New Stamps

I just got some new stamps at a dollar store today. Can't pass up on 4 stamps and an ink pad for $1.00. I don't usually use retail stamps, but I thought, heck why not.

Update: I tried out the stamps today. The ink was pretty weak but can be reinvigorated with some fresh ink. The stamps can be made better by taking them off their blocks, putting a stamp cushion on and glueing the stamps back on.

You can use rubber cement to reattach stamps if they fall off their cushions. The green image is a photo manipulation I did on the computer.

Halloween Stamp Ideas

I'd like to carve some Halloween stamps. I'm thinking a bat like a tattoo I saw on a woman at Joann's yesterday. She had a bat on each collar bone. I could stamp a temporary tattoo on myself. That would be fun. And vampires of course are all the rage because of the Twilight movies. So maybe a fang stamp or something. I should make some Halloween (Samhain) cards for my pagan friends. I know I have some skull pirate stamps I've carved in the past. So where are they? I'm not the most organized person in the world. Out of sight out of mind. Which is why I don't like to put anything away. It may be years before I happen upon it again.

In Answer to Your Questions Chimerastone

Thanks for your tips. Sometimes I draw directly on the eraser. Most often I trace around the eraser on my sketch pad, and work out a design first. When I find one I like I'll draw it directly onto the eraser.
Sometimes you can remove the printed on labels with some nail polish remover on a rag.

You can make tranfers using graphite paper or there is an oil method where you print out a design on the type of printer that leaves ink on the paper, then place it ink side touching the stamp and rub a rag with mineral oil on it (I think it's mineral oil but it might be turpentine). It's been a long time since I did any that way but it gives a high level of accuracy if you are doing portrait stamps). And of course you can always take a carved stamp, stamp it on a blank stamp, and carve it all over again. Each one will come out a little different but facing the opposite way.

I use all sizes of erasers, even the eraser tops of pencils for mini stamps. I've never noticed them being grainy. I get most of my erasers at the dollar stores or right before school starts there are a lot in Target, Walmart, and other department stores that have school supplies or office supplies. Then I stock up. If you want to carve big stamps it's better to just order carving blocks by the sheet from Nasco or Speedball or another supplier.

Archery, Grumpy Fairy and Handmade

I made three stamps today out of eraser stock.

Monkey Fever

Yesterday I set out to carve a monkey stamp, and it was so much fun I stamped the stamp on a clean eraser, and carved another monkey,then another. Now I have a whole barrel full of monkeys.

I also carved a steampunk stamp, then forgot to take a photo of it. I'll have to do it today.

Panda and Monkey

I just carved 2 stamps for the Zombie Nanner Gang challenge. One is Punky Panda and the other is Drunk Monkey. We have a different theme each day.

Sealing Wax

When I got back from my trip my boyfriend had 3 presents for me. I sure was surprised. He got me a kit with a seal and sealing wax, a tiny marblelized journal, and 4 pirate skeleton beads. The seal is of a harp to go with my last name 'harper'. So now I have more things to add to my art journal. So many things go well with rubber stamping. It truly does lend itself to mixed media. He showed me a tutorial on using the stamp and the guy said to lick the stamp first before pressing it in hot wax so it will release better. Never tried that one before. Not exactly sanitary...lol.

Somewhere from years ago I bought sealing wax and seals. I wonder where those got off too?

Bow, Arrow and Teapot stamps

Even though I'm depressed I thought making stamps might take my mind off of things. But I kept making mistakes so I gave up after 2 stamps. The teapot stamp is okay, but the archery stamp originally had the word 'archery' carved on the bow. But the letters were too hard to read and I cut the leg off the 'R' so I ended up carving the letters away which left weird little ragged edges on the bow. On the string of the bow, on the very second cut of the stamp, I cut through the string (oopsy). And the arrowhead looked pretty good but when I was cleaning up around it, I knicked it. Sigh. I have other things on my mind and my focus is off. As is my coordination.

More Carved Stamps on Etsy

I found another cool blog by a stamper here: http://cupcaketreedesigns.blogspot.com/ I feel a little guilty because I haven't carved any stamps lately. Maybe I should go out on my patio today in the spring sunshine and carve some. It wouldn't kill me. I never lack for ideas, that's for sure. It's more a matter of time. So hop over and enjoy her blog. She has some great stamps for sale at very reasonable prices. I love the 'olive u' one. Knock knock who's there? Olive. Olive who? Olive you.

Address Stamps

I need to make up some sample address stamps. I don't really want my home address on the internet so I'll have to make up an address or use one for a commercial shop or something. Hmmm.
I have so many ideas today my head is spinning. I almost envy people that can never think of anything to make. I have the opposite problem. My head is so bursting with ideas, it's hard to focus and finish anything. This morning alone I thought of a new amigurumi mouse, a necklace made with fiber 'cocoon beads', a wire Easter basket, and some more folk art paintings. Ack my brain is full.

When carving an address stamp, don't forget to carve all letters and symbols backwards.

I just signed up for Tagfoot. http://ping.fm/lfV6m Come see all my links and comments and my wishlist.

Want to join ping.fm too? Go to http://www.ping.fm.Use the code 'legendofping' and you could have the luxury of posting to all your blogs in one fell swoop like I do. Way more efficient than doing it one by one.

I'm not sure what 'ping my default' means but I guess I'll find out when I hit send.

The week sure went by quick. I had a lot more planned but didn't have the energy to do it. My hands are still sore from woodcarving, and so I've had to lay off the knitting and crocheting. I'm looking forward to the weekend. My daughter may visit. We'll see.

Come view my Flickr photo stream. Over 3000 photos I've taken are waiting there for your pleasure. http://ping.fm/3TTAi

I just signed up for Ping.fm to make social networking more effiecient.

Stamp Carving Day

I spent yesterday at the Pasadena Arroyo carving stamps.

Kokopelli Name Stamps

I carved four new stamps today. I gave one away. I took photos but it's too late to be digging around for my camera, so hopefully tomorrow I will remember to post them. They are of Kokopelli.

Boogie Robot

A new stamp.

New stamps I carved

Three of the four stamps I carved yesterday. I've learned to leave on extra stamp material until the carving is finished. Yesterday I was carving an address stamp and I made the '9' and forgot to carve it backwards, but because I had a lot of eraser left under my address I was able to add a new zip code below my address, and cut off the one that I had botched. There is no photo of the address stamp because I don't feel like sharing my address with the whole world.

But here are 3 other stamps I carved. The branchlike one was inspired by a sculpture at the mall. I'm sure it will come in handy at some point even if it isn't a popular and easy to label image. That's the beauty of carving your own stamps...you can make designs that you'll never find in a stamp store because they aren't commercial enough for the masses.