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My Favorite Methods for Unmounted Rubber Stamp
Method 1.
This method is perfect for stamps you frequently use and is a very cheap and
easy way to more permanently mount them. This is also the best way for using
stamps that are large.
I use dense foam (about 1" thick), like the kind in craft stores or check out the gardening
department for the garden kneeling foam pads. Using rubber cement, apply a
layer to both the rubber die and the foam, let air dry and then press together
to apply. Cut and trim with an utility knife.
I use the cheap large rectangular cake pans to
store the foam mounted stamps. I will put a copy of the index page in the bottom
and add labels to the side to identify the stamps. They nest nicely on top of
each other and just happen to fit on top of the old wire basket that houses my
frequently used wood mounted stamps.
 
stamp storage is not always glamorous but this is how it works in my studio.
click on pictures for a larger image.
Method 2.
This is the method is perfect is you have tons of
stamps to store or for stamp you only use only occasionally.
I apply Aleene's
Tack-It Over & Over glue. The directions on the back of the bottle of glue work
great for stamps. I spread a thin layer with my finger over the back of the
rubber and let dry until clear. These stamps can then be stored by placing on
plastic. I use heavy duty page protectors with cardboard inside the page
protector and then placing the stamp on the plastic page. You can also stamp the
stamps a sheet of paper and place inside the page protector, this will give you
a visual guide print of the stamps. Another way to store these stamps is
to use a photo album that has plastic pages. The small bottle of glue lasts a
long time, making this a very inexpensive way to mount your stamps. After
a time the stamps can lose their stickiness and all you have to do is apply
another layer of glue.
I love this method of using unmounted stamps as
you can store a huge collection of stamps in a small amount of space. In
addition, it is quick to find a stamp and help you remember the stamps you have.
A collection of similar stamps can also be stored all on the same page making it
easy to find and coordinate your stamping.
Method 3.
this doesn't work well for me but some people
swear by it, I usually just end up swearing.
Use double sided sticky tape on
clear acrylic blocks and then putting my unmounted stamps directly on the sticky
tape. I have found that a bit of padding under the paper getting the stamp helps
quite a bit. A mouse pad works great for this. This is a great method for using
unmounted stamps and it saves tons of storage space.
Traditional Method of Mounting Stamps
Cushion
Cushion can come in many forms and thicknesses. It is constructed of varying
densities of foam rubber. Usually it is sold in sheets. It is available with or
without adhesive on one side or both. If you do not purchase self sticking
cushion, rubber cement makes an excellent adhesive.
Mounts
Mounts can be made out of several things, though the most common is wood. The
type of wood mount you use is mostly a matter of personal preference, but it is
advisable to stay with hardwoods that have been well cured. Other materials that
are often used as mounts are as varied as the stamper. Acrylic blocks, wooden
doweling, jar lids, heavy foam blocks can all be used with varying levels of
success. Actually, any flat hard surfaced object that allows you to grip it
firmly and is a bit bigger in all dimensions than your rubber die can be used.
Regardless of what material you choose as your mount, there are a couple of
things that will ensure your success. Be sure to choose a material that is sturdy
and will not warp. It is important that you choose the right size mount for the
stamp you are mounting. Mounts that are too large may have the tendency to pick
up ink along the edges and if you are not careful this ink will transfer to your
work when you are stamping. Mounts that are too small, even by a tiny bit, will
leave areas of unprinted image or blur the image in the area where there is poor
support. Sanding and varnishing both give you a much prettier mounted stamp, but
this is by no means essential. It is recommended though, that you at least give
your mounts one coat of a good sealer
Trimming the Unmounted Die
It is necessary for proper impressions to get rid of this excess rubber. Special
rubber and cushion trimming scissors are available on the market and though
these command a premium price, they are well worth the cost in the long
run if you intend to do a lot of your own mounting. A good pair of sharp
scissors is an essential tool for trimming your rubber properly and any good
pair will do. The idea in trimming unmounted rubber dies is to get as close to
the raised images as possible, without cutting into it. Extra pieces of excess
rubber have a tendency to pick up ink and make an unwanted impression right
where it's least appreciated.
Over cutting is when the rubber or cushion is cut at a slant where the slant is
protruding out, allowing extra surface of the die or cushion to be exposed. This
extra surface has a tendency to pick up ink and transfer it when the image is
impressed onto the paper.
Though it is not always easily accomplished, if you try to hold your scissors
perpendicular to the rubber and cushion when you are cutting, a fairly straight
cut can be made.
Working With Cushion
There are two approaches to working with cushion. One is to mount your trimmed
rubber on the cushion and then trim the cushion, and the other is to trim both
cushion and rubber at the same time. Unless you have an extremely good pair of
scissors and a strong hand, I recommend applying the already trimmed rubber die
to the cushion and then trimming the cushion. By laying several stamps on the
cushion sheet at one time, you can arrange them so that they fit fairly close
together, thereby conserving the amount of wasted cushion. The trick here is to
arrange them on the cushion closely enough to not have a great deal of wasted
cushion, but far enough apart that you can easily cut between the stamps.
Paper Label Indexing
A popular and easy method of indexing your stamps is to wait until after you
have mounted them and then stamp the image onto a piece of paper which is then
trimmed and fixed to the top of the mount. This can be done at least two
different ways.
Gluing
You can glue the stamped image to the mount and then seal it with another coat
of varnish, similar to decoupage. Often these little paper images can be
colored in and embellished beforehand, resulting in a pretty and unique index.
Packaging Tape
Another way to attach the paper index is with the use of clear packaging tape.
Careful cutting of the tape is needed. It may extend down over the grooved sides
of the mount or only cover the very top, but press firmly getting any air
bubbles out for a tight and water proof seal. Clear Contact paper can also be
used.
Self Adhesive Acrylic Sheets
Available in office and some art supply stores is a special clear acrylic self
adhesive paper which can be run through a copy machine. It is fairly expensive
but for a small collection of stamps, works quite well. Simply stamp several
images on a plain piece of paper and run the acrylic sheet through a copier,
transferring the images onto it. These can then be cut out and attached to the
tops of your mounts. Applying clear packaging tape over the top of this makes
and attractive and well sealed index.
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