Monday 2 June 2014

Handmade: Stamp carving

This weekend I took a class at Handmade, an annual Wellington event where you can learn and do all kinds of crafty things.  I decided to try something outside my existing range of craft skills and took a class called Hand Carved Rubber Stamps and Printing, taught by Melissa Wastney (who blogs at Tiny Happy).

Stamps and hand stamped fabric 

The concept is quite simple really - you take a rubber eraser and some kind of carving tool (I used a little set of wood carving tools but you can also use a lino cutter) and create your very own stamp.

Stamps and hand stamped fabric 

I had a think before the class about the kind of stamps I might like to make.  My drawing skills are minimal at best so I was trying to come up with simple shapes that I can actually draw.  I got the idea of creating a two piece stamp from a new design, "Flight", which Leslie Keating from maze and vale posted on instagram last week, and I guess the winter weather inspired the clouds and the rain.

Stamps and hand stamped fabric 

The cat stamp was something that of course I had to try out.  I think it turned out quite cute, like a funny little cat polka dot.

Stamps and hand stamped fabric

Overall I really enjoyed this class - we didn't have too much to cover in the time available, and Melissa was a great teacher with a lovely calm and encouraging manner.  It was fantastic to see what everyone else in the class was doing as well - people came up with some amazing designs and my favourites were not necessarily the most complicated.  

I'd like to play around with stamp carving and printing some more, and since I bought about a dozen erasers and only used 4 in class I've got plenty of material to work with!  Have you ever tried making your own stamps?

9 comments:

Taryn said...

Yes I've made stamps from erasers and have been really impressed by how well they turned out. I have a great book called 'Printing by Hand' by Lena Corwin and it's very inspirational. :-)

Laurelle said...

No I haven't but I have been thinking a lot about trying it! I love the organic look of the Maze and Vale fabric and the idea of making your own designs would be awesome. I love what you came up with. What sort of paint did you use? I think I will definitely have to give this a go :)

Martha said...

I've never tried stamp carving. Sound really fun. I really like the stamps you made specially the cat one is super cute.

Mrs Flying Blind... said...

They look fun - I missed the class at Fat Quarterly retreat last year, but as my drawing skills are zero, probably for the best!

Leeanne said...

looks like you had fun. I remember doing a similar thing years ago with the kids, we used potatoes!

Marie Turner said...

These are really cute! I hope you have a project in mind to use them!

Nat at Made in Home said...

I have always wanted to try, but never got round to it, but I love the idea. Love the cloud and rain one!

Leonie said...

Would love to do this one day! The most evolved we've gotten is with a knife, paint and potatoes!

Anne said...

I love how both your fabrics turned out! And this reminds me that I bought a bunch of materials to do this and then never followed up by using them. LOL