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if you haven't gone to unmounted yet,you should read this?
Here is the best reason why you should go unmounted.First of all it saves space,and you can hide your goodies from your hb.then he can't see how many you really do have.
I found the best box at Micheals.it bigger and wider than a card box.and it fits cd cases in it perfectly.they sell for around $12.00.I can fit 48 cd caes in this box plus my acrylic blocks.it is 7 inches in depth,and length.longer than the card boxes they sell.So just think how much space mounted stamps take up 48 sets a ton more space.
__________________ WHAT IS A STAMPPIN ADDICT!
It's someone who buys stamps they didn't normally like at first,only to see it in Split Coast Stampers gallery in a different perspective.
Location: Where the water meets the sand in So Cali
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I have a few of the Target cubes, and with this one:
I used to be able to fit around 10 of the smaller SU! sets in each drawer. Going unmounted, I put 36 CD jewel cases in each drawer! Almost quadruple the storage space! It's awesome!
When I unmounted I sold my blocks to someone... which I totally regretted and eventually bought them all back and re-mounted my stamps, but by then they were a mess from all the adhesive, etc., so I ended up selling them really cheap and bought all new stamps.
When I unmounted I sold my blocks to someone... which I totally regretted and eventually bought them all back and re-mounted my stamps, but by then they were a mess from all the adhesive, etc., so I ended up selling them really cheap and bought all new stamps.
Don't unmount!!
What happened? Were you using the acrylic blocks? Were you not getting a good image?
I've read so many folks unmounting yet your post is the first regret I've read. I'd like to know your experience before I begin to unmount my stamps.
I used acrylic blocks with rubber stamps and also with clear stamps. Over time the clear stamps were no longer clear (and I'm talking just a few months), they were yellow and gooey and covered in little bits of lint (and I don't even have animals, can you imagine how gross it would be with dog or cat hair stuck to them?).
I just find wood mounted stamps much more convenient to use. I am a visual person... I like to see my stamps. If they are stored away in a binder I tend to forget what I have.
Plus, you have to find your stamp, find the right size acrylic for it, put your adhesive on the acrylic, put your stamp on it... all that before you can even ink it up and stamp it. Then you have to do it all over again for your next stamp.
I'd rather reach over and grab a wood mounted stamp set and go to town!
Location: Where the water meets the sand in So Cali
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cmayk
put your adhesive on the acrylic, put your stamp on it...
I'm curious what you mean about putting the adhesive on the acrylic? I unmounted and used Creative Cling. So there isn't any extra adhesive. I'm unfamilar with other unmounting "systems", so maybe the one you had required more work?
At first I tried a cling system... but if that cling gets a bit of grime on it or gets wet, etc. it no longer clings to the acrylic. It's annoying to go to stamp something and have your inked stamp fall off and land on your card stock.
So when that stopped working I got some adhesive that you put on the block each time. It's basically a temporary double sided tape. I can't remember now where I got it.
I have never had that problem. I have been unmounted for most of my stamps for 8 years, and never had a problem. I store them in CD cases and no lint. Also, I have tons of clear stamps, of course they are going to yellow, doesn't bother me why would it. They still stamp perfectly. I also have mounted stamps. I keep my mounteds mounted and my acrylic and unmounteds the way they are. I think Cindy is the first person I have ever heard that had a problem with unmounted.
Ive been UM almost since I began stamping. i did HALOS, Tack it over and over, and now i use ez mount on all but the tiniest stamps- those I still treat with aleens tack it over & over.
When I did UM the mounted i had, I cleaned the blocks with goo gone after I was done and sold them.
I do still have a few mounted stamps- PSX and the like, but not very many.
I have both, and I am finding that I am unmounting more and more of my stamps. I just unmounted the two stamps that I am using for my Christmas Cards and I have not stamped any of the images crooked since then, it was so great!
I use the creative cling, store in CD cases. If my cling does get old by chance I'll just remount on more cling. I have not had any problems since unmounting.
__________________ Kristina Wife, Mommy, Stamper, Nurse Laura 6yo Jack 5yo, James 4/20/08 Megan arrived 3/16/09
I would rather have great images and sure stamped images than trade for space. Besides, my DH loves my creativity and does not seem to mind giving up his garage space for my stamp collection! He is a great find!!
Back to the OP - Lisa could you post a picture of the box you found? I would love to have one but want to know what I'm looking for when I head to M's.
What happened? Were you using the acrylic blocks? Were you not getting a good image?
I've read so many folks unmounting yet your post is the first regret I've read. I'd like to know your experience before I begin to unmount my stamps.
Thanks!
I personally wouldn't unmount my stamps, but, I prefer the feel and convenience of WM over space saving and the ability to see through the acrylic mount.
I've been stamping for 13 years + and I have actually tried UM systems a number of times, including very recently.
The best UM system I've tried so far has been the EZ Mount method (cling), with acrylic blocks. But, while others claim that it is no less convenient than WM, that has not been my personal experience. I still find UMs to be more hassle for me, personally.
