Question for stampers

You don't want me to answer this question. My Stampin' Up wish list is about $1000. LOL Can you tell I'm addicted?

Hi Janet,

I love the rolling stamps. They aren't cheap, because you have to buy a handle then the rolling stamp you want and then maybe an inker for it. BUT I use them the most, so probably have gotten my money's worth out of them. I make wrapping paper, cards and do scrapbook backgrounds.

about $1000. LOL Can you tell I'm addicted?

No, no, you're perfect! Just tell me what you get the most use out of. The thing that holds me back with stamps [besides not being really sure about techniques] is I don't want to spend a lot of money and then find out I only use the item once or twice. I'd just as soon get a sticker or other embellishment then. BUT, something I could really use, that's another story.

They are used for backgrounds right? I think I would get more use out of that than some of the stamps too. Can you remember about what they cost?

I'm a recent convert to Stamping Up, but had just about everyone buy me Stamping Up stuff for Christmas. I think that the set I've gotten the most out of is the one with the tiny little words. It is a !@#@#$ to mount, but I mounted mine alphabetically which works for me and allows me to keep them in order and find the words quickly. Perhaps Deb can let you know what the name of it is, if not, I'll let you know tomorrow when I go and get my catalogue from the scraproom downstairs.

M-C

Ok I found an old catalog from 2002 so the prices are guessimates. Don't know how much they have gone up if at all. I have the Going Batty Stampin' Around and oddly I use it a lot. I love Halloween is why. I have Baby Time. I kept borrowing it from a friend, so ended up getting my own. I use it for anything baby related. Cards for showers etc. Dots & Daisies I use a lot for wrapping paper. It's a good general purpose print. I like prints that blend together well when rolled next to each other repeatedly and look like one big stamp project. I also have a bug and leaf one I don't see in this catalog. They are all price $5.95. Ink cartridge that goes in the handle is $4.95, but one can roll these on a regular ink pad for different colors. The handle is $3.95. So, to get started it will cost a minimum of

5.95 for a stamp and 3.95 for the handle if you have your own stamp pads. But I really do use them a lot more than all my other stamps combined. I guess because they are so easy and always look so good.

I really hate the mounting. When I first bought some stampin up stamps a whole year went by when a friend noticed I hadn't mounted all my stamps. So, she shamed me into it. The next year I bought more forgetting the agony of mounting. Again, I was checked up upon by a friend. I told her to remind me never to buy StampinUp stamps again, because I hate the mounting. She admitted she loved mounting and did all mine. So, I'm still buying stamps, because I have a friend with the cool scissors, who's psycho enough to love trimming and mounting stamps.

M-C, sorry if this is a stuped q, but what do you mean by "mounting" the stamp? I haven't gotten into stamping at all yet, but in my job we do have to do, what we call, endorsing of deeds, and that involves stamping fees etc. We mark the endorsement (stamp) on the outside wooden edge with the actual marking. Eg, if it's a transfer endorsement, we would stamp that on paper, cut it out and attach it to the back of the stamp with some clear contact tape. Am I on the right track?

Judy, SA

Not a silly question at all!!! Most stamps you see in the stores are wood mounted. There is a wood base and a rubber stamp. Stamping Up sends you the wooden bases, a sheet with the rubber stamps which have a very good adhesive already on them, and a see through sheet with the images pre stamped on them. You have to cut out the stamps and then peel off the protective paper and adhere the rubber to the wood base. Then you have to peel off the image of that stamp and adhere it to the other side of the wood block, making sure that you place the picture the right way so that when you stamp your image isn't upside down or 1/4 turn in the wroing direction. It's not all that difficult, it just takes time. It is supposed to make the stamps less expensive since you are doing a bunch of the work the company would have to pay for. I must say that if I compare buying the same number of stamps individually at a craft store, I do believe SU is a little cheaper, but it's close. However, they have beautiful stamps for any number of occassions. Frankly I'd sell the stuff if they, like most consultant companies, didn't have that silly exclusivity clause they all seem to feel the need to throw into their contracts!

HTH

Have to agree with you Hilda on the unmounted issue, although we don't = have SU in the UK, so I have to talk in general. Wood mounted stamps take up = way too much storage space....in my case...nearly one rolling cart full. I = have left mounted stamps mounted but now only buy sheets of stamps or grab = bags and use Pritt Stick and clear acrylic blocks....it is simply the best = method IMO. All my unmounted stamps fit into one drawer at present, but I do = intend to organise into themes, etc. Best of all for me is the ease of cleaning....just wash them under the tap using a little washing up detergent. You can't get the mounting foam and wood wet on mounted = stamps or they will rot or warp. Marilyn

$4.95, but one can roll these on a regular ink pad for different

Well that's not as bad as I figured it would be really. Sounds like you get the ones you can use a lot which is what I'm wanting to do. Thanks for the info and your time! Later, janetlee

Does it look something like ____________ ____________ ____________ and then you just write on the lines you stamp? Or am I thinking of something else entirely?

Yes, that's it, but it has a circle one and three different rectangle ones - one of those is as long as a standard photograph with I think three lines. Sandy

MC pointed out...

making sure that you place the picture the right way so that when you

Oh, and you also don't do like I did once. I placed the rubber part on the wood block, and had to walk away for a bit. I didn't notice until later, that DS (about 2 at the time) got my scissors and cut the sticker with the image on it in about 3 pieces! I pieced the sticker together on the wood block, but wound up putting it the wrong way. So, if I just go by the image on the sticker, my stamp is upside down. Lesson to be learned....when mounting any stamp, mount the whole darn stamp before you walk away. AND....anchor the scissors to the ceiling so little hands can't get them. :-)

Is the word set you're thinking of Everyday Flexible Phrases?

Yes, that's it. I must be having a wordless day - can't seem to remember much of anything today. Sandy