January Journal Jump #3: Stamp Carving

Stamp carving goes with art journaling like paint with brushes. It isn't a difficult job: a spot of practice, the right tips and tools and you have a personal stamp with a distinctive look. I've used the leaf image from the cover of the Flow journal and copied it.*

It's fun to come up with your own little drawings for stamp carving. Look through motifs from rugs or wallpapers. I like to look at ancient and African symbols too. If you want to carve letters or words, make sure that they are reversed when carving! 

*I've used imagery from one of Flow's designers so it's not my imagery. I cannot sell it or use it on any piece of my artwork that is for sale. This is very important: please respect your source.  

Use what you have. The following are affiliate links. I get a percentage of the sale at no cost to you. Thanks for helping support my channel/blog this way.

 

Comments

[JoAnn]

Thanks Diana - love your videos - I have the rubber, I have the tools - just need to carve some stamps. 🍁🍂🌿

[Sharon Field]

How thrilled I was to see this video. I just ordered some supplies for stamp carving and I do NOT know the first thing about it........so this gave me some information. I would love to see more videos on stamp carving. Maybe after I get my supplies,things will make more sense to me.

[A Facebook User]

Love this, Diana! Deb and I want to make it down to one of your meet ups soon!

[Suzanne]

All your videos are great! Easy to listen to and follow and sometimes hilarious. I feel as if I'm there with you and you're chatting away as you show the process of something. Thank you for being you!

[Jane]

Diana, I love the look of hand carved stamps, too. But I have to say I haven't done much myself. I have the supplies...and you have encouraged me to give it a try. Thank you.

[m.c. howes]

Diana...I enjoy all yr videos because of the timbre of yr voice...very soothing,sounds like you are smiling...you are also unpretentious, self-deprecatory at times and witty. so you are teaching not only what you teach but deeper lessons about art-making that have to do with flowing, being gentle w/ yourself, and carrying on no matter what the outcome. i'm yr biggest fan and maybe yr oldest, at 74.

[Debby Ebeling]

I have t carved a stamp in a long while...I hope I find some materials in my stash because now I have a craving for some carving!

[Sheryll]

Thanks Diana. Stamp carving is one of my favorite things to do. Your video taught me a couple of tricks I hadn't heard before. Love when that happens.
Best to you. Sheryll

[Wendy @ the Late Start Studio]

Lovely clear video as ever. I think I get more satisfaction out of making stamps than using them Diana . . . the same with any resource really.

[Diana Trout]

Thanks Sheryll, I love when that happens too. If you don’t mind, what were the new tricks? Just curious.

[Chrissy Vieman]

Oooh I want to try stamp carving! That looks like so much fun!

[Diana Trout]

Thanks Chrissy, it really is fun. Look at the new post for today (1/15) for a craft foam stamp making video.

[Diana Trout]

They are enjoyable, relaxing to carve. I remember from my etching classes that the plate was SO satisfying.

[Diana Trout]

nice alliteration: “a craving to carve” :) I just published another post on using craft foam to make stamps on today (1/15) blog.

[Diana Trout]

What a lovely email, m.c. It’s so appreciated. 74 and still with a thirst to learn is a very great thing. As I turn 60 this year, I look more and more to my aunts and older friends to model my behavior. I am lucky to have good people around me.

[Diana Trout]

My advice is to keep it very simple - like the leaf. It’s a skill that requires practice. Look at today’s post (1/15) for techniques to create stamps from craft foam. Thanks for watching and commenting, Jane.

[Diana Trout]

Thanks Suzanne. I don’t always mean to be funny but it does seem to work out that way. lol. You are so kind to comment! Have a lovely weekend.

[Diana Trout]

Oh! That would be so nice. Let me know a good time and maybe I’ll plan a longer workshop. I’ve had some requests for a fuller day.

[Diana Trout]

Oh! That is great Sharon! Just start simple (and not too tiny). That leaf is an excellent, easy first stamp. Enjoy!

[Diana Trout]

lol, JoAnn, one at a time

[Dar James]

I'd totally be down for a fuller day.

[Sheryll]

The first trick was to hold the cutting tool at an angle away from the image. I knew to do this with an xacto knife but not with the cutting tools. Because of the v shape I thought you automatically were cutting the appropriate angle away. Doing it would give you extra insurance of a stable edge.
The other was to use the plexi glass stamp mount to provide a flat stable surface over a possibly wobbly stamp when printing.
It seems like a no brainer now that you've shown it so thank you for that.
Sheryll

[Diana Trout]

Thanks Sheryl! You’re right that holding the gouge straight would insure a bevel but from teaching the technique, it’s just a little trick that helps a bit more when rounding corners. I just discovered mounting blocks over the last year when I took up card making! So yeah :)