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Hi. I am new to stamping and have been looking around to get stamps. The few that I have, I got them from Michaels on a discount coupon. But sadly there isn't alot of variety of stamps there. On a second thought, it doesn't have alot of options in pigment inks or embossing powders either.
I checked at Amazon, but same, not easy to find stamps unless I know the specific names.
I checked out the few websites specifically for stamps, like SimonSaysStamps etc,but they are really pricey especially with their shipping costs!
Where do you get your stamps from and is paying $15 for one clear stamp set the normal price(minus the shipping cost)?
Thanks
Penny Black
Whipper Snapper
Our Daily Breads
Unity
Stampin Up
__________________ The quickest way for a parent to get a child's attention is to sit down and look comfortable. Practice safe eating always use condiments
Joann.com frequently has sales on stamping supplies, plus free (or very reduced) shipping. I always check their clearance section before I place an order.
Where do you get your stamps from and is paying $15 for one clear stamp set the normal price(minus the shipping cost)?
Yes, many clear sets seem to start at $15 and can go up from there, but you can find some sets that are little less expensive by shopping around.
One good way to search might be on a site like 123Stitch, where you can search for stamps under subject matter like trees or animals or plants or flowers.
They carry a wide range of stamp companies, so you can get an idea of individual company styles, and investigate the ones you like further.
franticstamper.com has such a huge selection of stamps and dies, I shop there when I'm looking for something specific. I also shop alot on Ebay because Shipping is often free and the prices are sometimes very good, but I have made mistakes buying from Sellers who have less than !00% rating, and I've found that some manufacturers, like Hero Arts, have more than one version of certain stamps, so I make sure I check on the size and product number. Amazon doesn't always give correct specifications and product numbers for the product they are illustrating.
PTI and Stampin' Up would be my first choice for stamps and supplies because their quality is always so great, but I don't own much of either because paying $7 to get something shipped that could have gone in a padded envelope for $1.35, on top of their high prices, makes them beyond my budget most of the time. I know "you get what you pay for" so I have to be a really careful shopper.
Hey fellow newbie ( I just recently got into this fun little hobby myself).
The stores that I tend to go to with my hot little coupon in hand which is really in my phone but you get the idea
Michael's
Joann (I also have ordered on line when they have free or $1.99 shipping specials)
Hobby Lobby
and after watching a lot of Brandy Cox's youtube videos I signed up with Stampin Up and plan to purchase the Work Of Art stamp set (just waiting for them to have a sale)
Happy Stamping!
Last edited by Ready..Set..Craft; 11-14-2015 at 04:13 PM..
I like Joann.com for Avery Elle and Paper Smooches stamps. As mentioned above, they often have good sales.
I like PaperTrey a lot, and only order when I have a $70 order so I can get free shipping.
I have a lot of Stampin' Up from when I was a demonstrator. If you are new to stamping, a demonstrator can share lots of tips and techniques.
Finally, if there is something new or trendy that I want, I order from Simon Says Stamp or Ellen Hutson. Their prices/sales are not as good as Joann.com, but they have all the latest items.
This is just another option, but I find a lot of single stamps at Goodwill stores in my area. Most always they are used and rubber wood mounted but sometimes I do find clear stamps and recently I found a brand new set of clear stamps by Inkadinkado. (paid $1.99!).
I like franticstamper, 1-2-3 Stitch and Ellen Hutson. If I only want one set and do not wish to pay a high freight charge I will sometimes check ebay too. Have fun shopping!
Papertrey Ink (PTI) is my favorite, followed by My Favorite Things (MFT). The design teams are amazing, and the vast majority of my stash is from these two places. I've never paid shipping at either place.
I've also gotten photopolymer stamps and dies from AlteNew, Avery Elle, Cas-ual Fridays, Clearly Besotted, Lil' Inker Designs, Reverse Confetti, Uniko Studio, Verve, Wplus9, Waltzingmouse, and Winnie & Walter.
Good luck with all the options, and have fun shopping!
I used to buy just from stampin up and papertrey ink, and occassionally from michael's, but most of the clear stamps at michael's seem to be poor quality to me, and haven't stood up to as much wear and tear as the papertrey ink or stampin up ones.
