Found Materials Stamping Artists Use To Create Professional Designs

By Jessica Cook


Stamped designs can be very striking and distinctive. They can vary from the most delicate to something so seemingly basic it looks like you could do it yourself. The fact is you can create your own stamped designs without buying the commercial stamps a lot of people use. With natural materials, some time and ingenuity, you can achieve something like the results stamping artists are so well known for.

Instead of purchasing commercial stamps from art supply stores, you should take a look around and see what kind of found materials you can use to create unique designs. Many fruits and vegetables make great stamps. You might start experimenting with an apple, for instance. Just cut it in half, apply paint, and stamp. Backpacks and wall hangings are a couple of the projects you might try.

Erasers work well as stamps. You could use ones on the end of pencils or choose individual erasers. These work well for small projects like cards and wrapping paper. This is one of the projects you can get your children involved in, especially if you are using pencil erasers. The pencil makes it easy for little fingers to control the design and placement of the paint.

Using vegetables you have in your crisper is another way to create interesting and unique designs that will have everyone guessing how you managed it. Before you throw out that cabbage head you never got around to using, trying turning it into a stamp. Cut off one end so all the interior layers are exposed. Dip it into the paint holding onto the other end and apply it to paper, fabric, or canvas.

If you are like a lot of people, you have a button box filled with extra buttons. These make great stamps for greeting cards, wrapping paper and stationary. This is probably not a project you want a small child involved in. Once paint gets on the buttons, they get slippery and messy. Tiny kids might even decide to swallow them.

Walking around your backyard should give you all kinds of ideas for stamps. Leaves are a great example. You can incorporate leaves from several different trees or stick to just one variety. With some leaves and small branches for stamps, you can create larger pieces like sheer panels for French doors.

If you're really creative, and want to create your own stamps, you could carve wood blocks, linoleum tiles, or some other medium appropriate for engraving. You will need some supplies for this project. A carving knife and brayer in addition to paint are necessary. Once you have your stamp carved, you can use it over and over if you wash it with warm water after you're finished.

Once you have done some experimenting, you will probably become pretty proficient at the technique. You might even earn some extra money selling your creations at local arts and crafts shows. The more creative you are, the more interesting your work will be to others.




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