Where are all the cool stamps?

December 10, 2019 7:54 AM

I have a couple of stamp kits from Yellow Owl Workshop, and love them for card making and crafts. I would love to get more stamps like them (aesthetically) but it's been hard to find rubber stamps that fit the bill. Help me, MeFi!

What I like about the Yellow Owl Workshop stamps is that they have a hand-drawn quality, the subjects are kind of whimsical and goofy, and they work well in a variety of colors and applications. They also don't look out of place with my messy handwriting and crafts.

Most of the stamps and stamp kits I've seen are too refined, the artwork is either too cutesy whimsical (think scrap booking) or designed or wedding place cards. I want stamps that kids might like but also won't seem weird if I make a birthday card for fun loving adults.

I would love to find more rubber stamps that have similar qualities. Especially if they have trains or other non-automobile transportation theme. (You know, for kids.)

Thanks y'all!

posted by kendrak to Shopping (9 answers total)

Melissa and Doug sets are aimed at kids but are a) often surprisingly charming and b) much cheaper than stamps aimed at adults. They have a vehicles set that has a mix of automobiles and non. They have a nice alphabet set, too.
posted by jacquilynne at 8:02 AM on December 10, 2019

Also, Wish, the shopping app for buying things directly from China has a truly astonishing assortment of stamps. It's a lot to sort through looking things that appeal to you aesthetically, but they are massively cheaper than buying from North American craft stores, even with the ever-increasing shipping charges. Clear stamps for using with acrylic blocks that might be $20-25 per sheet at Michaels are often $4-5 from Wish. The wooden/rubber stamps aren't as much cheaper (more like 30-50% off, rather than 70-80% off) but they're still cheaper.
posted by jacquilynne at 8:10 AM on December 10, 2019 [1 favorite]

Papersource is where I have found more creative rubber stamps. Not cheap.
posted by cocoagirl at 8:42 AM on December 10, 2019

Viva Las Vegas Stamps has an infinite assortment of stamps in an infinite range of styles. Mary Vogel Lozinak's line is a good starting point. You can buy each image individually mounted on a wooden handle or an entire sheet of unmounted images. They do a big sale on Superbowl Sunday, IIRC.
posted by kakawit at 8:46 AM on December 10, 2019 [1 favorite]

Response by poster: This Meri Meri stamp set from Papersource is in the vein I'm looking for (though I'd prefer not Christmas themes).

The Melissa & Doug stuff is cute, but not really the aesthetic I'm looking for (more hand drawn).

Viva Las Vegas Stamps has Banksy stamps?!?!?

Thanks y'all. I'll check in later.
posted by kendrak at 8:52 AM on December 10, 2019

Etsy. Tons there.
posted by agregoli at 9:13 AM on December 10, 2019

I have recently become a big fan and repeat customer of Papergrape stamps, over on Etsy.
posted by PussKillian at 9:15 AM on December 10, 2019

Niconeco Zakkaya carries Japanese stamps, among other stationery. Now that I look at at them, I kind of desperately want this inexplicably charming stamp of a sleeping cat blowing a snot bubble.
posted by telophase at 9:21 AM on December 10, 2019 [3 favorites]

This is going to get long, so sorry in advance;) If you are only interested in wood block stamps, I would suggest the following companies:

Impress Cards
https://www.impresscardsandcrafts.com/shop/rubber-stamps/what-s-new-stamps.html

Hero Arts
https://heroarts.com/collections/wood-stamps-1

Stampendous
https://www.stampendous.com/shop/stamps/

Penny Black
https://shop.pennyblackinc.com/c/wood-mounted-rubber-stamp

BUT, if you are not set on woodblock stamps, you should look into clear stamps (or photopolymer stamps). Basically, clear stamps are stamps that need to be attached to a reusable acrylic block to stamp (easier to store than woodblock stamps). There is a WHOLE WORLD of clear stamps out there. The variety of styles and designs out there in clear stamps vs. woodblock stamps is amazing and IME way more varied than woodblock. You would need to buy the acrylic blocks, but that's all you need to get started. You can buy blocks from places like Joann's or Michael's but don't buy the clear stamps there (they are cheaper materials and don't stamp well). Based on your interests, I would suggest the following companies:

Hero Arts
https://heroarts.com/collections/stamps

Paper Smooches
https://www.papersmoochesstamps.com/

Waffle Flower
https://waffleflower.com/

Honey Bee Designs
https://honeybeestamps.com/

Heffy Doodle
https://heffydoodle.com/

My Favorite Things Stamps
https://mftstamps.com/

Simon Says Stamps (they also sell other brands)
https://www.simonsaysstamp.com/

There are literally hundreds of other clear stamp companies out there. A lot of them have more traditional or feminine stamps, so I did not list them here. But this should get you started. I have been stamping for about 10 years now (with the clear stamps) and it's super addictive. Have fun!
posted by jraz at 10:24 AM on December 10, 2019 [2 favorites]