I don’t know about you, but I am a bit of a collector and horder of things. Especially all things crafty.. I actually have a number of wonderful and beautiful stamps – some I picked up in the V&A (wonderful wood carvings), some I have been dragging around with me for years (I have a little Woodstock from Snoopy) and others from as afar as Japan – as holiday momentos. But have I ever used them? Like properly?!?!?! No. And I have no excuses, I even have lots of different coloured ink pads. Well. Excuses no more… Katie from confessions of a design geek has done this wonderful Guest Post for us – yes, you do need stamps to begin with, but if you are like me, you may actually have a number lurking in your drawers. Go on.. get them out and make some wonderfully crafty things!!!
And if you love design, I mean LOVE design, then go and visit confessions of a design geek – or visit her anyway, show your appreciated for writing this post!
Materials:
Ink stamp pads, ideally in a few colours.
(These are available from most stationery and craft shops. Mine are either from WHSmith – or came with the ink stamps.)
Ink stamps, ideally some with pictures and some with letters.
(I have a selection from Yellow Owl Workshop, Skull and Cross Buns, Muji and Tiger – or you can make your own by carving erasers, or even potatoes!)
Things to stamp on.
(This is where you can get quite creative, I’ve used everything from blank greetings cards and postcards to luggage tags, napkins and polystyrene party cups.)
Instructions:
1. Decide what you want to make. Let’s start with a simple greetings card.
2. Select your stamps and think about the design you’re going to create with them. (You might want to practice on a piece of paper first.)
3. Ink them up – and get stamping.
4. How about a slightly more complex greetings card, this time using a blank card, and also a luggage tag? Start by sticking the luggage tag string down the inside of the card, using some clear tape.
5. Ink up your stamps in your chosen design – I’m putting my message on the luggage tag and pictures on the card itself.
6. Et voila!
7. Then off you go….
8. Don’t worry if the prints aren’t quite perfect – little imperfections are all part of the handmade look.
9. And don’t forget to put your name on the back, so the recipient knows you made it yourself.
Links:
What others are reading
Valentine’s : Sewing & Threading
Kids Get Crafty: (London) City Postcards
How to… make a dolly (from onesies?) (Guest Post)
How to… make a Paper Envelope
How to… make Austrian Angels: Weihnachtsengerl (Guest Post)
How to… take good shots without a Big Girls Camera (Guest Post)
Kids Crafts – Making Apple Prints a Little Easier
How to… make a cute Keepsake Bunny from Onesies (Guest Post)
This post makes me happy – not just the stamping (although I do now have the urge to stamp EVERYTHING in sight), but the collaboration. You make it fun. Love it.
Lovely for a rainy day! We have a collection of stampers which haven’t been out for a while, I’m thinking we may make some Valentine’s/Spring cards with them! Thank you! (and thanks for linking Maggy!)
This was the kick in the rear I needed to whip out my stamp collection…I might have to steal my daughter’s alphabet stampers…that’s allowed, right?!
Absolutely!!!!
those are so nice.. Thanks for the congrats. What linky system do you use. The one I use is getting ready to have you pay for a year.. I am just looking for something else.. Have a great weekend..
LOVE stamping! I must dig out my craft boxes!! Great post!
All great ideas. This is an excellent post, a definite keeper. I have so many rubber stamps, but sadly they have not been used in any fabulous way. Thanks to you, I am now armed with a ton of ideas.
am now going to have to dig out my craft box and find my stamps!!
Very inspiring! I haven’t really gotten into stamps at all as I was a bit intimidated by stuff i have seen on other blogs, but this post makes me want to try them out!
I don’t know why I just buy them for the kids and not me! I’ll have to borrow them….. or …. I saw some lovely ones by Lollipop designs http://www.lollipopdesigns.co.uk/
Ooooh Lollipop look MARVELLOUS! WOW! Thanks for the link!
Maggy
Ooh, these are BEAUTIFUL, makes me want to go out and buy lots of little labels, and get crafty myself! very inspiring, thank you both :>)
Rebecca x
This looks so easy. Now I need is her creative genius.
I like someone else now want to go home and use my new stamps, but to make cards and other stuff! Thank you so much for sharing! I love this! Oh, and I am a MAJOR HOARDER (in my craft room anyways). I need to clean it out and get more shelving! Thanks for linking to ISCCT!
Oh yes, perfect to go back to your craft hoard and use some of your lovely stamps!!
I have been in *love* with those stamps from the Yellow Owl Workshop for months now.. I might just get them hoping that my stuff turns out as cute as yours!