Round Return Address Stamps/Embossers

BelaBBear

Hey guys!

I'm looking into getting a stamp or an embosser for the return address on our STDs and invitations. However, I'm wondering two things.

1) Which is the better choice? It seems like the embosser would be neater (no messy ink) and look a little better, but I've read that they only work on certain paper thicknesses -- how can I be sure it'll work on the envelopes I end up with?

2) I love the round ones (example: http://paperwhitespress.com/cart/store.php/products/personalized-dashwood-embosser), but can the USPS process them?

THANKS! I'd love to hear about your experiences with these!

ChelseaBFH

We ordered a stamp -- I love it!  In addition to using it for the return address on the invitations, we also used it to address the reply cards (which saved me a lot of time!)  And we ordered it with our first names only, so that we could use it both before and after the wedding (it’ll be great for TU notes!)  So I’m saying stamp, because they’re so functional, but embossers are very pretty, too.

BelaBBear

Did you get a stamp that had the address in straight lines, then? I'm guessing a round one wouldn't work to address RSVP envelopes. Thanks!

ChelseaBFH

Yes, we got this one...

http://www.etsy.com/listing/44695718/new-design-custom-address-rubber-stamp-9

BelaBBear

PRETTY! Was it easy to use? Did you go through a lot of ink pads?

Karen's MOH

I'm planning to get the embosser, but we are printing the return address on the reply postcards. If I wasn't doing postcards and needed something for the reply envelopes, I would have gotten a stamp. They come out to about the same price almost. If you go the stamp route, make sure you get the right ink/stamp pad for the type of envelope/paper it is.

mica178

I have an embosser.  I love how it looks, and it's nice to have one non-messy step in making the invitations.  My return address one is a rectangle, so I don't know if the postal service can manage the round ones, but, I'm not entirely sure how well they'd manage my rectangular one either.  I'm just hoping all of my addresses are correct!  Most embossers from major suppliers can handle all of the envelope thicknesses, so unless you're making cardstock envelopes, you should be fine.

As I lined/am lining (it's a process) my envelopes, I embossed them before I lined them because the embosser couldn't press through two layers of thickish paper and still have crisp legibility.

BelaBBear

Mica, may I ask where you got your embosser?

mica178

My first embosser was from Office Depot.  That one was really uncomfortable to use, so I don't recommend it.

I replaced it with an embosser from customembosserpro.com, and I was able to emboss 150 envelopes during one sitting without any hand cramps the next day.

Depending on how many envelopes you're doing, consider a desktop embosser rather than a hand-held one.  My customembosserpro embosser is a hand-held one, and it's fine, but my friend swears that the desktop ones are better (it's probably more comfortable to press than squeeze).  She has all sorts of embossing plates for all occasions and just swaps them out of the embosser, so she uses hers for everything.