Regular stamps vs. clear stamps?

I use both. I like the clear stamps for alphabets because you can see where you are stamping, and you can line up the letters you want to use on the clear block.
I think clear stamping takes a little more patience because, with me anyhow, it takes just the right pressure to get the image stamped just right.

I like rubber stamps! The reason that I don't like clear stamps is because they wear out over time. I have had my rubber stamps for over 2 years and they still work as well as when I first got them!

I have both clear and red rubber. I like both for different reasons. However, if given an option I would choose red every time- IMHO I feel the red rubber images are better (cuter) and stamp a better image. However, they are not so easy to travel with~ thus I use my clear stamps when I sb away from home. To get a better image with clear stamps I always stamp them with stayz-on which seems to give a crisper image! But, give me red rubber any day!

I like clear because I can see where I'm going. (Just like everybody else it seems ) The thing is, you really can't put much pressure on them because they're not as solid as the red rubber stamp. I use both equally, but I prefer clear.

• CubsFanForever Said:

As a Stampin' Up! demo, I can tell you that Stampin' Up! will have all their stamps already cut out in their new catalog which comes out in the middle of August. All you have to do is pop them out of the rubber sheet and stick them on the block and you're done. How exciting!!

I love and use them both constantly. If the same image came in rubber and clear, for the same price, I would choose the clear because you can see through it. I have had to go back a couple of times when stamping out titles because a letter did not come out and the clear stamps make that possible. I won't give up buying rubber though. Love them all!

I have rubber and clear stamps. A lot of people are taking the wooden handles off their rubber stamps to save space. I don't but I've seen others that do. I love clear stamps especially flourishes and borders because I can see where they are going. I recently took a class that instructor said that one of the big differences between clear and rubber is longetivity. The rubber ones will last a lot longer.

I heard from a SU rep recently that they may be going to all precut stamps. A set that I got as a door prize was already die-cut, so I did have to assemble them, but they were already cleanly cut. Just had to pop them off the rubber sheet and stick them on the blocks.

I like the clear stamps...but only if they're good quality. I have some CTMH ones and they are GREAT! Good sharp image every time. I have some cheapies...can't remember the name...but hate them. They do not do very good.

I have many more rubber stamps than I do clear ones. I don't like them as well b/c I feel like I am guessing where they stamp. I like SU...they are good quality but hate the fact that you have to assemble them yourself. I never feel like I get them trimmed good before sticking them on. I did get some at the Dollar Tree one time...I think 2/$1 or something? They worked good actually!

I think that with the clear stamps I have more issue with quality than I do the wood mounted rubber ones. But...as long as the quality is good, I prefer clear. I love being able to see exactly where I am stamping an image!

• scrappychicdesigns Said:

I'm so glad you posted this response. I love both wood and and clear stamps, but the clear stamps are easier for me to position how I want them. And you are so right about the cushion. I bought a set from CTMH and it actually came with a sheet of thin cushion (don't know if they all do.) And I do agree that you get what you pay for. The CTMH stamps and the Stampin' Up stamps have been more impressive than the cheepies I've used.

I love my clear stamps.
I think the image I get is wonderfully clear and sharp.
OTOH I love regular stamps because I do a mix of multiple images and get a softer look..

Thanks for all the great tips! I'm gonna try conditioning my clear stamps before I go out and buy more

I just got my first set of clear stamps and I love then already

ok I will say right now I am a stamp nut! I adore how I can buy one stamp set and use it for hundreds of projects!!! Stamps and ink are my go to embellishment! So this is what I have learned over the years.

The reason rubber's image seem sharper is because of the cushion that is between the rubber and the wood. If you use a thin piece of foam, a mouse pad, or a coluzzle mat under your clear stamps that will give them the cushion they need and in return a better image result.

