A Guide to the Best Address Stamps for Cards and Letters
Imagine coming home after a long day at work, and you pick up the letters stuffed into your mailbox.
As you go inside, you start swiping through the envelopes as you kick the door closed behind you. You find your phone bill, a bunch of coupons, this month’s water bill, and something else. Something so special that you immediately forget about all the other letters.
It’s a card from your closest friend.
The return address is written in the most beautiful cursive font, and right there next to it is the silhouette of your beloved Yorkshire terrier and the cutest little paws. The image is so heartwarming and precise that you spend several minutes just admiring it.
You almost don’t recognize the address on the letter but when you do, you can’t contain your excitement. So, you carefully open the letter, thinking to yourself, “How did they do it?”
Well, your friend used a customized address stamp. They’re an excellent tool for personalizing your cards, letters, and packages with any image of your choice.
With the right stamp, you can add a touch of creativity, sophistication, or fun to your correspondence that will wow your recipient and make them feel understood, appreciated, and cared for.
This comprehensive guide will take you through the different types of address stamps available and help you choose the best one for your needs. You will also learn:
- The different types of address stamps available, such as self-inking and wood-mounted stamps
- The various design and size options available for address stamps including rectangular, round, and custom shapes
- How to maximize the use of your address stamp in a number of ways, such as purchasing a durable stamp and maintaining it
Whether you're sending out wedding invitations or running a business, let's explore the role address stamps play in putting together the perfect correspondence.
Types of Address Stamps
In an increasingly digitized world, you’d be surprised how happy a person would be to receive a letter in the mail.
Receiving a handwritten card or letter in the mail shows that the sender took the time to sit down and write out a thoughtful message instead of sending something generic or a printed-out card.
Fun Fact: The U.S. Postal Service processes and delivers 162 million pieces of First Class Mail every day!
Addressing your envelope with an address stamp, embellished with intricate details or special symbols, such as an ivy wreath, conveys a sense of care and attention that’s often missing in digital communication.
Therefore, it’s essential that you choose the perfect address stamp that will make your cards and letters stand out from other correspondences.
Here are two examples of the best address stamps in the industry:
Traditional Rubber Stamps
Traditional rubber stamps are made of rubber that’s mounted onto a wooden block or handle and require a separate ink pad.
When inked and pressed onto a surface, the raised image on the rubber portion of the stamp leaves an impression of the design or image in perfect rendition.
The rubber material also allows for fine details to be engraved on it, making rubber stamps ideal for stamping intricate and complex designs.
At Stamped With Love, we use cutting-edge engraving technology to imprint any image or text of your choice on our custom traditional rubber stamps.
For example, our Jeffersons Return Address Stamp features your name and address set against a silhouette of pine trees—perfect for nature lovers.
Our engravers do such a good job on this stamp, you can easily see the details of leaves in the forest with each impression you make.
"Fantastic quality and something we will use forever." — Micah Effertz
The best part about traditional rubber stamps is that they can be used with different color ink pads.
For instance, the Jeffersons Return Address Stamp looks incredible when used with a green ink pad to make the forest come alive.
Alternatively, it looks just as lovely when used with a black ink pad to convey an impression of the silhouette of the forest at dusk.
Using traditional address stamps with different colors can create playful and fun impressions on your cards and letters that will be cherished by your loved ones and serve as a memento to remind them of you.
Bonus: At Stamped With Love, we offer 5 different color ink pads: red, green, purple, blue, and black.
Check out our return address wooden engraved stamps:
Self-Inking Stamps
Self-inking stamps are designed to be easy to use and require no additional messy ink pads, which can be incredibly convenient.
The ink pad is built-in and the stamp automatically re-inks itself after each impression, providing a consistent and clear image with little effort.
The mechanism of self-inking address stamps makes stamping cards and letters incredibly easy because you don't have to worry about the hassle of re-inking the stamp correctly every time you use it, unlike traditional stamps.
Additionally, you don’t have to deal with messy ink pads or fingers that might smudge your cards and letters. Smudging the impression of your stamp design on cards and letters not only wastes your time but having to start over with new materials can be costly.
Self-inking address stamps are especially helpful in situations where time is of the essence. Let’s say you’re a small business owner and you need to stamp your return address on a large number of thank-you cards.
By using a self-inking stamp, you can quickly and easily stamp all the cards and letters without having to stop and re-ink the stamp each time.
As a result, you can use the valuable time you’ve saved to handle other pressing issues that require your concentration.
Stamped With Love offers self-inking stamps of the Trodat model that will last you thousands upon thousands of impressions before ever needing to be re-inked or replaced.
