stamp mold.
	4.	I make a sandwich out of the magnesium (metal) plate + bakelite material (matrix board) and put it into a vulcanizer, which is nothing more than a rubber squisher that heats up. I squish everything together and after about 10 minutes pull it out. I pull the two apart and now I have a stamp mold ready to use.
	5.	The matrix mold is actually the mirror image of the finished rubber stamps.
	6.	I use the same vulcanizer and make another sandwich, this time out of the matrix mold + rubber. Cook. Ding goes the timer and viola! A sheet of stamps!
	7.	Mounted stamps, the final steps are to add double stick cushion and cut around the image using a scroll saw with a very fine blade. Cut and sand the maple block, and using index ink, stamp the top with the image and then stick the rubber to the bottom. For unmounted stamps, I just cut around the image with a pair of scissors and it's done.