Advice on having custom rubber stamps made

[glaze]

I currently use Stampin' Up rubber stamps with a angel stamp for a product I sell at craft shows. Stampin' Up told me it was ok to use the stamps this way as long as I used the angel stamp on the product with their copyright on it, but I can not show the item on the internet or sell it on the internet.

I want to move away from using anyone elses designs or artwork and start using my own so I do not have any restrictions as to what I can do with it. I'm considering having stamps made with my artwork or making them myself so I can do what I want with them. I basically want to draw an image, refine it using a computer program on my computer and then send it to a company who will make the stamp for me. What are the best programs to use and what companies are the best to work with for making high quality stamps using my artwork?

Thanks

Mike

[Inky Whiskers]

If you can get hold of a copy of the September/October issue of The Rubber Stamper magazine, they have an article on page 23 about having your artwork, photos & copy right free clip art made into stamps and they provide a list of several companies that provide this service for making either rubber or polymer stamps.

HTH :D

[Stampo]

We can make custom stamps for you... if you're only going to get one stamp, then polymer is the way to go and I can quote you a price based on size... we also press rubber for a number of other companies who want multiple copies of stamps... it's an expensive process for just ONE rubber stamp but if cost is no problem, then we can do it in rubber for you... just depends on how much you want to spend. You can email us a 600 dpi image and we can make it for you... again, we'd have to know the size to quote a price.

[XrayAmy]

Another way to go is draw your images and approach some stamp companies and see if there is interest in buying them. Lots of companies buy their images from many different artists. In return they pay per image and most also send you a rubber stamp or two of each image they buy. If this is what you want to do I think most companies (at least I would) would like the original artwork or at least a scanned image at 1200 dpi in greyscale. I would want to do the cleaning up of the image on the computer myself.

Now if you actually want to sell the stamps yourself then there are many companies that can press rubber for you. If you want to go that route then you would need to find someone and ask them how they prefer you get the images to them. As far as a good computer program I think most of us use Adobe Photoshop.

[glaze]

If you can get hold of a copy of the September/October issue of The Rubber Stamper magazine, they have an article on page 23 about having your artwork, photos & copy right free clip art made into stamps and they provide a list of several companies that provide this service for making either rubber or polymer stamps.

HTH :D

Thanks for letting me know about this magazine article.

Mike

[glaze]

We can make custom stamps for you... if you're only going to get one stamp, then polymer is the way to go and I can quote you a price based on size... we also press rubber for a number of other companies who want multiple copies of stamps... it's an expensive process for just ONE rubber stamp but if cost is no problem, then we can do it in rubber for you... just depends on how much you want to spend. You can email us a 600 dpi image and we can make it for you... again, we'd have to know the size to quote a price.

I will check out your website thanks

Mike

[glaze]

Another way to go is draw your images and approach some stamp companies and see if there is interest in buying them. Lots of companies buy their images from many different artists. In return they pay per image and most also send you a rubber stamp or two of each image they buy. If this is what you want to do I think most companies (at least I would) would like the original artwork or at least a scanned image at 1200 dpi in greyscale. I would want to do the cleaning up of the image on the computer myself.

Now if you actually want to sell the stamps yourself then there are many companies that can press rubber for you. If you want to go that route then you would need to find someone and ask them how they prefer you get the images to them. As far as a good computer program I think most of us use Adobe Photoshop.

XrayAmy

You must be reading my mind. I did call Stampin' Up three days ago to see if they used outside artists for their rubber stamp artwork, but they told me they do not due to what could be a possible copyright conflict. Stampin' Up uses only artwork produced by employees of Stampin' Up. I use and like several of the Stampin' Up products, so I contacted them first.

I was very interested in producing a series of stamps that would go together in a set and sell the artwork to Stampin' Up. I also wanted to feature the stamps I designed with one of the products I make in a book I'm writing. If I could find a company who produces high quality rubber stamps and is actively seeking artwork from outside artists then I would be interested in working with them. I do require that I will be able to feature the stamps and artwork in a book I'm writing along with listing the manufacturer of the stamps in the suppliers section. To me this is a win/win situation for a manufacturer and me especially since if it happens then the company get's free advertising in my book.

Which rubber stamp companies would you suggest I contact?

