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The Best Stamps

The Best Stamps

March 1, 2022 - Posted by Zoe to Guides, Arts and Crafts

The Best Stamps

First things first: no, we aren’t talking about postage. Stamps and ink pads are great creative tools for any level of artistic skill as well as organizational aids that fit right into planner spreads. Our stamp selection ranges from clear stamps to pre-inked stamps and self-inking stamps, and all our picks are durable and useful for years to come. Read on for a full overview of our favorite stamps, plus helpful tips on inking and cleaning.

Types of Stamps
Rubber Stamps
Nombre Mizushima Rubber Stamps on table
Nombre Mizushima Rubber Stamps are mounted on wooden backing blocks.
Rubber stamps are also referred to as “mounted stamps,” as their rubber designs are mounted on wood. If you’re not a seasoned stamp aficionado, these are likely the kind of stamp with which you’re most familiar. These are usually paired with ink pads, but their designs can also be inked with markers like Tombow Dual Brush pens.
Clear Stamps
Nombre Mizushima Jizai Clear Stamps on table
Nombre Mizushima Jizai Clear Stamps can be perfectly placed on a page.
Clear stamps attach to acrylic backing blocks.1 This system allows you to position multiple stamps at once and see exactly where you’re placing them. This makes it simple to line a stamp up with a previous impression for layering effects. When you’re done, they’re easy to clean and easy to store; peel them off the acrylic and place them back on the included plastic sheets. For all these reasons, clear stamps are the favored stamps for crafting.
Inked Stamps
Two types of Midori Paintable stamps on table
Inked stamps are mess-free and easy to use.
In this guide, we’ve categorized pre-inked and self-inking stamps together as “inked stamps.” Neither require ink pads, so what’s the difference, you might wonder?

Pre-inked stamps contain liquid ink that flows through only the lines of their designs. You can think of them as ink pads in very specific shapes. Self-inking stamps, meanwhile, use a built-in ink pad to mechanically ink themselves with each press.

Both kinds of inked stamps are convenient, requiring no separate ink pads or cleanup. However, you can’t use any ink but the ink chosen by the manufacturer, and you may have to deal with your stamp drying out and requiring re-inking in the future.

Inked stamps are often more useful in a planner, or anywhere convenience takes priority over creative flair. But that’s not to say creativity is off the table: the marks of most inked stamps can be filled in with markers for a pop of color. Inked stamps that use alcohol-based inks2 are fantastic with water-based markers but will bleed faintly with alcohol-based markers like Copics.

Multi-Design Stamps
Midori Paintable Stamps and C. Ching Stationery Rubber Date Stamp
Multi-design rotary stamps.
Some stamps like Midori Paintable Stamps and the C. Ching Stationery Rubber Date Stamp combine multiple designs in one stamp body. These are also known as rotary stamps, although that term is most often used for simpler old-fashioned date stamps. Multi-design stamps are arguably space-saving, although clear stamps give them a run for their money, and they’re certainly fun to fiddle with.
The Best Clear Stamps
The Best Clear Stamps for Cards: Nombre Mizushima Jizai Clear Stamps
A few Nombre Mizushima Jizai Clear Stamps with the corner of a page, example stamping
Layered designs add colorful flair to craft projects.
Nombre Mizushima Jizai Clear Stamps are simple and stylish. Use them to decorate cards, envelopes, gift tags, or anything that stays still long enough to stamp it. Some designs are made for layering, like trees with trunks that can be stamped in different colors. Fittingly, some sets come with two acrylic blocks, so you can align the two components and replicate layered combinations perfectly.
The Best Clear Stamps for Journaling: BGM Clear Stamps
A few BGM Clear Stamps with the corner of a page, example stamping
BGM Clear Stamps can help you organize and decorate simultaneously.
BGM Clear Stamps feature more elaborate designs in a wider range of sizes. Their sets include clean and minimal organizational options like checklists and schedules, but if your taste tends towards the cute, sets with flowers, cherry blossoms, and cats balance charming detail with practicality. They have plenty of fanciful options that you can use to illustrate a page.

BGM stamp sets do not include acrylic blocks. This means you won’t have redundant blocks piling up, but don’t forget to add one to your first purchase. BGM acrylic blocks are thick with curved edges that make them easy to hold. We recommend the larger size so you don’t have trouble using the biggest stamps.

