Splitcoaststampers.com - the world's #1 papercrafting community
You're currently viewing Splitcoaststampers as a GUEST. We pride ourselves on being great hosts, but guests have limited access to some of our incredible artwork, our lively forums and other super cool features of the site! You can join our incredible papercrafting community at NO COST. So what are you waiting for?
I know there are many threads on here about unmounting stamps but I'd like to add one more. Can someone give me detailed instructions as to how to unmount my Stampin Up sets? I want to keep the foam on them, but I would like to have an image to keep with the stamp that I could maybe see through the acrylic block (kind of like what they are fixing to go to). I am not familiar with unmounting but I have to free up some space. I have one sheet of EZ mount but I am worried that it will make my stamp very tall when I mount it on the rubber that already has the foam and then the acrylic block. Is there a thin version and if so, where do I get it. thanks in advance for any help. also, when you unmount, do you lose image quality at all? thanks again.
I microwaved mine to make them come off the foam and the block and replaced it with creative cling foam from TAC. You could stamp the image on the back before attaching the foam to your rubber if you wanted to.
__________________ TAC Angel #4615
Think left and think right and think low and think high. Oh, the thinks you can think up if only you try!
My suggestion would be to stamp the EZ Mount with the image you're going to use it on and StazOn ink, then peel just the rubber from the wood block and mount it on the stamped EZ Mount. I have all of my rubber completely umounted (not on EZ Mount, even), and I have a thick foam stamping pad that I use under my paper/cardstock when I stamp. Clear as mud? PM me if you have questions, if you want. I've never had a problem with image quality this way.
I meant to stamp it on the 'cling' part of the EZ Mount, not the sticky side, so when it is mounted on an acrylic block, you can see the image through the block. Make sense?
That does, I was just worried that it would lose the "cling". So having the rubber and foam that came with it mounted onto the EZ mount won't make it too bulky?
That does, I was just worried that it would lose the "cling". So having the rubber and foam that came with it mounted onto the EZ mount won't make it too bulky?
Don't use the original foam - just the EZ Mount with the rubber...
oh, ok. I see now. Soooo...how do i get the rubber off the original foam? Thanks so much for walking me through this! I just am so scared to damage my stamps.
I've heard a lot of people saying that they put the stamps in the microwave to get them off the block, but I think it just makes a gooey, sticky mess. I just kind of get a fingernail under an edge between the rubber and the foam and peel it off. If there's residue you can just roll it off with your thumb. I've never had a problem with damage or tearing or anything else. Some are stickier and leave more residue than others, some come off clean with no residue at all! Don't be afraid - they'll be fine as long as you take it a little slow until you get the hang of what works for you. I've unmounted (or never mounted) ALL of my rubber, and every single stamp set I own (around 500 sets and many, many single stamps) fit in ONE file box! All of my wheels are unmounted, too, because I'm severely wheel-challenged! To do that, just carefully slit the seam with a razor knife, and it peels right off! Good luck!
just peal it off. It lets go pretty easy. I know its is a tough thing to get yourself to do at first, but when you have done it 200 times ya start getting bugged that the makers just dont sell them raw. HAHA
I dont recommend stamping in stazon on the cling side. It will probably work but it might make a mess. I used a sharpie to write on the cling side the name if the stamp set and it transfered to other surfaces like my storage sheets. At the least, try one first and stick it to your blocks and storage system to see what happens. If you have a fine tipped pen, you can put little dashes on the sides of the foam to help with placement. For word/verse stamps, I mark the sides so I know what is level. You can eyeball it or much better, use a grudges block. For image stamps, I use a ruler to determine 'level' or the horizon, etc and mark lines on the edges again. Works great. If a stamp has some space between the lines of text, I label them right on the rubber as sympathy, friendship etc.
I agree with the other posters, SU! Are very easy to remove, too easy sometimes. I've had stamps come off the foam if they are small and agressively cleaned (by kids).
