Things You'll Need:
- Rubber
- Pencil
- Paper
- Glue
- Utility knife or sharp blade (Exacto Knife will work well)
- Nail filer or low-grit sand paper
- Blocks of wood
- Stamp pad
- Ink
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Step 1
Think of a design that you would like to make as rubber stamps. Draw something on paper first so you can have a better idea of the design rather than putting it on rubber right away. This can save you time, materials and effort.
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Step 2
Glue rubber on a piece of block. You can buy rubber stamping supplies at any craft stores. Rubbers can come with pre-cut designs but you can also buy bare rubber for you to create your own design. This rubber comes whether glued or not on blocks or handles.
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Step 3
Transfer the design. You can use carbon paper to transfer your design on rubber. Place the carbon paper in between the rubber and paper, where the side with carbon is placed against the rubber so you can transfer your design. Use a pencil to trace the design that you drew on paper.
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Step 4
Carve out your design. You can use a sharp utility knife. For smaller projects use a carving tool with pointed slim edge. When carving the design you are essentially removing the inner rubber within the outline and not the other way around. This way you will leave the design or outline raised. Remove the remnants by blowing in between crevices.
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Step 5
Keep the edges of the design smooth by using a nail filer or low grit sand paper rubbed gently against the outline. A nail filer has an advantage of not being too coarse and has a handle to fit inside the crevices.
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Step 6
Start rubber stamping. Test your design on a small piece of paper. Pour ink into a stamp pad then press your rubber stamp firmly on it. Then stamp on a piece of paper by pressing firmly leaving the design on that piece of paper. If you see any gap on the design, go back with the carving tool or blade to make that gap appear better.