I recently had a project I was working on that required the use of 2 images, repeatedly, but I only had one acrylic mount that fit the images well. So, I had to keep cleaning, dismounting, and remounting as I interchanged stamping the images. 'Bout sent me off the deep end. :rolleyes:
I think you just have to think about it from various angles, and, then decide which will best suits your needs and personal preferences, UKWIM? :grin:
I know of people that have dismounted and are pleased, and people who dismounted and were unhappy and went back to WM.
__________________ Julie Ebersole (JulieHRR once upon a time . . . )julieebersole.com"So shines a good deed in a weary world." -Willy Wonka
It's all just a matter of preference. I don't stamp any straighter with a see thru block that with a wood block. I just prefer the feel of good solid wood. I have some unmounted stamps that I would love to mount on wood. What would I use to mount them? Also, does anyone know where I can get my hands on some of the wood blocks that the unmounted fans toss?!
Melisa
I bought some TAC stamps, and, although I like the images, I don't find myself reaching for them. Out of sight....out of mind, I guess! I'm thinking of mounting them on wood. I'd stamp the image with Stazon on the block before mounting, because that's my biggest complaint about UM rubber...no image to reference. I was told, after I cut mine out, that you can stamp on the cling side, but it was too late for me. [IMG]//www.splitcoaststampers.com/forums/images/icons/icon9.gif[/IMG]
__________________ "Life is much too important to be taken seriously." Oscar Wilde Proud to be a member of Mo's Digital Pencil Challenge DT! My BlogMy Gallery
Even though I have loved wood for soooo long and still do. I am absolutely in love with my unmounted system. I love having EZ mount on all my stamps and I just love using the acrylic blocks with them. Yes, for me personally, I can line them up better looking through the acrylic block.
The choice is just so personal and none of us here can say what someone else should do. I would just suggest trying it with only a few sets in the beginning to see if it is something you like. I started with a few and then did them all. I am not regretting it one bit and I am using my stamps SOOOO much more and I am using stamp sets I forgot that I had. I used to just go to my stamp bookcases and grab the first thing that I saw.
Over time the clear stamps were no longer clear (and I'm talking just a few months), they were yellow and gooey and covered in little bits of lint (and I don't even have animals, can you imagine how gross it would be with dog or cat hair stuck to them?).
I've had one stamp from a big company be gooey and yellow, and this is due to improper curing of the acrylic. When I contacted the company they had a very super return/exchange policy for their gooey clear stamps. All my other clear stamps have been fine in terms of goo and colour.
And just to address the second point, I have a fluffy cat who jumps up on my lap from time to time while I'm crafting when he thinks I am not paying enough attention to him. My stamps are not covered in lint or fur.
I don't have a scanner or anyway to post apicture thats why I said it looks just like the box you store cards in that Micheals sells they sell for $4.00 each or $2.00 ,,if they have a sale on them.EXCEPT these are a little bit longer and taller.and have metal handles on the end of the box .I'm sure if you ask someone in the store they can show you where they are.
__________________ WHAT IS A STAMPPIN ADDICT!
It's someone who buys stamps they didn't normally like at first,only to see it in Split Coast Stampers gallery in a different perspective.
. . . The choice is just so personal and none of us here can say what someone else should do.
Totally!
Quote:
I would just suggest trying it with only a few sets in the beginning to see if it is something you like. . .
This is a very good idea--and to keep the wood blocks handy in case you change your mind.
Or, if you're like me, buy the occasional UM set that you fancy, and a set of acrylic blocks. Work with them for a while and see how you like it. Then, you can decide if you really want to dismount any or all of your WM stamps, UKWIM?
__________________ Julie Ebersole (JulieHRR once upon a time . . . )julieebersole.com"So shines a good deed in a weary world." -Willy Wonka
The boxes Lisa62 is talking about are photo boxes with the pull out drawers at Michaels. They are usually out front in the big bins and come in different prints or colors.
HTH
__________________ Karen
...My life is like a stroll on the beach...As near to the edge as I can go...Thoreau...
I would like to know how do you label the cd cases - they have such skinny spines? What do you use?
I use a labelmaker by Brother. The labels are a little wide for a CD spine but I just wrap the excess over the edge and it sticks just fine. I love it because I can make my titles as big and bold as I want. You can probably read the ones on my shelf from Raymore!
I would like to know how do you label the cd cases - they have such skinny spines? What do you use?
When I went unmounted, I organized my stamp sets in excel. Then I printed out on a full sheet of self adhesive paper the name of each stamp set & company it came from. I was able to slice them so that they fit perfectly on the spine of the cd case. My labels are also color coded so I can tell at a glance where my flower sets are, etc.
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I love my unmounted SU but like Julie I need a few more blocks. One thing that I don't like unmounted is my alphabets. Weird, I know. Most people would unmount their alphas before anything else. I'm seriously considering remounting my Spunky Alpha. Hung up on the Holidays is great with a clear block to put the string on the ornaments.
The CD box sounds great. I'll have to check it out. Thanks for the scouting report!
