Flashback Friday Part 2: The 1980s
Happy Friday! It's time for our second Flashback Friday feature. In this series we are sharing the story of our five decades as a company. (You can catch up by rewinding to the 1970s if you missed last week's post.) Now we journey into Hero Arts' second decade in business - the 1980s! Here is CEO Aaron Leventhal with some insight:
"In the 1980s, the budding Hero Arts moved out of the bathroom and into a garage, and evolved its look from the cartoon look into teddy bears, country folk, bookplates, kitties, and more. Coloring with pens (Hero Arts carried Marvy brush pens) and embossing were the most popular techniques. There were only a limited number of ink colors -- black, brown, red, blue, green -- before "exciting and new" colors like hot pink and purple hit the industry by storm. Only woodblock stamps for the most part, with a few businesses selling unmounted, Hero Arts was at the forefront of the growing stamp industry, with competitors such as All Night Media, Rubber Stampede, Personal Stamp Exchange, and others."
Let's take a look at some of the catalogs from the 1980s!
You can see how the styles evolved from the early part of the decade (at left) to the later part (at right.)
Hero Arts Founder Jackie Leventhal penned the following introduction which appeared in the 1980 catalog:
Some things never change. "It's amazing what has happened since I began this romance with rubber stamps..." Indeed!
And some things do change. While the woodblock stamps of today are indexed with labels, that wasn't always the case. From 1974-1986 we handstamped images right onto the top of the block! This was how we indexed all stamps until introducing labels in 1987. These cute bears with numbers were made in 1983:
1, 2, 3, come stamp with me!
Do you have a bear or cat stamp in your collection? Both were wildly popular during the 1980s! Let us know in a comment below and we will pick one winner at random to receive a $25 Hero Arts gift card! Comment by Thursday, May 2 at 11:59pm PT and you'll be entered to win.
Thanks for traveling back in time with us today. Be sure to join us on Instagram for more 45th Anniversary fun and use hashtag #herocelebrates45 to share your first Hero Arts stamps and memories!
 Now we journey into ...&media=//heroarts.com/cdn/shop/articles/1980s_sq_600x.jpg?v=1556249499)
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125 Responses
Edda Tan
August 15, 2019
Happy 45th anniversary! What a wonderful and interesting history. Although I remember seeing images like these cute little bears as a little girl, I think they were all Suzy’s Zoo characters. But, I do have other bears in my collection.
Meghan Fahey
May 24, 2019
I have at least 30 cat stamps and a scattered bear, but definitely nothing from before 2004. Just bought your knitting cat stamps a few days ago to add to my collection! 💌
LiZ Baker
May 16, 2019
I have a cute set of Hero Art kitten stamps. They are so cute and tiny
jennifer
May 05, 2019
cat stamps have always a favorite here!
Joyce Soo Hoo
May 05, 2019
I have a lot of Hero Arts stamps from the 1980’s. Bears and cats stamps were soooo cute .
MandaLJ
May 03, 2019
No bear or cat stamps in my collection, but I discovered Hero Arts many years after they started, sad to say.
Sherri
May 02, 2019
I have many bear stamps. I have a soft spot for bears. I sure wish I had these!
MarjR
May 01, 2019
I love the stamps! I don’t have them, I started stamping in 2010. But I have bought a LOT of Hero Arts stamp since then!!
Leola M Johnston
May 01, 2019
I have been a lover oh Hero Arts for a long time! Started with a Costco white plastic drawer unit, said "When I have this full I am not buying any more! " Ha Ha I love paper crafting and now have a double car garage full and I would have to say at least 1/4 of my stamps are Hero Arts. I always tried to support the local stores first but not many around any more🙁 Love that we are online and see your classes on them. Thanks so much for a great ride!!! Ps I still have some of the first stamps
Jeanne
April 30, 2019
I have so many bears, but not this adorable numbers set. So cute!
