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Post by kmage on Jan 3, 2023 20:37:40 GMT
I put this in the card making section, but also thought I would put it here, as there is more traffic. Edited to add, that the cheapie sets AC puts out are acrylic, not photopolymer hence the different price point. I am just curious about why AC seems to pump them out with every collection and who is buying them as they don't seem great for scrapbooking, but also don't seem great for cardmaking.
It seems like American Crafts puts out an inexpensive stamp set (acrylic) with each collection they do, particularly BoBunny, Paige Evans, Vick Boutin, Shimelle etc...usually at the 5.99 ish price point and can get 40% off with a JA coupon if you have the Designer Destinations at your JA. So pretty cheap.
Do you buy these sets?
If so, what do you use them for ? (scrapbooking/cardmaking or both)
Do you find that they stamp well?
I have a few and find them challenging to work with for the most part. Not sure if this makes sense, but they are often times solid, but the solid colors don't go for everything on the stamp. So I end up using them primarily for black stamping on an ink blend. Some of them do look really nice.
I also found that Simple Stories has stamp sets that match the collection, but much more expensive and less flimsy, (edited to add, because they are photopolymer) I have bought one, the Lemon Twist stamp set. It was 12.99.
Just wondering if other people buy the collection stamps, esp the American craft ones.
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Post by retrofunscrapper on Jan 3, 2023 21:31:57 GMT
I have never understood why American Crafts choose to put out inferior stamp sets, *especially* to go with collections/designers that are beloved (Maggie Holmes, Vicki Boutin, etc). This is a huge sticking point with me. My first criteria for stamps: Are they photopolymer? If not, I don’t even have to do any more thinking, as they’re scratched off my list as worthless. Non-photopolymer stamps are never reliable or guaranteed to work (even with help from positioners —ink-pooling, skips in texture, etc), and I learned my lesson with them.
When other companies (many of which are much smaller than AC) know this isn’t an area to scrimp and not provide quality, it seems as though it must be misguided penny-pinching, unless I’m missing something. If anyone knows any other reason, I’d love to know. This has been a head-shaker to me for years.
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Post by retrofunscrapper on Jan 3, 2023 21:40:05 GMT
Oh, and I am a huuuge sucker for buying stamps that match a collection —because I love tools/non-consumables and like the notion that I’ll still be able to use certain images even if I use all the papers and doo-dads up. Between Crate Paper’s cute collections over the years, Maggie Holmes, Shimelle, etc, there’s no telling how much more money I would have spent with AC instead of elsewhere.
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craftywendy
Full Member
Posts: 116
May 29, 2018 14:56:21 GMT
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Post by craftywendy on Jan 4, 2023 0:17:27 GMT
I never buy them. I usually feel like the stamp sets are either too cheesy or no thought was put into them. If I see another "hello" stamp I will lose it.
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Post by refugeepea on Jan 4, 2023 0:59:24 GMT
I have a Shimelle and Heidi Swapp set. They seem to stamp fine. I use a stamp platform most of the time, so I think that helps. The stamps I've had the most issues with are the Kelly Purkey planner stamps from Hero Arts.
ETA: |
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Post by refugeepea on Jan 4, 2023 1:05:09 GMT
Are they photopolymer? If not, I don’t even have to do any more thinking, as they’re scratched off my list as worthless. Non-photopolymer stamps are never reliable or guaranteed to work (even with help from positioners —ink-pooling, skips in texture, etc), and I learned my lesson with them. A lot of my stamps are words or simple images. Maybe that's why I don't usually have an issue with different types of material that stamp is made from? |
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PaperAngel
Prolific Pea
Posts: 8,022
Jun 27, 2014 23:04:06 GMT
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Post by PaperAngel on Jan 4, 2023 4:34:11 GMT
I exclusively scrapbook & am neither a theme nor collection scrapper, so rarely buy stamps from any given collection unless they are photopolymer & versatile (e.g. labels). Note the price difference between AC brands & Simple Stories stamps is due to material used; AC clear stamps are cheap acrylic, while Simple Stories stamp sets are quality photopolymer. HTH.
