Tuesday, August 25, 2009

Make Your Own Rubber Stamps!

In college (back in the day!) one of my favorite classes was a printmaking class. One of the printmaking styles we learned about was linoleum block printing. We used this tool for carving:

It's basically a glorified cuticle remover. Which got me thinking......

Today I will show you how to make a super simple rubber stamp out of dollar store items!


SUPPLIES:

~Erasers
~#2 Pencil and paper
~Stamp pad
~Cuticle remover (yes, the one for manicures!)


Step One: Trace the size of your eraser on a piece of paper.


Step Two: Draw a little picture. No need to flip the image -- Draw it just as you want your stamp to print. Not an artist? Print out a clipart picture and trace it with your pencil.



Step Three: Cut out your picture, place it face down on your eraser, and rub.



Your picture should transfer very easily.



Step Four: Take your cuticle remover and carve exactly along your lines. This might take a little practice. Remember to use one continuous motion -- don't stop in the middle of a line! -- or your line will get a little choppy. If you mess up, just flip your eraser and start over on the other side.



I cut my eraser down to fit my image better.



Step Five: Ink it up and stamp away!


Here's another one I made, just goofing around. If you don't have a stamp pad, use markers! I used a highlighter to print this one.

You can make these as simple or as detailed as you like. I haven't used my big eraser yet -- I still haven't come up with an image idea that I love.

It would be fun to take a simple image your child has drawn, shrink it to size in Photoshop, and create a stamp!

17 comments:

Ashley said...

So cute. I love making stamps. I was working on a few today! Not this tiny and cute though.....

michelle@somedaycrafts said...

Cute little tute!!! I want to make one with my name on it. Maybe one for my kids too! I featured this on somedaycrafts.blogspot.com. Grab my "featured" button.

Heather - Dollarstorecrafts.com said...

I really like linocutting/stamp carving!!

Anonymous said...

So cute! This will be featured on ym blog on Thursday!

http://jenellsrevenge.blogspot.com

Amy's Stocking Stuffers said...

I love your bird stamp!

Kate said...

MAN...now you tell me. i needed a little stamp to put on the back of my price tags and i went out and bought one YESTERDAY!!! It was only a few bucks, but still...i might have to take it back.

Angji said...

Have you heard of letterboxing? This is a very good skill if you would like to be a letterboxer. Check out letterboxing.org or atlasquest.com. It's addicting. Be ware! :)

Anonymous said...

awesome. so much better than using a potato. er, that's the extent of my stamping skills.

Beth- the mama bee said...

I will be making us new letterboxing stamps using this method. thanks!

Anonymous said...

Fabulous! I have so many ideas running through my head now...... Thanks for sharing the tute!
-Mandi

squareby said...

Oh wow, it's been years since I've used a lino cutter. Making stamps really was a lot of fun. Hm ... now I really want one!

K-Sue said...

Thanks for sharing this. I've wanted to make a stamp just for us for letterboxing, and needed something to help push me over the edge. I wonder if teh Dollar Store has a cuticle trimmer...

Anonymous said...

I had a manicure set sitting around that I would never use other than the small scissors for embroidery but now you have given me a use for the metal torture device that was in there too! Thanks!!

Julie said...

Such a great idea. I found your post today and linked it to my site. Hopefully people will come and find your great tutorial. Thanks for the inspiration!

Moeyness said...

Hello! I found your clever tutorial through Dollar Store Crafts. I'm just wondering if it matters what kind of eraser you use?

Care said...

Moeyness, Look for one that is not too soft, or crumbly, and you should be good to go!

Carrie said...

thank you thank you thank you! i have been looking for a tractor stamp, but haven't found one that i liked and i wondered how to make my own. this is perfect timing!