Q. What’s the difference between clear stamps and unmounted rubber stamps? Both seem to need an acrylic block to mount them on so are they just different names for the same thing?
A. Good question. Rubber stamping has really grown in popularity recently as people rediscover what a great technique it is for both card making and scrapbooking.
Clear stamps are, strictly speaking, not rubber stamps as they are made from acrylic. The come as individual stamps, or in sets of individual stamps, ready to be mounted on an acrylic block. They are self clinging so you just take it out of the packet and attach it to the block without any need for mounting tape or glue. Clean then with clear water and dry with kitchen towel as soon as you have used them and they will last you a long while. I usually remove my stamp from the acrylic block after cleaning and put it back in its packet ready to use the next time – leaving my acrylic block free for another clear stamp.
Unmounted rubber stamps, on the other hand, usually come on an sheet and you first need to separate the stamps out by cutting around them with a sharp pair of scissors. To mount them onto the acrylic block you need a rubber stamp adhesive or tape such as U-Mount. When cleaning try not to get too much water on the adhesive as this can lessen its stickiness.
