I have been carving rubber stamps for years and was thrilled to find some extra rubber in my craft cupboards so I could make a special stamp (and prints!) for MAKE&GIVE30. It took about four seconds to figure out what I would carve. (Predictable is my middle name.)
For this stamp I used this rubber but here's a kit that includes what you'll need.
If you're making your own text stamp (which I highly recommend!), trace the rubber on paper to give yourself a guide for how much space you have to work with. Then draw your design with pen. I used a Sharpie to write my message and then increased the letter thickness.
When working with text, we have to carve the image backwards. To transfer to the rubber, I went over my letters with pencil and then pressed the paper against the rubber and rubbed the backside with my fingers. This left a faint impression that I was able to make more bold with pencil.
The next step is to carve! This is the best part of the whole thing and so therapeutic. I like to go around the letters first and then work out the larger sections of rubber. When you think you're done, cover your stamp with ink (using a brayer) and make a practice stamp. You'll usually notice that there are additional sections you need to keep carving (like the center of the "e" in the case above).
I experimented with different inks for this project (some craft paint, some oil based block printing ink and finally some water based printing ink). The best impression by far came from the water based block printing ink. I also found that because my stamp was so large, it was hard to get a really clean impression. I stuck it to a wooden stamp that I had on hand (using double sided tape) and I loved the impression that resulted. If you don't have a large stamp on hand, you could purchase a small piece of balsa wood from a craft store for cheap.
Today, I would like to give away five of these 5×7 prints. Leave a comment telling me what you are working on this week and I'll pick 5 random winners by 5pm tonight. Open to anyone, anywhere.
Thanks for entering! Winners are #41 – Mac, #73 – Jess A, #127 – Julie Coffman, #243 – Jeni, #324 – Tiffany…please email me (elise.blahaATgmail.com) with your mailing addresses!
Didn't win this giveaway? There are two other ways to get a print.
- All physical purchases from my shop through March 31 will ship with a print as a free gift. No coupon code needed.
- After March 31, I'll be selling them in the shop for $10 plus shipping.
See more MAKE&GIVE30 projects here and more paper projects here!
enJOY it 
352 responses to “PROJECT 3/30 : HAND CARVED STAMP”
I’m working on getting caught up with my grading. Just when I do, another batch of work comes in, and, inevitably, it’s a weekend when we get to care for our little grand person. She trumps grading, every single time.
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Love the stamp! I did this in a middle school art class and I still remember it. I should really go get a kit and do it again. This week I am working on a felt garland to use for my upcoming birthday party!
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I love making my own stamps, and I love these prints! This week I’m working on my February Project Life pages (pictures just got in – yay!). I’m also working on a laptop sleeve based on you sunburst clutch from Get Quilty. I’m excited! 🙂
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My baby boy is 10 weeks old and I’m starting back at work this week. I’m worried about finding the time for baby, home, and work, but I’m thankful for help from the grandparents.
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This week I am pausing a little bit and re thinking the way I set goals. A little bit impacted by this: http://seanwes.com/lambogoal-landing/
Maybe you two could collaborate on a podcast! 😀
Thanks for the chance!
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I am working on getting back on schedule after too many snow days and sick days!
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I love carving!! I hope to start carving on a new laundry room print for my shop this week.
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Finishing up several quilts that have been laying around half-done for months!
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These are lovely! This week I’m working on getting healthy again…have been struck by the flu.
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Last month I started a graphic design business, and on Friday I won a 65 website contract!!! WOOOOHOOOOO!!!! So this week is down to the hard work / fun work part. Designing, creating, fixing pixels, and taking photos. So many things, but so many things I enjoy doing.
I used the “JUST START” stamp on the top of my planner the few days I was in limbo about how to start a company. It seemed overwhelming in a large way. I broke down the pieces, started, won a HUGE contract, and now it’s time to “GET TO WORK”
(p.s. I CANNOT wait for your Get To Work Book!!! Game changer)
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It is a busy week at work, which thankfully I love. Plus, I found a lovely wire basket tutorial on Pinterest using supplies from Home Depot. I have the supplies, so now I just need to find some time!
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This week I am working on getting my daughters to all of their activities… Our schedule is overflowing!!
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My Etsy shop HomeStateHome (like so many others) makes me want to GET TO WORK on a daily basis! After partnering with UncommonGoods last Christmas and making my state eco-felt pillow line exclusive with them my shop was BARE – now I’ve been filling it with new techniques and seeing where it leads! Stepping out of my comfort zone and trying new ways to machine sew felt has been thrilling and I’m hoping your print will inspire even more greatness.
And just a shout out. Your blog is the first one I read everyday and your constant outpouring of inspiration and truth honestly means the world to me.
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Love this!
Working on a systems documentation process for my corporate job.