Jennifer Petersen
April 30, 2019
I have a couple of bear stamps gift to me as a child in the 80’s sadly not Hero arts brand from what I can tell. So fun to see these cute bears and remember teachers and friends parents who used them.
Heather Mills
April 30, 2019
They are not Hero Arts Stamps, but I do have both cat and bear stamps. I even have one with a bear and cat together!
Amber Scholtz
April 29, 2019
I don’t have a bear or cat stamp from the 1980’s. I have more recently fell in love with all of your stamps, however. I recently purchased the caterpillar stamps and dies. I think they are the best thing ever!
Linda Reiley Clark
April 29, 2019
I definitely have a lots of 80s bears—wish I had more cats!
Michelle Adams
April 29, 2019
I received a little 4 stamp set from my future husband as a git in the 1990’s. He had NO idea what this ‘stamping’ hobby was all about…..
Janet Sisk
April 29, 2019
I have so many Hero Arts stamps, but not sure if I ever had a cat or bear. I mainly have sentiments and background stamps. :D
Marcela
April 29, 2019
Wish I had had the little bear stamps. So cute.
Marcela
April 29, 2019
Wish I had had the little bear stamps. So cute.
Denise Kitts-Wadlow
April 28, 2019
I have alot of HA stamps, but sadly I do not have one of those cute little bears, or any kitty cats. I wish I did—they are so cute!!! Thanks for taking us with you on this walk down Memory Lane HA!
GLenda M Sultan
April 28, 2019
I have a 2" cat head only with paws separate. I love making gift tags with them. I’m not sure if it’s Hero Arts since I removed them from the wood. Can you imagine that I ran out of storage space?
Bernay Brumbaugh
April 28, 2019
I have 1 teddy bear stamp probably bought in the late 80s 😂😂😂😂
Kathy T
April 28, 2019
Yes, I have bear and cat stamps but not from the 1980s. I didn’t start stamping until the 90s and I have quite the collection!
Lee
April 28, 2019
I have a few bears!! My mom has the cats! Such a fun flash back!
Lagene
April 28, 2019
I do have the polar bear HERO ARTS Polar Greetings.
Jean Maxwell
April 28, 2019
I had a ton of bear & cat stamps. A cat with a balloon was my first stamp that I received it as a gift. I must confess I still have my bear stamps.
D.Ann C
April 27, 2019
I was kind of out of it in the 80s. LoL! Love the Cheshire cat!! And, you see that raccoon on the top of your catalog page?… I’d LOVE it if you’d make a cat with a fluffy tail and body just like that!! >^.^<
Marisela Delgado
April 27, 2019
“Hasta la pregunta es necia” is Spanish for “silly answer for a silly question.” Do I own any bear or cat stamps?? Most of my original/first stamps were ONLY bears or cats. AND, I still have them and they are still cute. =) ha-ha
Kathy H
April 27, 2019
Yes! I have a few bears and even more cats. some Hero Arts stamps are very old! I will put a link on your page so you can see.
Jackie S
April 27, 2019
Only found Hero Arts a couple of years ago, so no old stamps for me. I do love animal stamps, though!
Debbie Duran
April 27, 2019
Have a couple of bear stamps and a few cat stamps, none HA though. Most of my Hero Arts stamps are sentiment stamps, with a few floral ones. :)
Melissa
April 27, 2019
I don’t have any bears or cats in my collection. It has been fun looking back into the archives!
Glorie
April 27, 2019
No bears in my collection, but I have a lot of florals.
Emmie W
April 27, 2019
I have always been able to rely on Hero Arts stamps to make great stamp impressions…then and now. Even the progression to polyclear Hero Arts has maintained their quality. A great American company.
Henriétte
April 27, 2019
I love to read this historie of Hero Arts. I don’t have Hero Arts bears or cat stamps but I know that I have given away quit a few stamps when I was getting older. Can’t remember what they where but they where woodblock stamps that’s what I still know.
