Stamp making is the craft of creating reusable designs that can be pressed onto paper, fabric, card or other surfaces using ink or paint. Handmade stamps can be used for card making, scrapbooking, journaling, gift wrap, fabric printing, labels, tags and decorative craft projects.
The basic idea is simple; you create a raised design on a surface, apply ink or paint, then press it down to transfer the image.
What Does Stamp Making Mean?
Stamp making means making your own stamp instead of using a ready-made one. A stamp can be made from rubber, lino, foam, potato, erasers, cork, wood blocks or other materials.
The design on the stamp is usually raised. When ink is applied, only the raised parts touch the paper or fabric. This creates the printed image.
Stamp making can be very simple, such as cutting shapes from craft foam, or more detailed, such as carving a design into rubber or lino.
How Does Stamp Making Work?
Stamp making works by creating a design that can be printed repeatedly. You first choose or draw a design, then transfer it onto your stamp material.
If you’re carving a stamp, you remove the parts you don’t want to print. The remaining raised areas become the image. If you’re using foam, you cut out shapes and stick them onto a backing block.
Once the stamp is ready, you press it into ink or paint and then press it onto your chosen surface.
What Do You Need for Stamp Making?
The supplies depend on the type of stamp you want to make. A basic beginner setup might include:
- A rubber carving block, lino, foam sheets or erasers
- A pencil and paper for sketching
- Tracing paper
- Carving tools or scissors
- Ink pad or paint
- A flat surface to print on
- Paper, card, fabric or tags
- A backing block if needed
For children or very simple crafts, foam stamps or potato stamps are easier and safer than carved stamps.
What Are the Main Types of Stamp Making?
There are several types of stamp making. Common beginner options include:
- Rubber stamp carving
- Lino stamp carving
- Foam stamp making
- Potato stamping
- Eraser stamp carving
- Cork stamps
- Block printing
- Fabric stamping
Foam stamps are one of the easiest options for beginners because they can be made with scissors and glue. Rubber carving gives more detail, but it requires sharper tools and more care.
Is Stamp Making Easy for Beginners?
Stamp making can be very beginner-friendly if you start off with a simple design. Basic shapes, leaves, stars, flowers, letters and small patterns are easier than detailed illustrations.
The easiest method is usually foam stamp making. You cut a shape from craft foam, attach it to a backing piece, add ink or paint, and print.
Carved stamps take more practice because you need to control the carving tool and remember that the printed image may appear reversed.
What Is Rubber Stamp Carving?
Rubber stamp carving is a form of stamp making where you carve a design into a soft rubber block. It is popular because rubber is easier to carve than traditional lino and can hold quite a lot of detail.
You draw or transfer the design onto the rubber, then carve away the background. The raised design is then inked and printed.
Rubber stamp carving is good for making custom designs, logos, icons, patterns, journaling stamps and handmade cards.
What Is Lino Printing?
Lino printing, or linocut, is a printmaking method where a design is carved into a sheet of linoleum. Ink is rolled over the raised surface, then printed onto paper or fabric.
Lino printing is closely related to stamp making, but it is often used for larger prints and more formal artwork. It can produce bold, graphic images with strong lines and shapes.
Lino is usually firmer than rubber, so it may take more effort to carve. Beginners often start with soft-cut lino or rubber blocks first.
What Can You Use Handmade Stamps For?
Handmade stamps can be used in many craft projects. Popular uses include:
- Handmade cards
- Scrapbook pages
- Junk journals
- Gift tags
- Wrapping paper
- Envelopes
- Labels
- Fabric bags
- Patterned paper
- Art prints
- Planner decoration
- Wedding stationery
Once you have made a stamp, you can reuse it many times, which makes it useful for repeated designs and matching craft projects.
Can You Stamp on Fabric?
Yes, you can stamp on fabric if you use suitable paint or ink. Fabric paint or fabric ink is usually better than a normal paper ink pad because it is designed to bond with fabric.
Simple cotton fabric works well for beginner fabric stamping. You can decorate tote bags, patches, napkins, cushion covers, tea towels or fabric scraps.
Some fabric paints need to be heat-set with an iron after drying, so always check the instructions on the product.
What Designs Work Best for Stamp Making?
Simple, bold designs usually work best, especially for beginners. Fine details can be difficult to carve and may not print clearly.
Good beginner stamp designs include:
- Hearts
- Stars
- Leaves
- Flowers
- Simple animals
- Initials
- Borders
- Geometric patterns
- Small icons
- Repeating shapes
It is also important to remember that words and letters need to be reversed on the stamp so they print the right way round.
Why Do People Like Stamp Making?
People enjoy stamp making because it lets them create custom designs that can be reused. Instead of drawing the same shape again and again, you can make one stamp and print it many times.
Stamp making is also satisfying because the first print feels a bit like a ‘reveal’. You carve or build the design, add ink, press it down, and see the finished image appear.
It is a good craft for people who enjoy paper crafts, journaling, printmaking, pattern design or handmade stationery.
Final Thoughts
Stamp making is the craft of creating reusable designs that can be printed with ink or paint. Stamps can be made from rubber, lino, foam, erasers, potatoes and other materials.
For beginners, foam stamps, potato stamps and simple rubber stamps are good places to start. Choose a bold design, keep the shapes simple, and test the stamp on scrap paper before using it on a finished project.
Once you understand the basic process, stamp making can be used for cards, journals, fabric crafts, gift wrap, labels and many other creative projects.