You might also want to put the extruder a bit closer to the printing surface. It depends on the size of the nozzle, but surely 1mm is too much.
Actually, the "correct" distance for the nozzle is such, that when it is not printing you can pass a piece of paper and feel the friction, but without blocking.
This is an excellent tutorial:
http://reprap.org/wiki/Leveling_the_Print_Bed
Regarding the blue painter's tape, it is something like this:
https://www.google.com/search?q=blue+painter+tape&client=ubuntu&hs=kkU&channel=fs&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=uxEjU6SvAuTa4ASUs4HAAQ&ved=0CDUQsAQ&biw=1024&bih=510
It has some paper-ish texture, but overall has a rough surface here PLA can attach. It doesn't work with ABS at all, by the way..:-/
However, I am inclined to believe that the problem is that of the separation...
Actually, the "correct" distance for the nozzle is such, that when it is not printing you can pass a piece of paper and feel the friction, but without blocking.
This is an excellent tutorial:
http://reprap.org/wiki/Leveling_the_Print_Bed
Regarding the blue painter's tape, it is something like this:
https://www.google.com/search?q=blue+painter+tape&client=ubuntu&hs=kkU&channel=fs&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=uxEjU6SvAuTa4ASUs4HAAQ&ved=0CDUQsAQ&biw=1024&bih=510
It has some paper-ish texture, but overall has a rough surface here PLA can attach. It doesn't work with ABS at all, by the way..:-/
However, I am inclined to believe that the problem is that of the separation...