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I’m working on a online class and it is bringing me such joy!
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I am working on finishing our guest bathroom renovation – cabinet painting is up first!
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Love this! I’m currently working on paper crafts for a farewell party later this week. Including 140 paper flowers!
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Working on my Project Life!
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I am working on hand lettering this week!
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I’m hosting our annual Irish feast on Saturday…spending the week cleaning, decorating, and doing food prep.
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This month I’m doing a lot of sewing! I love this project and am thinking I might find a way to squeeze it in between the cutting and stitching of fabric.
Thanks, as always, for the inspiration!
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oh how i love your work! so inspiring and delightfully imperfect, you know in a way of a very high-quality imperfection that makes a masterpiece truly beautiful.
working on my OLW prompts and PL catch-up.
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I love this! I keep wanting to make my own stamps, but wasn’t sure where to start. This week I’ve cut my work hours down a bunch so I get a whole lot of time for self-care and scrapbooking (and a brush script course, if I can get myself to stump up the cash!).
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This week I’m working on finishing up my PL 2014!
Thanks for the chance to win.
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This week will all be “finish what you started”: finish sewing a dress for my daughter and a shirt for me, finish a mini-album, finish knitting a pull-over for me… Not sure at all I will finish everything, especially with a 3-months baby. Ha ha ! But let’s just get to work ! 🙂 thanks for this awesome giveaway !
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Working on Week 2 of Whole 30 (no diet coke for me)! 🙂
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working on school this week! it’s midterm week so working on getting extra studying in, with sufficient amounts of sleep 🙂
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I sort of like the stamp with the middle of the e still in there! Its cute regardless! I am a graphic design student and today I am working on some motion graphics stuff, coding and my own font in my typography class. Oh and getting my house clean. #thestruggleisreal
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I’m working on my website and FINALLY pushing publish to some blog posts.
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Right now, I am working on launching an etsy shop on Friday (my father’s birthday).
Thanks for the tutorial and a chance to win a print!!
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Hi Elise! I love block printing too – isn’t it satisfying to see your idea come together so quickly?
This week I am hustling hard to wrap up all of my pending freelance projects before my first baby comes next month. I’m dying to switch over to mama mode and do nest-y things like wash baby clothes, reorganize the nursery, etc. 🙂
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How awesome! I am working on all of my projects and case load for my graduate classes! I definitely need to “get to work!”
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Working on my 2014 Project Life album and a crocheted blanket for my best friend!
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How fun! This week, my boss is out of the office, so I am working hard to cover her phone and emails and perfect how I do my own job. Getting to work now 🙂
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I’m working on organizing the house before our contactor knocks down a central wall next week. Can’t wait!
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Last week was extremely hectic, so this week I’m working on relaxing and catching up on the small stuff!
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Thanks for the chance to win, Elise! This week I have work to go to and then when I get home I get to do crafty work. But I’m forever working on my Project Life album 🙂
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This week I’m working at preparing lessons for the Japanese course I’m teaching and (hopefully) going on reorganizing our home office room.
And this print would look great on the wall in front of my desk 🙂
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Hi Elise,
This week, I am working on some card sketches and finishing up a small weaving project that I started a few weeks back. Thanks for the tutorial and give-away. Have a great week 🙂
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I am working on a 6 hour boot camp for our students who did not pass the CAHSEE the first time around.
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Would so Iove this for my new gallery wall that I’m working on! Thanks for the chance.
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I am training to be a professional level yoga teacher through Holy Yoga’s Masters Program. For our certification process, we have to complete a project, so that is what I am working on this week. I am pretty excited about it! What I am doing is writing a 7 day devotional for pregnant women and making a complimentary yoga video to go along with it. All of this is outside of my comfort zone, so the “get to work” print would be a nice reminder! Thanks for the giveaway and the fun project idea!
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I’m playing with watercolors for the first time. Way harder than I thought but all those colors makes it exciting.
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I’m working on some crafts to potentially open an Etsy shop soon!
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Love it! This week I’m working on my project life and some birthday gifts that are still ideas and supplies, waiting to be constructed! Happy Monday.
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I have a baby on the way who should arrive in the next few weeks. My big ‘get to work’ projects involve finishing up the last minute details to have our home/his space organized and ready for his arrival. I’m looking forward to getting things in order!
Thanks for a great giveaway!
Jen
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I need this for motivation to push me through Senioritis!!
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I need to unpack my jewelry studio, it is in boxes for more than a month now… I should get to work!
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This week I’m working on cleaning up and purging my art studio! I am running out of my room on my desk to work – spend more time looking for things than creating! Know what I mean Vern?
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These are wonderful! Love the reminder to just DO THE WORK. This week, I’ll be getting our taxes ready to go…and on the fun side of things, catching up on Project Life and getting up 4 blog posts!
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