Stamp, Stamp, Stamp!

I have finally finished my big embroidery piece, and I hope to be able to take some photos in the next couple of days. I'm really excited about this one, so I'm eager to post it.

I've also started to use my new stamp carving tools, but I haven't gotten very far thanks to a jumpy, bumpy toddler and a busier-than-usual schedule. Before I started with the new tools, I did get in some more practice on pink erasers with varying results.

The first one was still very crude.


I was winging it, just using an X-Acto and basically slicing away rubber where I didn't want it to print. I had no clue as to technique and wasn't sure how to achieve the carved look that I so admire. (That's half the beauty of the stamps, I think.) Despite all that, I still found it quite satisfying to have that lovely, stampy look when I was done.

Then I read some more tutorials, especially one with info geared toward using an X-Acto. That's when the lightbulb flashed on. I'm not sure I can explain it all that well, but I realized that all I needed to do was use the X-Acto to cut out the same sort of shape that a carving tool would, which would take two cuts as opposed to one. Aha!

My first try was pretty clumsy. I hate how crumbly it is, and I accidentally sliced the rubber in some places I didn't mean to.


Then I started to get the hang of it.



The tree is my favorite, and oh, do I ever have plans for more. I'm eyeing up several good doodles in my sketchbook. So far I have no real use for the stamps, as I am not really much of a stamper, but that doesn't seem to matter. I can't help myself!



P.S. Head over to Ravenhill for an awesome double giveaway! Her projects are always beautiful, and she's been featured in one of my favorite magazines!

Because I Have So Much Free Time ...

... (note the sarcasm) I decided to try something new: rubber stamp carving.

I discovered this craft through some of my blog browsing and found myself fascinated with it. I tried to resist, but I just couldn't get it out of my mind. I've been thinking about it and bookmarking tutorials and even bought some erasers, which is recommended as a cheap material for beginners to practice with.

Until yesterday, though, I hadn't done anything with them because, well, there's the little matter of all my time being used up already, but also because I was a little afraid to start. Yesterday, though, the urge was just too strong, so, using a Sharpie, I drew a simple design on an eraser, got out the X-Acto knife, and started carving.

It definitely took a while for me to get the "feel" of the carving, which is why the finished result is pretty crude and a little messy (crumbly), but I did eventually get it and started to really enjoy it. I have some practicing to do, and I have not-so-quietly hinted that I would really like carving tools for my birthday, but I don't think it's too bad for a first try. Now if I could just carve myself a few extra hours in every day....