I wonder.... what if you ran your stamping surface over some fine
sandpaper? Lay the sandpaper on a table, scratchy side up, and
"skate" your stamp over that surface. You might "break up the gloss"
enough to allow the Sculpey to hold ink. Just a thouhgt.

Lisascenic
who really enjoys your clues, and thinks you shouldn't beat yourself
up about carving!