Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Tutorial : How to carve a toadstool stamp and use it for gift tags.


Time Taken: Approx. 60 to 90 minutes

This toadstool stamp is fairly simple to carve and can be used to make sweet gift tags. You can use either an ink stamp pad or for a richer more vibrant colour try block ink. It’s also a good opportunity to use up any small card off cuts you may have about.

Given the sharp tools required for carving I’d suggest that any kids’ participation should be restricted to inking the rubber and stamping the tags.

Most of the items required are readily available. Many art shops now stock the soft rubber printing blocks. The product I use is called ezy carve, 14cm x 21cm and made by Renoir. It costs $8 US or $9 AUS. If you’re struggling to find it even online I have heard of people carving small stamps from a regular rubber eraser. Block Ink can be purchased from art stores – I’m using Australian made brand Derivan. Lastly, the carving tool – the linocut blades and handle I use are “speedball” brand and came in a kit. 3 interchangeable tips are stored in the handle – very handy!


List of items
Sheet of paper to draw your design on
Black pen for design
Pencil for tracing paper transfer
Tracing paper
Gift tag size cards with holes punched
Rubber Block for carving (you can cut a piece to the approximate size of your stamp before we start - BE CAREFUL with your sharp tools)
Carving tools - I use linocut tools size #1 and #5
Ink Pad stamp OR flat plate, block ink and spoon
Embroidery Cotton to match or contrast your stamp colour.
Step 1. Draw your toadstool, the exact size you would like the stamp, onto a sheet of paper. (If confident you can draw straight onto the rubber but it is much easier to erase mistakes and refine your design on paper first).





Step 2. Use tracing paper to transfer design to the rubber block.



Step 3. Now to start carving. SAFETY NOTE: You do not need to apply much pressure to carve rubber and always ensure you angle the tool away from your body and wherever possible away from fingers to avoid any injuries if you slip (You are undertaking this at your own risk!)

Remember that the areas you are going to carve away will be the colour of your chosen card and the areas you leave untouched will be where the ink prints from. Also note that the stamp print will be the reverse of the picture you have carved. eg. If you want to print word, you’d need to carve the words into the rubber so that they read backwards.

Take your finest point carving tool (mine is size #1) and gently carve a groove around the outside line of the toadstool. Now carve the spots out of the top of the toadstool and then another groove inside the line of the stalk


Step 4. Take a larger carving tool (for this part I use size #5) and remove the inside area of the stalk and all of the area outside of the toadstool. If you have a Stanley knife handy you can cut away the rest of the rubber that you do not need but this is not absolutely necessary.


Step 5. Wash stamp with soap and water to remove any small pieces of cut rubber or pencil marks. Allow a few minutes to dry.



Step 6. Inking and stamping. A) If using a regular ink pad, turn the stamp face up and wipe the ink pad across the face of the stamp. Or B) If using block ink, use the back of a spoon to spread it thinly across a side plate and press the stamp face down into it.

Do a few test stamps on a scrap piece of paper. You may find you may want to further refine your design. Now get stamping : )


Step 7. Allow tags to dry then thread a piece of coloured embroidery cotton or jute string through the punched hole and your tag is ready to use.



Done!

Please note the design of the toadstool and this tutorial has been created by me (http://chantalvincentart.blogspot.com/). All photos belong to me. I would love for you to share my tutorial but please be sure to link it back to this blog.




 

24 comments:

  1. Who would have thought it was that easy! Can you do me a chicken?

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  2. ,,,and some willow?? I'll pay you with craftiness :) Or cash if you'd prefer.

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  3. Yes and Yes! I'd like to be paid in the common currency of craftiness please :) Can I book you for a sewing lesson? (No, I'm not joking).

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  4. HOW CUTE! I just finished this birthday party http://sewhomegrown.blogspot.com/2010/08/enchanted-forest-party-charlotte-turns.html and these would be so cute for thank-you cards! I am also so obsessed with all things woodland right now - I am redoing my little one's room since I made so many things for her party - this would be cute to use in her room somehow too. Thanks!

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  5. Ooh! Just had a look at your site! Charlotte's birthday looks amazing. So glad you might be able to use the toadstool stamp : )

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  6. Thanks for the great and simple tutorial! I've got myself a speedball cutter to make some stamps, but haven't got started because the tutorial I found was so long and complex. When I've had a shot at one of these I'll send a pic!

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  7. Hey Bellgirl, Great to know this has helped you on your way : )
    Can't wait to see what you create!

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  8. These tags are just the cutest, and thanks for a great tutorial! I'm going to link to this on my international blog linking party (open now and all week)though I'd love to see you there as well. Lots of great projects at the party, and I think you'll enjoy my blog as well! all the best!

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  9. Yay! Thanks so much Sara. You have so many great crafts on your blog :)

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  10. Thanks for the tutorial, your toadstool stamp is so cute!

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  11. How cool! I have no idea there was carveable rubber out there and this stamp is really cute. Thanks for linking to Craftastic Monday!

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  12. Thank you for another great link at A Crafty Soiree. I am just lovin' on your toadstool, it's so darn cute. I've love getting a package of the handstamped tags all by themself, nevermind being attached to a gift! But then again I'm in love with the look of handcarved whimsical stamps. I've been wanting to give rubber stamp carving a whirl but I'm not as talented with the drawing.

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  13. This is super great!! I have done linoleum prints & just found out about ezy carve. So glad I popped by from Lucky Linky Tues!

    I am your newest follower :)

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  14. Hi Chantal! Thanks again for linking up to A Crafty Soiree! Tomorrow you are one of our featured projects☺

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  15. Fun idea! Thanks for sharing this one on Thrilling Thursday too!

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  16. These are so cute! Thanks for sharing your tutorial, I'll definitely give this a try:)

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  17. Hi I am here from Under the Table and Dreaming Sunday Showcase. Love this and I never would have thought it would be that easy. I will have to see if I can find the tools here in Canada.
    Thanks for the tutorial!

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  18. I've followed the tutorial and made a banksia stamp! I'm planning to put it in my creatiev space tomorrow, so I'll link you in!

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  19. Ah that's awesome! I love it. I didn't know they made rubber blocks!

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    1. You can get them online if you can't find them in craft shops but many have them now. Enjoy your carving!!

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  20. Love those handmade stamps, I manage to make heart, house and a tree but I haven't tried doing something complicated :)))

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    1. Thanks very much :) - keep going and you'll find the complexity will just come along with the more you do! I find if I'm doing fine detail its best not to cut too deep as the rubber can become unstable. A few light scratches sometimes are all you need to give a fine line for detail or highlights. Good luck!

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  21. Replies
    1. Hi Jutta! Thanks very much :) sorry for delay in my response - we moved house and just had our internet reconnected. Nice to see you here!

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