Rubber Stamping Tips: Unmounted, Mounted, Acrylic and Foam Stamps

There are so many different stamps on the market. Rubber stamps come in both unmounted and wood mounted varieties, and there are stamps made of acrylic and foam as well. How do crafters know which ones to buy? Here are the different types of stamps on the market, as well as their strengths and weaknesses.

Rubber stamps: Vulcanized rubber holds a raised design which holds ink and is then stamped to leave an image. These are the most common stamps on the market, and come in both mounted and unmounted options. Strengths: Vulcanized rubber holds ink better than any other stamp material, and fine-lined images stamp crisp and clean. They are durable, easy to clean and, if properly cared for, will last a long time. Weaknesses: All rubber stamps, whether mounted or unmounted, require a degree of finesse to align them properly.

Mounted Rubber Stamps: Vulcanized rubber stamps mounted on wood blocks. They can be both pre-assembled or, through certain manufacturers, assembly required. Strengths: The wood mount is comfortable to hold, and wood mounts with the image on the back are pretty. Many stampers use wood mounted stamps on shelves to decorate their craft rooms. Weaknesses: Wood mounted stamps are bulky and take up a lot of space. Storage quickly becomes an issue. The wood mount adds a significant price increase to other stamps on the market, and it makes placing the stamped image and aligning stamps much more difficult.

Unmounted Rubber Stamps: Rubber stamps, instead of wood mounts, are mounted on a cushion with either a static cling backing or repositionable adhesive. Stamps are stuck onto temporary acrylic blocks and then removed after stamping for storage. Strengths: Unmounted rubber stamps can be stored in a variety of ways, from CD jewel cases to binders of plastic sheets. Because it is only the rubber image and the cushion, they take up about 90% less space than the mounted stamps. To use unmounted stamps you will only need one set of acrylic stamping blocks, available in many sizes. Because the acrylic blocks are clear, stamp positioning is much easier and multiple stamps can be put on a single block at one time for alignment purposes. The price of unmounted rubber stamps is about half that of the wood mounted. Weaknesses: The acrylic mounts can be uncomfortable for some stampers, especially those with joint problems in their hands.

Acrylic Stamps: Acrylic stamps are made with clear acrylic and are used with acrylic block mounts similar to unmounted rubber stamps. Strengths: In addition to all of the advantages of unmounted rubber stamps, acrylic stamps are totally transparent and allow for perfect image placement every time they are stamped. Weaknesses: Acrylic stamps are not as durable as rubber stamps, and those of less quality have a tendency to warp and lose their image detail over time. Certain inks, such as chalk inks, will stain acrylic stamps.

Foam Stamps: Foam stamps are made with a dense foam and are mounted on foam blocks or acrylic sheets. Foam stamps are generally marketed to scrapbookers. Strengths: Foam stamps are significantly less expensive than rubber or acrylic stamps. Many foam stamps have images on both sides and are thin and easy to store. Weaknesses: Foam stamps generally do not have the detail of rubber and acrylic stamps, and their porous nature does not work as well with ink. Most foam stamps are used with a thin coat of acrylic paint instead of standard stamping ink.

Stamping is a fun and versatile craft, and the types of stamps available today have given stampers many more options. Each of the different types of stamps offers its own strengths and weaknesses, allowing crafters the opportunity to take their stamping to a whole new level.