Thanks

Mike

[XrayAmy]

Mike,
I think most companies that produce rubber stamps are doing high quality work so you really don't need to worry about that. When looking for a company to buy your artwork it really needs to fit in with that company's style. For instance, Beeswax is mostly scenic with some collage elements also but we do not do "cute" at all. Also, I've never purchased artwork from anyone, however it's not something I wouldn't do either so I am open to it.
As far as some other companies you may want to check out Lasting Impressions with Panache (http://www.lasimppan.com/)I know that they do use artists to obtain their artwork and you might want to look at their website and see if your style fits theirs.
Another company is American Art Stamps (http://www.americanartstamp.com/cart/). Robert, the owner uses artists and also presses rubber for many other companies so if his style doesn't fit yours he may be able to point you to someone that will.

Hope that helps.
Amy

[Stampo]

Viva Las Vegastamps! does buy artwork but again, we have a certain look we go after... Judy Perry has a listing of companies that buy artwork on her site at littlebits.com... if you want to email or fax me your artwork, I can tell you if we're interested or not. I don't do cute...

[glaze]

I may be better off not selling the designs and just having the stamps made for my use only. About how much would it cost to have 10 different rubber stamps made that would be 1" by 1" using my artwork?

I also need to buy a alphabet rubber stamp set in a style that will closely match my artwork style. Any good sources for copyright free rubber alphabet stamp sets, so I can use them any way I want to?

Thanks

Mike

[Stampo]

In polymer 1 x 1" is $12 each... more for rubber... that would include mounting and indexing... if you want unmounted, then $8 each... we have many alphabets at www.stampostore.com under the category of Alphabets...

[Stampo]

Or you could lay them out on a board and we could quote a price for a magnesium plate, matrix board and rubber if you wanted "real" rubber... might even be cheaper.

[glaze]

In polymer 1 x 1" is $12 each... more for rubber... that would include mounting and indexing... if you want unmounted, then $8 each... we have many alphabets at www.stampostore.com under the category of Alphabets...

Stampo

How much for 1"x1" in rubber including mounting and indexing?

Thanks

Mike

[SophieLaFontaine]

I currently use Stampin' Up rubber stamps with a angel stamp for a product I sell at craft shows. Stampin' Up told me it was ok to use the stamps this way as long as I used the angel stamp on the product with their copyright on it, but I can not show the item on the internet or sell it on the internet.


Slight hijack here...starting Nov 1st, Stampin' Up will allow stuff made with their images to be sold at permanent retail locations, including on the internet.

Okay, hijack over.

I don't have a copy of the Rubber Stamper; can someone list the names of companies who manufacture stamps in high-quality photopolymer? The only company I know who does this is Stewart Superior. I am looking to have stamps manufactured too, only in photopolymer, not rubber.

[Stampo]

If you laid them all out on one sheet no larger than 6 1/2 x 8 1/2", it would be about $100 for the sheet.

[j3annin3]

Hello SophieLafontaine,

Since i had my copy right here, the page lists

RubberStamps.Net,, (rubberstamps.net)
A-Plus, (aplusstamps.com)
Creative Images Rubber Stamps. (cistamps.com)
Creative Mode, (creativemode.com)
Daves's Rubber Stamps, (laserstamp.com)
Paper Angel, (paperangel.com)
Repeat Impressions, (repeatimpressions.com)
Simon's Stamps, Inc., (simonstamp.com)
The Stampin' Place, (stampin.com)
Village Impressions, (villageimpressions.com)

They offer different kinds of services depending on the kind of stamp desired and the kind of art work you have to submit. But maybe they have this listing at the website at
www.rubberstamper.com

[SophieLaFontaine]

Hello SophieLafontaine,

Since i had my copy right here, the page lists

RubberStamps.Net,, (rubberstamps.net)
A-Plus, (aplusstamps.com)
Creative Images Rubber Stamps. (cistamps.com)
Creative Mode, (creativemode.com)
Daves's Rubber Stamps, (laserstamp.com)
Paper Angel, (paperangel.com)
Repeat Impressions, (repeatimpressions.com)
Simon's Stamps, Inc., (simonstamp.com)
The Stampin' Place, (stampin.com)
Village Impressions, (villageimpressions.com)

They offer different kinds of services depending on the kind of stamp desired and the kind of art work you have to submit. But maybe they have this listing at the website at
www.rubberstamper.com

Thank you so much!!!

I also wanted to correct the info I posted earlier; the date is Nov 15th (not the 1st) for SU's change in Angel Policy.

[glaze]

Slight hijack here...starting Nov 1st, Stampin' Up will allow stuff made with their images to be sold at permanent retail locations, including on the internet.

Okay, hijack over.