The Best Clear Stamps for Planners: MU My Icon Clear Stamps
A few MU My Icon Clear Stamps with the corner of a page, example stamping
MU My Icon Clear Stamps are perfect for DIY planner layouts.
The minute designs of the MU My Icon Clear Stamps can fit into even the most crowded planner layout. If you’re designing your own DIY planner, use their dates, days of the week, and month stamps for neat headers. If you’re emphasizing important information, try their frame designs instead. MU also offers compatible cylindrical acrylic blocks. We strongly endorse these blocks for all small clear stamps; their length means you can get a solid grip on them, their narrow diameter lends itself to precision, and peering down through them feels a little like using a jeweler’s loupe.
The Best Mounted Rubber Stamps
The Best Rubber Stamps for Organizing: Nombre Mizushima Rubber Stamps
A few Nombre Mizushima Rubber Stamps with the corner of a page, example stamping
Nombre Mizushima Rubber Stamps print detailed templates for schedules and lists.
Nombre Mizushima Rubber Stamps contain clever templates to help you schedule and plan. Our favorites are the simple to do list and the weekly task reminder. Double-check the stamps before purchasing to be sure that details such as 24-hour time will work for you. Our minor caveats: the wooden blocks aren’t the most ergonomically friendly, and they can be fussy to place exactly right on the page.3

These large stamps can be inked with smaller ink pads by following our inking tips.

The Best Multi-Design Rubber Stamp: C. Ching Stationery Rubber Date Stamp
A C. Ching Stationery Rubber Date Stamp with the corner of a page, example stamping
The C. Ching Stationery Rubber Date Stamp can stamp dates up to 2030.
The retro design of the C. Ching Stationery Rubber Date Stamp is deeply satisfying to use. It includes a rotating selection of eleven sayings, plus one blank option, and a date section with days, months, and years spanning 2019 to 2030. Turning the side handle to select sayings or gripping the top to stamp a page is pleasantly tactile. It’s also our best pick by far for pretending you’re a librarian.

You’ll likely get the most use out of this stamp if you ink the sayings and the date separately. To that end, a small Versafine pad will work best. However, even a large ink pad will work if you strategically hang part of the stamp off the edge.

The Cutest Rubber Stamps: Sanby x Eric Small Things Stamps
A few Sanby x Eric Small Things Stamps with the corner of a page, example stamping
Sanby x Eric Small Things Stamps add a charming touch to any page.
The adorable designs gracing Sanby x Eric Small Things Stamps come in a wide range of shapes and sizes, all paying tribute to the small lovely joys in everyday life. If you need a border along the edge of a page or the bottom of a letter, grab a Combination Stamp. They can also be slotted together to form larger blocks of designs. For a more classic rubber stamp experience, sets of wooden-mount Collaboration Stamps come in a handsome tray, so you can leave them out on your desk for display. Even the practical Date Stamps have a detailed frame around the adjustable date section.

Be careful when cleaning the plastic Combination Stamps. Some stamp cleaners will smear the printed designs on top. We recommend using only gentler inks, like the Sanby ink pad, and avoiding multi-surface inks like the Tsukineko StazOn, so stronger cleaners aren't necessary.

The Best Inked Stamps
The Best Multi-Design Self-Inking Stamps: Midori Self-Inking Paintable Stamps
A few Midori Self-Inking Paintable Stamps with the corner of a page, example stamping
You can find space for the delicate designs of Midori Self-Inking Paintable Stamps on any page.
Midori Self-Inking Paintable Stamps each contain ten rotating designs on themes ranging from cats to plants to months and days. With each press of the stamp, the selected design presses against the internal ink pad and then flips lightning-fast to the paper—all with a satisfying kachunk! Their marks are consistent and precise, perfect for their small and delicately-wrought designs. The non-smearing oil-based ink can be colored in with your favorite water-based markers.

The internal ink pad may dry out quickly, which can be slowed by removing and capping it between uses. Inserting and removing the ink pad takes a little more force than you might expect. Don’t worry, you won’t break it, but make sure the tiny grooves are correctly lined up.

The Best Pre-Inked Stamps for Organizing: Midori Pre-Inked Paintable Stamps
A few Midori Pre-Inked Paintable Stamps with the corner of a page, example stamping
Midori Pre-Inked Paintable Stamps offer all kinds of designs to help you plan.
Midori Pre-Inked Paintable Stamps will make any list delightful. From to-do lists and grocery shopping to vacation planning and habit tracking, these stamps add liveliness and character to organizing your tasks. They stamp clean, crisp lines that don’t bleed or smear at all under water-based markers.

If you don’t want to keep your lists hidden away in your planner, Midori offers compatible sticky notes in a perfectly-matched size. Move them to wherever you’ll be best reminded.

