Easy Multiplication

by Steve Wittmann

A top view of the Easy Stamp Press by Fiskars.

With three active teenagers in my household, it's hard to find the time to stamp and decorate individual cards, much less multiples. Even with a tag-team working on Christmas cards last year, we only managed to finish a few and ended up sending a digital picture with the explanation, "This is the card you would have received if we had more time. Sorry. Merry Christmas!"

A few of the stamps offered by Fiskars for use with the Easy Stamp Press.

Like many of life's frustrations, I think this one is shared by a lot of cardmaking and stamp enthusiasts. After all, sending unique cards and creations to friends and family is a lot of fun and very rewarding, especially the reaction you get when you've shared something made by hand.

At a recent craft trade show, I found a new product that eliminates all the tedium of making multiples by reducing it to just one quick step. The Easy Stamp Press by Fiskars! After watching a product demonstration and playing a little myself, I found that it's an easy, quick way to make stamp designs on multiple cards or other paper crafts.

Lay Out One Design

The plate portion of the Easy Stamp Press.

The Easy Stamp Press makes duplicate cards in less than half the time of regular stamping using a large acrylic template that is actual card size, 5" x 7". The template fits over a grid design on the stamp press so you can layout designs perfectly—no more words and designs running uphill or downhill.

Once you've created the design, an entire card can be stamped at once. Reinking the stamps is all it takes to make duplicate cards. It's like your own printing press. The stamp press works on any flat surface because it has durable, springy feet that pop back in place after stamping a card. A gentle push is all it takes to imprint the design. The springy feet also make it easy to get a clean, even stamp impression.

Inking the stamped layout.

With an easy way to make multiples quickly, there are all sorts of projects that stampers can tackle. Imagine making invitations for 5, 10 or 50 partygoers with just one step for each card. What a timesaver! With a large 5" x 7" stamp area, it's easier to make personalized gift bags or even wrapping paper. You can also repeat the same design on a variety of items and create all of the components for a stationery set. For example, invitations can easily be coordinated with thank you cards, gift bags and party napkins. Everyone will assume that it took hours slaving over individual stamps, when in just a few minutes dozens of finished pieces were created.

Ever finish the last invitation or Christmas card and put everything away, only to realize you need one more? Extra templates are available for the Easy Stamp Press so you can save your favorite designs for future use, or work with family and friends to lay out their own cards.

Stamp Sheets

More acrylic stamps offered by Fiskars.

The sheets of clear acrylic stamps made for the Easy Stamp Press have just enough adhesive to stick to the template and still peel off easily for storage. Each sheet has the outline of the stamp, so keeping everything in place is easy. You can even use your existing acrylic stamps—just be sure they're all the same thickness so you get a nice imprint. Stamp themes cover all the most popular card-giving occasions: new baby, birthday, wedding, holiday, thank you and alpha/numerical sets, to name a few. Stamps come in two packaging options: a folder or a poly-bag. Choose the option that works best for your store.

A few projects created with the Easy Stamp Press.

There are also some new half-sheets of stamps that complement the existing themes and have full-sized, fun borders, swirls and doodles. There are lots of great stamps packed onto each sheet—a fantastic value with loads of flexibility to create your own unique design. The half-sheets take less room at retail, too!

For me, the Easy Stamp Press makes multiplication easy so I can enjoy "playing" with the design and sharing the finished piece with more than just a handful of friends. I'm already excited about next year's Christmas cards and getting them done in time for the holidays with no apologies. Merchandised with the other stamp materials, the Easy Stamp Press will be a sure winner in your store.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Steve Wittmann, Fiskars' senior marketing communications specialist, lives in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, where he can be seen gripping the dashboard of the family car while he teaches his teenage twins to drive. Contact him at Fiskars Craft in Madison, WI 53718; 608/294-4786; e-mail: SWittmann@fiskars.com

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