Polymer Stamp Primer

Over the past year or so, polymer stamps, or clear stamps as most people call them, have become very popular. They have been around for quite some time, and there are differences between polymer stamps and rubber stamps in how they're made, how they stamp, and how you care for them. Many stampers and scrapbookers are hesitant to use polymer stamps because they are unsure of how to care for and/or use them.

CARE OF POLYMER STAMPS
Other than knowing that clear stamps are made from polymer rather than rubber, it's not really necessary to know the manufacturing process of these stamps. However, because they are polymer, you need to care for them differently. Any light, real or artificial, will cause them to yellow. That doesn't mean the stamps are ruined. (Consider the fact that varnish and other finishes also yellow when exposed to light.) The stamps will still work the same. However, if you leave them exposed to harsh light for long periods of time, even the supposed non-yellowing polymer stamps will yellow a bit and, eventually, harden.

When cleaning your stamps, you want to use either soap and water, baby wipes, or cleaners made specifically for polymer stamps. Do NOT, under any circumstances, use a solvent-based cleaner on these stamps as you will ruin them. In addition, using solvent-based inks, such as Staz-On, can also damage clear stamps.

Finally, because you store the stamps on acetate sheets and attach them to acrylic blocks for stamping, you need to be careful in detaching them from either surface. If you pull too hard, you can rip the stamps. And, because you handle them each time you move them from one place to another, they may lose their ability to stick to either the sheets or blocks. To fix that, simply "wash" the stamp with a mild soap and cool water and let it dry to restore the tack.

USING POLYMER STAMPS
Polymer stamps work the same way rubber stamps do in that you ink them and stamp. Most people will probably not be able to tell the difference between an image stamped with a clear, polymer stamp and a rubber stamp unless there is a lot of detail in the image because of how they are manufactured.However, because ink tends to bead up on the polymer more than it would on rubber, you should condition polymer stamps before using them. While some people use a fine-grit sandpaper to "scuff" the surface of the stamps, you need to be careful that you do not scratch the surface too much.

A much easier and safer method is to rub a pink eraser over the stamp's surface. Both of these methods scuff the surface enough so that it holds the ink much better. Because polymer stamps do not have cushion, many stampers have a difficult time getting the entire image to stamp, especially with the larger stamps. To remedy this problem, you need to put a cushion under the paper you're stamping. Mouse pads and Fun Foam work great!

OTHER PROs and CONs
Buying polymer stamps is beneficial for a number of reasons: You get many more stamps in a set for a lower price (Most sets today run in the neighborhood of $15-20.). Because the stamps cling to acetate sheets, storage is minimal, and you can easily see which stamps are on each sheet. And, because they are completely clear, you can easily place them on cards or scrapbook layouts. As noted, the detail in polymer stamps is not as good as the detail in rubber stamps. In addition to that and the other negative points noted above, some polymer stamps have an odor that rubber stamps do not have. The smell can, at times, be overpowering.