Why are stamps so small?

Hmm, interesting! I have a lot of big stamps in my collection, but I haven't really been buying anything but the clear stamps lately and they do tend to be smaller. Many of the companies that had a lot of the really big red rubber stamp designs have gone out of business (anybody remember PSX?).

I think the trend for a while now has been to use a small stamp with maybe a sentiment, layered once or twice on a patterned card with minimal other embellishments. Back when I was really into stamping, we would combine many small stamps with masking to layer the designs and create elaborate scenes, but I don't think many people really work that way anymore. A good friend of mine would make very elaborate layered paper tole type cards that she would embellish with flocking, puff paint, teeny buttons, glossy accents or whatever was appropriate to make the pieces look realistic, but even she doesn't do stuff like that anymore. They were truly amazing works of art that took hours to make.

I'd have to agree. I think most of my stamps are normal to smaller in size.

I think the reason why there aren't as many big stamp designs as there used to be is because there are a lot fewer companies that make stamps in general, and the ones that are left are gradually converting to photopolymer. Making stamps from rubber is an expensive and time consuming process whereas making a stamp from photopolymer is much less so, and it allows the company selling them to change things up more often and bring new designs to market quicker. But the polymer stamp dies aren't as well suited to larger designs or those with big solid areas so that might be part of why we're seeing fewer really big stamp images being made compared to back in the heyday of stamp manufacturing when there were hundreds of independent companies making them.

CTMH jumped the rubber ship long ago, and more recently SU has been doing some of their sets in photopolymer too which kind of surprised me a little. It makes a lot of sense though because the polymer stamps are so much cheaper to make which makes them cheaper to sell, and IMO they are easier to use too.

I agree with the above...clear stamps don't work as well as larger images. That said, I do think stamps are made smaller to appeal to Project Lifers. Even though I personally like the tiny stamps because it makes it a lot easier to make my own embellishments, I still prefer red rubber and will invest in a nice size stamp even if it's a bit more expensive.

Most of my crafting is moving more towards digital these days, so I am getting rid of a lot of my rubber stamps. I have an Etsy shop if any one is interested. If you find something you like, convo me your Refupeas name/number and I will give you a discount. I'd like my stamps to go to someone who will use them rather than to someone who just wants to auction them off on Ebay.

Etsy Link