How to Make Your Own Sticker Machine

Stickers add fun and color to many art projects.

Instead of spending hundreds of dollars on stickers and art supplies, create your own stickers with a simple sticker press. With these steps, you can create fun stickers to collect or trade, or you can use them to decorate other craft projects.

Things You'll Need

• Rubber stamps or carved wooden blocks
• Ink or paint
• Inking tray
• Sticker paper
• 2 hard rubber rollers
• Shallow tray or box

Instructions

1. Arrange several rubber stamps or wooden printer blocks in a shallow tray or box with the design side up. The surface of the stamps needs to protrude above the edges of the wooden box in order to make contact with the sticker paper, so be careful not to use a box with tall sides.

2. Put a few drops of ink or paint into an inking tray and coat the rubber roller by rolling it back and forth in the tray. Completely coat the roller with an even layer of ink.

3. Use the roller to apply a thin, even layer of ink to the surface of the stamps or printing blocks. Apply the ink thoroughly by running the roller in all directions.

4. Place one sheet of sticker paper face down on top of the newly inked stamps or wooden blocks. Be careful not to move the paper once it has made contact with the ink or the design will smear.

5. Press the design onto the paper using a clean rubber roller on the back of the sticker paper. Apply even pressure to make sure the entire design is printed clearly.

6. Lift the paper from the printing surface carefully to avoid smearing the wet ink.

7. Allow the printed sticker page to dry completely.

8. Cut out the stickers with a pair of scissors.

Tips & Warnings

• The box will help keep the stamps or blocks in place while you are pressing the ink onto the paper. If you are inking several designs at a time, choose stamps or blocks that are the same height so that the paper will lie flat on the printing surface.

• The sticker paper is slightly glossy, so the ink will take time to dry. Be careful when touching the paper to avoid smudges.

• For more handcrafted designs, learn to carve your own wooden printing blocks.

• Read the labels on paints. Buy nontoxic supplies if you are allergic or sensitive to any chemicals.

• If you are making stickers to sell, do not use copyrighted images.

References

• Japanese Prints at the Hood Museum of Art: Print Production