Fresh Off the Carving Block

I really enjoy carving my own stamps.  There are a universe of stamps out there, but what could be better than making a stamp of your own drawing?   Sooooo, I took this image I drew, scanned it and reduced the size. to 2.5" x 3.44" and transferred the image to my rubber carving block.

The carved stamped image didn't come out too bad (though in rethinking this, I should have carved out the hair and left highlights instead of the reverse) The actual stamp image is 2.5" x 3.44"

Using a stamping idea from Tim Holtz, the stamped image takes on a unique look. This technique works best if you have a large solid area on your stamp.  First I inked my stamp with Tim Holtz Old Paper Distress Ink. 

Next I inked a "love letter" stamp ( that's what I call it, I don't know the true name) , by Inkadinkado, with Tim Holtz Black Soot Distress Ink.

Then I took the inked stamp and stamped it over the inked area of my stamp.You see why you need a solid area on your stamp.

The stamp is now ready to stamp on paper. 

I love how there are random spots of the black ink along the outline of the image.

I can't wait to use this stamp in one of  my projects.  Click  here if you'd like to see a previous video on one of my first attempts at carving a stamp.

I recommend you try carving a few.  WARNING---you may get addicted.

Until the next blog....

Carol