Lately I have been eyeing sets from avery elle, mama elephant, sweet stamp shop and lawn fawn, they are definitely on my list to buy from. I just try to limit my shopping, which is hard when there are so many cute sets, but I try to use the Jennifer McGuire form of thinking, if you can't think of 3 different cards you can make with a set, then don't buy it.
Also a lot of companies are putting out some smaller sets which are great for testing out a new brand. Sweet Stamp Shop has some sets for $3.95, Avery Elle has some for under $5.
Unfortunately, $15 is about average for a clear set of stamps, and one reason why I don't own many. I prefer rubber and would rather buy individual stamps that I love but these days it seems most of the cute stamps are clear and combined in sets with stamps I wouldn't use.
Joann.com has a larger variety than what is available in their stores, and the prices are fair if you wait until a 40% off sale. Stampin' Up has good quality rubber stamps but high prices, especially when you add on the cost of postage ($6.95 min.) If you know what you want and are patient, you can often find Stampin' Up for a decent price on eBay. Just be warned that there is a whole lot of price gouging there, too.
Where we shop? Where we get best deals? Both? Some people are brand loyal and are fine staying there and paying full price, others are more mercenary (raising hand) and will shop wherever we can get the best deal-possibly after waiting months.
Sets: If you are going to really use 4 of the set...that makes them 3.75 each in a 15 dollar set, if that helps.
If you know you like the stamps of a company, sign up for the newletter and you will get coupons. Sometimes they are minor like 15% but sometimes they are 50%.
Be careful at Ebay. A lot of sellers there sell at-or well above- list price. Back out and check the mfg site. This is b/c some of them ARE mfgs or brick and mortar stores themselves, or just a seller who thinks all buyers are silly and we dont check. IE House Mouse. Check the completeds on the left. That 12 buck stamp today may have sold 6x at 5 bucks in the last 90 days. Hold out. It will come around again. I have spent years on ebay. I was so green when I first started I would just ask for "rubber stamps". There are 150+K at any given time. I have literally looked at many hundreds of thousands of stamps. :shock:
But it also taught me a lot-what I like and dont, about companies that are open and closed, etc. How stamps 90% of the time will come around again. Dont overbid to get it. I have waited almost 2 years, but I finally got what I wanted. Other times I waited 2 days. Just never know. I have bought a lot there. Just have to have your smart hat on.
I look at hundreds of mfgs depending on what I am looking for. Some general suppliers:
I use Joann's a lot.
123 stitch has sales every week based on theme-pull down the sale menu and it will tell you.
Scrapbooking Warehouse usually has a bit off and a wide selection
ScrapMart usually has discounted prices
Scrapbook.com wide selection, some stuff on sale.
Susana's Custom Art and Design (SCAD) she carries both original and common brands. Nice lady.
I do like Ellen Hutson as a company and her original product
Simon says is pricey so I tend to mostly get their own house stuff that I really like when on a good sale.
The Stamproom down in FL specializes in international companies and always has some category on sale. Little company, nice lady.
I am sure I am missing people. There are a lot of general suppliers. Like any other industry-the big boys get the best discounts from mfgs and once they clear it out, they can discount it heavily.
Do you prefer clear or wood mounted? What are you looking for? I can spare some stamps and would be happy to send you some if I have what you need. Oh...no charge!
There are so many places to purchase stamps. I think it is important to figure out what type of stamps suit your style. Then you can decide what companies to buy from. Some of my favorites include: Sparkle and Sprinkle, Viva Las Vegas, Heartfelt Creations, and The Stampin' Place.
I buy from many different companies. I like First Stone Stamps, Viva Las Vegas Stamps, Creative Vision Stamps, Crafter's Companion has lots of stamps and good deals, Sheena Douglass....the list goes on and on...
I joined The Stamps of Life stamp of the month club and have never been disappointed. They send you a set each month at a lower price and shipping for that set is only $1.
Have fun!!
If you go to Welcome to Heirloom Productions - Bringing you the BEST in Rubber Stamp & Paper Arts Festivals they list all the stamp company websites that participate in their shows around the country. This might help you find the styles you like. Signing up for their newsletter or liking them on Facebook can get you notifications of sales. Oozak also has free shipping over $50 which is not hard to do at all. good luck.
