How to Make your Own Stamps
Get creative by making your own stamps from up-cycled old erasers or sponges!
What you need:
An adult to supervise/help with cutting and slicing.
Old erasers.
Lids or bottle caps.
Craft knife.
Scissors.
Glue gun.
Ink pad OR paint*, water and a paintbrush.
Paper/card.
Recycled pot lids (used as paint pallets).
* we used acrylic paint because that’s what we have at hand. You could use poster paint instead.
What to do…
Gather together your old erasers that no one uses anymore. If you don’t have any erasers then you could experiment with other recycled materials that are rubbery or spongy like old sponges or old computer mouse pads.
An adult can help you to cut the rubber into even slices with a craft knife. Adult help or supervision is advised for all cutting as craft knives are very sharp!
Draw a simple shape onto the rubber slice and with help or supervision carefully cut out this shape with scissors or a craft knife.
Hot glue your rubber stamp shape to the top of a bottle top or small lid.
Hold the rubber shape in place as it dries and then carefully pull off any messy bits of cooled glue around the edges of the shape. TA DA! You have made a stamp!
How to stamp…
Squeeze out your acrylic or poster paint onto your painting pallets (recycled lids).
Using a paintbrush, mix a little water into your paint so it won’t dry out too fast.
Press your stamp into the paint. You can spread the paint evenly over your stamp shape with your brush if needed.
Press your stamp onto your paper and reveal your stamp print!
What to stamp…
Fill a page of paper with stamp prints and cut out your favourites.
You can use them to decorate cards and other crafts.Add a pattern to plain brown paper; this will make amazing wrapping paper for a special gift!
You could also use fabric paint and stamp patterns onto pillowcases or t-shirts!