The Best Simple Pre-Inked Stamps: Pilot FriXion Stamps
A few Pilot FriXion Stamps with the corner of a page, example stamping
The tiny designs of Pilot FriXion Stamps are easily "erased" if you change your mind.
Don’t mistake Pilot FriXion Stamps for chapstick! We’re not saying we did that, but we do think it would be understandable. Each slim stamp has a pre-inked design the size of your pinky nail. Some, like the birthday cake or airplane, will add bright organizational touches to a planner, while others are just plain adorable.
Filled with the same thermo-sensitive ink as the popular FriXion pens, marks vanish from the page with a rub of the “eraser” on the end of every stamp. If your plans change (inevitable and inescapable), removing a mark and re-stamping elsewhere only takes a second. These stamps are a little slow to dry and each design is only available in one color, but they’re cute, convenient, and unique among our selection for their erasability.
The Cutest Pre-Inked Stamps: Iconic Diary Stamps
A few Iconic Diary Stamps with the corner of a page, example stamping
Charming Iconic Diary Stamps can't be beat for cute.
Cats with attitudes and tiny helpful people will frolic across your pages with the aid of Iconic Diary Stamps. These stamps marry practicality—we hope that somewhere a teacher will use the kitty check mark to grade papers—with oodles of character.

An Iconic Diary Stamp's chunky shape is easy to hold and hard to lose. A little practice is necessary for consistent results—what helped us was pausing for a second before lifting the stamp. Their ink holds up well to coloring with water-based markers. Use them to mark special memories in your planner.

The Best Ink Pads

Just like other inks, ink pads have a wide variety of strengths. Our selection of ink pads are largely manufactured by the brand Tsukineko, which created the first water-based pigment ink pad in 1982. They’ve only kept innovating since then. Read on for a breakdown of our ink pad selection.

The Best Simple Ink Pad: Sanby x Eric Small Things Stamp Pad
Sanby x Eric Small Things Stamp Pad on table
The Sanby x Eric Small Things Stamp Pad is a classic choice.
The Sanby x Eric Small Things Stamp Pad doesn’t overcomplicate things. Only available in black, marks from this ink pad are crisp and dark. This ink may bleed through a page if you use a particularly thin paper or stamp with a heavy hand, but this also means it dries quickly. The pad features a hinged lid with a charming design just like the stamps in the same line. It takes up desk space when it’s opened, but it’s impossible to lose.
The Best Metallic Ink Pads: Tsukineko StazOn Metallic Ink Pads
Tsukineko StazOn Metallic Ink Pad on table
Tsukineko StazOn Metallic Ink Pads add an enchanting gleam to craft projects.
The shimmering ink of the Tsukineko StazOn Metallic Ink Pads adds a special something to your crafting. This ink even stays crisp and beautiful on dark backgrounds and nonporous materials like plastic and metal. We will say that this ink is a bit of a diva; setting up the ink pad and cleaning your stamps after your project are more involved processes than with other inks. This ink also demonstrates some bleedthrough on regular copy paper. While you might not want to make it part of a planner routine, it’s stunning on cards or gifts.
The Best Multi-Surface Ink Pads: Tsukineko StazOn Midi Size Ink Pads
Tsukineko StazOn Midi Size Ink Pads on table
Tsukineko StazOn Midi Size Ink Pads contain ink that stays on even nonporous surfaces.
Tsukineko StazOn Midi Size Ink Pads contain a less fussy multi-surface ink than the metallic StazOn pads. While they resemble standard ink pads, and their ink leaves dark, quick-drying (and bleedthrough-heavy) marks on paper, this ink really stands out from the rest on plastic, metals, and other non-paper materials. After a few minutes of curing, it won’t smudge one bit. Given their wide range of colors, these inks will work well for both crafts and practical labeling.
The Best Ink Pads for Detail: Tsukineko VersaCraft Soramame Ink Pads
Tsukineko VersaCraft Soramame Ink Pads on table
Tsukineko VersaCraft Soramame Ink Pads are precision instruments.
Tsukineko VersaCraft Soramame Ink Pads create the crispest, most detailed stamp marks of all the ink pads we tested. Perhaps it’s due to their unique form factor: their tiny thimble-like shape fits on the end of a finger and encourages carefully dabbing ink onto the surface of a stamp. You can also use them to blend colors on a stamp and emphasize details. They come in sets of four that make picking a palette easy, and their marks will also stay put on other porous surfaces like fabric and wood.
The Best Classic Ink Pads: Tsukineko Versafine Ink Pads
Tsukineko Versafine Ink Pads  on table
Tsukineko Versafine Ink Pads contain saturated ink.
Tsukineko Versafine Ink Pads are available in a wide range of deep, vivid colors. They also pick up delicate detail from intricate stamps and dry quickly on paper. Their ink shrugs off water-based markers and, when used on a coated surface, is a great base for embossing powder. In the small size, the stamps can be stacked on top of their lids, saving space on your work surface and keeping things tidy. We did notice a significant amount of showthrough with these inks, but minimal bleedthrough, and we believe it’s a fair tradeoff for the great color quality.
The Best Chalk Ink Ink Pads: Tsukineko VersaMagic Dew Drop Ink Pads
Tsukineko VersaMagic Dew Drop Ink Pads on table
Tsukineko VersaMagic Dew Drop Ink Pads make marks that stay visible on dark paper.
The “chalk ink” of the Tsukineko VersaMagic Dew Drop Ink Pads is light on white paper but pops off the page on a darker background. Sitting on the surface of a page, this ink has very low showthrough even on thin paper like Tomoe River Paper, making it perfect for planners. The teardrop shape of these ink pads also allows for precise application. Use the pointed end to blend or accentuate details, or ink a large stamp quickly with the rounded end.
Ink Pad Testing

