If you are a rubber stamper, you may be aware of the fact that The Rubber Stamper magazine was sold to Amos Craft Publishing last year. Rather than publish it as it was, Amos opted to merge it with one of their existing craft publications, Crafts N Things. This began with the January/February 2008 issue.
I was not too thrilled when I first heard this, because I was never much of a fan of Crafts N Things. I had bought an issue at the store now and then, but they were never much on the paper crafting angle. So, of course, I wondered what they would do with Rubber Stamper.
I saw the premier issue of the newly refurbished Crafts N Things at a Barnes & Noble bookstore a couple of weeks ago, and I picked it up. It was only fair, I felt, to give it a chance.
The original Crafts N Things was more into other crafts, a catchall of stuff like quilting, sewing, cross-stitch, jewelry making, with some paper crafting. My interests are more for scrapbooking, card making, and other paper crafts. But this new magazine not only looked better, and was thicker, but the blurb about 75+ rubber stamping ideas, and EXPANDED PAPER CRAFT SECTION appealed to me.
I have to say that if this is the sort of thing that Amos will be putting out six times a year, I’m impressed. The stamping projects are still the sophisticated style that we’ve come to expect from Rubber Stamper, but with new, easier-to-follow instructions and material lists. There’s also a section at the back of each issue that lists sources for all products used, as well as descriptions of basic tools and techniques.
If you are new to stamping, you might well find the new Crafts N Things a bit less intimidating than the old Rubber Stamper.
Other crafts are still very much present, and some of the projects are sort of crossovers…for instance, jewelry that uses stamping. Rubber Stamper had some of those, too. But this new magazine may well introduce stamping to a whole new audience, and show how it can be used for many things other than paper crafting/card making.
If you want to see an issue for yourself, before committing to a subscription, you should be able to pick one up at any of the craft book or craft stores. Check out their website, as well; there are plenty of bonus projects, patterns, and more there.
I highly recommend this magazine! 