It's ok. I just talked to Stampin' Up about two weeks ago and they specifically told me that I could sell items with their stamped images at craft shows, but I could not sell or show the items on the internet. Who at Stampin' Up can I talk to for any new policy change?

Thanks

Mike

[glaze]

If you laid them all out on one sheet no larger than 6 1/2 x 8 1/2", it would be about $100 for the sheet.

Stampo

That is cheap. This is for high quality rubber? I could probably fit all the images I want made on that size with no problem.

Thanks

Mike

[Inky Whiskers]

It's ok. I just talked to Stampin' Up about two weeks ago and they specifically told me that I could sell items with their stamped images at craft shows, but I could not sell or show the items on the internet. Who at Stampin' Up can I talk to for any new policy change?

Thanks

Mike

Don't feel bad Mike, I'm a demo & the 1st I heard about the policy change was here at RSC! :lol: I went to the demo SU! site and did eventually find the notice about the policy change and demos will soon have access to the updated demo manual online & Angel Policy flyers to send to their customers.
The phone operators at SU! don't give ANY info away early! :lol: Until the announcement goes up on the demo website, only a few high ranking demos & home office employees know what's coming at any given time. The customer website won't have this info until the change actually happens & they won't give details because they want you to contact your demo for more info. All you can do is check with your demo or call SU! regularly to find out what's new & improved.

If you don't have a demo to call your own, follow the instructions for "How to find a demostrator" on the web site. www.stampinup.com They now list the demos in your area by their sales instead of just by proximity, since sales are an indicator of how involved that demo is with her SU! business. :D

[Stampo]

If you can't sell SU stamps on the Internet, how come SplitCoastStampers has a forum for selling stamps and there are all kinds of SU sets listed... one woman has over 300 sets for sale!

[Stampo]

Yes, Mike but that would be unmounted and you'd have to use them with ezmount and acrylic blocks or mount them on cushion or pay to have them mounted... not sure what you plan to do with these.

[Stampo]

Mike, once this initial $100 investment is made, then you can have sheets of rubber made for a minimal cost.

[Inky Whiskers]

If you can't sell SU stamps on the Internet, how come SplitCoastStampers has a forum for selling stamps and there are all kinds of SU sets listed... one woman has over 300 sets for sale!

Most likely (I haven't seen the actual post) those sets are retired. Demos can't sell current sets (and by current SU! means any set offered during the catalog year running from July 1st thru' June 30th of the next year) from the catalog, mini catalogs, monthly specials or other promotions thru' online auction or web sites. SU! customers can sell SU! product they buy from a demo at anytime, thru' whatever formum this want, whether the set is retired or not. Demo can sell retired SU! product thru' whatever forum they desire as well.

SU! is all about the one on one connection between demo & customer. Demos aren't allowed to sell demo logo products either. (aprons, mugs & other items with the SU! logs) We can give them to our customers or our down/up lines as gifts, but selling is a no-no. Yes, you can easliy find SU! sets & demo products on eBay, but if those auctions say that your item(s) will be shipped directly from SU! or have the SU! logo on them, then that auction is probably illegal and the demo can have her demo agreement contract cancelled and she'll never be allowed to be a demo for SU! again. She'll also lose any bonuses or benefits she earned with her illegal sales, like the cruise. The same consequence will befall a demo who has a friend or family member list current product on eBay for her, since she is the one receiving those sales.

Under the current Angel policy it is allowed for customers & demos to sell hand stamped items at non-permanent retail locations like craft fairs if they use one of the qualfying "Angel" stamps purchased from SU! on either the item itself (i.e. on the back of a card) or on the packaging or label of the item (i.e. the price tag of a stamped t-shirt). They can't however sell these items thru' permanent retail sources like stores or websites, including eBay. This is why the upcoming change in policy is such a big deal! For the 1st time in the 18 years of SU! selling great stamps & supplies, we can use those products to create hand stamped items to sell anywhere we want!!! I know several people who while they like the product, don't buy much of it because they make & sell hand stamped items online and couldn't use SU! products for those items. I've pondered having DH set me up my own web-site where I could sell my hand stamped & other craft items (I also knit, chrochet & bead), but didn't seriously consider it as many of my stamps & supplies are from SU! Now I can!!! :D

Did you have any other SU! questions, Stampo?

[Stampo]

Thanks, Jenna... that should hold me for a while!

[Stampo]

Guess it won't as I had another question... if someone gave me SU sets to sell on consignment in my brick and mortar store, then they'd have to be retired sets, right?

