SU! Acrylic?

[Minders]

Anyone think SU! will ever introduce acrylic stamps? Just curious to see what people think.

[MSBetsyZ]

Not really, no. They say that they "never say never," lol...but I really don't see it happening. For one thing, they are still unconvinced that polymer stamps will have the same quality over time that rubber does, and they don't want to bring out a product until they feel confident. Plus, they have a huge, huge, HUGE following of customers that have made it clear (no pun intended!) that they love rubber and don't want to see a change. So, while the possibility might be there, I don't think I'll hold my breath, lol...

BTW, it's not the stamps themselves that are acrylics...the blocks people use to temporarily mount them are acrylic. The stamps are polymer or photopolymer, which is a plastic compound. There are different types of these out there, so not all clear stamps are equal. Just thought you'd wanna know, lol...

[ilinacrouse]

I doubt it.

[Card Shark]

In my perfect stamp world, they will have the best of both worlds - rubber mounted on an EZ mount type of material to use with acrylic blocks... someday.

[1mom02]

Not in the very near future if at all.

When I inquired once, I was told they have yet to find a quality that meets their standards for longevity and clarity/crispness of the image.

[meluvstampin]

I am one that hopes they always stay with rubber. I think the quality is much better. I have clear stamps and they are getting bad with alot of use.

[Joan B]

yes

[Tracy-Stamper]

Seeing companies like Hero Arts, A Muse and many others who were primarily red rubber people makes me think yes as well. I don't think they will replace red rubber ones though, rather in addition to.

[Crafts]

Wouldn't it be nice to have a choice? Pick your design, then order it in mounted red rubber, unmounted red rubber, or clear, depending on your preference? That will never happen, but one can dream. :rolleyes:

[momis mama]

i say...

don't fix it if it ain't broke!

[frankie]

Well, like Betsy said . . . never say never, BUT as others has said, SU has yet to find a polymer that meets their standards so I don't think it's going to happen anytime soon IF it ever does. And I'm really doubting it ever will because I own many different brands of clear stamps, including some really popular ones on SCS and they've yet to meet MY standards. With use they're all getting worse than I would have expected, especially for the price of some of them.

[MikiBee]

I don't think they'll ever go to clear polymer, unless it's in a mini or sellabration. But I am still holding out hope that one day there will be an option buying them without the wood and sticky foam. I don't even care if they don't offer EZMount (although if they sold them without wood, it would be silly not to offer the EZMount). I'd just love to not to have to buy the wood!

[vdoyle8]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Card Shark

In my perfect stamp world, they will have the best of both worlds - rubber mounted on an EZ mount type of material to use with acrylic blocks... someday.

this would be my perfect word as well -- or at least offer the option. I could live without more wooden blocks but I do prefer to stamp with real rubber.

[ScrampShopper]

They're never gonna be able to satisfy everyone. Even if they started offering unmounted red rubber on EZ mount, there will be people like me saying I wish they would leave off the EZ mount. I don't think SU is going to offer anything other than rubber with wood blocks any time soon.

[Minders]

Thanks for all the opinions ladies. It was interesting to see what everyone had to say. I hope they stay with the red rubber personally:-)

[row4d]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Minders

Thanks for all the opinions ladies. It was interesting to see what everyone had to say. I hope they stay with the red rubber personally:-)

Me, too -- I'd probably drop my demoship if they went clear, or unmounted rubber only.

[maryrose]

SU! has been offering some very different products in the past year...rub-ons and vinyl wall art and such. Who woulda thunk it? I would not be terribly surprised if they began to offer clear stamps, not as a replacement to what they have, but as an addition to the line.

[SDiegoGal]

I don't see them offering acrylic, but I do see them offering with or without wood blocks.

[cjbapp]

Quote:

Originally Posted by frankie

Well, like Betsy said . . . never say never, BUT as others has said, SU has yet to find a polymer that meets their standards ....

So they are looking???

If this is the case then I say YES as well.

[karcher70]

I hope not....I really prefer rubber. That's what made me decide to be a demo with them over CTMH.

[DigitalStamper63]

Personally, I'd prefer it if SU offered customers the OPTION of choosing between wood mount and EZ mount stamps. I don't like the fact that so much of our natural resources (wood) is being used and adds to the high cost of their sets and shipping costs. For space saving purposes I'm in the process of UM'ing all my sets and I'd prefer to receive my deeply etched red rubber stamps on EZ mount or just plain ol rubber to keep costs down. I also don't want to collect empty wood blocks, so SU can save the wood for some other purpose.

[frankie]

Quote:

Originally Posted by cjbapp

So they are looking???

If this is the case then I say YES as well.

I have no idea if they're still looking. At one time they had LOOKED (past tense) into clear stamps and weren't impressed. Only SU knows for sure what the future brings for SU stamps. Personally, I hope they stick with red rubber -- it's my favorite and the only thing I'm always happy stamping with.

[nabush]

I seriously hope not...I can't get into clear stamps!

[Lisadwb]

I would say that there is a very good chance that they will eventually offer something other than wood mounted rubber. After all they are a Business, and a profitable business has to change with the times.

[NYstamper]

Quote:

Originally Posted by SDiegoGal

I don't see them offering acrylic, but I do see them offering with or without wood blocks.

