you should always go over new stamps with selotape and that takes the excess ????? whatever it is off. Also as Inkyfingers said, try stamping on a Seedees mat. or a few sheets of funky foam on top of one another. You don't want a hard surface, if you press too hard, it makes the rubber spread out a litte bit and you won't get a decent result, if they're not stamping too well you want the stamps to "sink in" a little bit. HTH, luv Jacqui x