New Arrivals

A while back, I asked for some opinions on whether or not I should produce my own line of rubber stamps. The idea has been gestating and growing thanks to your kind replies and encouragement. Above is a picture of what the stork brought today: three stamp prototypes. As you can see I received one mounted on wood (image measures precisely 1.5" square) and two unmounted (approx 1.5" x 2").

The unmounted ones are die cut and came with die cut foam pads with double stick tape on both sides. Once I mounted the rubber to the foam pad, I didn't even need to stick it to a block, it worked great. Picture a foam stamp with a rubber stamping surface - that's what it's like. In the pic above, I hadn't adhered the foam to the rubber yet, but you get the idea -- work with it, ok?

So here's my new super-scientific marketing question:

Mounted or unmounted - which do you prefer?

I have always purchased mounted, but they do take up a lot of storage space. I like being able to identify the stamp from the image on the block. I also think it will merchandise more nicely in a, ooh let's say some random store setting.

It was brought to my attention, however, that unmounted stamps offer some advantages - they are a little less expensive, take less room to store and allow stamping on surfaces that aren't flat like a book spine or a jar (10 gallon hat tip to Calamity Kim on that last point - never thought about that.)

I made three tiles today in honor of my newborn triplets: Lefty the Bird, Charlotte Deux (yes, Debbi, she's seasick), and Waiting to Hatch. With any luck, along with lots of care and feeding and late nights, they'll grow up into a full grown, commercially available stamp line. Stay tuned.

Hatch, the last one in the line up above, was stamped with Tim Holtz Distress Ink in Antique Photo and then watercolored -- this is the same technique I described in the CPS eNewsletter, Embellishments. To see a couple more examples click here. You can sign up to receive Embellishments and get the latest info on products and techniques.

Now I gotta go and burp Lefty - he's a little refluxy.