I think before you go out shopping all over the internet you need to decide what styles appeal to you and make a wish list..
for instance in the back of my mind I have wanted a Santa's sleigh die for some time now, and now have one on its way to me from ( Amazon) ( I am a prime member and I do click the button here on the home page to help this site too)
spend some time in the gallery doing general searches. what are you wanting to stamp next? ( Christmas things are starting to pop up all over and many places have them on sale at this time of year too) make a list of what you want to search for. ( think about it for a while, chances are you will not need ten versions of a sleigh but, snowflakes are a different ball game. if you are willing to wait for things most of them will go on sale somewhere eventually.
(and I have a gmail email account to get email specials from pretty much everywhere)
I'm 90% stampin up only because I don't shop online. I would love to get my hands on some of the cutesy stamps Jennifer McGuire and Kristina Werner have been using. Maybe Ellen Hutson, Avery Elle, wplus9, and lawn fawn. They do some really really cute cards!
I am about 95% Stampin' Up! The other 5% consists of Close To My Heart and Sweet & Sassy (I love that they have lots of scripture and Christian sentiments).
Do you prefer clear or wood mounted? What are you looking for? I can spare some stamps and would be happy to send you some if I have what you need. Oh...no charge!
Wow! Would you really do that?! Thankyou so soo much!!
I am new to stamping and have just 3 stamps right now. 2 wood mounted, and 1 clear stamps and so far I liked using both.
I would love to have any kind of stamps that you won't be using again, to experiment and practice with.
Wow! I just came back from Michaels but I didn't find any $1 stamps there? Are you talking about any special discount coupon that you get?
No special. They usually have them in a display near scrapbook section. Just ask someone. There are usually new ones every season. Sign up your email with them they sometimes send 25% off you're entire purchase coupons.
__________________ Colleen Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.-Ephesians 4:32
No special. They usually have them in a display near scrapbook section. Just ask someone. There are usually new ones every season. Sign up your email with them they sometimes send 25% off you're entire purchase coupons.
Thanks so much. I am definitely checking those out next time I go there!
Joann's fabric's has a dollar bin section that has stamps in it too sometimes.
just don't fall into that trap of
"oh my gosh, I have a coupon and its burning a hole in my wallet syndrome"
( or you will have way more stamps than you even like asap)
I work at Michaels. I buy stamps everywhere, but want to mention the $1 stamps at Michaels are surprisingly good quality.
I agree with you. I've had very good luck with most of the stamps I got from Michaels. Even the little clear ones that only cost $1. Some of them I've had for years and they still stamp very well.
Also I love the Recollections cardstock. I'm a big Michaels fan.
__________________ Bugga in OK
"Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible." Dalai Lama
Wow! Would you really do that?! Thankyou so soo much!!
I am new to stamping and have just 3 stamps right now. 2 wood mounted, and 1 clear stamps and so far I liked using both.
I would love to have any kind of stamps that you won't be using again, to experiment and practice with.
If you still have one, try your LSS. They'll probably have more of a variety in selection and will probably willing to share tips, techniques and suggestions to get you started.
for someone new to stamping; I always suggest this site. The buy/sell forum. There are a lot of gals; who have far too many stamps; myself included; and are selling their stamp and supplies for a very discounted rate. You should find a posting that has maybe three stamps sets, to make it worth the $6. shipping cost; but, economical otherwise. I also, being mainly retired; need to spend less on stamping and decided I am only doing cards that I use most often, birthday, get well, sympathy and look only for those stamps. Wedding, birth, graduation; go to the dollar store and buy a card, when needed.
__________________ Carolyn
my avatar: (such desparation), Dear God, if you can't make me thin; make my
friends fat"
I buy almost all of my stamps on e-bay. Just keep looking and you'll find all kinds of stamps that you like. Check out the shipping costs...some of them are outrageous. I also but stamps at conventions . IMO pricier there but no additional shipping costs, sometimes tax it added. You will need some sentiments, birthday, thinking of you etc. Although I do like stampin up stamps, I am not a big fan of sets. Some never get used. Just keep looking and enjoy your new hobby...Bobbi
If you still have one, try your LSS. They'll probably have more of a variety in selection and will probably willing to share tips, techniques and suggestions to get you started.
Where do you buy your stamps from?
