Defining 'rubber stamp' sounds easy. In reality, there are many different types of rubber stamps, and what make defining 'rubber stamp' so hard is that the different types of rubber stamps are very different. The only commonalities are that they all use ink, and they use a rubber surface to create the stamp impression.
Rubber Stamp varieties can be narrowed into 3 categories: (i)traditional wooden/plastic handle stamps (ii)self-inking stamps (iii)pre-inked stamps.
Traditional wooden/plastic-handle stamps Traditional rubber stamps are the ones that you press onto an ink pad first and then onto the surface you wish to stamp. These are the original rubber stamp and are still extremely popular today. The popularity exists because they have 2 characteristics, compared to self-inking and pre-inked stamps, which actually make them a better option for many. First they are available in virtually any size, whereas self-inking and pre-inked stamps are limited to the size of the stamp chassis. The largest self-inking stamps is around 2"x3" and the largest standard pre-inked ones are around 3"x 4" in size. On the other hand, a Traditional Rubber stamp is only limited by the size of the ink pad you have. So if you have an ink pad the size of a magazine, then you will be able to use your magazine-sized rubber stamp. Second, a traditional stamp can use multiple color inks - all you need is different color ink pads. Simply use one color, wipe the rubber face clean (or wait for it to dry) then use another color.
Pre-Inked Rubber Stamps A Pre-Inked Rubber Stamp holds ink within its own ink-saturated rubber die (the die is rubber part of the stamp that has the cut/engraved design on it). There is no ink pad which flips up and down like a self-inker. Instead, the ink oozes it's way out of the rubber face (die) of the stamp as it is used. The benefits of pre-ink rubber stamps offer a better image quality than self-inking stamps and slightly larger sizes are available. They also last a lot longer between re-ink than a self-inking stamp and in most cases the quality of the stamp die is much better than both Traditional Stamps and Self-inking Stamps, making them the 'premium' choice of rubber stamp. Pre-inked stamps are available in a range of colors, but each stamp can only use one color. Pre-inked stamps are available in 'stock' layouts (i.e. FAXED, PAID, RECEIVED, AIR MAIL, COPY, CONFIDENTIAL etc) and in 'custom' layouts (where you specifiy your own text).
Self-Inking Rubber Stamps The Self-Inking Rubber Stamp has a special mount that has a built-in ink pad and spring mechanism that automatically re-inks the die between impressions. The rubber stamp flips up and down against an ink pad with each impression made. Self inking rubber stamps use a water based ink, and require re-inking more often that pre-inked stamps, although re-inking is a very simple process. Like Pre-Inked Stamps, Self-inking Stamps can only use one color at a time (although you can change out the ink pads to a different color - although this is a bit messy), and they are also available in 'stock' and 'custom' layouts.
Uses for Rubber Stamps Traditional, Pre-Inked and Self-Inking Rubber Stamps are all used in a wide variety of 'business' applications, from simple one-word stamps through to 'daters' and 'numberers'. Self-inking and pre-inked stamps are taking over the 'business' market because of their low cost, high image quality and simplicity of use, but Traditional Rubber Stamps are still widely used.
Traditional Rubber Stamps are also used, almost exclusively, in Art Stamping. Art Stamping is far-reaching, encompassing everything from simple text-based stamps right through to intricate detailed stamps. Images span from the simple beauty of a single rose to zany images that add humor to our lives, so can your stamp masterpieces evolve from simple cards to extensive mail art. Art Stamping is fun and it is a unique way to express your sentiments. In an era where everything is mass-produced, it is a genuinely warm and loving feeling to receive something that is made from the heart.......
Rubber stamps have become widely popular over the last few years. Previously, rubber stamps were used for business purposes only, but people today now use rubber stamps extensively for craft projects. Nowadays, rubber-stamping has become a fantastic hobby where an individual can create all sorts of designs by using rubber stamps. For this hobby, obviously rubber stamps carved with different designs on the rubber is essential, as well as ink pad that is used to transfer the designs from these rubber stamps onto a medium like pieces of cloth, paper, or card.
Decorative rubber stamps, also called art stamps, are used extensively in homemade craft projects. Decorative art stamps leave a lasting image on the page and create wonderful paint designs on a wide range of surfaces. Art stamps can be used to decorate scrapbooks or to add color and variety to photo albums. Art stamps are also used on letters, greetings cards, birthday and Christmas cards, banners and flyers to give a personalized touch. Art stamps can also be used to decorate notebooks, stationery and holiday wrapping paper. Either one stamp design, or two or more complementary designs can be used at a time to embellish a single paper.
Art rubber stamps can be painted with fabric paint to create a decorative border design on a piece of fabric or an existing garment. The paint used should blend nicely with the fabric to give a personal touch to items such as tablecloths and napkins. Since rubber stamps can also be used on hard surfaces like wood or metal, hard items such as trunks, jewelry boxes and picture frames can also be decorated with rubber stamps. The paints used to decorate these hard surface items should be appropriate for the item's surface to get a good result. You can create elegant decorative borders, decorate a child's room, or design walls and ceilings with rubber stamps.
Care should be taken to choose the correct size of the rubber stamp. Small stamps should be used for stationery and wrapping paper, and extra-large stamps to decorate walls and ceilings. Paints should be applied to rubber stamps with a paint pen, small brush or the traditional stamp pad and rinsed immediately after use.
Much earlier rubber stamps had to be ordered or bought from office supply stores when needed. But today rubber stamps are available everywhere from local supermarkets to online sites that sell stamps of varied uses and designs. With the popularity of rubber-stamping, numerous books and magazines devoted to rubber-stamping are available both in the stores and on internet sites and display a varied range of rubber stamp craft projects.
Both Jim Mcdonald & Susan Jan are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
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