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Post by kmage on Jan 4, 2023 5:45:37 GMT
I exclusively scrapbook & am neither a theme nor collection scrapper, so rarely buy stamps from any given collection unless they are photopolymer & versatile (e.g. labels). Note the price difference between AC brands & Simple Stories stamps is due to material used; AC clear stamps are cheap acrylic, while Simple Stories stamp sets are quality photopolymer. HTH. I hear you...and I agree. I don't usually buy the collection stamps either, because they are cheap and acrylic. I will update OP to make that less confusing. I was mostly (like retrofunscrapper ) trying to understand why AC does that, and who is buying these stamps. I do have a couple sets, one is Shimelle because when I started scrapbooking I had to have EVERYTHING she touched, lol. The other one is a Vicki Boutin set, and I got it because I wanted to make sure I could have some of those images long after my paper was gone, or could repeat them in my scrapbooks. What I find interesting is that these sets are aimed at scrapbookers, not cardmakers, and they are not super great for scrapbooking either. I just cannot imagine they sell well. Who is buying them? Who is using them, and how are they using them? Are they really a money maker for AC? I just think it is kind of strange. |
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Post by retrofunscrapper on Jan 4, 2023 13:34:25 GMT
Are they photopolymer? If not, I don’t even have to do any more thinking, as they’re scratched off my list as worthless. Non-photopolymer stamps are never reliable or guaranteed to work (even with help from positioners —ink-pooling, skips in texture, etc), and I learned my lesson with them. A lot of my stamps are words or simple images. Maybe that's why I don't usually have an issue with different types of material that stamp is made from? Yes, platforms/positioners can help for sure, and there is always a chance that a cheap acrylic stamp may work properly. That’s just it, though: They’re always a gamble. Your purchase may work out, or it might be a headache/ruined project/lesson learned. That’s why I’m not sure why AC makes this choice over and over again. I completely agree with kmage’s “Who are these for?” question. Sure, bargain price, but most stampers immediately know they’re inferior. I think they’re missing an opportunity by not switching to quality photopolymer (and also putting more thought/artistic flair into their stamp sets —I’m 100% on the no-more-hello train). They’re leaving money and greater customer satisfaction on the table. Off to go pet my reliable photopolymer (and red rubber —swoon!) stamps and tell them they’re pretty.😄 |
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pantsonfire
Drama Llama
Take a step back, evaluate what is important, and enjoy your life with those who you love.
Posts: 6,296 
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Post by pantsonfire on Jan 4, 2023 14:00:49 GMT
I have a few Crate Paper stamps that go with the holiday releases.
I actually really like them. Both are sturdy and stamp well. And clean nicely too.
I do wish there was matching dies because I really like my Santa head and the outdoor lights stamps and do not fussy cut.
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amysolovay
Full Member
Posts: 343
Sept 4, 2022 6:25:20 GMT
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Post by amysolovay on Jan 10, 2023 21:44:28 GMT
I just recently bought some of the BoBunny, Paige Evans, Vicki Boutin and Maggie Holmes stamps. I haven't used them much yet, so the jury is out on whether they're going to work for me. I knew going into it that they are cheap-o acrylic (except I think the Bobunny set might be photopolymer -- they do seem to have some sets that are more expensive and made of photopolymer, for whatever that's worth). Except for the Bobunny set, I got them on sale for really low prices, so I didn't feel like I was risking a lot to try them -- and I couldn't resist because the images are so exactly what I want.
The Bobunny and Maggie Holmes sets I got are both travel themed, and that is exactly what I need for scrapbooking. I don't see using those sets for making cards.
The Vicki Boutin and Paige Evans sets I got are floral, and I could see using them for anything and everything -- cards, layouts, whatever. Most of the stamped images will probably end up in my planner.
The images I've stamped with them so far have come out fine.
I think the ink you use with acrylic stamps makes a huge difference. My experience so far has been that pigment ink or hybrid ink tends to work with them better than dye ink does.
I have an acrylic set by Recollections that is absolute garbage -- just horrible. But I've found that I can get okay impressions with some of the stamps in it by using pigment ink with them. Dye ink doesn't work at all.
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Post by infochick on Jan 10, 2023 22:43:26 GMT
I admit to buying them, certainly not all of them, but some of them. Mostly just the Vicki Boutin ones because I do occasionally watch her Friday Night Lives and then I get inspired by the projects and want to reproduce them. To be perfectly honest, I haven't used them extensively, but they were okay. As I recall, I did have to play around with my inks a bit to get good coverage. Some of the designs are very cute and I made a lovely layout using some of the large florals and masking to layer the stamps.
I have gotten smarter though...I have a friend who also enjoys the stamps so we now try to make sure that we don't duplicate our stash and can just borrow from each other.
I will say that I wish they were made of the more expensive photopolymer. I view stamps as an investment, so I wouldn't mind paying a bit more for a higher quality product.
ETA: They aren't overly cheap here anyway, so it's not like it's a $4-5 product...more like $12-15, so I would rather pay the extra if I really like the stamps.
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amysolovay
Full Member
Posts: 343
Sept 4, 2022 6:25:20 GMT
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Post by amysolovay on Jan 11, 2023 0:07:10 GMT
I admit to buying them, certainly not all of them, but some of them. Mostly just the Vicki Boutin ones because I do occasionally watch her Friday Night Lives and then I get inspired by the projects and want to reproduce them. To be perfectly honest, I haven't used them extensively, but they were okay. As I recall, I did have to play around with my inks a bit to get good coverage. Some of the designs are very cute and I made a lovely layout using some of the large florals and masking to layer the stamps. I have gotten smarter though...I have a friend who also enjoys the stamps so we now try to make sure that we don't duplicate our stash and can just borrow from each other. I will say that I wish they were made of the more expensive photopolymer. I view stamps as an investment, so I wouldn't mind paying a bit more for a higher quality product. ETA: They aren't overly cheap here anyway, so it's not like it's a $4-5 product...more like $12-15, so I would rather pay the extra if I really like the stamps. I'm totally with you on being willing to pay more for the higher quality photopolymer. I'd even go so far as to wish they were made of red rubber. I really miss the days when stamps were all top-quality rubber. I seriously miss my old rubber stamp collection. |
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