Customer Reviews

Rubber Stamp Celebrations: Dazzling Projects From Personal Stamp Exchange

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First, the bad news about these projects from the Personal Stamp Exchange (PSX): this company has gone out of business, and all of the projects in this book involve PSX rubber stamps, many of them quite ornate. (Check out www.littlebit.com/rs/gone.htm for a list of other rubber stamp companies that no longer exist.)

The good news is that some PSX stamps are available on internet auction sites such as eBay, although you'll have to pay a premium for the rarer issues. I was able to outbid the competition for `G1533 Baby Moon' but the elaborate botanical stamps are usually out of my reach.

This book contains lovely color photos of the stamping projects, plus a chapter on `Basic Supplies & Tools.' It did make me a bit nervous to see a photograph of a toaster oven, light bulb, and electric stovetop burner under `Embossing Heat Sources.' I can't quite imagine how a crafter could keep the embossing powder on a paper surface, while heating it over a stovetop burner. Also, how does one keep the paper from catching fire?

The stamping projects are divided into twelve categories by month: January - Everyday; February - Valentine's Day; March - Birthday; April - Easter; May - Mother's Day; June - Father's Day; July - Housewarming; August - Garden Party; September - Baby; October - Halloween; November - Thanksgiving; and December - Christmas and Hanukkah. For instance, the `Wedding' stamping projects include directions for making boxes and tags, a découpage wedding plate, `wedding bells' toasting glasses, `wedding bells' beverage napkins, a hand-carved rose frame, a `fleur-de-lis' wedding album, a `gold amor' mirror, a large rose keepsake box, a white velvet bridal handbag, `champagne' invitations, place cards, favor boxes, and party gifts, candles, plus various wedding and anniversary cards.

There is also a chapter on various stamping techniques that are used throughout this book, such as coloring and painting on the stamp itself, embossing, masking, stamping on wood and fabric, and stamping on velvet (this technique is used to make the white velvet bridal handbag).

If you are searching for a book of rubber stamping projects and techniques, I would recommend Françoise Read's The Rubber Stamper's Bible over this book, but for PSX stamp collectors, "Rubber Stamp Celebrations" is a `must-have.'

I am an avid stamper, and PSX used to be the grand dame until I read their demonic angel policy. They are pretty tight with their stamps and what you can do with them and go beyond the, "Just-make-sure-you-hand-stamp-as-opposed-to- reproducing-our-images" policy of other firms. It is hard to sell your work and you can't really donate it to an auction without prior approval. If you enjoy stamping, look into other firms like Magneta or Mirkwood for their stamps and READ THE ANGEL POLICY (limited angel policy is a warning to run!) but definitely buy this book.