Make your own stamps

I am probably not the originator of this technique. In fact I had forgotten all about it until my son Brandon was making one a couple of months ago out of my good eraser. But since I mentioned it I thought I would make some instructions.

Please forgive the one or two blurry pictures. I was trying to hold the camera and the tools at the same time. Not a good way to get crisp clear pictures. I really need to get out my photo tent again!

One thing I want to be clear about this is not something you want to do with young children. The knife is sharp and it will easily cut large holes in fingers and hands. Take it from someone who already cut off a finger tip. (No, not doing this, but cutting quilting squares) You don't want your kids to do this!

On we go to the first thing.

Supplies and tools.

• Eraser, you can use one you have around. I think that the pink ones would work really well for this as they are not as crumbly as the white ones, but the white ones are easier to cut into.
• Some type of craft knife; preferably with a pointed edge. I am sure you can use a paring knife too.
  
• Pen or Pencil.
  
• Stamp pad.
  
• And not shown in the picture, a cutting surface of some kind. In later pictures you will see I have a cutting mat. I have 3 or 4 of these and this is the oldest one, so I use it for crafts. A thick book would also work, maybe an old phone book.
  

Step 1.

Choose a design you want to cut and transfer it to the block with a pen or pencil. I hand draw all my own, but you might want to use some clip art or something remember Simpler is easier. The more detail, the harder it will be, as these blocks are small. Also you want to plan what is going to be your negative space; what you are going to cut off, and what will be the image; what you want to leave behind. This may sound simplistic but believe me, it will make a difference. When I was making the owl, I had to really think about it to get defined areas. Once it is cut away you cannot put it back.

Step 2.

Now start cutting away the edges. Take rough cuts first then go back and define. You can carve small pieces away as you go. Go slow, and think about your cuts. On the leaf here I should have left the edges on the block as it is very fragile in the stem area where the leaves meet. I find that I can put at least two designs on one block; as the skull and owl, so if you want to do that just cut around your edge down about 1/16^th inch and then cut into the side to meet your cuts. These cross cuts have to only go to your line though or your will cut under your stamp and that part may not stay attached. I accidentally cut under one of the owls wings. I am going to try some glue to keep it there.

On this one, I have cut all the way through the block, it is a small stamp and I figured I would need something to hold on to.

Step 3.

The details. OK this is tricky, but you can get it. Make angled cuts along your detail lines so you are cutting V's out. You might have to dig at the waste to remove it, but not too much or you will take your design as well. Just a shave to start and deeper if you need to. These lines do not have to be as deep as the edges. (The body will support the stamp so that they negative will not print).

Now is a good time to test stamp, so you can see the lines and make additional cuts to define or change overall appearance.

Finished stamps

I also cut this mermaid today and it looks like nothing by itself (if you look at the plain stamp I ended up cutting off the corner as it was too square for my use.) But when I added the pen marks you can clearly see what it is.

If it is a one color image, it works to use an ink pad. If you are going for a more two or more colored look, brush pens are great.

I hope you have fun with this. I do. I like to make these for things I need to repeat so I don't have to draw and color them over and over. Wrapping paper, fabric prints, scrap booking, and backgrounds for art. There are tons of uses.