[Inky Whiskers]

Guess it won't as I had another question... if someone gave me SU sets to sell on consignment in my brick and mortar store, then they'd have to be retired sets, right?

If the person wanting to sell the set is not a demo, they can sell their SU! sets (current or not) thru' your store. A demo could sell her retired sets thru' you, but not anything current. She'd have to wait until the item retired or sell/trade the current product or logo items to another demo. The SU! message board always has listings from demos with current product they don't want. They usually didn't originally buy the sets, they've either bought them back from a customer who oopsed and bought a dup (we only have 90 days to return um sets, if they've mounted the stamps or it's past the cutoff, they're SOL unless the demo takes pity on them) or they've earned the set for free, but don't like it or already have it.

I know it sounds complicated & I can't recommend sitting down and reading the whole demo manual in one shot, but SU! is pretty good about letting us know when things change and the demo support line is awesome about answering our questions & helping with problems by phone or email, no matter how dumb the situation may be. (I once had to call in for a temp password because one of the kittens had walked across the keyboard while I was logging in and after pressing random keys with her toes stepped on "enter" & locked me out of the website. :lol: Once the demo support person stopped laughing they were happy to issue the temp password so I could get into the demo web site.)

[glaze]

Under the current Angel policy it is allowed for customers & demos to sell hand stamped items at non-permanent retail locations like craft fairs if they use one of the qualfying "Angel" stamps purchased from SU! on either the item itself (i.e. on the back of a card) or on the packaging or label of the item (i.e. the price tag of a stamped t-shirt). They can't however sell these items thru' permanent retail sources like stores or websites, including eBay. This is why the upcoming change in policy is such a big deal! For the 1st time in the 18 years of SU! selling great stamps & supplies, we can use those products to create hand stamped items to sell anywhere we want!!! I know several people who while they like the product, don't buy much of it because they make & sell hand stamped items online and couldn't use SU! products for those items. I've pondered having DH set me up my own web-site where I could sell my hand stamped & other craft items (I also knit, chrochet & bead), but didn't seriously consider it as many of my stamps & supplies are from SU! Now I can!!! :D

Did you have any other SU! questions, Stampo?

Inky Whiskers

Thanks for the information. I will call Stampin Up and ask this question again in a month or so. I just wanted to be legal with their policy. It is a bid deal to me if I am allowed to use their stamps on my product online. If I can't then I will have to design my own stamps and have them made for my own use. This is something I'm probably going to do anyway due to I can put the images and information in my book because I will own the copyright on it.

Mike

[Inky Whiskers]

Unless SU! changes all the Angel rules, using one of the Angel stamps either on the item or on the packaging should still be sufficient as long as you're meeting the other requirements. (images are hand stamped not mechanically duplicated, etc) :D

[piecesandpom]

Go, Sophie! Go, Mike! Can't wait to see what you create in the stamp world. I'm still dithering around about getting a stamp made for my creations; really should do that if I want to sell retail. I'm not an artiste and want a nice image to go with it but haven't quite settled on what that should be.

Jenna, didn't realize you didn't know the SUp info; wonder now how I found out so quickly. Any who, it means some of the SUp sets I thought I was going to retire are now back in my repetoire. And, I'm kicking myself - there were a couple I really wanted last year that ended up on the retire list. I didn't get them because I couldn't sell retail!:cry:

[Inky Whiskers]

Jenna, didn't realize you didn't know the SUp info; wonder now how I found out so quickly.

You probably found out sooner than I did because you actually READ the updates list when they posted the announcement. :lol: When I went to find the update for the Angel Policy I found a whole bunch of important bits of info that I'd missed in October. :blush: My bad for not checking more often! I'm more or less caught up on SU! news for now & just need to check back again when I go to write up our group newsletter next week. :D

[Uncle Stamp]

You can import your artwork into Corel Draw or Adobe Photoshop. If you can achieve vector art, pretty much anyone can print your stamp!

There are quite a few great online sources for custom rubber stamps (http://www.stamp-connection.com). My girl friend works for SC Stamps, who specialize in wholesale rubber stamps. Check them out at www.scstamp.com (http://scstamp.com).

A friend of mine orders from Stamp-Connection (http://stamp-connection.com), and they ship super fast. Call them up, and ask for their help - their customer service is unbeatable!

[Anita Fusco]

Hello, First time on RSC not sure if I am doing this correctly. I am looking for a company to produce custom rubber stamps. I am in the process of starting my own rubber stamp company. Thanks!!! I loved your quote. "info that isn't shared, isn't worth much" Anita Fusco