How to Make Your Own Address Stamp

Making your own stamp is a multi-step process with very individualized results.

Save the time it takes to write out return addresses on envelopes by using address stamps to create a uniform, visual statement that is easily and clearly read, every time. Create one or more, each with their own personality. Add an image that is appropriate to your business or interests--a dog bone for a veterinarian, a flower for a florist, a scale of justice for a lawyer--or keep it simple with a readable font and no image. Hand-made return address stamps can add a personal touch to everyday correspondence.

Things You'll Need

• Magnetic tape
• Black light bulb and clamp lamp
• Timer that measures seconds
• 2 small containers
• Needle or sharp needle tool
• 2 sheets of 1/8 inch thick, 6-inch square glass
• Transparency film
• Toothbrush
• Plastic drop cloth
• Measuring spoon
• Measuring cup
• Liquid polymer
• Polymer substrate
• Damming tape
• Polymer washout concentrate

Instructions

Prepare Artwork

1. Decide how tall and wide the stamp needs to be.

2. Create the artwork for the stamp. Choose a clear, readable font (Helvetica, Arial, Optima) in a 9- to 12-point size. Layout the type in a word processing or graphics program.

3. Print out the artwork and measure it to make sure it matches the requirements outlined in Step 1. Return to the computer program and invert the artwork to create a "negative" image. Using transparency film, print the negative image.

Setup Work Area

1. Protect work area with a plastic drop cloth. Place the black light into the lamp socket. Hang the lamp 4 inches above the work surface. Fill a small container with 2 cups of warm water and 1 tbs. of the washout liquid. Fill the second container with an inch of cool water.

2. Place a strip of magnetic tape across the top and the bottom or each piece of glass.

3. Cut artwork out of the transparency film leaving a ½-inch border around the artwork. Lay the artwork face up on a sheet of glass.

4. Cut four pieces of damming tape and use to outline the artwork--don't adhere it to the artwork, just use it as a barrier around the artwork. Leave gaps between the pieces of damming tape at every corner to allow the liquid polymer a way out.

5. Cut a piece of polymer substrate to fit inside the area outlined by the damming tape. Set it aside.

Expose The Artwork

1. Inside the area marked by damming tape, pour liquid polymer. Liquid should fill the area, rising close to the top of the damming tape but should not rise over or spill over the taped area. Use the needle tool to pop any air bubbles that may occur.

2. Place the polymer substrate on top of artwork with the frosted side facing down. Place the second sheet of glass on top of the negative. Connect the magnetic strips on each sheet of glass by lightly pushing down on the top sheet of glass.

3. Move the black light into place 4 inches above the glass. Set the timer to run 90 seconds and turn on the lamp. It is normal for the polymer liquid to push through the gaps in the damming tape and ooze toward the edges of the glass.

4. Flip the glass over and expose it for another 90 seconds. Turn the lamp off.

Clean The Stamp

1. Pull the glass apart. Gently lift artwork from the polymer substrate. Artwork can be thrown away.

2. Pull substrate from the glass and lay it in the washout solution. Make sure all of the substrate is submerged in the liquid. Scrub substrate with the brush to remove the polymer liquid.

3. Remove the substrate from the washing solution and cut off excess polymer from around the image.

4. Harden the polymer further by placing the substrate into the dish of plain, cool water and shining the black light on to the polymer for 10 minutes.

5. Remove the address stamp, dry it with a cloth, adhere it to a small block of wood for easy handling.

References

• "Stamping Fun for Beginners;" MaryJo McGraw; 2005