There are a lot of different companies out there that sell acrylic stamps and they do use different material to create their stamps. You usually get what you pay for in the acrylic world. I adore Autumn Leaves and Studio G stamps but I have the most problems with those. I do own a little bit of evey companies' stamps and have found that Queen Kat Designs and Close to my Heart are the best in quality! I get a beautiful image every time! Close to my Heart is a home party company but there are tons of consultants on sb.com and you can buy Queen Kat Designs online. (Pm me if you would like the web address!)

I love my wood stamps but I grab for my acrylics when crafting just because for me they are easier to use.

Yes ditto on conditioning your stamps. Most clear stamps need some kind of conditioning done. Technique Tuesday stamps do not. And I think you will find that our stamps also have great detail in the stamps.

I'm so glad that this thread popped up. I just bought some clear stamps and I'm excited to use them this weekend. Kudos to JaineParr for giving some great tips for a newbie stamper!

I love the clear stamps because you can see where you are putting the stamp, but I did find that if you apply too much pressure then it does smudge..I asbolutely love the clear stamps..I'd have to say I'm addicted to them..

I am addicted to them both.

Rubber stamps can have much more detail than the clear ones. A rubber stamp has more potential for a crisp image.

You might need to 'condition' your clear stamps. Try rubbing the stamp with an eraser, to clean off the last of the goo they used to coat the mold when they made the stamp. That will allow the stamp to hold your ink better. I will sometimes use Staz-On stamp cleaner on a brand new stamp, to clean off that goo. To keep my cleaning pad free of goo that might transfer back to the next stamp I'm trying to clean, I use a paper towel.

I also find that the surface I stamp on for clear stamps needs to be firm, and I can control the pressure I'm using much better. On either style of stamp, too much cushioning or too much pressure will give you a less crisp image.

Last, double check that you aren't using too much ink. On a clear stamp, some inks kind of bead up, and it looks like you have a lot less ink on the stamp than you really do, so you tap it on the ink pad again and make things worse. Too much ink will give you a blurry, blobby, mushy-edged image. I'll stamp off before I re-ink, so I start each time with a pretty clean stamp.

HTH!

IMHO I think the quality is the same, I just prefer the clear stamps because I can be more precise as I can see exactly where I'm stamping.

I prefer clear only because you can see what you are doing. I think the thing to learn is how much ink to use and how much pressure to apply. I do better when I put the ink on the stamp, not the stamp on the ink. If I put the stamp on the ink, I get ink everywhere it shouldn't be. Stamping looks easy, but for me, it seems to take a lot of practice. I also like clear because they don't take up much room. I still haven't found the perfect way to store my wooden stamps so that I can easily find the one I want.

I like clear better as you can see where you're stamping and I always get smaudges using regular stamps and not at all using clear.

I have tried clear stamps and I have been very unhappy with them compared to my rubber stamps. When I use clear stamps, I feel like they are not very consistent, like you said. I think that with rubber stamps the image comes out so much crisper and I have wasted so much paper trying to get a good image out of a clear stamp. If you are worried about getting a straight image, you should try a tool called a Stamp-a-ma-jig. Stampin' Up! sells one and it is a stamp positioner for precise stamp alignment. It works great and I use mine all the time. I think it's only $11.95 plus tax and S&H. I am a Stampin' Up! demo and so I would be happy to answer any questions you or anyone else might have. Let me know and I hope this helps.

I like to buy unmounted rubber stamps (you can mount them on EZ Mount foam) and use them the same way as you use the clear ones. Plus storage is the same.

I just really like the red rubber because the quality doesn't seem to fluxuate as much.

I think the clear stamps work just as well. I did find that if you put too much pressure on them they can get smudgy or thick looking. I like the clear stamps because I can see what I am doing with them. my others always come out crooked. Also clear stamps are easier to store IMHO

So do the regular rubber stamps generally work better than the clear stamps?
The reason I ask is I bought a bunch of clear stamps...sometimes they stamp good-sometimes not so good. Then yesterday I bought a rubber stamp from the dollar store...it worked SO much better. Not smudgy at all. Just wondering if I need to expand my collection (c'mon...gimmee a reason to shop) lol
TIA!