I have fallen in love with the MU Clear Splice Stamps ($4.40 per set). Each of these tiny clear stamp sets feature delicate, tiny stamps perfect to accent a journal or planner. There are over 50 stamp sets available but I chose designs that featured plant life mostly. There are a few other elements scattered throughout the sets and each set includes about four to nine designs.
In my first test, I used stamps sets No. 1 (Anemone & Branch), No. 3 (Vine & Branch), No. 17 (Flowers & Branches) and No. 20 (Full Moon). I had previously purchased one or two of the vine and leaf designs (No. 11 & No. 28, I think) and I loved using them with coordinating ink colors in my planner so I was really happy to expand the range of plant life I have available to me. The array of silhouette and outline plants makes it easy to create a quick, little wildflower garden along the edge of the page.
The Moon image from set No. 20 was one I was looking forward to using but I had trouble stamping it cleanly so it didn’t look the moon, just a messy large dot. To be honest, it was the only stamp I was disappointed by but the other nature elements n the No. 20 set are lovely so I would still re-buy that set if I had to.
There were a couple of ink splotch-type stamps in the set that I wasn’t sure I was going to like but I love how they look, especially layered together in different colors. These are going to get used a lot more than I initially thought.
Across the four sets, there were two anemone-like flower shapes, one larger and outline and one smaller and solid that, when combined, creates a beautiful little design. By simply turning the stamps and stamping again, I was able to make an instant pattern. Alternating the colors would add even more variety and dimension. Again, I was aiming to get all the plant elements so I wasn’t focused on these flowers when I was choosing which stamp sets to purchase but now I am in love!
My second page of tests were the two smaller sets — smaller in image sizes, not in number of stamps per set — No. 31 and No. 14. Each stamp set included nine unique icons and they are tiny. It was also an opportunity to use the tiny acrylic pegs (set of 2 for $4.90) to mount the stamps.
These tiny stamps are definitely unique and feel elegant, not childish. I like the scale of the stamps that work well with smaller journals and planners allowing a little decorating and embellishment without covering the whole page.
I love clear stamps. While they do require clear acrylic blocks to get the most out of them, they take up a lot less space than traditional woodblock stamps and allow for using a range of ink pad colors.
If you’ve never tried clear stamps, these sets are inexpensive and small so it would be worth trying.
Tools:
- Paper: Creeping Moon Wanderer 100gsm B6 Dot Grid Journal ($25)
- Stamps: MU Clear Splice Stamps ($4.40 per stamp set)
- Stamp Pads: Ranger Archival Mini Kits (4 ink pads for $14.00)
- Clear Acrylic Blocks:Clear Acrylic Stamp Mounting Block (3″x3″) ($6.00) and MU Clear Stamp Acrylic Block – Round (Pack of 2 for $4.90)
DISCLAIMER: The items included in this review were provided free of charge by JetPens for the purpose of review. Please see the About page for more details.