Linda
April 27, 2019
I organized my wood stamps the other day and found several Hero Arts bear stamps, they are dated 1985 and 1987.
Donna
April 27, 2019
Loving these “blasts from the past!” Not sure I have a bear or kitty from the old days as I may have passed them on!
Anuja Kulkarni
April 27, 2019
I always save your catalogs when I pick them up at the local Expo!! I love that the quality of Hero Arts products has stayed consistently amazing over the years and designs are timeless
Linda Kunsman
April 27, 2019
alas, I do not have a HA bear or cat stamp, but I do have MANY other HA stamps and sets:)
DeNel Brister
April 27, 2019
Yes I have a bear stamp and a cat from long ago! I have a ton of Hero Arts!! Always been a favorite of mine! Congratulations on 45 years!!!!🎉❤️
DeNel Brister
April 27, 2019
Yes I have a bear stamp and a cat from long ago! I have a ton of Hero Arts!! Always been a favorite of mine! Congratulations on 40 years!!!!🎉❤️
Maria B
April 27, 2019
No bear stamps, but I have a winged cat.
Sarah May
April 27, 2019
Love the photos of old catalogues and stamps. I hadn’t made the connection that my few old woodblock stamps from when I was little could possibly be from the same place making the modern clear stamps we know and love! I’ll have to investigate…
Kirsty Lim
April 27, 2019
I sure do, teddy bear stamps are the best!!!! : )
karenajo
April 26, 2019
Unfortunately I do not have one of the bears or kitties. I am enjoying learning how HA all came about and has progressed through the years. Thanks for sharing !
Cynthia C.
April 26, 2019
I have a teddy and cat but not from this far back… started around 2007. Congrats on your big anniversary!!
Geri S
April 26, 2019
I do have bear and cat stamps but my first ones were Mickey Mouse for my boys’ scrapbook. Wish I had known or seen more of Hero Arts way back then! You’re my hero now in the stamping world!
Jessica Walters
April 26, 2019
I have lots of bear and cat stamps in my collection.
Tiffany
April 26, 2019
Yes! I have the cat and bear bookplate stamp! One of my first stamps and I’ll never part with it!
shartl
April 26, 2019
How fun to look back at the history of Hero Arts! I got my first rubber stamp set in the late 1980’s and it was a foam mounted cat set by All Night Media. Then I got a wood mounted teddy bear stamp by Hero Arts. Now my own two little girls are using my old stamps…yay!!
Stephanie B
April 26, 2019
My first Hero Arts stamp was a valentine bear from 1991! I hope it comes out as a clear mount. I still have it, and it works fine as a wood mount, but it’s nice to have options ;)
Karen Lingel
April 26, 2019
No, I didn’t get started until the 90’s, but I look forward to your installment about the 90’s stamps. I will be sure to recognize some of those stamps! And I remember buying them in the (now defunct) stamp stores way back when. Wow, this is really a stroll down Memory Lane. Thanks for the opportunity to win!
JOAN VANCOURT
April 26, 2019
I have a few bears, but not HA. These bears are adorable. Now that I have grandchildren, I would love those bears. I have a few cat stamps, too.
Bonnie K.
April 26, 2019
None of those cute bears or cats from the 80s here – I’ve only been acquiring my stamps for the last couple of years. I do have a couple dogs, though!
Izabela
April 26, 2019
I have a cat stamps because I have a little black cat at home and I like to send cards to my family from Poland with a cat image on the front.
Flo
April 26, 2019
I couldn’t find all my older hero arts stamps but I did see one with a bunny dancing in flowers dated 1988 (B617). I have a bear stamp holding a big heart, too. The other day I also found my bottle of dazzle glue. I remember using it on all my Valentine’s stamps. It doesn’t have a date but it says Hero Arts Rubber Stamps, emeryville, ca.
