Cling Mount Stamps: The Good, The Bad, The Choices

Rubber stamps have been around for generationsonce making sure that each card has the images in
without much innovation or alteration in their design. the exact same position.
Until now that is.  The world of rubber stamping hasThe new and innovative world of cling mount stamps
finally been updated with a 21st century spin, the clingis not without its flaws.  The stamps do not come
mount stamp.  Cling mount stamps are used in thewith a mounting base like traditional stamps where it is
same manner as traditional rubber stamps exceptall one complete unit which means that you will need to
they do not come permanently pre-mounted on apurchase acrylic blocks for your stamps.  The blocks
wooden block.  Cling mount stamps have two sides;can seen costly at first but it is important to remember
one side has the raised image that holds the ink forthat you do not need to have a block for every
stamping and the other side is coated with aindividual stamps since you remove the stamps after
repositionable cling surface which holds or mounts to ausing them; ideally you should have a couple acrylic
piece of acrylic which replaces the wooded block.blocks in sizes you use a lot so that you can stamp
Cling mount stamps have a lot of benefits overwith multiple images without having to remove them in
traditional wood mounted rubber stamps. One of thebetween depending on the project you are working
best bonuses is the lower cost of cling mountedon.  Some cling mount stamps do not hold the ink as
stamps with stamp sets selling for a reduced pricewell as others with the ink pooling and pulling off parts
compared to traditional stamps with more stamps inof the image producing a spotty or streaked stamped
the set too! They are more compact for storageimage.  Also, if you are short on time this type of
often being packaged in a thin plastic bag or DVDstamps might not suit your needs because you will
case which makes owning and organizing multipleneed to take the time to mount each stamp, remove
stamp sets a breeze; unlike the days of trying to findeach stamp, and then put the stamp and block away
suitable storage for bulky and various sized woodenseparately.
blocks.  With the cling mount stamps positioning theThere are a couple choices when it comes to
stamps exactly where you want them is a dreamchoosing the type of material the stamp is made from,
because you can see the stamp through the clearplastic or rubber.  The material the stamp is made
acrylic block so there is no more guess work aboutfrom impacts image quality.  I have used both the
the exact position of the image under a wooden block;clear plastic and rubber cling mount stamps.  The
I know most of you have experienced a stamp thatwinner in my book is the rubber cling mount stamps,
was not mounted quite right so the stamped imagelike those by Stampin’ Up, because they produce
was slightly off where you wanted it to be.   Thethe same quality stamped image that we are all
cling mount stamps clean up the same way as youraccustomed to with our traditional stamps.  Some of
traditional stamps so you can continue using yourthe plastic cling mount stamps look great and promise
cleaner of choice.  Finally, you can make collages ofwonderful stamped images but do not deliver, including
images or use a block the size of your card andthe sets by The Stamps of Life, the ink does not hold
positional the stamps at once and only have to stampas well resulting in a streaked image.