I've been working like a madwoman trying to get Christmas things accomplished and priced for my booth. One of my ideas this year was to sell hand stamped kraft wrapping paper. I had specific ideas for stamps and I knew it would be unlikely to find exactly what I was looking for, and I knew it would be expensive - $12 or more for one stamp? No thank you. I thought I would try my hand at carving my own stamps. It was so easy and so fun I thought I would put together a little tutorial for anyone interested in trying it themselves!
A few weeks ago I ordered from
Stampeaz one of their Speedy Carve Basic Kits which included a 4x6 piece of rubber block, wooden handle, two lino cutters (#2 and #4) and tracing paper. I also ordered 2 additional rubber blocks, and lino cutters #3, #5, #6. All of this with shipping cost me less than $30!! Not bad!!
To start, you will need to find an image you want to make into a stamp. In my case, I found a picture of a peppermint for a friend. Trace the image on your tracing paper with pencil.
Next, cut off a piece from your rubber pad with an xacto knife. My piece is bigger than necessary, I could have easily fit the peppermint on one corner.
Put your paper image side down on the rubber pad and rub off the image using your nail. You're left with the picture transferred onto the rubber.
Select a lino cutter for your wood handle. Each blade is a varying size for different purposes. For example, a #2 is very small and is great for detail and tight areas.
Just to show you the difference, here is the #2 on my wood cutter.
It carves very thin.
And here is a #4. Much thicker and faster to carve out larger areas.
So carve around your image.
Next I switched back to the #2 for the small details of the peppermint stripes.
Carefully, with long, even strokes, carve out the areas you do not want exposed to ink.
Switch to the #3 lino cutter
And cut out your entire image.
Carefully pop it out from the rest of the rubber block.
Make sure to test it and see if there are any areas that need further carving. Lastly you can mount it on a piece of wood for more control of the stamp. I use E 6000 to adhere and scrap pieces of wood.
Below is some of the wrapping paper I worked on over the weekend!
The possibilities are endless!!!
If you have more questions please let me know! :)
I'm linking to the parties listed
HERE and to:
