Rubber Stamping Tips: Unmounted, Mounted, Acrylic and Foam Stamps

There are so many different stamps on the market. Rubber stamps come in both unmounted and wood mounted varieties, and there are stamps made of acrylic and foam as well. How do crafters know which ones to buy? Here are the different types of stamps on the market, as well as their strengths and weaknesses.

Rubber stamps: Vulcanized rubber holds a raised design which holds ink and is then stamped to leave an image. These are the most common stamps on the market, and come in both mounted and unmounted options. Strengths: Vulcanized rubber holds ink better than any other stamp material, and fine-lined images stamp crisp and clean. They are durable, easy to clean and, if properly cared for, will last a long time. Weaknesses: All rubber stamps, whether mounted or unmounted, require a degree of finesse to align them properly.

Mounted Rubber Stamps: Vulcanized rubber stamps mounted on wood blocks. They can be both pre-assembled or, through certain manufacturers, assembly required. Strengths: The wood mount is comfortable to hold, and wood mounts with the image on the back are pretty. Many stampers use wood mounted stamps on shelves to decorate their craft rooms. Weaknesses: Wood mounted stamps are bulky and take up a lot of space. Storage quickly becomes an issue. The wood mount adds a significant price increase to other stamps on the market, and it makes placing the stamped image and aligning stamps much more difficult.