Mounted or Unmounted Stamps which do you prefer?

Unmounted for me too. I haven't bought any from the Angel Company but have looked at them. I love their storage system. Someone told me clear stamps don't give as good an impression as real rubber but I haven't tested that theory. What do you think since you have them both. I'm an SU demo and have asked the company about giving us the choice of mounted or unmounted but haven't heard back about it.

SAD

I love unmounted stamps. I have thousands of stamps (I'm not exaggerating!) and they are all stored in notebooks in a small TV stand. Not only are the unmounted stamps less expensive but they take up so little room. I use the EZ Mount system and I am SO happy with the way it works. I have unmounted all of the stamps that I purchased over the years, so they can be easily stored and cataloged. If I really liked the way a stamp was shown colored on the mount then I colored copy the wood block and store that picture with the stamps. It's really easy to find the stamp the I want. Also, even though they aren't clear stamps, I can see through the acrylic block to see exactly where to place the stamp.

If you do go with unmounted you should get a pair of KAI scissors, they are wonderful for cutting rubber.

There are many places on the internet to buy unmounted, most of them also sell sheets of stamps which are a tremendous bargain (that's why I have thousands of stamps).

I have some of the clear stamps and I don't really like they way they stamp. Don't really know what it is, but I just don't like them.

I'm all about unmounted anymore! I used to use HALOS, so most of my UMs are done with that system, but I'm in love with EZ Mount now (those little black loop fuzzies are ***everywhere*** in my stamping - which is really a bear when trying to stamp with a solid image!), and won't be mounting any more of mine with HALOS from now on.

SAD, TAC's stamps aren't clear, it's just the mount that is... their stamps are regular rubber, and they use basically the "EZ Mount" system.

I don't like the impression made by the clear stamps so much... I'll use them if it's a design I love and can't find elsewhere, but they don't give as crisp an image as rubber - they're too "squishy".

My pennies, Alison

I have hear good things and bad things about the clear stamps. I personally love TAC well because I have to be honest with you all I am a demo for them. I love showing people the reason why I went to unmounted because when you two step stamp you can see through the acrylic and be able to line them up better. Now I know that you can do that with the clear stamps too, however, most people tell me the impression they get from the clear stamp really isn't as nice. I have also heard that the stamp sometimes peels off the acrylic and sticks to the paper. Now please please please remember, that is just what I have heard.

I have had a ton of questions like does the stamp rock when you use it. Nope never had it rock. Why did you go unmounted? I went unmounted when I purchased a Hero Arts stamp that was mounted kittywampus and had to try and remember each and every time I used the stamp how to hold it. So. . .. yes I still have that stamp, but I unmounted it. Another reason was the price factor, TAC has 8 alphabet sets that is upper and lower case, 0-9 and the exclamation characters for under $20. WOW where do you find that?

Sorry got off on a tangent, just thought I would share. Just my $0.02 worth.

Inky Huggz,

Missy

Thanks for setting me straight on the TAC stamps not being clear. Guess I was thinking of a different company, maybe Close to my Heart. I have a friend who buys TAC stamps and now that I think about it they are unmounted and come with cling foam for you to mount them on. I use Static Cling Mounting Foam; could it be the same thing just a different company? You can buy Plastic Storage Sheets that have three holes in them for storing in three ring binders. Their website is

I want the easiest way to go about this process when I get serious and unmounted all my stamps. I have some HALOS mounted stamps too and what a mess that was, I won't do that again. I agree, KAI scissors are a must have item.

SAD

I am not sure what the Static Cling is like, but we sell Creative Cling similar to the EZ Mount cushion. I understand completely about wanting to have the easiest way. I have heard that some people that have the Hot Marks Tool use that to cut their creative cling. You see they peel the rubber off of the mounting cushion that it was on then they put the rubber onto the Creative Cling and outline it with the Hot Marks Tool and waalaaahhh there you go all cut out and didn't have to use a scissors. Just another idea.

Inky Huggz,

Missy Olson North Branch, MN

Hi I have bought some of the clear stamps and wasn't pleased as how they stamped. What I did was take very fine sand paper and sanded the image a little. Worked like a charm. There is a coating on the stamp to help release it from the stamp machine maker and I think this is what sticks to the stamp sometimes. hope this helps.

Instead of unmounting your wood stamps, I'd try selling them on ebay or trading them. They are very costly compared to the unmounted ones.

Hi Connie,

I have never heard that about the clear unmounted stamps. I mean that you sand them down a little. You see I have the unmounts that are rubber and I love them. The best thing about unmounted stamps is the storage capabilities. My dh likes that too.

I thought about selling my wood mount stamps, but there were some that I absolutely love so I just unmounted them.

Inky Huggz,

Missy

I am in the process of converting my 50 SU sets to unmounted. I have been very hesitant because I was afraid I would damage the rubber so I tried it on a set I wasn't crazy about. Finding that set was hard because I like they all. My husband is afraid I will break my microwave opening and closing the door..........so I am converting my set slowly.

I sent StampinUp an email a couple of weeks ago regarding them offering both mounted and unmounted. They said and I quote:

"We have passed your suggestion along to the appropriate department, but are unable to advise you as to whether it will be implemented or whether such plans are currently in the works"

We are full-time RV'ers and storage is really a problem.

