How to Get Started in Rubber Stamping

If you'd like to create custom-made, unique cards and crafts, but you don't know much about drawing, try rubber stamping. You can decorate note cards, your scrapbook, your notebook, or journal, or just about any other paper you have around.

1. Obtain some rubber stamps. Individual rubber stamps are not too expensive, but buying a lot of them can add up quickly, so choose some general designs that have meaning to you and that you can reuse.
2. Obtain a stamp pad. If you remember the standard off-red or black stamp pads that are usually used with date stamps, look again. Stamp pads come in all colors, and they even come in multiple colors. Choose one or two colors that suit your style to get started.
3. Color directly on the stamps with water-based markers. Water based markers are the least expensive way to add lots of custom colors to your stamp. The best part is that you can color directly onto the design, so you can make only those parts you want a certain color.
4. Breathe on your stamp. If, during the coloring process, the ink has dried out, breathe warm air over it to re-moisten it a bit.
5. Press the stamp firmly and evenly against the paper. Do not rock or jiggle the stamp. That will cause it to smear. Lift the stamp carefully.
6. Make the stamp part of a larger design. You can add your own calligraphy, drawing, or writing, or use it in conjunction with other stamps. Balloons, for example, could be part of "happy birthday" or "congratulations" or "thank you", or you could draw a clown to go with them. Things like balloons and flowers can also be part of a larger bunch. Stamp yourself a whole garden, if you like.
7. Cut out your stamps. A simple way to add depth and visual interest to a stamped project is to cut out around your stamps. Then, attach them to your card or scrapbook with a bit of folded paper (or another material to add thickness) behind them to make them pop up, out of the page.
8. Clean your stamps with a damp paper towel. To improve the life of your stamps, and to remove ink for next time, blot the rubber stamping surface against a moistened paper towel. Don't get the wood backing wet. Then, allow them to dry thoroughly before putting them away.
9. Create your own stamps. You can carve your own stamp out of a potato, a sponge, an eraser, a piece of wood, or another block of soft material. Remember to start with a flat surface and carefully carve out any part you don't want in the stamp. You can trace the design with a pen, first.
   • A potato is a good, inexpensive material if you want to try your own stamp or you're using a messy color, such as paint, but it won't last long.
   • A cellulose sponge will produce a stamp with a built-in texture. Even if you don't cut it up, it can be great for creating a textured background.
   • You can attach your homemade stamp to a backing, such as wood or cardboard, or use it directly if the material is stiff enough.
   • Remember that any design you do, and especially any letters you cut must be the mirror image of what you want to appear on paper.
10. Design your own rubber stamp and have it produced for you. Look in your local phone book or on the web for "custom rubber stamp". Many shops will cut a design that you give them.

• Practice on scrap paper. If you need to find out how a given design will look with certain colors, try it on a plain piece of computer or binder paper before putting it into your finished project. It'll give you a safe place to refine your technique or your color scheme.

• Stamping can be messy. Put down newspaper or a plastic sheet if you're worried about the surface underneath, and especially if you're using paint or ink.
• If you're cutting or carving your own stamp, use knives and any other sharp tools carefully and safely.