__________________
Bridget
Proud to be a former SU Demo & forever USC Gamecock Fan!
I have several sets of blocks and this solved the problem. You need to keep your blocks clean or you can have a problem with the cling vinyl not sticking. If this happened I just wipe stamp and block with a baby wipe and am good to go. I have never ever had a stamp lose cling if it was clean and I have used some stamps hundreds of times as unmouteds. I will say that the Aleene tack it system glue stuff was a nightmare and I cleaned that all off my stamps and went to the foam cling and am very, very happy.
It is so fun to read all your comments because when I first saw the unmounted it was the tack it over system I just didn't like the feel of the acrylic so I went back to my wood too....then I started to realize what big world of awwesome artwork awaited me if I just got over it LOL!
So I ventured out to the halo's system which I still like today ! The more I used the uM the more I liked it and slowly went to e-z foam for most of my stamps...Now I love the acrylic ezfoam system I have some clear stamps too but they just aren't my favorite....
I really love being able to take the whole farm with me and not have to take a whole extra suitcase to carry all the wood... Now I hyave to think twice about buying all the wood even if I love an image I lnow I am paying for a piece of a tree that I don't need ( and that is most of the cost) rubber is cheap! So If I can find UM rubber I like as well that will always be my first choice.
Hubby doesn't care how much I have either but I like it compact and labeled in cd cases on turnstyle cd racks they hold about 160 sets in a 12x 8 space and are very acessible......I also alphabetize them and have a list so I know what I'm looking for ...
But i agree all of us have our preferences and some prefer the wood they are both equally as efficient if the foam gets wet when it dries it will always stick again....I don't think I've ever had any wear out....But I sent off a letter today asking SU if they will ever consider ofering um to us who prefer it!! I have also dismounted my SU sgtamps left the foam intact and used it as a temp stick works good for a while....And I hate stamp positioners!!!!
Betti G http://stampinbetti.ismyangel.net
There is no way I am going to unmount my SU's since I know I would regret it down the road. However, I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE love my TAC stamps. Me and my 2 kids stamp every night and most nights they choose the TAC stamps or the acrylic Inky Antics Turtles sets. I bought 3 set of the most common 2 sizes of blocks at Michaels with the coupons, and one block of the largest and smaller sizes. We do not have issues with mounting each time we want to use them because we are not waiting for blocks as we have spares. The UM sets are priced so that I can get whatever sets we want and they don't take up so much space, and if I can save a tree here and there that's good too. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE my Scraptivity Gel-A-tin stamps to. But, I find them difficult to cling them on without distorting the larger images, where the foam UM's makes them less floppy ....don't think I have explained this well at all, but in my head, I know exactly what I mean!!
I could never unmount my WM's... I love them too much.
I even mount my unmounts I buy...
I do have a few clear sets - but usually the only ones I buy are alphabets so I can see where they go... other than that I usually are pretty good about lining my stamps up without any special tool to line them up with... (thingamajig, etc)...
I could never ever imagine the amount of time it would take to unmount my stamps. I know I'd probably just go back to mounted after taking that time to unmount them. I do have to admit though that there is one set of unmounted stamps I do like - and that's Sugarloaf Products See-D's stamps. They are cured rubber stamps, with a cling background - but the image is printed on the back of the rubber for placement. I don't know how long that cling will last - but they do give you extra cling sheets in each package!
The thing about clear stamps (photopolymer) is that they just don't last as long as real rubber. I read 12-15 years (yea thats a lot - but the amount of money I spend on my stamps, I want them to outlast me!)... is the max on photopolymer - at least the photopolymer I use to make my stamps with. If they are left in flourescent lighting too long they will yellow and start to crack too... so if you bought old stamps from any craft store - they won't last..
...I really love being able to take the whole farm with me and not have to take a whole extra suitcase to carry all the wood...
Exactly! I love being able to take ALL my stamps with me whenever I want. I can take them all to the table with me, sit down and relax while I look through them for the perfect stamp. I'm sooo happy with unmounting my stamps that I would never go back! I still have a few sets that just weren't practical to unmount, well, like antique stamps, for example.
I do agree that unmounting may not be for everyone, so a word of caution... proceed slowly as someone else suggested. Unmount a set (or two) and use them a few times (I'm talking the red rubber ones, not just the acrylics). One needs to get a feel for mounting the red rubber stamps to an acrylic block and stamping with them. But if you're like me, you'll be unmounting ALL your stamps in no time flat. Just take a deep breath and let go of your worries and anxieties, and just do it! :-D
One thing to note: I microwaved the first few, then realized I didn't need to do that at all. The more I unmounted the more practice I got and I sort of got the hang of it. I just kept on rubbing the rubber part with my finger and fingernail until it lifted from the cushion. Then I peeled it off slowly. And I rubbed off any part of the foam that was left. Occasionally some of the remnants of cushion were stubborn and difficult, but it was soooo worth it in the end because it adhere's to the cling foam better if there are no remnants of old cushion on the stamp.
if you haven't gone to unmounted yet,you should read this?
Leftover WoodBlocks
