| Rubber stamps crafts, often called art stamping, is | | | | you'll want to take more than color into consideration. |
| easy to learn and versatile enough to keep even the | | | | What works on paper may not work on fabric or |
| most experienced crafters challenged and interested. | | | | metal. Some inks are made for layering, while others |
| Rubber stamps can be used on a variety of media, | | | | are formulated to stand on their own. |
| including wood, glass and metal, but show up primarily | | | | In any case, once you decide what you need for the |
| in scrapbooking, stationery, invitations, greeting cards | | | | kinds of projects you'll be doing, it's a good idea to |
| and gift wrap and fabric. | | | | purchase two of each kind and/or color so you don't |
| Where Did Rubber Stamps Come From? | | | | run out if you're stamping en masse. When you open |
| The rubber stamp was originally created to ease the | | | | the second pad, make a note to replace the old one |
| burden of repetitive business tasks, like marking paid | | | | the next time you're at the store. |
| invoices and receiving mail. Still widely used in the | | | | So Many Projects, So Little Time |
| commercial business world, rubber stamps have found | | | | Experienced art stampers are masters at layering inks |
| new homes with greeting card entrepreneurs, | | | | and creating intricate, detailed designs that deliver |
| scrapbookers and stationery lovers around the world. | | | | exquisite results, but beginners can just as easily start |
| Today, art stampers can choose from thousands of | | | | turning out beautiful handmade greeting cards or |
| stamp designs and many stamp manufacturers offer | | | | adding motifs to scrapbook pages. |
| custom stamp-making services for the ultimate in | | | | Art is subjective. If you like simple designs, create |
| personalization. Art stamps are available in two forms: | | | | simple designs. Likewise, stamp away madly and often, |
| mounted and unmounted. | | | | just take care not to overwhelm smaller scale projects |
| Mounted stamps come pre-assembled with the stamp | | | | like recipe cards or bookplates with too many |
| already adhered to a wooden or acrylic block to make | | | | elements. Too much detail on a small scale can |
| handling and stamping clean and easy. Unmounted | | | | confuse the eye, especially when heavy use of color |
| stamps require a bit of | | | | is involved. |
| Acirc;"you'll need to keep several different sizes of | | | | Beginners would do well to start with cards, gift tags |
| mounting blocks on hand and purchase special | | | | and gift bags. Although stamping is easy, you will need |
| adhesives that allow you to remove the stamps from | | | | to practice loading the ink onto the stamp and how |
| the blocks when you're finished. However, unmounted | | | | much (or little) pressure is needed to transfer the |
| stamps are easier to store and organize and, as any | | | | image to your medium in a way that you like the |
| stamp lover can tell you, it's easy to build up a large | | | | results. If you find that rubber stamps aren't your thing, |
| inventory of designs very quickly. | | | | you're only out a few dollars for stamps and ink and |
| You'll find rubber stamps available for purchase at your | | | | some paper. If you find the craft additive, beware: you |
| local craft and stationery stores as well as hundreds | | | | could easily spend hundreds of dollars building up your |
| of online retailers. | | | | inventory. On the up side, your rubber stamps can last |
| Selecting Ink Pads | | | | a lifetime if you care for them properly. |
| When it comes to choosing ink for your art stamps, | | | | |