Anna Mahtani
April 26, 2019
I do not have the stamps as I am fairly new to this stamping community. But those bear stamps are so adorable!
karenladd
April 26, 2019
Not only do I remember those old wood mounted stamps with the images handstamped on them, I have a slew of cat and bear stamps. I first discovered rubber stamps in the mid-80’s but didn’t really get serious about stamping until about 2004. I’ve got a lot of wood mounted and clear Hero Arts stamps in my collection and was recently surprised to learn that I live in the same city as the Hero Arts headquarters! Hero Arts has a special place in my heart…and in my craft cabinet!
Priyanka Kantak
April 26, 2019
I have both bear and cat stamps ❤
Chris Lawlor
April 26, 2019
I do have a bear stamp from the 80’s, but it is a little teddy bear picnic stamp set from All Night Media.
Susan McRae
April 26, 2019
Oddly enough I don’t have any bears or cats in my collection, and my collection is pretty big! Thanks for the flashback!
Marlene
April 26, 2019
I have the bears! When it comes to stamping Hero Arts was the most instrumental in getting me started!
Lee Cockrum
April 26, 2019
I have several woodblock mounted cat stamps in my collection…but I moved recently, and I have not finished unpacking, so I don’t know if they are Hero Arts or not!!
Nancy Dempsey
April 26, 2019
I do have cat and bear stamps in my stash but none from the eighties. I didn’t get into stamping until around 2005 and haven’t stopped since!
Liz Ford
April 26, 2019
I did have a bear in my collection and I think it was a Hero Arts stamp and I have been looking for it since you began posting the flashbacks! If I find it I will post a photo of it. But it was a bear with a ball and it was seated, the bear, and had the ball in between its legs (if I remember correctly!) Enjoying the flashbacks and looking forward to seeing more flashes from the past!
LaNell Taylor
April 26, 2019
This is so fun!
Anita in France
April 26, 2019
None of these bears or cats in my stash … they were around well before my stamping life began!! Anita :)
KT Fit Kitty
April 26, 2019
I have several old Hero Arts cat stamps from the ‘80s and even a couple stamps with a cat and a bear! I’m enjoying this walk down memory lane! I love my old stamps!
Terrie D.
April 26, 2019
It’s fun to see how the catalog has changed over the years. These bears with numbers stamps are adorable! I believe I have a few bear and cat stamps in my stash. :)
Rebecca
April 26, 2019
I have a bear!
Cyndee
April 26, 2019
Yes, I have a bear and balloons and a bunch of others. That would be awesome if the vintage stamps became more valuable with age!
Donna Billingsley
April 26, 2019
Oh this is so cool!!! I can’t believe how far Hero Arts has come. You guys all ROCK!
Julie
April 26, 2019
I have a couple bears still but never had cats. We are 🐶 dog people! I like this reminiscing!
Josmary
April 26, 2019
I’m having so much fun learning not only about hero arts evolution but of the industry too. 😍 so interesting
Barbara-Jean
April 26, 2019
I do have a bear in my collection, giving a hug…
Dagmar
April 26, 2019
I Love my Wildflower Rubberstamps. The are a little bit younger but today as nice as ever. Happy Birthday Hero Arts 🥂
Cynthia O.
April 26, 2019
I’m really enjoying the Flashback features! It’s so great to hear of the humble beginnings of Hero Arts. Sadly, I don’t have any stamps from the 1980s. So far, the oldest I’ve found in my stash is 1993. :0
Heidi Macy
April 26, 2019
Yes, lots of cat images! Not too many bears actually. I have to wonder what ink was used to stamp onto the backs of those woodblocks??
Eliece Edge
April 26, 2019
The first two stamps I ever bought featured bears. They were both from Ant Transfer. One of them had the bear holding a blank sign where you could write whatever you needed. The other one was meant to be used for the Zip code on an envelope. It had 6 little bears standing in a row. The first one held a sign that said ZIP. The other 5 held hearts where you could write the numerals of the Zip code. I think I bought them in the late 70s, and I still occasionally use them.
