Cut it out!

GPP Crusade 18: This month Michelle has put out the challenge to cut & carve our own stencils and/or stamps. This post is about my attempts at Stamp Carving.

'Here's one I prepared earlier'......
The one and only stamp I had carved previously was inspired by the musical RENT (I loved it so much I saw it three times...wow, that's years ago now!!) and in particular the song Seasons of Love. I had planned to do a piece inspired by this song, and will get to it one day!

I have always intended to carve some more of my own stamps and thought this crusade would be a good chance to do just that. Here is my second go at stamp carving:

 

As I still have my training wheels on I thought it would be easier to take a clip art image, enlarge it on a photocopier and transfer the image onto the rubber.

I then took my lino cutting tools and began to carve... hmmm, yes there were thoughts of why so many curves? why didn't I choose a straight edge design?.. Oh well, why start too easy!

.......I then inked up and tested the stamp on a scrap of paper. A little tidy up, and another test stamp and that's the best it was going to get. Not perfect but I am relatively happy with it, particularly since I mainly use paint and this will hide the flaws....or should I say the unique features!

These are samples of some pages I am working on using the new image:
This carving was all done before reading the posts Michelle put up on her blog, here and here. She has some really cool tips on carving which I will certainly remember and do next time.

Hopefully before the end of the month I'll do some stencil cutting.

Comments

[Megan Warren]

what a great stamp! Thanks for stopping by my blog.

[Ingrid Dijkers]

That's a pretty intricate stamp. You did a REALLY nice job on it. That's one of those stamps you will use over and over again, for years to come. I also like your # stamp very much. Thanks for sharing,
Best-
Ingrid

[michelle ward]

WOW!!! Ursula - these are really wonderful! Love the numbers one with all the scratchy bits cut out - not an easy task - very well done! And that second one really rocks too - so intricate. Training wheels? Hardly. I'd say you went straight from the driveway to the racetrack. Thanks for sharing your carved stamps and the journal pages with the team - nice to have you playing with us again.

[Dawn]

I think those "floral burst" stamps are great...perfect background and accent stamps. I need to try something like that.

[Carrie]

That's a beautiful stamp, and I think you did a fabulous job of carving it! Also I love the idea of the 525600 stamp :)

[hildi]

oooh, you have made finely crafted work! Image can be used many ways also. Beautiful. Thanks for dropping in my blog.

[ginnycartersmallenburg]

You did a fantastic job on your carved stamp. By starting on something difficult, you probably learned more from the experiment.

[Julie Prichard]

omg...your stamp is AWESOME!!! What a great idea with the clip art..I absolutely love that design!

[tina]

wow! training wheels? no way. this is fabulous!! so intricate. so well done. and those are fabulous ways to use it. I am so impressed.

[hedwig]

Hi Ursula,
girl you made a fantastic, detailed stamp... WOW!! If you can make this, i bet you can carve ANYTHING!! Those numbers ROCK too, inspirantional, because I LOVE numbers and alphabets. Thanx for sharing (a get rid of the idea of being on training wheels!!)
Hedwig

[inge Bekaert]

hello,

I also said "wow"... Your cutting seems very well done !
I also love the idea of the several clip art images you show.
Every computer has several of these and they are perfect for a stamp !

greetings
Inge

[lysh]

You never do things by halves do you? My first attempt was a checkerboard... no curves at all.

I actually like the idea of not inking that completely and getting a more partial image, but the same effect could be achieved by some judicious use of titanium white.

[Megan]

great - more stamps to borrow when arting! Great job - love the rent concept and the fact you didn't let one or two or three curves stop you! Mxo PS can I have a turn tomorrow night?
Mx

[Mrs Pickles]

How clever you are...

[Julie Molina]

Wow! Those are amazingly well done. Mine look like a sloppy mess next to yours. I love the RENT inspired one! What a great idea. And your second one is so detailed! You have a very steady hand!

[Julie]

Fabulous stamps Ursula. I love both of them and they look great on your journal pages too!

Thanks for the tip about the brayer, I need to get myself one of those.

:)

[carin.c]

Wow - I thought of doing a very curvy intricate design but chickened out and did something less tricky... I commend you on the fab result!

[Jeane Frizzell]

Your stamp looks great! I like how you used it to create a paterened background. Very nice job!

[Kim Tedrow]

Your second try at carving? WOW. I can't wait to see what you do next... -Kim

[Maj]

Hey Ursula, you are very excact in your carving too! And that from the very first try - WOW!

[Gillian]

I love your stamp. Very effective. I enjoy carving erasers too but I think I prefer the process to my end results!

[Chris]

So pretty. It reminds me of how much I loved my spirograph, and I keep buying stamps that give the same feeling, and yours does! Really cool, thank you for sharing.

[ArtKat]

Are you kidding, I can't see any flaws on THAT stamp! :) GREAT carving, a very professional job!!! :)

[Bonnie]

Ursula, love the stamps you carved. Geeze, you do some intricate stuff. I get all nerved up just looking at it. I don't sit still for very long....... and the page with the birdhouse cut out of music is genius! I was so moved by that page.

[Tina Wright]

Love the Number stamp and the circle is just FAB!!! you go girl!

tina