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The simplest home-made stamps are apples or potatoes. Cut apples in half lengthwise and dip in red paint. Embellish the pattern by painting a small brown stem and leaf; consider painting in five seeds. Use this to make fall wrapping paper or Rosh Hoshana greeting cards.
A potato cut in half gives another effect. Young children love to grab the thick potato and stamp with it. This makes for a messy but fun art project. -
Design and create your own stamps using craft foam. Draw a design on paper until you are satisfied. Then, draw it with a pencil on a sheet of craft foam. Use a sharp craft knife to carefully cut out the design. For an outline design, take special care not to rip the foam.
Remember that the stamp will create a mirror image of the design you draw. If using letters or words, draw them backwards.
Glue the foam pieces onto wood blocks or wood scraps. (Purchase small wood blocks in craft stores.) Use a strong craft glue such as Aleene's. Some craft foam comes with an adhesive back, but additional glue may be necessary for the strongest hold. -
Woodcuts are an old, traditional form of stamping. Because a block of wood, unlike a rubber stamp, has no "give" some artists prefer to ink the block and gently place the paper on top of the stamp. This helps ensure a cleaner picture.
Children's alphabet blocks make an interesting stamp. Symmetrical letters work best, and these blocks often have cute pictures on them.
Making your own woodcuts is a skill that must be developed over time. Use a small, sharp knife to carefully etch the design into the wood. In the Resources section there is a link to a complete set of information on making woodcuts.
