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Rubber Road
Scenic Byway:

A Rubber Road Adventures Product Review
By Susan Caplan

Papertrey Ink Products & Supplies
Rated: «««««
 

When I started stamping more than 10 years ago, stamps were made of rubber.  Currently stamp companies seem to be leaving rubber and wood behind in favor of unmounted, polymer clear stamps that are self cling.  I am, also, finding new companies that are emerging alongside this trend.  One such company that has caught my eye is Papertrey Ink.  They are a fairly young company, which make their own line of stamps as well as matching cardstock, inks, and ribbon.  Originally, what caught my eye was their clean, simple, yet fresh approach to stamping.  My review will cover their stamps, ink, paper, and ribbons.

The stamps arrived neatly packaged in an acrylic box which contains a CD case (for storage), clear stamps attached to an acetate sheet, and instructions.  I carefully took the stamps off the acetate and placed them in the interior of the CD case. I attached the enclosed stamp set label on the spine of the CD for easy reference.

When stamping, the stamps are placed onto an acrylic block in which they self-adhere.  No foam required.  They stamped cleanly with no problem of “ghosting”.   

However, I did notice two annoying things about clear polymer stamps. One, they stain terribly especially when using permanent ink and cleaner does not remove the stains. Two, they tend to stick when using glossy cardstock. 

The positive aspect of these clear stamps is just that, they are clear.  So you can see where you are stamping when mounted on an acrylic block.  No need for a stamp positioner.

Another positive aspect is that since they are unmounted they are quite flexible. They can be manipulated around curves, and into wavy shapes. Lastly, they can be thrown into a container of water for cleaning and will not be ruined.  This is nice if you are using many stamps and don’t want to stop to clean them immediately.

The variety of images that Papertrey has created is wonderful.  There is something for every ones taste. 

The Papertrey cardstock is top notch.  The colors coordinate beautifully with the rest of their line. It is a heavy weighted quality cardstock.  The paper accepts ink beautifully. 

The company, also, has designed a line of color coordinated patterned paper.  They come in a tablet of 6 x 6, and include 6 each of 6 different patterns, for a total of 36 sheets.  The patterns are fairly small and quite unique.  The tablet I received matched closely, but not perfectly with the cardstock.

Papertrey has their own Hybrid Ink colors called Perfect match.  I believe it to be the same formulation as Stewart Superior Palette Hybrid Inks.  These colors match the cardstock and ribbon.  The ink can be used on porous as well as non porous surfaces if heat set.  The label states it is acid free, archival, and non fading.

I had significant problems with fading.  Initially when the ink was stamped onto the cardstock the color was strong, but after a few minutes it faded dramatically.  In fact, when the ink was stamped onto the same color cardstock after a few minutes the image virtually disappeared.  So tone on tone stamping was out.  For me to get the depth of color I desired, I had to use several layers of ink. 

On the positive note, since it did fade into the same colored cardstock, you can then say it is truly a “perfect match”. 

The company carries 5 different styles of ribbon in each color family.  The ribbons come in 5 yard spools and are simply glorious.  I love each and every one.  The quality is excellent and the colors match superb.  I did notice one thing, that although the ribbon is a close match, it is not a perfect match to the colors in the patterned paper tablets. 

After having the opportunity to use Papertrey’s unique line of stamps, paper, ink and ribbon I can say that I am a huge fan.  The stamp line is versatile and unique.  The quality of their cardstock and ribbon are top notch.  The ink line, although not my favorite formulation, have beautiful colors that coordinate well with the rest of their line. 

The company releases new products on the 15^th of every month. Included in the release are usually one or two new color families and a few sets of new images. 

This company is absolutely worth seeking out and I give them a rating of   «««««