Make your own stamp

I love stamps.
The fact that you can use them over and over, use different colors each time and get different effects.
The fact that cute stamps can be pricey.. thats not so nice.

So a few years ago I got interested in making my own stamps. Especially after seeing the beautifull ones Geninne makes.
When I started I used small erasers. Benefit of that is that you don't need to mount them on something.
But last summer I took a workshop at Friday Next in Amsterdam. The workshop was given by Masaaki Oyamada. Those stamps where mounted on a pieces of wood. As it gives you a bit more freedom in your design. As you have more room. Making your own stamp is super easy!

So, today I'll show you how to make your own stamp.
First of all; gather your supplies.

 You will need
* plain drawing paper
* a pencil
* tracing paper
* an exacto knife
* stamping ink ( I suggest using something that easily washes off ass you will get it on your hand)
* lino cutting tool
* soft cut lino (or other material you are going to carve your stamp from)
* a piece of wood; I use blocks from an old childrens building set
* a foling bone (or something similar)
* double sided foam tape
* a pair of scissors (not pictured)

Everything in the picture is from brands that are easily available in Holland. Google will help you find brands that are easily available to you.

Now that you have everything, time to start.

Step 1. The design

 

First trace the piece of wood you have chosen. 

This way you won't end up with a stamp that doesn't fit onto your piece of wood. 

Do that several times; that way you can play around with your design

Now; to use Masaaki's words: "draw until you are happy"

I wanted to make an arrow. I drew multiple ones ....

Step 2: Transferring your drawing onto the lino

 Cut out a small pieces of tracing paper and trace your "best"design ..

Flip the tracing paper over, so the pencil-side lies on the lino, and rub the pencil lines onto the lino. This works best if you use something hard. I used a folding bone but you could use the back of your knife or somthing like that.

Because you filp the paper over this would also mean that, if your design uses words or letters, they are mirrored. Which is just what you want for a stamp..

Now you have your design on the lino

Step 3: the cutting

 If I have a design with straight edges, like this arrow, I always score it with an exactoknife first. This makes the edges easier to carve. If you have a flowing design or a very steady hand this is optional

After scorin the pencil lines I take the small v-shaped blade and carve out the edges.

Because the lino is very soft, and the blade very sharp, you dont need to punt much pressure on it.'

You can see I carved around my pencil lines. Best is to follow the lines as closely as possible.

Then I switch over to a more rounded blade.

This carves bigger pieces. I keep tracing the lines around my design. 

A bit more...

Almost there...

When you have removed about 0.5 cm around your design cut of the rest of the lino. You should keep a small edge around the actual design but more will only get in your way..

Now it's ime for a test-print. 

as you can see, surrounding the arrow there are still a few small spots. You can leave them for a home-made look but I want them off so I will need to do some more carving. 

The ink helps to show which parts are still to high.

This is also the part where you will get ink on your fingers.....

Step 4 Mounting the stamp

the doulde sided foam tape need to cover the whole of the backside of the stamp. One piece wasn't quite big enough so I had to put 2 halves on it...

This way the whole backside is covered..

Use scissors to trim the edges. 

Now; very important; before sticking the stamp to the wood, first make a stamp on the wood. This way you can identify your stamp...

this is a bit fiddely work...

Now when sticking the stamp to the bottom; try and line it up wih the stamp on the top. This makes it easier to use..

  

And there is is; one hand made arrow stamp.

  

It is just as easy as it looks.

Give it a try and let me know how it went!

Custom made Blogplanner

When I started blogging I soon found out I needed something to help organise my crazy mind.
I constantly think up stuff but just as easily forget things.

After some research in blog-land (thank you google) I found that a lot of bloggers work with notebooks to keep track of idea's , planners to schedule posts and scrapbooks for inspiration and post-it's.
Being a blog-newbie and not shure how thing would unfold I didn't want to many options and start small.
I pulled a folder (from my neverending stash of stationary supplies.. ) and filled it with some quickly self-made calenders. I also dedicated a notebook (pulled fromn that same endless stationary stash) for idea's and inspiration.
But I quickly realised that this set-up didn't work for me. The planner was too big (A4) and the notebook stayed empty because it was also too big to lug around with me ( because I already carry 2 notebooks, a planner and an endless amount of pens and other stuff..)
So for 2014 I wanted something more portable.
With the new year  fast approaching new planners where available everywhere. But I couldn't find one that would work for me. I wanted monthly pages and everything I could find was weekly. Most with a small monthly overview. But too small to plan my posts on.
And then there was the issue of the idea-notebook. I already carry 2 notebooks and 2014 would also add to that a small planner for my daily drawing. So adding yet another notebook..ugh..

Then it hit me: why not make my owm blog-planner?!
Duh!
And while I'm at it, why not combine a planner and notebook in one.

I selected some nice patterned paper for the front and back cover. And one for the devider page between the planner section and the note section.
The patterned paper was already in A5 so that's what I stuck with.
I made some simple monthly overview pages with enough room to use small post-it's for my blog-topics. Or use pencil to write then down.
I choose thick paper to give it some durability. For the note-section I just used plain printingpaper.

Then came the issue of how to make a "book" out of it. Usually I use bookbindingrings for albums and stuff. But for this that just wasn't what I had in mind. I wanted it to be like a real note-book/planner.
But having things bound at the copyshop is actually quite pricey. So in swooped my lovely boyfriend. He bought me a biningmachine! (we are considering it my pay for doing most of the paperwork for his business)
Wirebind machines cost a small fortune (who knew?) so it's a plastic thing binder. Nevertheless I am so happy with it!!!

and this is the result:

first month: I decorated with some washi and filled out my planned posts

an empty month in the future 

( note: yes the printing is a bit croocked; I had some issues and was just to lazy to print everything out a second time)

The notebook devider page

it's really thin perfect for carrying it with me if I want

I am really happy with the end-result! Now, if you are struggeling with finding a usefull blogplanner I am happy to make something for your specific desires. Just let me know and we'll see what we can think up!