Jessica carves her own stamps by hand. With her help, I’ve discovered that this process is fun, relaxing and a great way to create one-of-a-kind designs.
acrylic paint
craft knife
high-density rubber block (Speedball)
paintbrush
paper
paper towel
pen or permanent marker
soft block carving tool
STEP 1: With a pen or marker, draw a unique design directly on a high-density rubber block.
STEP 2: Use a carving tool to gently carve into the block, etching out the top of your design. You don’t want to press too deeply at first to avoid tearing into the block. This repetition of the carving process can be a meditative one as well.
STEP 3: When you are finished carving, trim off the excess rubber with a craft knife. Rinse off the excess rubber with water and blot dry with a paper towel.
STEP 4: Paint directly on the stamp with a brush and acrylic paint.
STEP 5: Firmly press the rubber stamp to paper and pull back to reveal!
Because of all the shavings, this can get a bit messy. I like to carve my stamps outside and over paper for easy cleanup.
Float Softly Upwards
by Jessica Swift