big time pattern stamp problem

Please help! I always touch up the backgrounds of my pictures with the pattern stamp tool. I pick an area, option click and then stamp away. But now, when I option click I keep getting the message...pattern stamp could not be used because no pattern has been defined. I have tried everything I can think of but still can't define a pattern. Anyone know why?

Have you tried definining a new pattern?
Select an area, goto edit->define patern, name it and start stamping.

Thanks for the suggestion. I figured out was I was doing wrong and can't believe how dumb I was. The pattern stamp is also the rubber stamp when you go to the right and change it to rubber stamp! It now works, but thanks for your help.

Tina