Andre M.
April 26, 2019
I’m a relatively new stamper so I don’t own any stamps from the 1980s. It has been such a pleasure to read of your company’s history.
Melinda Stearns
April 26, 2019
Truly one of my favorite stamp companies!
Bette
April 26, 2019
I don’t have the bear numbers. But I have the huge letters and numbers from the 90’s. Can’t wait for you to get to them. They are still very loved.
Maureen Hayes
April 26, 2019
I am not lucky enough to have a cat or bear stamp from your 1980’s collection, but have some from other eras. I am so enjoying these flashbacks and learning more about Hero Arts history. I love you HA and think you deserve at least another 45 years!!!👏👏💕👏
Yvonne B.
April 26, 2019
I have the penguin that I spy on that catalogue intro! Congrats on a fabulous 45 years!
Kathryn
April 26, 2019
I think my earliest stamps from you were some fish, a dolphin, and a whale in the 90s. I was a little to young to stamp in the 80s.
Jen shears
April 26, 2019
I started stamping in the early 90’s- I don’t think I have any bears or cats from that era but I wouldn’t swear to it! Congratulations on not only celebrating 45 years but with continued growth!
Kailash
April 26, 2019
Unfortunately I do not have a bear or cat stamp in my collection, this was way before I fell in love with the art of creating with stamps:-)
Lisa Taylor
April 26, 2019
I know I have a lot of cat stamps but I need to see how early my oldest Hero cat stamp is! Yet another reason to go digging in my studio!
Cheryl
April 26, 2019
I do not have a bear or cat stamp. Unfortunately. I just started stamping in 2017.
I do want to say that I watched an interview, of Aaron, and learned about Hero Arts “green” initiatives. Huzzah!! Well done!!!
Helen
April 26, 2019
Sorry, no cats or bears among my early stamps—I tended toward florals and sentiments and always enjoy using them.
Sharon Gullikson
April 26, 2019
I did!!! And do. I think that I have a couple of old Hero Arts bear stamps. I think that bears must have been popular in the mid-80s, too, because we decorated our daugther’s nursery in 1985—in bears. Primary colors, and bears :)
Janet
April 26, 2019
Yes I have bears stamps! Kept nearly all of them. I have a few PSX and All Night Media stamps too.
It’s simply amazing (and wonderful for us) that Hero Arts has been going for 45 years!! A testament to the quality of your products and service.
Roxana
April 26, 2019
Totally own both bears and cats….love them both. This is so amazing to see and read about your journey. Love you guys.
Teresa Godines #6857
April 26, 2019
I have no bear or cat stamps from this time period. They are very cute though
jill allard
April 26, 2019
i used to have bears before i lost them all it would be nice to win and restart my collection
Stacy L
April 26, 2019
I don’t have any bears or cats. I just started stamping in 2018.
Renee Vanepps
April 26, 2019
Congrats on being in business for so long, you all are obviously doing something right! I enjoyed this little walk through history.. so much has changed in this business, that’s for sure..
LaVon Hall
April 26, 2019
These stamps are from before my discovery of my love for rubber stamping but such fun to see the evolution!
Karen
April 26, 2019
I have both cats and bears. I just entered the stamping world in the 80’s.
Linda
April 26, 2019
I have several bear stamps from the mid 80’s
Becca Yahrling
April 26, 2019
Oh, how I wish I had one of those adorable bear/number stamps!! Very sweet.
Judy
April 26, 2019
I love hearing about the history of Hero Arts and seeing the older catalog and stamps! I have a newer bear stamp in my collection, Hero Arts Bouquet Bear from 2009.
Bobbie H.
April 26, 2019
I have a small bear stamp with hearts on his bow that was made in 1985.
Stacey Kowbel
April 26, 2019
These are so cute! I do have bear and cat stamps in my collection!
