mounted or unmounted

I prefer the selection of images I can find in UMs, particularly by mail or Internet order. There aren't a lot of stamp stores in my area, and what stamps I find in generic craft stores tend to be a lot of the same old, same old.

That, and you can get a lot more images for your money by buying unmounted.

Sure, when I find a themed sheet of images I like. I use sharp kitchen shears, and cut slowly and carefully.

-- Pat Kight snipped-for-privacy@peak.org

Which is better? And if you like the unmounted, do you get them in sheets and cut them yourself? Thanks for any tips! Cher

Cherie Salo Scrap in a Snap Director of Consultant Polling/Sales Analysis Scrapbook Stylist & Recruiter ID# 15767 The Crazy Cropper -

I usually wind up mounting my own, on blocks of scrap wood a friend with a woodshop saves for me. I use old mouse pads and scraps of blue packing foam (we get a lot of it at work) for cushion, and cheap rubber cement (apply to both surfaces, let dry a bit, stick) to put it all together. I used to do the Velcro thing, but I have more storage space now and it's more convenient to have them all on their own mounts.

-- Pat Kight snipped-for-privacy@peak.org

You could consider CLING Rubber Cushion

No adhesives - No tapes

The cling rubber cushion just clings to the Acrylic bases and peels away with ease. Easily re-applied, or stored (try empty CD ROM Jewel cases). Supplied in sheet form for backing your own unmounteds with pressure sensitive adhesive on one side ready to accept your images.

See --

Well.......I love unmounted stamps! I was a bona fide, wood mounted stamp lover.

Then I found UMs for the first time at a convention....and WOW! I was hooked! How easy to use...how inexpensive...how easy to store! Then I found TAC....and the stamps come WITH the cushion (EZ mount)....and there's no glue, nothing! Just cut them out and stamp! Some come in sets, some in sheets and some individual. Something for everyone, every style, everything!

Good to go, as I like to say! My website has more information!

Christina TheQueen

If you're looking for a way to mount unmounted stamps onto acrylic handles, check out the companies called "The Angel Company" or "Close to My Heart". I don't remember which it is, but one of them has acrylic handles and a special type of mounting stuff that work over and over again, so it does NOT need to be applied to the stamp every time it is used.

I personally have NOT used this stuff, but some people think it is absolutely the best stuff in the world. I actually prefer the wood mounts.

I buy about 90% of my stamps and accessories from Stampin Up, so I am able to cut them close and mount them myself. I do NOT like the foam mounted stamps very well; if I do happen to find a foam mounted stamp that I really like, I'll often take it apart and mount it on a scrap of wood so that it's wood mounted. Also, if I buy already mounted stamps from someplace and find that the stamp is not closely trimmed, I'll often times take it apart, trim it and then put it back together.

I have found that with mounting on wood, if I position the stamp down and to the right (when stamp is face up) then when I stamp with it, the image is down and to the left; this makes it very easy for me to position without needing something special to position the stamp in exactly the right place. (A left handed stamper may choose to have the stamp positioned opposite).

As far as storing your unmounted stamps, you seem to have a good system in place. I've also heard that breaking the black plastic out of the inside of CD cases and storing unmounted stamps in CD cases works. Again, I have NOT tried this because I prefer the wood mountings.

I know space is an issue for some, and I must say that I do not have as much space as I'd like for storing and using my stamping supplies, but I make room for the wood mounts because, to me, it seems much easier to be able to take the stamp out and use it without having the hassle of mounting it on an acrylic handle first.

Happy Stamping!

Hi,

I like both wood mounted and un mounted stamps. I get the woodmounted if I can find sales or to use up Gift certs to the more generic craft stores. Or if I collect certain style stamps. Most of what I get is unmounted though and I keep them in a now burgeoning binder in 9 pocket sports card protector sheets and I have included and filled bigger 4 pocket sized protective sheets as well.

I use the acrylic block/ cushion/cling film system and i have found that at dollar stores you can usually get the decorative holiday window static cling- ons that work really well for me for all but the largest stamps. Sometimes the you have to work around the decorative cut outs on the window clings but its far cheaper at the dollar store than the $4-$5 per sheet of craft store "cling film"

If I thnk I'll be using an unmounted stamp alot I'll mount it to a wood block myself. I use double sided sticky foam cushion on the stamp to adhere it to either the window cling or the wooden mount. To index it I just stamp the image on a whitish card stock in waterproof ink and cut around the image to fit the block and then use clear packing tape to cover the image and affix it to the block.

I have found that smaller unmounted stamps can be used pretty easily without cushion or blocks if you dont mind inky fingers but the larger stamps tend to get too floppy for nice printing and I've had problems with the centers of the larger stamps not printing well without a cushion and a block of sorts..

Happy stamping, Cathy

Ladies! Thank you SO much for all your answers! Wow! Thank you Thank you!! I have LOTS to learn I can see that!! HUGS Cher

Cherie Salo Scrap in a Snap Director of Consultant Polling/Sales Analysis Scrapbook Stylist & Recruiter ID# 15767 The Crazy Cropper -

Cherie Salo Scrap in a Snap Director of Consultant Polling/Sales Analysis Scrapbook Stylist & Recruiter ID# 15767 The Crazy Cropper -