Chunky Stamps Foam
Chunky Stamps Foam
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 TONS OF PACKS 3394 PIECE SCRAPBOOK LOT MAKING MEMORIES JOLEES MARTHA MORE G82  US $41.00
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 HUGE 3121 PIECE SCRAPBOOK LOT TONS OF PACKS MARTHA STEWART JOLEES MORE H10 US $26.00
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Cruise through any craft or department store aisles for scrapbooking stamps and you'll notice that they don't come cheap. Read on for some ideas to make stamps you can use for any applications.
Cut shapes and glue onto a background. You can cut shapes from cardboard, felt, or Foamies (from the store and usually in the kids crafts aisles). Use one shape or a combination of shapes and arrange onto a Foamcore background (found in craft, office supply or art supply stores). You can use a cardboard background, but if you plan on using paint to stamp your designs you'll find the cardboard can get soggy and it really isn't sturdy enough for long-term use. You can cut several pieces of cardboard and glue them together, and you can seal the front with gesso or matte medium to make it stronger.
Glue objects onto a background. Lay string or yarn onto the background and glue them down. Also try crumpled aluminum foil, old pieces of jewelry, old bottle lids, or pieces of hardware, which may need hot glue to attach firmly. Anything with a texture which is reasonably flat can be considered. Or, just drop the glue itself randomly on the background and let dry thoroughly.
Incise the background. Use those foam trays that grocery stores still use in fruit and vegetable packaging. Wash, then cut off the edges leaving a flat piece, then score a design with a pencil. If you really want to take the time, you can buy linoleum blocks and cutting tools and make long lasting and detailed stamps. If you are making a lot of stamps, this can become cost effective.
Raid your kitchen drawers. And obviously, don't use for food once you've used them in crafts-or search garage sales for craft-only pieces. Think cookie cutters, wine corks, toothpicks, and jar or squeeze bottle lids.
Once you start to look around your home and garage, you'll realize there's always something to repurpose as a stamp!
About the Author
Trish Doornbosch is a freelance writer, art teacher and artist living in Northern Illinois. Her designs and portfolio are available through her web site at http://www.trishadstudio.com
Article copyright: Trish Doornbosch