We tested these ink pads on cardstock and Rhodia paper, which is less absorbent than regular copy paper. All photos on dot grid paper are from Rhodia testing. On copy paper, inks will dry more quickly and show through slightly more.

Our tests on Rhodia of ink performance under water- and alcohol-based markers did not smear, with the exception of minute smearing from the Tsukineko VersaCraft under Copics. However, our tests on cardstock smeared under alcohol-based markers for all inks except Tsukineko StazOn Metallic. Tsukineko VersaCraft and VersaMagic also smeared under water-based ink on cardstock. Always test your particular combination of paper and inks before executing your project.

StampSampleShowthroughOpacity DetailDry Time (seconds)
Sanby x Eric Small Things Stamp Pad Sanby x Eric Small Things SampleSanby x Eric Small Things ShowthroughN/ASanby x Eric Small Things Detail 5
Tsukineko StazOn Metallic Ink Pads Tsukineko StazOn Metallic SampleTsukineko StazOn Metallic ShowthroughTsukineko StazOn Metallic OpacityTsukineko StazOn Metallic Detail 5
Tsukineko StazOn Midi Size Ink Pads Tsukineko StazOn Midi SampleTsukineko StazOn Midi ShowthroughTsukineko StazOn Midi OpacityTsukineko StazOn Midi Detail2
Tsukineko VersaCraft Soramame Ink PadsTsukineko VersaCraft Soramame SampleTsukineko VersaCraft Soramame ShowthroughTsukineko VersaCraft Soramame OpacityTsukineko VersaCraft Soramame Detail10
Tsukineko Versafine Ink PadsTsukineko Versafine SampleTsukineko Versafine ShowthroughTsukineko Versafine OpacityTsukineko Versafine Detail5
Tsukineko VersaMagic Dew Drop Ink PadsTsukineko VersaMagic Dew Drop SampleTsukineko VersaMagic Dew Drop ShowthroughTsukineko VersaMagic Dew Drop OpacityTsukineko VersaMagic Dew Drop Detail5
Inking Tips for Classic Stamps
Hand stamping the corner of a page
Test your stamp before jumping into your final project.
Our first inking tip applies to classic and inked stamps alike: always test in an inconspicuous area or on a throwaway scrap first, not the center of your planner spread or big craft project. Your ink and paper combination might lead to bleedthrough, and positioning a stamp you’ve never used before can be tricky (unless it’s a clear stamp).
Inking a big stamp with a small ink pad
A two-handed inking technique creates even coverage and allows you to use small ink pads for big stamps.
When inking a clear or rubber stamp, you should hold your stamp in one hand and your ink pad in the other, then dab your ink pad against your stamp with small, quick motions. This prevents overinking and makes it easy to use a small ink pad for larger stamps. Switch ink pads in the middle of the process for a gradient color effect.

Sometimes dye inks can bead up on brand new clear rubber stamps, causing uneven stamping. Head this off at the pass by rubbing a new clear stamp with a clean microfiber cloth until it goes from crystal clear to cloudy. "Priming" your stamp like this should fix the issue.

As we’ve mentioned, you can try inking a stamp with markers for more detailed multicolor effects. This is most effective on rubber stamps, but we’ve tried it on small clear stamps with decent results. We recommend water-based markers like Tombow Dual Brush pens. Alcohol-based markers give patchier results and are harder to clean off your stamp.

