Clear stamp question...

[tchrmom]

The only clear stamps I have are the little $1 sets you can get at Joann or Michaels. I rarely use them because they turn orange and the lines on the sentiments come out too thick for my taste. Are there differences in quality from one clear stamp brand to another? If so, how can you tell which type is best?

[Suzastampin]

Yes, there are definitely differences in the quality of the clear stamps. Some appear very flimsy and flop around like a gummy worm<G> and others are more of a thick, solid feel.
You will find that all clear stamps will stain some, so, the turning orange is probably staining. Also, I'm not sure what sets you're using, but, with any clear acrylic stamp, if you press down as hard as you would with a rubber stamp, you're going to squish the image and make your lines thicker. Since the acrylics are softer than rubber, they don't take as much pressure.

Suz
CTMH Director
http://www.suzastampin.com

[meluvstampin]

The $1 stamps are of very flimsy quality. I cannot press har dat all or my image gets really squished. Then something like Close To My Heart acrylic stamps are TOP quality and I have no problem pressing down and stamping witht hem. You can tell the difference just by felling the stamp also. All acrylics will stain. That is normal. It will NOT affect the image when you stamp again.