Stationary Stamping

I thought I'd surprise my pen pal with a little stamping on her envelope today. Stamping doesn't have to be a big complicated project if you keep some stamps, stickers and an ink pad handy. I got it in the mailbox just in time too.

Hand Carved Letters embellish an envelope.

Rubber Stamp Inspirations

If you can't think of any rubber stamp designs you'd like to make, check out my board on Pinterest.
I just added a bunch of new pins to my board. Then my board will lead to other boards.

And if you'd rather buy hand-carved stamps, many Etsy sellers now have them. Some of the links on Pinterest go to Etsy shops. Others go to tutorials. Have fun.

Stamped Leather Necklaces Kid's Project

I carved six eraser stamps today for a 'make and take' at an archery event tomorrow. The ink was for metal, but took beautifully to the leather without smearing or bleeding.

Twelve New Hand Carved Images

I devoted myself to carving stamps today and I had a great time. I carved 12 little stamps, and one pencil eraser moon stamp. I took videos of most of it so I could make a movie for youtube with it. Then I need to make some great projects with it so people can see the amazing potential in printing with found objects and hand carving your own stamps.

Printing With Found Objects

After looking at a book on printing with found objects at Joann's it stirred up my old passion for all things hand carved and printed and stamped and stencilled.  So excited about it that I went to the discount store and bought up all manner of things I think might make good prints.  Then I made a youtube video on it. The only thing I lack now is flat table space, and I need to find my box of stamps and ink pads which doesn't seem to be where I put it last. Foiled again by lack of space in my tiny apartment.

This is a get well card I made for a sick friend.  If you click on them you can see the details better in the larger photos. I wrote the address on the paper doll's skirt, but I blurred it out again for privacy.

I can't wait to print more stuff, but I'll have to for another day because it's late and my eyes are tired.  And I have no flat space to work.  Seriously.  Every flat surface is covered.

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