Cleaning a Stamp
Wiping a stamp with a damp paper towel
Clean your stamps while the ink is still wet.
Pre-inked and self-inking stamps don’t require cleaning, but cleaning a clear or rubber stamp isn’t too much of an additional hassle. Most inks wipe right off with a moistened, soapy paper towel, though you could also invest in a reusable stamp cleaning cloth. Microfiber cloths are popular as they won't leave any fibers caught in stamp designs.

Some more stubborn inks like metallics may call for additional stamp cleaner. All inks will be harder to clean if you let them fully dry on the stamp, so it’s better to strike while the iron is hot, or the stamp is damp, as it were.

If ink is really stuck in there, soothe yourself with the thought that it won’t get out and affect your future projects. Stained and discolored stamps won’t transfer any color; they just have a little more character.

How We Approach Research and Testing

Our writers draw on their personal expertise, consult our in-house subject matter experts, and do extensive research to make our guides as accurate and comprehensive as possible. We then test every finding that makes it through the research stage. Only the techniques and tools whose performance we personally confirm make it into our guides as recommendations.

Conclusion

Stamps and ink pads are invaluable tools for artists and planning enthusiasts alike. Let us know your favorite use for stamps in the comments below!

StampTypeThemesInk PropertiesWater-Based MarkersAlcohol-Based Markers
BGM Clear StampsClearAnimals, Flowers, Food, Planner OrganizationN/AN/AN/A
C. Ching Stationery Rubber Date StampRubber (Rotary)Planner OrganizationN/AN/AN/A
Iconic Diary StampsPre-InkedAnimals, FoodBlack, Oil-BasedNo smudgingFaint bleeding
Midori Paintable Pre-Inked StampsPre-InkedAnimals, Flowers, Food, Planner Organization, Plants, Stationery, TravelBlack, Oil-BasedNo smudgingFaint bleeding
Midori Paintable Stamps & RefillsSelf-Inking (Rotary)Animals, Planner Organization, PlantsBlack, Oil-BasedNo smudgingFaint bleeding
MU My Icon Clear StampsClearFlowers, Planner Organization, Plants, SpaceN/AN/AN/A
Nombre Mizushima Jizai Clear Stamps - PocketClearFood, Plants, ShapesN/AN/AN/A
Nombre Mizushima Jizai Clear StampsClearPlants, Shapes, Planner OrganizationN/AN/AN/A
Nombre Mizushima Rubber StampsRubber (Mounted)Planner OrganizationN/AN/AN/A
Pilot FriXion StampsPre-InkedAnimals, Cars, Food, School, TravelMulticolor, "Erasable"4Not compatibleNot compatible
Sanby x Eric Small Things StampsRubber (Mounted, Rotary)Food, Stationery N/AN/AN/A

Ink PadColorsInk PropertiesInk Composition
Sanby x Eric Small Things Stamp Pad BlackWater-ResistantPigment-Based, Oil-Based
Tsukineko StazOn Metallic Ink Pads Gold, Silver, CopperOpaque, Metallic, Multi-SurfacePigment-Based, Alcohol-Based
Tsukineko StazOn Midi Size Ink Pads Black, Red, Brown, Orange, Green, Blue, Purple Gray Multi-Surface, Quick-DryingDye-Based, Solvent-Based
Tsukineko VersaCraft Soramame Ink PadsPink, Red, Brown, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Purple, Gray, White Multi-Surface, Good for DetailPigment-Based, Water-Based
Tsukineko Versafine Ink PadsBlack, Red, Brown, Orange, Green, Turquoise, Blue, Purple, GrayQuick-Drying, VividPigment-Based, Oil-Based
Tsukineko VersaMagic Dew Drop Ink PadsBlack, Pink, Red, Brown, Orange, Yellow, Green, Turquoise, Blue, Purple, WhiteMulti-Surface, Semi-OpaquePigment-Based, Water-Based
Notes
  • 1 Clear stamps can also be used with stamp presses or stamp positioning tools. If you try some and love them, look into more advanced accessories.

  • 2 Most of these stamps are labeled as containing “oil-based ink,” but when discussing inks, oil-based, alcohol-based, and solvent-based are interchangeable terms.

  • 3 For precision with opaque stamps, you can buy or build stamp alignment tools, which consist of essentially a right angle with a clear plastic sheet tucked into it. Stamp once on the clear sheet, line everything up as you like, then remove the sheet and stamp again.

  • 4 FriXion ink disappears with the heat generated by friction and may reappear in cold conditions.