Since the 2014-2015 Annual Catalogue, Stampin' Up! have released some of their stamp sets in photopolymer, in addition to their range of rubber wood- and clear-mount stamps.

In the past, photopolymer stamps have been prone to yellowing, cracking and stamping problems. So, Stampin' Up! searched for just the right material to be able to introduce completely clear stamping. And now they have it! Stampin' Up! have found a photopolymer product that meets the high standard of quality that are required for all their products.

Stampin' Up!'s top-quality photopolymer stamps stick extremely well on acrylic blocks, are durable and the transparent nature of these sets makes it easier to line up images without the need of a guide. This is a feature that is particularly helpful with alphabets, borders and backgrounds.

Stampin' Up! photopolymer stamps come packaged between two sheets of acetate in a DVD-sized container. One of the sheets is conveniently printed with the stamp images. Make sure you store your photopolymer stamps indoors, away from direct sunlight.

Choose photopolymer stamps if you want to line up images without the need of a guide or to combine images on blocks.

To use photopolymer stamps you will need acrylic or Clear-Mount Blocks, which are sold separately. The Stampin' Up! Clear-Mount Blocks have grooves on all four sides; the grooves in the block will feel the same in your hand as a wood-mount stamp. These come in many sizes and so you can choose the size to fit the stamp image.

• Click HERE to view a Clear-Mount Block template (52 KB PDF).

All you need to do to use a photopolymer stamp is to position the stamp image of your choice on a clear block.

You can safely use any water-based ink with photopolymer stamps. However, photopolymer stamps are more prone to staining. Dark and red-based inks seem to be the worst. It is recommended that you clean your photopolymer stamps immediately after use using Stampin' Scrub and Stampin' Mist Stamp Cleaner, to avoid staining. Solvent-based inks and their associated cleaning products can damage your photopolymer stamps.

If your photopolymer stamps ever get dusty or lose their stickiness, you can wash them in mild soap and water.

Brandy from Stampin' Up! demonstrates Stampin' Up!'s photopolymer stamps*...

*This video was produced for the US Stampin' Up! market and may have products that are not available in New Zealand.