Does anyone else do stamping? I have lots and lots of stamp pads, stamps and acrylic blocks. I feel bad because they are sitting there. I need new ideas for cards and pages.

While in NM back in Oct my aunt drug out her stamping supplies and we did some stamping. I enjoy it, but it can get so expensive as you add stamps. LOL I guess it's that way wiht most crafts though!


Sgt Mom

Carve your own rubberstamps--that's what I do!

You can sometimes find a carving handle and nubs at Michaels in the artists section. They sell a kit sometimes, too. I think the brand is Staedler. One friend of mine always uses an exacto knife and his carvings are to die for!

You can carve any soft medium- sometimes the best carving material is found at the dollar store--big erasers work fine- but I've seen people carve plumbers gasket (I could never get it to come out right).

You can buy stuff called Mastercarve at a Dick Blick or other art store. I also use stampeaz carving material and find that the B grade works just as well. They have a website for their materials.

The yahoo group The Carving Consortium has many rubber artists who are just so awesome. I will never carve that well, but I enjoy it. I usually carve from clip art but my husband sketches his own.

You can google rubber stamp carving- but stay away from Kirbert's site-the guy is a jerk who thinks he knows it all. There are much better tutorials than his. Ruthann is a good start- she's pretty awesome.

I never thought to carve my own. I think I'd be scared to cut myself.

I have carved on potatoes, but they never come out to well.

Now, I'm curious about the carving and will definitely look it up on line. Thanks for the idea.

nope, won't carve my own. I have it rough enough just cutting the excess rubber to mount the ones I do buy.

Eventually I plan on converting a room into my own personal crafter's corner, but first I gotta buy a house!. I do cards only, in fact I just mailed out this year's Holiday cards. They were extra plain this year, no fancy ribbons or froofie stuff, mostly because of a time crunch and the fact that I neglected to plan ahead early enough to get all the necessary supplies.

As it was,m I ran out of of cardstock so I have about three different color versions...

quote:

Originally posted by Mrsjvb:
nope, won't carve my own. I have it rough enough just cutting the excess rubber to mount the ones I do buy.

LOL - that sounds like me! I hate cutting the rubber, but oh well. my husband just asked me last week why I do that, then I showed him an example of what happens when you don't. "oh, ok" he's funny!

I'm not the most creative person, I even go to workshops every month, but I try my best! I'm working on my baby shower invites right now, then I'll do the thank yous after I have the baby, plus I have 2 more new baby cards to make (2 people in my husband's office). I have the worst time coming up with ideas, but if it looks funky, I just cut a colored piece of paper, paste that on top of the dumb looking part & try again!

We've done geochaching and you pick your "stamp" for you identity. My husband made a great one for me out of an eraser. It was a needle with thread coming out of the eye of the needle - really neat looking! Of course I have not found it yet since our move. ugh


Sgt Mom

I think you mean letterboxing! (geocaching you just trade trinkets and write a note in the logbook)

I got into the stamp carving because of letterboxing.

ok, coconut here............what's letterboxing?

It's where you carve a stamp put it in a tupperware like container along with a "logbook" (a small book with blank pages) and then hide it in the woods. You write clues to it and post them on a site like letterboxing dot org.

People read your clues and try to find the box. They carry with them their own personal stamp (one that usually says something about them, like sgtmoms) and logbook.

When they find the box, they stamp their special stamp into the log to show they've been there and then stamp the stamp they find in the box into their personal logbook (stamp collecting). They then put the box back where they found it for the next person to find.

Sort of like a treasure hunt with an artistic side, except you leave the treasure and only take stamp images. Art in the woods, if you will.

that sounds cool!!!!!!!! I'd never heard of it!

There are a lot of awesome websites out there. One of my favorite is XXXXX

They have a lot of samples from Stampin' Up and other member company brands but you can technically use any stamp and use the images you see to inspire you. There are so many talented ladies there and I think you'll have a great time. I also have a blog, XXXXX and you can go there, see my stuff, and I have many links to other ppl's blogs or stamp sites for inspiration.

Have a great time!

Sorry, but due to our TOS posting of url's like this is considered advertising and not allowed. Members may email you through your profile to ask for the links though.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: sgtmom,

Yeah, we do both! DUH! LOLOL We haven't done any since we moved and when I find our "supplies" I'd like to get out and do a few around here.

Do a Google search for letterboxing and geochaching. It's fun!

For awhile there, I couldn't find a letterbox to save my soul- but I sure found a lot of geocaches without even looking for them!

I ended up planting one next to a geocache- figured that there were those who did both, but also would let those who did one learn about the other.

Anyway- try carving a stamp OP- you never know what will inspire you! Good luck!