How to Cut Stamps

Unmounted rubber stamps can save you money and storage space. Before you stamp with the designs, however, you'll need to cut them apart to they'll be ready to affix to a wood or acrylic block. Follow these steps to trim the rubber to get the best results when it's time to create.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Buy a sheet of unmounted rubber stamp designs. Consider buying a wood or acrylic block from the same place to ensure the trimmed designs will fit onto it without overhang. (See Resources)

2. Get a sharp pair of scissors that will snip through the rubber without tearing it. Make smooth cuts rather than "sawing" through the rubber, which will result in jagged edges.

3. Trim around the image without cutting into the edges of the design. Cut straight up and down around the perimeter of the image rather than cutting it into a square. Leave about a 1/4-inch border around it for added stability. If you create a wide border that's too wide or slightly angled, it may prevent a clean, crisp image.

4. Consider using sharp scissors or a craft knife to carefully cut the rubber from the inside of large stamps. Do the extra trimming, for example, if you're stamping with a large open circle and find it difficult to ink or stamp the image without a smudge of color appearing in the center.

Tips & Warnings

• If you're not going to permanently mount the rubber stamps on wood or acrylic blocks, organize and store them in empty compact disc jewel cases or within the pockets of baseball card holder sheets stored in a three-ring binder.

Resources

• Unmounted stamps are available in a variety of designs.
• Acrylic blocks help you see where you're stamping.
• Sharp scissors cut through rubber effectively.