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Rubber Stamping

The creative possibilities are endless with rubber stamping whether you're creating greeting cards,  candles,  bookmarks  or home decorations. The world of rubber stamping is at your fingertips for a fun, rainy-day adventure for you or a group of friends, but it can also be an investment of time, money and creativity with many exciting returns. For the beginner, this guide provides basic information about products, techniques and maintenance. For the advanced stamper, this guide provides information about purchasing a plethora of supplies online. Now, get stamping!

Top Picks

Stampin' Up Stamps 

ColorBox Stamp Pads 

Marvy Heating Tool 

Rubber Stamper Magazine 

Products

Stamps : If you can imagine it, then there is probably a stamp somewhere out there that stamps it; everything from flowers to holiday-inspired themes, classical motifs to art-deco, Disney and even Warner Brothers.  There are three different styles:

    • Wood : These are the traditional and most widely used stamps out there, which come in a variety of shapes and sizes. They may be mounted or unmounted.
    • Acrylic : These clear stamps are less popular and a little more expensive, but somewhat easier to use depending on the project.
    • Foam : Extremely basic and easy to use, foam stamps are the least expensive of the three.

Stamp Pads : Stamp pads come in a variety of different colors, but there are two basic kinds:

Paper : Depending on the desired product, many different kinds of paper can be used There are many different and specific kinds of paper used in stamping:

Card Stock  -- Comes in varied thickness and bright, available in most colors

Vellum  -- Thin, strong, semi-transparent paper in lighter tones

Mulberry  -- Thin, easily torn to create wispy edges, variety of colors

Tissue  -- Thin, transparent paper used most often to transpose images onto objects (ie, candles)

Background  -- Paper that comes pre-printed with colors and/or images

Markers : Markers can be easily used to color in a stamped image.  They come in varying degrees of quality, price and color.  For a beginner stamper, a simple selection of traditional markers can be used.  For a more advanced stamper, special artist markers can be used.  The use and care of markers is directly related to the quality.

Watercolor : Much like the marker, watercolors are another way to color in a stamped image.  Due to the fluid nature of watercolors, they can also be used to blend background colors as well.  Watercolors tend to be lighter in shade and can effect paper quality if improperly used.

Chalk : Even lighter than watercolors, chalks can be used to add color to a stamped image.  They can be used directly using chalk sticks, or by using a small brush.

Ultra Thick : The "it" product of the moment in the stamping world.  The effect that this metallic embossing enamel makes is caused by heating and adding layers to a desired thickness.  An image is stamped into the powder and dried. Also known as UTEE.

Tools

There are a variety of different tools you can use to help finish a stamped project:

Heating Tools : When using embossing powder, a heating tool is used to raise the desired image

Paint Brushes : Used to blend watercolors or chalk

Stipple Brushes : Specific kind of brush used in stamping by tapping ink onto paper

Cleaners : A variety of cleaners are available to keep your stamps looking like new

Techniques

Using the products listed above, you can now begin to create stamped projects using these techniques:

Dry Embossing: There are two methods that you can use to emboss images directly into a piece of paper, like a notary does.

  • Embossing Tool : Emboss images into paper by using a variety of embossing tools.
  • Light Box : Using stencils and stylus, emboss images lit from behind by hand.

Wet Embossing - The results of wet embosses are raised images that can appear matte, shiny or even metallic. There are several ways to do this:

  • Embossing Ink : This ink is stamped onto a sheet and heated to create the effect.
  • Embossing Powder : This powder is sprinkled onto clear ink and then heated to creat the effect.

More Effects

  • Bleaching: By using bleach,  effects can be created by changing the color of a paper.
  • Beading: Using adhesive  and tiny clear beads over an image can create a glass-like effect
  • Sponging: This can creat very effective bordering by using an inked sponge  on the edge of a piece of paper
  • Chalking: Using chalks to lightly color an image or blend background colors.
  • Masking: Manipulating two images that appear to be together by masking part of one and inserting the other
  • Stippling: Using a stipple brush and ink to create a wet, splatter-like effect

Projects

Here are some creative ideas to help you get started. Use rubber stamping to create:

  • Greeting cards
  • Envelopes
  • Post-it holder
  • Small gift boxes
  • Candles

Top Manufacturers

External Links