Dorothy Mutafopulos
April 26, 2019
So cute and adorable and memories of my kids at that age are priceless. These would be great to put on a scrapbook page with their pictures!
Gina McCarty
April 26, 2019
I don’t have any of the bear or cat stamps. This was before my stamping days. Enjoy looking at how the company has evolved.
Cynthia Cole
April 26, 2019
Sorry, none here but it’s great to see the flashback catalogs and your moms introduction in the 1980 edition.
Ellie S.
April 26, 2019
It’s so nice learing about the history and evolution of Hero Arts. Those stamps are so cute. I don’t have any of them as I’ve only begun stamping in 2002. In the (early) 80’s is when I started school and had never heard about this wonderful hobby of card making or rubber stamping but always thought the stamps the school secretary (or librarian at the school?) had were so neat even if they were just some words or dates.
Cyndi Morris
April 26, 2019
I remember those adorable stamps. However, I don’t have any bear or cat stamps in my stash. I didn’t have grandchildren in the 80’s, but now I have four, and those sweet age-related stamps would certainly be wonderful for cards for them.
Christina Dauven
April 26, 2019
I have many bear stamps and a few cats even and in 1987 I was watching weekend cartoons of gummy bears, tailspin, ducktails and rescue rangers.
Karthikha Uday
April 26, 2019
What an amazing journey it has been! So good to see the old catalog transformations :) I do have a bear stampset in my collection :)
Bonita Reyes
April 26, 2019
Wow! What a great reminder of great stamping in the past…and anticipation of things to come!
Mary Holshouser
April 26, 2019
I don’t have a cat or bear stamp. I got into stamping
in early 2000. Before that I was into needlework.
Love doing the stamping now – so versatile.
thanks for the look back.
txmlhl(at)yahoo(dot)com
Dee Earnshaw
April 26, 2019
Thanks for the memory lane trip:)
I have at least 10 bears and cat stamps in my stash – love these animals:)
Felicia C
April 26, 2019
I have a whole collection of cat stamps! Nothing better then making a card with a cute kitty image. So cuddly and warm! I love these flashback stories. Love to know about the companies I love! You truly are my Hero!
Dee Ann Matthews
April 26, 2019
I have several bear stamps from Hero Arts- there are acrobat bears and a baseball player to mention a few.
SHARI CZERWINSKI
April 26, 2019
I have a few too many bear stamps in my collection! I may have an addiction haha Been great seeing a piece of your history! Hero Arts has been a mainstay in my crafty endeavors!
Jenny K.
April 26, 2019
No, I don’t have a bear or cat stamp from the 1980’s in my stamp collection, but I do currently have a lot of other HA woodblock and clear stamps!
Meghan Kennihan
April 26, 2019
I don’t have a bear stamp but they are so fun! I love this flashback! It’s crazy how far things have come!!!!
Amy Cooley
April 26, 2019
I don’t have either in my collection. I’m not a cat person and my kids are older, so bears really aren’t my thing.
Lindarub
April 26, 2019
I have the bear and cat stamp.
Jan Elmore
April 26, 2019
One of my earlier stamps was a woodblock Chesapeake Bay Retriever Dog! Still have it and the Valentine Bear Stamp from that same era!
Lisa K
April 26, 2019
I wish I had stamps from the 80’s. Sadly, I didn’t discover stamping till 2000, but have many HA stamps from that time on. Love reading about the beginnings of the company.
Laura P.
April 26, 2019
Thanks for sharing more of your history with us! I love to see small businesses grow and flourish. I do havesome teddy bear stamps, but I think they’re from the 1990s…I must have been late to the party!
Kelsey Thomas
April 26, 2019
I don’t have either in my collection. They are very cute though! :)
GabriellaB
April 26, 2019
Sorry no Teddy’s or cats in my collection but I did have a tweety birdish looking stamp