__________________ RebeccaEdnie Mixed Media Artist, Paper Crafter, Jewelry Designer SCSDirtyDozenAlumni Www.Boxofchocolatescrafts.Com YouNeverKnowWhatI’mGoingtoMake
I recently went thru this same decision making dilemma. I decided that instead of EZ Mount I'd go with the Tack 'N Peel. The EZ Mount can get very expensive, and I didn't want to re-cut out all of my stamps. With the Tack N' Peel you just add it to the acrylic blocks and that's it. So if you have 3 blocks, you only need enough for those 3 blocks! It's about $10 at Jo-Ann�s (I used coupons). I decided to forgo the foam all together and went with bare rubber. It actually stamps nicer!
Give it a try with a single stamp (you can always glue it back onto the foam if you don't like the effect. Separate the Rubber from the foam and attach it to your acrylic block with double stick tape. Stamp it and see what you think. The Tack 'N Peel gives you a little cushion because it's made out of a gel, so it's like you get the cushion of the foam, without the bulk.
P.S. some of the older stamp sets will be a pain in the neck because of the adhesive that stays on the rubber. To fix this situation, I put a piece of duct tape around my hand and simply tapped it over and over to let the sticky duct tape pick up the adhesive on the stamp. It was work, but totally worth it.
Trust me, the Tack 'N Peel is the best way (for economical reasons) to go!
Hey guys, before you rip your foam off, check out this thread. I use the SU sticker!!!! No need to re-stamp and the image is a perfect match ((of course)).
Save yourself some time and effort (and money) and carefully peel your sticker off the block and mount it directly onto your gray foam (10 secs in a microwave first) and trim. Then put a THIN coat of Tack-it-over-and-over to the sticker side, condition by sticking it to your hand first then it's set to go!
I did what Lynn did. I must say that the sticker doesn't line up perfectly though. How can it when you can't actually see through the rubber to register it.
__________________ ~Vee
It's not who you know-it's whom you know.
I found some of my rubber was just falling off my SU stamps and left it off and threw away the wood block and foam. Other mounted stamps I had, I just pulled the rubber off. I keep the smaller ones in a folder with trading card pockets. I stamped a piece of cardstock with the image and tucked it in behind, with the image facing out back (if that makes sense).
I use Tac N Peel on my acrylic blocks of which I have about five. I actually have a huge big one about 6 inches square for two really large stamps that I have, but I use repositionable tape to keep them on. Next time I put in an order from the USA (I live in Australia) I will order some more Tac N Peel for the big one.
Truth be told, I find that unmounting my stamps, trimming them right close to the outline of the stamp, they seem to make better, clearer impressions and are so much easier to clean. To clean the Tac N Peel, I just wipe it over with a baby wipe and bound a tissue over to dry. The Tac N Peel is extremely sticky and it is important to keep a piece of acetate over it when not in use or you will find it stuck to the ceiling if you are not careful. lol. Love my unmounted stamps.
just founf this thread - thanks guys - i have just looked out for some tack & peel online - i am also in australia & they have some for $11.95 plus postage
is this good or am i better off ordering overseas ??
I just recently took the plunge and took mine off the blocks. I tried cheap thin foam to remount and did not like it. I went to the E-Z mount system. It took a while to unmount, remount, put in cd cases then categorize. I did not bother to stamp or put the sticker on back of the mounting side.
On the plus side I was not using them on the blocks as it was inconvenient for me! I am very very happy I did it when all was said and done. I like to organize anyway.
that is another advantage of unmounting LESS STORAGE SPACE. Lol.
I keep all mine in a lever back folder. I have the smallest ones in ziplock bags, medium ones in trading card pockets and the largest in A4 plastic pockets from the stationery shop. The few that I have left mounted are in a single drawer now, so my total space is about two cubic feet with air. And there are a couple of hundred stamps in that space.
unmounting stamps
