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Friday, April 20, 2018

Found Materials Stamping Artists Use To Create Professional Designs

By Jessica Cook


Most people have seen interesting stamped designs on stationary and textiles and wondered how it was done. Some designs are intricate while others seem so simple you think you should be able to do it yourself. The truth is you can. With some inexpensive tools, fruits, vegetables and blocks you can create the same kinds of designs that make stamping artists so in demand.

Instead of purchasing commercial stamps from art supply stores, you should take a look around and see what kind of found materials you can use to create unique designs. Many fruits and vegetables make great stamps. You might start experimenting with an apple, for instance. Just cut it in half, apply paint, and stamp. Backpacks and wall hangings are a couple of the projects you might try.

Erasers work well as stamps. You could use ones on the end of pencils or choose individual erasers. These work well for small projects like cards and wrapping paper. This is one of the projects you can get your children involved in, especially if you are using pencil erasers. The pencil makes it easy for little fingers to control the design and placement of the paint.

You might experiment with the vegetables in your crisper that you're getting ready to throw out. You will be surprised at the intricacy of the design a head of cabbage can make. All you have to do is cut the top off. This exposes the layering inside the cabbage. Holding the opposite end, brush the layers with paint and apply the vegetable to whatever material you are designing on.

You might be surprised at what interesting designs you can make using old buttons as stamps. This is another stamp that works best for small projects like stationary, cards, and wrapping paper. It may not be the best project for small children because the buttons can get slippery once they're dipped in paint. The mess they make may not be worth the effort.

Leaves can make great designs. There are so many varieties and sizes. You might choose just one to work with or incorporate several into one project. You might decide to create fabric panels for your French doors using a leaf stamp. You will have to make sure you select young and fresh leaves for your project. Old leaves will be hard to work with.

You can even create your own permanent stamps by carving wood blocks, tile, linoleum, and even bars of soap into whatever design interests you. You are going to need an X-acto knife with different blades and a little brayer, along with paint, to do the job. After you complete your project, you can wash and dry your stamp and put it away for later use.

If you love arts and crafts, stamping is a simple, inexpensive hobby with untold possibilities. You may never be a professional, but you might end up with some interesting results. A homemade stamp, paint, paper, and plenty of imagination are all you need.




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