Introduction: Stamps From Craft Foam.
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About: I'm just a poor lonesome cowboy... Not really, I am divorced and live in the cold country of Sweden. I am not much of a author but tries to share what I have done so that others might learn from my mistakes…
Craft foam is a great material for your home made stamps. It can be easily cut and shaped to make stamps. I wanted to make stamps for my wife who is into scrapbooking and it would be nice with custom stamps. I have previously made a small laser cutter and used this as the cutting tool. But I wanted to make this instructable easy for everyone to replicate without any special tools.
Step 1: Gather the Materials.
You don't need a lot of material for this and just some basic tools. If you want you can use a computer to design your pattern and then of course you will need a computer and printer as well.
Material:
Craft foam - I use 1/16" thick.
Masonite - Backing of old picture frames can be a good source.
A handle - Ordinary knobs from a cabinet door works well.
Countersunk screw for the knob (optional).
Tools:
Sharp knife.
Scissors
Straightedge
Super glue
Drill
Pocket laser engraver (Optional) ;)
Material:
Craft foam - I use 1/16" thick.
Masonite - Backing of old picture frames can be a good source.
A handle - Ordinary knobs from a cabinet door works well.
Countersunk screw for the knob (optional).
Tools:
Sharp knife.
Scissors
Straightedge
Super glue
Drill
Pocket laser engraver (Optional) ;)
Step 2: Creating the Cutout.
I like to make my design on the computer using Inkscape. That way I can print the design direct with a computer controlled cutter or print it on paper as a template. A fine pair of scissors or a sharp knife is required to cut out the stamp pattern. Smaller details can be cut using a heated paper clip. Just be careful not to cut or burn yourself.
If you use something like my small laser cutter all you need are to load up some craft foam and press print. Otherwise you can print the shape onto thin paper. The thinner you can find the easier it is to get a good result. Now glue it to your craft foam using a glue stick by putting some glue on the paper and press it down onto the craft foam. With a sharp knife and scissors follow the lines to make your pattern. If you want to make small holes or other pattern that is hard to do with a knife you can heat up a straightened out paper clip over a small candle and gently press it down into the foam. That is how I did the fins on the arrow of this design, only I used a small screwdriver as I didn't find any paper clips. When working with heat like this it is easier to work from the bottom of the foam, this is the side you will have the ink on.
When you are happy with your cutout it is easy to remove the paper. Just drop the whole thing in a glass of water and the glue will dissolve and fall off.
If you use something like my small laser cutter all you need are to load up some craft foam and press print. Otherwise you can print the shape onto thin paper. The thinner you can find the easier it is to get a good result. Now glue it to your craft foam using a glue stick by putting some glue on the paper and press it down onto the craft foam. With a sharp knife and scissors follow the lines to make your pattern. If you want to make small holes or other pattern that is hard to do with a knife you can heat up a straightened out paper clip over a small candle and gently press it down into the foam. That is how I did the fins on the arrow of this design, only I used a small screwdriver as I didn't find any paper clips. When working with heat like this it is easier to work from the bottom of the foam, this is the side you will have the ink on.
When you are happy with your cutout it is easy to remove the paper. Just drop the whole thing in a glass of water and the glue will dissolve and fall off.
Step 3: Putting It All Together.
Cut out a piece of the Masonite the appropriate size for the stamp. Just a little larger seems to work out best. If it is too large it is easy to dip the corners onto the inkpad and risk getting ink outside of the stamped pattern.
Drill a hole in the center of the Masonite and countersink it carefully. With a countersink screw you can screw on the handle and still have a flat surface for your design. Another method is to skip the screw and just glue the handle onto the Masonite. This is a lot easier but with the risk that the handle breaks of if someone is a bit rough. I glued it as I could not find a counter sunk screw.
Lay out your craft foam design the way you want the stamp to look. Now just put a little glue onto the craft foam and press down the Masonite carefully onto the pattern. Be sure to align the pattern in the center of your handle.
Thats all there is to it.
Drill a hole in the center of the Masonite and countersink it carefully. With a countersink screw you can screw on the handle and still have a flat surface for your design. Another method is to skip the screw and just glue the handle onto the Masonite. This is a lot easier but with the risk that the handle breaks of if someone is a bit rough. I glued it as I could not find a counter sunk screw.
Lay out your craft foam design the way you want the stamp to look. Now just put a little glue onto the craft foam and press down the Masonite carefully onto the pattern. Be sure to align the pattern in the center of your handle.
Thats all there is to it.
Step 4: Final Result.
Using a ordinary inkpad you can stamp your design onto all things that needs to be brighten up. If you want you can even make two stamps that fit together and stamp in two colors. Depending on your ink you can make all sort of things, with fabric ink you can stamp clothes and make personal t-shirts, shopping bags or even shoes. When working on fabric make sure you have enough ink on your stamp.