Learn Somethin' Artsy: Rubber Stamping

Filed in archive General on June 23, 2007

If you are working from home, one way to help in getting out of the rut or to simply unwind is to learn something new. One not-so-explored a hobby that you might want to try is rubber stamping.

Rubber stamping is a craft wherein rubber stamp imprints are used to create images and patterns. Any kind of stamp may be used to generate creative rubber stamp art and other projects.

The art of rubber stamping does not limit you to using rubber stamps alone; typically, rubber stamp imprints are used in combination with other materials, forming mixed media arts and crafts. Different types of coloring, from dyes to paints to inks, also result in various effects. There are also special ink materials available that allows embossing of rubber stamp designs. Special methods also allow you to create multi-colored stamp pads. Due to the improvements in the craft of stamping, techniques have also been developed to allow rubber stamps to leave marks on surfaces other than paper, such as wood, metal and glass.

Stamps in Art
One popular use of the rubber stamp is to create art. Some artists use ready-made stamps bought from a store; others prefer to make their own stamps to personalize the design. These stamps are actually considered an art form on their own. Typically, artists use various prints and other materials to produce images. Due to its small size, their works have been used in artist trading cards and mail art. For more information, you can check out the TAM Rubber Stamp Archive for a compilation of these rubber stamp mail art.

Stamps on Paper
The most common use of rubber stamps is stamping on paper. This allows you to create hand-made letters and greeting cards for any and all occasions, unique postcards and stationery paper, in relatively easy steps. Decorative rubber stamps also provide an original touch to gift wrapping, by brightening up plain rolls of gift wrapping papers and unadorned boxes. Stamps are also valuable in creating scrapbooks, allowing you to create countless pages using different styles. These paper crafts require practice to develop accuracy and avoid smudging the designs unnecessarily.

Stamps on House Wares
Being able to leave stamp imprints on other surfaces are crucial in generating patterns for house wares. The possibilities are endless, allowing you to customize your own house tiles, picture frames, lampshades, pillowcases, placemats, dining tables, refrigerator door magnets and most other items in your household. Rubber stamping also allows you to make one-of-a-kind items for various special occasions, such as Christmas ornaments and Easter eggs.

Stamps for Wearing
Jewelers have also been known to create stamp jewelry, including earrings and necklaces, by stamping on polymer clay and using embossing enamels. Rubber stamps can also be used to design fabric, thus creating original T-shirts, pants, and other pieces of clothing. You have to be careful though to leave imprints only on the pieces that you
are designing, and not leave stains on what you are wearing.

There are a lot of other websites and books that can give you ideas and projects for rubber stamping, even providing a list of materials and teaching you methods on how to create different designs. Some even have photographs and videos of the process to guide you. There are also numerous rubber stamping organizations and clubs that are willing to share their rubber stamping ideas with other members. There are even resources that teach you on how to make your own rubber stamps.

The craft or rubber stamping allows you to produce personalized and creative functional works without taking up a lot of your time. The wonderful thing about rubber stamping is that you are not limited on what you can and cannot do, and what designs you can create. Sometimes, even mistakes result in wonderful works of art!

For enterprising individuals, these project ideas can usually turn into some new source of income. Feel free to explore rubber stamping. Not just for the fun of it. But also for its financial potential.