Carole ...on the road again

Hi Carole,

I don't think that SU will ever go unmounted as that is their nitch in stamping, that and of course the matching inks and papers. I too have som SU sets that I have unmounted and continue to use them in my personal cards and such. But I love TAC as they are good quality rubber and are cheaper. Did you know that some of the same artists that design for SU design for TAC.

You will love the fact that you took the time to unmount your sets and that you can keep them in cd cases, much easier for storage when you are on the road.

Inky Huggz,

Missy Olson Angel No. 1754 North Branch, Mn

Hi Carole,

I've found my SU sets very easy to pull a part without microwaving. Give that a try. I haven't microwaved a single one. My craft room is clear at the other end of the house from my kitchen and I wasn't looking forward to running back and forth. As bringing craft stuff to the kitchen is something I will not do any more now that I have a dedicated room. That's how I found out just pulling them a part works great.

I've found a sort of code Gray good, Black OK, Red bad. This means the stamps with the gray foam pull a part beautifully and leave little residue if any to clean up. Black if I get it peeled just right it's OK, but getting the adhesive lining to go with the foam is tricky. The red foam ones are just a bugger. I may end up trying the microwave on them.

Another tip I've found that works great with getting the adhesive residue off with out blistering your thumb is Xyrons Adhesive Eraser. It's like those tan rubbery erasers from our childhood. It's great. Someone suggested Undo to me and I haven't tried it yet.

I LOVE not having all those wood blocks on. So, far I've converted 3 drawers of rubber stamps to one.

What fun...being full timers! We are 'one month timers' in the summer and wish it could be for longer. When DH retires that's the plan for at least 3 months each summer.

I am in the process of unmounting my stamps too and agree with Lynne. You don't have to microwave them to pull the rubber off the foam. If they are old I'm not sure what would happen...would the rubber break apart if it's starting to get hard? You could stamp the image on a piece of cardstock and scan it to a favorite place on your computer or burn it on a CD. Hmmm...that may be a good idea for any stamp that is on the verge of getting brittle and has been discontinued.

I suggested the UM system to SU two months ago and never heard back so thanks for the info. SU will have an advertisement in the Country Living magazine next month for a card making kit. The stamp set is awesome fall leaves and punched out, ready to mount so there is no cutting (I saw the kit yesterday and it's no help to me/us since it has the foam on the rubber) so I wonder if that's what is "currently in the works".

SAD

I always swear I'll never buy any more Stampin' Up stamps, but I do. I just bought 3 sets last month and thought "Oh darn the foam is already on them!" Well, I was amazed at how easy it was to pull them off the foam. I guess because they were just put together recently they hadn't time to really stick together.

Enjoying my new Stampin' Up stamps with acrylic blocks,

Lynne

I have both unmounted and mounted. Of the UM, both clear and rubber. The clear do seem to stamp differently, but I wouldn't say worse coverage necessarily. I'll have to try the fine sand paper trick. I've never had a problem with the stamps staying stuck to the block, but I've heard a quick cleaning will restore the "stickiness."

I've just started putting the backings on my unmounted rubber stamps. It took me forever to do, so I'm really wondering - how do all of you assemble the unmounteds? Do you cut the backing to match the shape, like I did (and it took forever!)? Squares would be so much easier if that'd work. I have a bad habit of always doing things the hard way, so I'm curious. The stuff I bought wasn't EZ mount, though I think that's what I'll get in the future when I use up the foam and backing I have. I also need to get the pages one of these days - right now the unmounteds are in a drawer in my Crop in Style Storehouse.

--Barbara

Hi Barbara, I cut my rubber close to the image so there isn't a chance of ink getting on the edge of the excess rubber to mess up your stamped image.

SAD

Thanks. I do that, too, but what about the acrylic (or whatever it is made of) backing?

The system I bought has a sheet of foam plus a sheet of acrylic (or whatever it is) backing. I cut the rubber (if needed - some of my stamps were pre-cut by the manufacturer), then put it on the foam, then cut the foam to match the rubber, then trace that onto the backing, then cut out the backing, then stick the backing onto the stamp. How do the other systems for mounting work?

--Barbara

Wave Jumper wrote:

Wow...I don't know what kind of system your using but it sounds complicated. What is it called? Mine is called EZ Mount and there are other companies that make the same system. One is called Static Cling Mounting Foam and I know there are other companies around too. The gray foam is sticky on one side and has a clingy like stuff on the other side that clings to clear acrylic blocks when you want to use the stamp. When you finish stamping you clean the ink off the stamp, pull it off the acrylic block then store it in a three ring binder on white plastic sheets that have holes for the rings.

Here's how I do mine. I cut the rubber close to the image, lay it on the sticky side of the foam and cut around that with a hot knife and then put it on the white plastic sheet that I have in the three ring binder. I have several binders, each for different categories. I hope this makes sense.

SAD

Hi Barbara,

I mount the rubber onto the ez mount or "creative cling", then I cut my images out. If you have unmounted a stamp then I do the same. That way, I don't have to cut that much. I agree with you it takes a LONG time sometimes.

But I prefer UM because of the storage thing. I have two cd turn tables on my workspace and each one holds 80 sets of stamps and my husband doesn't know. Ha ha. Yea right like he doesn't know.

I hope this helps you out.

Inky Huggz,

Missy Olson Angel #1754 North Branch, MN missy.ismyangel.net