make a stamp

I've been pretty into making stamps lately. I like that I can make absolutely whatever I can dream up. The feeling of the carving tool cutting into the rubber calms me. If you have never made a stamp before, I really encourage it. Really. Sometimes I go to the art supply store and just wander through the aisles to find some new craft I can do. I was picking up some calligraphy ink when I saw a stamp making kit. I knew I had to try it at least once to see if I'd like it. Well, I love it. I hope you would try it and love it too.

can you spot it?

So this is the stamp making kit I used.

It comes with the carving tool, with two different carvers. A narrow one and one that carves larger areas. It also comes with tracing paper, a pad of rubber, and a sheet of stamp images you can trace and then carve.

here is the pear i drew on the tracing paper with a pencil.

the reason you use tracing paper is so that you can just

place it over another image if you want

and trace it so you make it a stamp.

you just take the image you drew on the tracing paper

and lay it face down on the rubber and just press it

and rub the paper a little.
the image copies easily.

i use the narrow "v" carver. it's easier to get into small spots.

I carve carefully around the strawberry.

just nice long strokes.

cut enough so that only the stamp image will get inked.

notice the lines and slashes around some of my stamps above.

i like it sometimes, but it's because i didn't cut deep enough.

you'll learn as you go.

that's the fun of it.

:)

this rubber pad is called "speedy cut"

and i kind of don't like it. it cuts too easily.

i accidently cut the stem of the strawberry off.

oh well.

but so you know, the kit comes with a better sturdier one.

i believe it's called "speedy carve"

i cut in the details of the strawberry.

when i cut fine lines, i just "skim" the top very lightly to not cut too much.

it takes some practice to learn a good way to do it.

take some scissors and cut around the stamp,

with enough room to not cut the actual stamp.

and

tada

-.-

this was just a rough one done for the purpose of showing you guys

but it's cute, no?

my mess

now get creative! make special stamps to decorate wedding invitations, stamp a letter, make a party a little unique. just do something fun! :)

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