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Ok, I've heard a lot of people talking about taking the rubber off their stamps or just buying the rubber image itself....what is the benefit of working with unmounted stamps?? I'm so used to SU, and prefer them, but could not imagine taking the rubber off the block!! I have a few acrylic stamps, but I'm not a huge fan...do they work like the acrylic stamps would if they are unmounted? Thanks for filling me in!
I'm probably not the right person to answer because I too only use wood mounted rubber stamps from SU, but I know a lot of people who have hundreds of stamp sets find that storage is the key. They can keep just the rubber in flat, plastic CD cases and then can mount them on either acrylic blocks or even wood when they need to use the stamp. Ailene's Tack It Over & Over Glue is good for this, especially with SU stamps because they already have a foam backing. If you purchase rubber stamps without foam, you can buy mounting foam for this purpose.
I have one set without a foam backing, but I only use that Ailene's glue and no foam. If I'm careful enough, I still get a good imprint. I even have a few free, thin mouse pads that work as backing too.
I have both mounted and unmounted (and clear) stamps. For me, it has unexpectedly become a storage issue. All of my unmounted and clear stamps are within arms' length at my stamp table. But my mounted sets are in untidy, unstable stacks lying on the floor around my chair. I need longer arms...
I unmounted some of my stamps (not SU) and I don't really like the process of stamping with them. I guess I like the go and blow method of stamping - grab the stamp and use it. I like the convenience of storage but that is about it.
__________________ Joyce
Remember - never drive faster than your guardian angel can fly.
Fan Club Member
Ok, I've heard a lot of people talking about taking the rubber off their stamps or just buying the rubber image itself....what is the benefit of working with unmounted stamps?? I'm so used to SU, and prefer them, but could not imagine taking the rubber off the block!! I have a few acrylic stamps, but I'm not a huge fan...do they work like the acrylic stamps would if they are unmounted? Thanks for filling me in!
Naked is totally fun!!......lol!!
Sorry I had tooo..
Unmounted Rubber. Cost less and take up less space.
I purchase Unmounted Rubber w/Cling foam that I can attach if I want to.
And I use a Acrylic Block instead of a Wooden Block for stamping.
Store all my Unmounted Stamps in Old Style CD cases.
And If I purchase stamps that come totally Naked. Then I will add the Cling foam to them.
Some Unmounted Stamps that I have purchased lately come with Double Stick Foam already attached to the Rubber. And I have take my Mono Multi glue and brushed a thin layer of Glue on the back of the sticky part of the foam mounting and let it dry. Then I can use it as I would the regular Cling foam way.
NOT everyone likes using this type of stamp. But for those of us that use it we like this way.
I also have Stampin' Up! Stamp set's that I have never and will never Unmount!!! I think it take away from the value of the Stamp set.
So I use both Wood mounted and Unmounted Rubber stamps.
I said many times that I would never unmount my stamps. My storage for my wood-mounted stamps had grown to a huge assemblage of the wire grid like they sell at Target - six cubes wide and four cubes high. That grid was seven feet wide and almost five feet high. After moving everything in my craft room three times in a row (remodeling plus a washing machine flood) in just a couple of weeks, I decided to go unmounted. Now my stamp storage is a large CD rack that is 27 inches wide and about five feet tall. It's holding at least twice as many sets as the old huge rack (now that I have the space, I've gone a bit crazy with the non-SU stamps). It will take at least 150-200 more sets to fill the rack. And I have found that I really enjoy using the stamps unmounted.
Storage space in the huge plus for me. I just began unmounting my wheels today. I am so going to love using them unmounted!!! I hate to think of how much cardstock I have wasted trying to get a good as well as straight image. And yes I use the guide. LOL
My questions is this for those who use "naked" stamps. How do you keep track of what you have?
I never thought of unmounting the wheels! I have a pretty good eye as far as keeping it straight, but I don't use them often. I had wanted to purchase the jumbo wheel, but thought, would I use it very often? This would save me from buying the handle and inks, etc. Thanks for this idea!
I love my "naked" stamps. I was so scared of umounted stamps and then I fell under the Bella spell, Resisited and resisted, but it was futile... those sistah's were destined to be mine and once I had my first unmounted stamps in my hot little hand, I found I actually preferred them
I was an SU demo for 5 years, so the thought of umounting my collection is quite daunting but I love being able to "see" where I am stamping, so I think it's inevitable.
Try it, you might just like it!!
I have always said my SU stamps (which I no longer buy) will stay mounted- but I've run out of space- they are coming off the blocks soon. So I like unmounted because of space.
I also think they are really easy to use- and because I put it on the block right before I use it, I stamp upside down less often. You'd think the index sheet on my SU block would clue me in, but I stamp my woodmounted stamps upside down ALL the time.
For pre-mounted wood stamps- I just can't use them. I have WAY too many hero arts stamps that are crooked and drive me crazy.
Some way or another, you have to make a index of what stamps/sets you have.
Since I store mine in 6x9 catalog envies cut in half, I stamp the set on the envy. I file them in alphabetical order. For me, this was the easy way to go and the envies are in snap boxes I got from Cropper Hopper or OT.
You can also make a index card of the stamps (3x5 or 4x6) and have them in a small box or some have their index in a 3 ring notebook.
I just thumb the boxes as I am getting pretty good at knowing what I have (since I went through them all to unmount them). I have 8 boxes full, about 50-54 sets per box.
This system works great for me.
__________________ Karen
...My life is like a stroll on the beach...As near to the edge as I can go...Thoreau...
I turned to UM when I ran out of room for my incoming SAB order. I think that was 2 years ago. It was either sell some stamps or find a new way to organize. I chose to not mount them to the wood and store them in CD cases. I can fit about 3 times as many stamps in the same square footage.
Some way or another, you have to make a index of what stamps/sets you have.
Since I store mine in 6x9 catalog envies cut in half, I stamp the set on the envy. I file them in alphabetical order. For me, this was the easy way to go and the envies are in snap boxes I got from Cropper Hopper or OT.
This system works great for me.
Karen,
Do you put the stamps on anything before you put them in the envelope? I currently have mine in CD cases, but I'm not lovin' that as a system.
I like the idea of stamping the set on whatever the stamps are stored in though. Hmmmm........
I use Tacky Spray or Aileen's Tack it over and over, I use the lids and bottoms of SU and TAC clamshells (cut to size of envy) or photo sleeves to mount the stamps to.
Inexpensive and easy to do.
__________________ Karen
...My life is like a stroll on the beach...As near to the edge as I can go...Thoreau...
I use Tacky Spray or Aileen's Tack it over and over, I use the lids and bottoms of SU and TAC clamshells (cut to size of envy) or photo sleeves to mount the stamps to.
Inexpensive and easy to do.
Thanks - and that would use up all those clamshells I have lying around too. i think I will give it a try this weekend
I recently unmounted my SU stamps. At first I was not sure I wanted to do it, but I read alot of threads here on SCS. I decided to take the plunge-at let me tell ya while I was doing my first 15 sets I was wondering if I made the right choice. Now I can tell you I LOVE IT. I use the 1/16" ez mount and store them in CD cases.
Love it!
Why go "naked"?
