This tutorial actually contains instructions for all 3 of these stamps so it's going to be a really long post, but it'll be super informative!!
In this post I'll show you...
- A list of the supplies you need for stamp carving
- Some stamp carving basics that apply to all hand-carved stamps
- Instructions for a "sliced" heart-shaped stamp that anyone (adult) can make
- How to carve an exclamation point (!) stamp for beginners
- A complete tutorial on making word stamps
Some tutorials you'll see online require either linoleum carving tools or wood carving tools. This tutorial only requires a craft knife for carving and I know most of you have an X-acto knife already!!
Before I get into the tutorials, I need to apologize first. The photos in this post are not good at all!! I desperately need a new camera, because my little $99 camera is not cutting it. Thanks for bearing with me until I get a new one.
One last thing before I start...
WARNING
This craft project is for adults only!!
Using a craft knife is very dangerous and you must be very careful!!
Now, let's get to the stamp carving!!
SUPPLIES
Eraser
Craft knife (Exacto Knife)
Pencil & Pen
Tracing Paper
STAMP CARVING BASICS
BUYING ERASERS
Before you go to the office supply store to buy your erasers, go to the dollar store instead!! I was able to get six 1"x2" erasers plus 12 erasers that go on the end of a pencil for just $1!! That's about 15-cents per large eraser!! Super affordable!!
CARVING DIRECTION
Always carve away from your body and never towards a finger or body part!!
The sketch above is of a side view of a carved stamp.
Imagine the blue rectangle is the original eraser and the red lines on top are the parts of the stamp you want to show up on paper.
When carving your stamp you'll want to carve into the eraser at an angle going away from your image. Try to not carve straight down and definitely don't carve under your image!!
Don't worry this will make more sense in the photos later on. hehehe
PREPARING THE ERASERS
Most erasers that people carve are shaped like a parallelogram.
When you get your erasers, you'll need to trim off those sizes so that it's a rectangle.
Don't throw away the pieces you cut off!! You can make super tiny stamps with those!!
"SLICED" HEART TUTORIAL
If you're not quite ready to "carve" stamps yet, you can get used to cutting into erasers with this project!!
Just remember that for this stamp you'll cut straight down and in regular stamps, you will carve at an angle.
Note: In the sketches below, the blue lines are the current eraser piece and the red lines are the cuts you'll be making.
Step 1: MAKE A TRIANGLE
Start with a square piece of eraser.
Cut two lines all the way through the eraser from the top corners to the center of the bottom side.
Step 2: REMOVE TOP POINTS
Cut the tips off of the top 2 points of the triangle.
Step 3: ADD "V"
Cut a "V"-shaped piece out of the top center.
Step 4: ROUND EDGES
Cut the tips off the points at the top.
If there are any points remaining, cut them off until you have almost round edges.
FINISHED!!
THE BEGINNER'S STAMP
This is a great first project for someone that's never carved a stamp before, because it has both straight lines and a circle. Plus, it's a very easy image to start with.
Step 1: SKETCH IMAGE
Using a pencil, hand sketch your exclamation point on your eraser.
Step 2: CARVE STRAIGHT EDGES
Slice your blade down around the straight edges of the top of the exclamation point.
Carefully remove the eraser material you don't want in your stamp by cutting into the side of the eraser.
Be sure to not cut too far though!!
Step 3: CARVE ROUND EDGES
Gently trace around the circle making sure to angle your blade away from the circle.
Carefully remove the excess eraser material.
FINISHED!!
MAKING WORD STAMPS
For the longest time, my stamps were turning out backwards!! Then I learned how to do the tracing paper transfer technique that I'll show you below!! Now I can make all kinds of word stamps!!
You can also use this technique for any images that need to go in a particular direction.
Step 1: TRACE TEMPLATE
Determine how big your image can be on a piece of tracing paper.
Using pencil, sketch or trace the word onto the tracing paper making sure there's a heavy layer of pencil on the paper.
Step 2: TRANSFER IMAGE
Place the paper image-side-down on your eraser.
Rub the image with your finger, pushing the paper onto the eraser so the image transfers properly.
Step 3: TRACE WITH INK
To make sure the transferred image doesn't rub off while your working on the stamp, just trace the image with an ink pen. Just make sure the pen won't damage the eraser and won't smear.
Step 4: CARVE
Gently trace around the letters making sure to angle your blade away from the image.
Carefully remove the eraser material you don't want in your stamp by cutting into the side of the eraser.
Be sure to not cut too far though!!
FINISHED!!
So now that you know how to carve stamps, just promise me you won't get addicted to this craft!!! hehehe
This really is a super fun craft and I constantly go back to it time and time again!!
Thanks for reading!! Until next time...