We recommend our 3" Large Logo Stamp in XL for small business owners who have to address a large number of thank-you notes in a personalized and sophisticated manner.
It will display your business information including your logo, address, website, and contact information in a legible font that shows off your beautiful logo design.
"I ordered custom stamps for my hand drawn logo. They were able to get each small detail etched and it came out better then expected. Perfect size for making business cards. Stamp came in less then a week after being approved. Would absolutely recommend!" — Alicia Hirthe
You will brighten up your customer’s day when they notice the attention to detail that you took to make their shopping experience incredible.
Why Are Custom Rubber Stamps the Best Option?
While address stamps are a great way to quickly and efficiently stamp your return address onto envelopes, most of them lack personalization and creativity.
When they’re made in a generic, plain, text-only format, they'll look sterile and boring. Would you get excited about receiving a card or letter that looks like your phone bill?
On the other hand, custom rubber stamps offer endless possibilities for personalization and creativity in your projects.
Using a custom rubber stamp on a letter or card can make it stand out from the rest and show the recipient that you put in the effort to create something unique and special just for them.
Stamped With Love offers custom return address stamps with a wide variety of customization options such as our State Return Address Stamps and Pet Return Address Stamps.
We use premium materials and cutting-edge engraving technology to imprint any stamp design of your choice on your custom rubber stamp.
For our avid pet-loving customers we have a lovely collection of Pet Return Address Stamps that feature the silhouette of your pet alongside your return address.
When you send a Christmas card to a close friend who adores your retriever, stamp it with the Rectangular Golden Retriever Return Address Stamp to warm their heart before they read your letter.
We also have custom rubber stamps available in classic and simple designs that can be customized with our wide array of embellishments, such as geometric patterns, floral prints, and botanical prints.
Some of these custom stamps include:
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Flattering Size and Design Options for Cards and Letters
One of the best advantages of a customized rubber stamp is that you can get your design in the best dimensions for the stationery you intend to use it on.
If the stamp is too small, the design may be difficult to read or not noticeable enough, especially if the card or letter is large or the ink color is light. Imagine how frustrating it will be for the recipient as they strain their eyes to read the return address on your card or not be able to appreciate the stunning design of your stylish address stamp.
On the other hand, if the stamp is too large for the card or letter, it may look awkward and out of place. The design may dominate the space and overwhelm the other elements of the card or letter, making it look cluttered or unprofessional.
Pro Tip: Choose a stamp size that is appropriate for the card or letter you have in mind.
Stamped With Love has a team of expert designers that are more than happy to help you find the best size and design for your cards and letters.
You simply need to inform us of the size of the card or letter you intend to stamp, the specifications of text or design you want, and the overall aesthetic you're going for, and we’ll do the rest.
After 24 to 48 hours, we’ll email you digital proof of what your stamp looks like and you can request revisions or give us the go-ahead to make the final product.
We value your time and effort, so we do everything in our power to make you a highly impactful end product that you can use to spread love, kindness, and creativity.
This way, you can ensure that your stamp complements your cards and letters and enhances their overall look and feel.
The table below outlines the various stamp shape options and their corresponding sizes for wood-mounted stamps, custom stamps, and self-inking stamps offered by Stamped With Love.
| Stamp Shape | Wood Hand Stamp Size (Inches) | Self-Inking Stamp Size (Inches) |
| Rectangular | 2.5 x 1 | 2.3 x 0.8 |
| Round | 1.97 (diameter) | 1.68 (diameter) |
| Custom | Varies | Varies |
Find a Suitable Stamp Shape for Your Cards and Letters
Finding the best stamp shape for your custom address stamp comes down to the size, style, and overall design of your stamp.
Some stamp designs work better on round stamps, while others look better on rectangular stamps. Additionally, some designs may require a custom-shaped stamp to ensure the design is properly displayed.
Rectangular Address Stamp
Rectangular address stamps provide a clear space for your customized text or design, which can be especially helpful if you have a lot of information to include, such as a full name, complex design, and address.
For instance, the Michigan Rectangular Return Address Stamp contains the two distinct peninsulas of the state alongside your return address.
The long and narrow shape of the stamp allows for the intricate design of the state to be displayed in a unique and eye-catching way.
Round Address Stamps
Round address stamps are perfect for incorporating a touch of elegance and sophistication into stationery. Their circular shape is well-suited for adding a decorative accent to envelope flaps and postcards.
We recommend using a round address stamp with simple designs and large, bold letters or numbers, because if the design is too intricate or small, it can be difficult to read.
Use a font that’s easy to read and ensure that the stamp is made to the appropriate size.
