Clear Stamps

Hi, Dorte. Thanks for the kind words. First, not all clear food stamps take to food coloring (some repel it; you can actually see the coloring bead up on the stamp). Your better bet is to use natural rubber stamps that are more pink-brown in color; I've never had one of that type not work. Some clear stamps will work, as I explain in the video, but it's best to try them on plain paper first with food coloring. If they don't stamp with food coloring on paper, they won't stamp on royal icing. I use Chefmaster liqua-gel food coloring for stamping, but have also successfully stamped with other brands of soft-gel and gel/paste food colorings. Don't know the brand you mentioned - which are you using again? My guess, though, is that your particular clear stamps will just not take to any food coloring.

Have you tried applying your colour to your clear stamps with an airbrush?? I had lots a problems with clear stamps until I tried this technique, it works great for me

I've tried airbrush colors on stamps before and haven't liked the result as much - the color is too loose and I find the stamps move around and smudge more. Never bothered to test it on my non-working clear stamps though . . . most of my clear ones that don't work well also have a very strong odor, which leads me to believe that they're coated with something I probably wouldn't want on my cookies anyway, so I just don't use them.

Sorry I just realised that this post was directed to you personally Julia, I'll just leave you to it. 

Julia:

I just purchased a custom rubber stamp and didn't like the image so I sent the manufacturer an email.  I explained that I planned to use it for cookies and the manufacturer replied that I should NOT use rubber stamps for food. (see below).  Have you ever heard this before?

HOWEVER, PLEASE NOTE-- If we reprint rubber, it should only be used on paper, cards, or other craft items. Stamping with a rubber stamp is NOT food safe, even if you use a food-grade ink or food coloring, it is the rubber itself that should not be used on food. Rubber dust can be somewhat toxic, it cannot be thoroughly cleaned and sanitized, and odor of the rubber can transfer to food. I would recommend getting a stamp made of a material that us specifically made to stamp on food (or possibly using a custom-printed "edible image" instead).

auntienays

I know of very few food-grade stamps, except purportedly those from Sweet Stampen (and a few from Wilton) in the US. Though the Sweet Stampen stamps are made from rubber. As with anything non-food-grade, you should proceed with caution - first get educated about the issues and then make a decision that makes most sense for you.