What Should I Know About Acrylic Stamps?

I’ve been a wood-mounted stamp snob for the past 10 years. Only recently did I venture into the world of acrylics—and I love them!

What’s an acrylic stamp?

Acrylic stamps come on a clear plastic liner, so you peel the stamp off the liner, then place it onto a clear acrylic block. It will cling, so there’s no need for adhesive or a cushion. Press to make sure it’s well-adhered. Ink it up and stamp away, then clean with a baby wipe or soap and water when you’re done. Peel the stamp off and replace it on the clear plastic liner.

Don’t forget the mounts

If you’re just getting into acrylic stamps, you’ll also need to buy mounts. They’re sold separately from the stamps and you can find them at your local stamp store or Paper Wishes. You’ll want a variety of mounts to accommodate your different stamp sizes. (I have five, ranging from a 1” square to a 6”x1” rectangle.)

An acrylic block that’s slightly larger than your stamp is perfect. If the stamp is too big for the mount, you won’t get a good impression. And if the mount is much bigger than the stamp, it’s hard to ink without also inking your acrylic mount, which can lead to stray ink marks. Be sure to clean your mounts as well as your stamps.

The benefits of acrylic

How did I switch from being a wood-mount snob to a fan of acrylic? Mostly because clear stamps let me perfectly position my image on my paper. They’re less expensive to manufacture, so they’re less expensive for you and me. They’re flatter and easier to store. And because they often come with multiple images on one sheet, you get a selection of stamps that coordinate—often, for the price of one wood-mounted stamp!