Same here, and while I do like wood mounted, space wise it would be great to have the unmounted option. Anything I buy non SU, I now buy umounted to save on space.

[NYstamper]

Quote:

Originally Posted by nabush

I seriously hope not...I can't get into clear stamps!

Me neither... I only buy them if I really really like the images and can't find anything similar in rubber-mounted or unmounted.

[Scrapcat0220]

Quote:

Originally Posted by momis mama

i say...

don't fix it if it ain't broke!

Ditto! I {heart} rubber!:mrgreen:

[row4d]

Quote:

Originally Posted by DigitalStamper63

I don't like the fact that so much of our natural resources (wood) is being used...

The trees used for SU!'s wood blocks are grown specifically for that purpose!

[Minders]

Quote:

Originally Posted by row4d

The trees used for SU!'s wood blocks are grown specifically for that purpose!

Really? That's awesome!!!!!!

[jamiehurley]

Quote:

Originally Posted by row4d

The trees used for SU!'s wood blocks are grown specifically for that purpose!

I totally forgot about this, thanks for reminding me!

[wild4blue]

I hope not! I'm a rubber lover(with wood) Stampin Up! is unique, I would like to think they don't go with the flow and switch like other companies have. JMHO

[Soozie4Him]

I agree with the others - I hope they continue to offer the fine quality of rubber that they have for so many years! I've dabbled a bit in clear stamps (the high-quality ones!) and I just don't get the same quality of image. If I press too hard, then the image changes! It gets "smooshed"! I also can't see the clear stamps getting the heavy use with all kinds of ink (craft, classic, Staz-on) and cleaning that my SU stamps stand up so well to.

Oh, that brings up a question - are there clear stamps that are finely detailed - like CHF's Thomas Kinkade stamps? I haven't seen any really fine detail in clear stamps. So in that way, they'd be limited in the images they can come out with in clear.

I would be willing to try SU rubber stamps without the wood though! I like the cling mount system that Cornish Heritage Farms uses. IMO, they have excellent quality rubber stamps, made here in the US just like SU's!

[denisecarolclark]

I think it's possible they may test the waters and come out with something just to see how it sells but still keep their regular line of stamps.

[peebsmama]

I remember reading something from Shelly Gardiner (the SU founder) that they will not be now or in the future switching from rubber. Personally, I'm glad of that. I like my wood mounted rubber. I really am not a fan of acrylic/polymer stamps at all. I have a few, but I rarely use them. If SU ever switches to acrylics, I will be switching stamp companies.

[Sew It Seams]

I would love for SU to offer acrylic, but, think of the manufacturing plant and the millions of dollars it would take for another plant for producing acrylic.

I hate not using my wood blocks, and haven't repurposed them yet, but I am still thinking about it.

I also don't like spending that much money on a rubber stamp set, then peeling off the adhesive and not using the wooden blocks.

I recently unmounted everything I had and will never go back to wooden blocks (it was a storage issue for me - not enough room!).

A friend of mine's husband is in the Air Force and they recently got transferred overseas - she spent days frantically, and I mean frantically, unmounted all her SU stamps to try to meet the weight limit on their household shipment and she succeeded! She told me she was NOT leaving her stampin stuff behind!

[Phantom]

Personally, I'd love it but I am pretty sure that will never happen at SU!.

I keep hoping they'll wake up and sell us just the rubber, die or with foam ~ I don't care ... just leave those blocks and boxes back in Utah!

[denisecarolclark]

I can't even imagine leaving my stamps behind ,unless I die and then they are willed to my best friend! My stamps will LIVE on!!!!! ;)

[Phantom]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Soozie4Him

Oh, that brings up a question - are there clear stamps that are finely detailed - like CHF's Thomas Kinkade stamps? I haven't seen any really fine detail in clear stamps. So in that way, they'd be limited in the images they can come out with in clear.

!

The first ones that come to mind are Crafty Secrets Clear Art Stamps. Oh my goodness - the detail is incredible and they stamp like a dream!! I think Penny Black critters are relatively detailed also. But I should mention that one of the complaints recently about many of the SU stamps is that they are really simplistic... yes, don't yell at me, there are some that are fantastically detailed ~ not the majority. Anyway ... detailed clear stamps are absolutely available out there!

[frugalfeline]

Clear stamps would be nice but I will agree not likely soon, with the price of switching over, etc etc. BUT I would LOVE LOVE LOVE rubber on EZ-mount. I don't currently switch my SU stamps, because hey I bought the darn wood, I'm keeping it, but I'd definitely buy more if I could know I save a few bucks by not having the wood to deal with!!! I think they will listen soon, because it is a financially sound idea for THEM too, saving on wood costs, and they know they'd sell more too, because we'd maybe spend the same amount but less would be eaten up by shipping!!!

[Erinlyn80]

I hope not, I kind of think the acrylic thing is a fad that isnt necessarily going to last. I love my acrylic stamps but I still like the wood ones too. Plus theyre finally getting with the program and pretrimming their stamps thats so long overdue I cant imagine going to acrylic. Surfing used stamps on ebay I cant imagine doing that years from now with acrylic its just not the 'same'. Plus acrylic looks ugly after being used they discolor and what not.