| If you are thinking about starting an art or craft then | | | | is then etched onto a sheet of metal called a master. |
| you should definitely consider rubber stamping. This | | | | This can only be done by the manufacturer or sent to |
| wonderful craft will provide hours of fun and will also | | | | an engraver who will use chemicals to remove metal |
| provide as much or as little difficulty as you please. | | | | to whatever depth is required. |
| There is no limit to how intricate you can make your | | | | After the master plate has been designed, it is then put |
| stamps and how many amazing colors you wish to | | | | into a machine called a vulcanizer with a piece of |
| add. The first step to do is to purchase some supplies. | | | | rubber that will be used to make molds from the |
| Shopping on the internet is probably the best way to | | | | master plate. The vulcanizer will apply heat and |
| go because of the huge variety of stamp supplies that | | | | pressure to the rubber which will soften it. This |
| you can find. There are also some wonderful bargains | | | | softened rubber creates a negative of the image that |
| to be found if you search for them. Below you will find | | | | is etched onto the steel plate. |
| some information about how rubber stamps are made. | | | | Finally, the rubber that is used to make the completed |
| The very first thing that must be completed before | | | | stamp is cut off a roll and trim to match the size of the |
| making a rubber stamp is to draw the design. Many | | | | image. This image and the rubber sheet are then |
| designs are combined to save money because each | | | | placed in a vulcanizer which again applies heat and |
| stamp must be cut out of a sheet of rubber. This | | | | pressure. The rubber produces stamps that exactly |
| means that there will be heaps of different styles and | | | | match to original drawn images. This then gives a |
| patterns on each sheet of rubber that is used. The | | | | sheet of unmounted rubber stamps that can be either |
| sheet that the designs are drawn onto is then | | | | trimmed by hand or saw, and then mounted. |
| photographed to provide a film negative. The negative | | | | |