If scrapbooking seems to be the biggest single focus of crafters' interest these days rubber stamping certainly appears to be running a close second. Here's a look at new trends in the stamps themselves both in subject matter and style, as well as a long list of new stamp-related products.
First on the list of "what's new in stamps" come a group of cube stamps from Judikins called Cultural Cubes, featuring different Asian symbols as well as Celtic, African, etc. In the same category are a series of stamps from Rubber Stampede featuring designs and symbols listed as African, Egyptian, Oriental, etc. These are different in appearance both in size (about 3/4-inch) and in style of the stamp. They resemble four-inch long fat crayons. Rubber Stampede also features simple line drawings of flowers, bugs, etc. in this same type of stamp as well as some nostalgic images such as an old Victrola and upright telephone that are presented on stamps that themselves seem a bit old fashioned. They have handles on them like the old "First Class Mail" and "Past Due" stamps!
A new line of embossing powders from Ranger called Adirondack features all the beautiful colors of fall. Dauber Duos, as a result of the great success of their initial product, have extended their line of the little double ended daubers to include practically every color in the rainbow and a few more. For applying ink to small stamps or small areas of stamps as well as for coloring in on small stencils they have proven to be very popular.
Apparently smaller is better in some things...at least where coloring in is concerned because the Dauber Duos are not the only entry into this area. In fact, the daubers look practically gigantic compared to the Coloring Tool Bullet Point and Coloring Tool Brush Point. These items do not contain ink in them as do the duos, but rather perform like small brushes of, to be more precise, like cotton swabs without the annoyance of getting cotton fibers into your work.
In another area bigger seemed better. From Fiskars, the folks most commonly associated with scissors, comes a new brayer that is actually a rubber stamp...a roller stamp. The rollers are interchangeable. All are carved with all over designs made to be used either as backgrounds or as the total all over pattern by itself. Also available are very large stamp pads made to accommodate the new roller stamps.
But another brayer, this one from Ranger, I dubbed "The Better Brayer." It is available in three different sizes, has a plain roller that is replaceable or that can be carved on to make your own stamp. It also has the one helpful item missing on most brayers...feet that act like a stand to hold the rubber roller off of the table top when not in use.
Also available now are the Resist stamp pads from Ranger. Stamp the rubber stamp on the pad, stamp the pattern or design on your card (it will be all but invisible) and then brayer over it with stamp pad ink and your design will show through. It is fun to watch the patterns and/or pictures seem to suddenly appear like magic and the effect can be very dramatic.
Resources Cultural (International) Cubes
Cube rubber stamps.
JudiKins
Website:
www.judikins.com
Clear Resist
Ink pads
Ranger Industries Inc.
Website:
www.rangerink.com
brayer background stamps and dye ink pads - Fiskars
Fiskars
Website:
www.fiskars.com
brayer with replaceable roller (Model #: 2-1/4" small, 3-5/16"medium, l6"large)
Ranger Industries Inc.
Website:
www.rangerink.com
Adirondak Embossing Powder and Ink
Ranger Industries Inc.
Website:
www.rangerink.com
stamping products - Tsukineko
Dauber Duos - two-in-one dauber; Fantastix coloring tool (shaped like a small pencil available in bullet point; brush point); sponge dauber
Tsukineko, Inc.
Website:
www.tsukineko.comOrnate Ornaments rubber stamp sticks - discontinued
available in bugs and flowers
Those Were the Days faux-vintage rubber stamps with wooden handles
Delta Creative, Inc.
Website:
www.deltacreative.comBig 'n Juicy ink pad
Ranger Industries Inc.
Website:
www.rangerink.com
Also in this Episode
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