Hi Janessa, Thank you for taking the time to write a product review. We apologize for the issues you've encountered with our nail art sponge. We would love to help you troubleshoot! We recommend being generous with the amount of nail polish applied to the sponge and working quickly, as stamping polishes dry fast. The sponge absorbs the polish and when it happens, the surface of the sponge dries which causes some particles to stick on the nail, leaving a slight texture. To minimize this, reapply polish on the sponge and gently pat the sponge onto the nail. Hope this helps! If you're not satisfied with the sponge technique, we understand that using a French manicure plate for the negative space square effect may be a simpler and recommended alternative. We appreciate your feedback and apologize for any inconvenience caused. If you have any further concerns, please don't hesitate to contact us.