For example, The Hannaford Return Address Stamp is a minimalist’s dream because it features a beautiful cursive script and a delicate round wreath border personalized with your name and address in a legible font.
"It works nicely and doesn't get messy and dries fast." — Manami Murazik
Custom Shape Address Stamps
At Stamped With Love we believe that when it comes to creativity, the sky's the limit for sharing love, kindness, and creativity.
This is why we sought out the best engraving technology in the industry to help you bring any stamp design you want to life.
For example, our Large French Bulldog Return Address Stamp features the silhouette of a French bulldog with the family’s name floating above the pup. The irregular shape of the design requires a custom shape to create a specific look that traditional square or round stamps cannot achieve.
Customization Options
A fantastic way to make your cards and letters stand out from other bland correspondences that people receive in the mail is to sprinkle them with customization options.
These options include monograms, logos, botanical prints, romantic symbols, floral prints, and borders, all of which allow you to add a personal touch that reflects your individual style and personality.
At Stamped With Love we specialize in awe-inspiring address stamps that feature one-of-a-kind embellishments, such as floral prints, botanical prints, and romantic symbols, that are sure to make your cards and letters stand head and shoulders above all the others.
For example, The Garrison Return Address Stamp features the first letter of the family name, “G,” enclosed in flowers and leaves with the full name cutting across the letter and flowers.
When your loved one receives your card or letter in the mail and they see this lovely stamp, it’s sure to grab their attention and get them excited about hearing from you. They might even keep the letter as a keepsake to remember you by.
"This stamp is awesome! It is exactly as pictured. A proof was sent very quickly & the stamp arrived in no time. I happily will purchase from this store again Fantastic service" — Erin Purdy
To inspire your next address stamp, here are some of our best-selling return address stamps that use our elegant and exquisite customization options:
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Durability and Maintenance
If you want your address stamp to last you for a long time, you’ll need to purchase a high-quality address stamp and take good care of it.
A premium address stamp will give you thousands upon thousands of crisp and clear impressions for years.
Stamped With Love is a USA-made small business that offers the most durable custom rubber stamps in the industry.
We use high-precision engravers to render your stamp design on premium, long-lasting rubber that is then attached to a hardwood handle or a Trodat model self-inking stamp.
We are so confident in the quality of our products that we offer a lifetime warranty on all of our custom rubber stamps.
The type of stamp you choose will determine its maintenance needs.
Rubber stamps may require a bit more upkeep than self-inking stamps. Additionally, they may require separate ink pads, which can dry out and need replacement.
To prolong the life of a rubber stamp, it's crucial that it remains clean and dry after each use. Follow these steps to ensure you get the most out of your custom rubber stamp:
- Hold the rubber stamp with the design facing up and gently rub it with a damp cloth that has been soaked in soapy water to remove any excess ink.
- Once you've thoroughly cleaned the stamp, rinse the cloth under running water and squeeze it dry and use it to remove any soap residue.
- Use a dry cloth or paper towel to blot the stamp dry.
- Store the stamp in a cool, dry place with the design facing up. Also, avoid placing it in direct sunlight because long-time exposure might damage the rubber.
Or, watch this video:
You only have to clean your stamp with these steps once a month, but ensure that you wipe off any ink that is left on the stamping surface after every use.
We recommend using craft cleaning wipes that are alcohol-free to protect the rubber from cracking and flaking.
Lastly, you might want to avoid fully submerging your wooden stamp in water while cleaning it because it will damage the wood, making it soft and mushy.
Spread Love and Cheer Using Premium Address Stamps
Selecting the best address stamp for your cards and letters helps them stand head and shoulders above other correspondences in the mail.
A custom rubber stamp is the best way to address your cards and letters because it features a design with customization options that are sure to make your recipient feel valued and appreciated.
Whether you choose a self-inking stamp for its ease of use or a wood-mounted stamp for its traditional look and customization options, a well-designed address stamp can brighten up your loved one’s day with one elegant impression.
Stamped With Love has helped over 50,000 customers share their love, creativity, and kindness by making the most beautiful and high-quality custom stamps since 2020.
Our tagline is “Everyone deserves to feel loved,” which is why we do our best to make your shopping experience with us as amazing as possible.
We provide digital proof of each stamp you order within 24 to 48 hours after you’ve sent us your specifications to ensure that you get your money’s worth.
After you give us the go-ahead, we’ll make you the perfect stamp for your cards and letters and ship it to you for free via first-class USPS.
Don't settle for plain and boring envelopes.
Place your order for your personalized stamp on our website today and we’ll get it to you within two to three business days so you can start spreading love and cheer to your loved ones as soon as possible.
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