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Alternative Stamp Surfaces
Becky Greene greene10@mto.infi.net
One of the neatest surfaces I ever stamped on was a black metal mailbox. It wasn't smooth (probably would go that route next time), but the grooves gave interesting texture to the stamping. I stamped a friend's name and address on there and added lots of rubberstamps in gold and silver. Packed it full of goodies and mailed off the mailbox. As to the actual stamping...I used Decor-it ink from Ranger (PSX is the same thing). It made for pretty slippery stamping, but the great thing about stamping on a non-porous surface is the ability to erase your mistakes! I would take a cotton ball doused with permanent ink remover (solvent-based for the technically minded folks) and wipe away the boo-boo. What great freedom there is in knowing that you have have the ability to erase attempts that don't quite make the grade. Best part of course was taking it to the post office - "You AREN"T going to mail THAT, are you??" Oh yes, I am - how much?? It was great fun.
One of the neatest surfaces I ever stamped on was a black metal mailbox. It wasn't smooth (probably would go that route next time), but the grooves gave interesting texture to the stamping. I stamped a friend's name and address on there and added lots of rubberstamps in gold and silver. Packed it full of goodies and mailed off the mailbox. As to the actual stamping...I used Decor-it ink from Ranger (PSX is the same thing). It made for pretty slippery stamping, but the great thing about stamping on a non-porous surface is the ability to erase your mistakes! I would take a cotton ball doused with permanent ink remover (solvent-based for the technically minded folks) and wipe away the boo-boo. What great freedom there is in knowing that you have have the ability to erase attempts that don't quite make the grade. Best part of course was taking it to the post office - "You AREN"T going to mail THAT, are you??" Oh yes, I am - how much?? It was great fun.
Joan E. Ginsberg jginsb@mich.com
Besides porcelain and ceramic, I have stamped on:
1. A formica countertop. The biggest problem I had with stamping was the pooling of ink/paint at the edges of the image (thinning out the image in the center part). It was easily corrected by just using a paintbrush to fill in any bare or thin spots. The sealer that I used yellowed terribly, so if I did this again I would use a different sealer.
2. A laundry/utility tub. I stamped the front of the tub - no problems at all. I'm getting ready to replace this tub, so I will HAVE to do this again.
3. Particle board. I cut a piece of particle board to the size I needed to make a backsplash. It was painted with a basecoat and then stamped to look like ceramic tiles. I used acrylic paint (this was done before the proliferation of "home decor" stamps and paints), which took some practice to get the right mount of stamp on the paint. Again, you have to be willing to do a little bit of touch-up with a paintbrush. This backsplash got lost in the basement remodel, but I am considering doing it again for my new basement work area.
Besides porcelain and ceramic, I have stamped on:
1. A formica countertop. The biggest problem I had with stamping was the pooling of ink/paint at the edges of the image (thinning out the image in the center part). It was easily corrected by just using a paintbrush to fill in any bare or thin spots. The sealer that I used yellowed terribly, so if I did this again I would use a different sealer.
2. A laundry/utility tub. I stamped the front of the tub - no problems at all. I'm getting ready to replace this tub, so I will HAVE to do this again.
3. Particle board. I cut a piece of particle board to the size I needed to make a backsplash. It was painted with a basecoat and then stamped to look like ceramic tiles. I used acrylic paint (this was done before the proliferation of "home decor" stamps and paints), which took some practice to get the right mount of stamp on the paint. Again, you have to be willing to do a little bit of touch-up with a paintbrush. This backsplash got lost in the basement remodel, but I am considering doing it again for my new basement work area.
G McCormick GGMCCOR@aol.com
I stamped and embossed a big ladybug on a smooth round rock for my Mom to put in her flowerpot. It took forever for the rock to heat up so that the ep would melt, but the final result was very nice. I also stamped a Mary Engelbreitish red and white checkerboard design, topped with a big red stippled heart bordered with tole type flowers around our kitchen doorway.
I stamped and embossed a big ladybug on a smooth round rock for my Mom to put in her flowerpot. It took forever for the rock to heat up so that the ep would melt, but the final result was very nice. I also stamped a Mary Engelbreitish red and white checkerboard design, topped with a big red stippled heart bordered with tole type flowers around our kitchen doorway.
Latex Linnzie linniek@prodigy.net
I've inadvertently stamped on one butt cheek by sitting down on an inked stamp I had forgotten on my computer chair. It looked so neat, I did the other cheek.
I've inadvertently stamped on one butt cheek by sitting down on an inked stamp I had forgotten on my computer chair. It looked so neat, I did the other cheek.
Libby White rachae19@atl.mindspring.com
The most fun body stamping I have done was on a friend's bald head. She had a brain tumor so part of her head was shaved but the rest of the hair fell out during treatments. That Christmas, she was tired of hats, scarves and wigs so I stamped and coloured in her entire head with any of my stamps that she liked. We used dye pads and coloured with Marvey's. Took a few days to totally wash off but she was the hit of the Christmas party. There is a henna technique from India to tatoo hands that is not permanent. It lasts about 6 weeks but is very elaborate and takes quite awhile to do. I think that each of the patterns is supposed to mean something but have no idea what. Lark Books was offering a kit with the patterns and henna in their last flyer.
The most fun body stamping I have done was on a friend's bald head. She had a brain tumor so part of her head was shaved but the rest of the hair fell out during treatments. That Christmas, she was tired of hats, scarves and wigs so I stamped and coloured in her entire head with any of my stamps that she liked. We used dye pads and coloured with Marvey's. Took a few days to totally wash off but she was the hit of the Christmas party. There is a henna technique from India to tatoo hands that is not permanent. It lasts about 6 weeks but is very elaborate and takes quite awhile to do. I think that each of the patterns is supposed to mean something but have no idea what. Lark Books was offering a kit with the patterns and henna in their last flyer.
Sue Settles Hapystmpr@aol.com
I stamped on my 15 year old daughter and 12 year old son. We used simple stamps (celtic knots, butterflies,) and Memories ink pads. It worked really well for designs with one or two colors. The second color was added with a paintbrush, thinning if necessary, with water. My daughter also has the henna kit and has found it is much quicker for me to apply skin decor using stamps. Besides it doesn't have the odor the henna kit does. They lasted for quite sometime, 1-2 weeks. However, they would fade rather quickly if we scrubbed on them a bit. It's lots of fun and I know most teenagers and youngsters would jump at the chance for Mom to "tatoo" something special on them.
I stamped on my 15 year old daughter and 12 year old son. We used simple stamps (celtic knots, butterflies,) and Memories ink pads. It worked really well for designs with one or two colors. The second color was added with a paintbrush, thinning if necessary, with water. My daughter also has the henna kit and has found it is much quicker for me to apply skin decor using stamps. Besides it doesn't have the odor the henna kit does. They lasted for quite sometime, 1-2 weeks. However, they would fade rather quickly if we scrubbed on them a bit. It's lots of fun and I know most teenagers and youngsters would jump at the chance for Mom to "tatoo" something special on them.
StukoPosto@aol.com
I love to stamp on paper, clay, sandpaper, cork, glass, whatever shows up. However, two of my most rewarding experiences with stamping on nontraditional surfaces involved a blood clot and a door.
First, the blood clot: my husband developed a clot in his calf, and after being the biggest baby in the nursery for days, he finally went to the doctor. The doc told me to watch for signs that the reddened area was extending. How can you tell how far is normal on the human body? I took a stamp of a little devil, inked it with permanet ink and stamped it at the edge of the red area. That gave me a visual reference point. The doctor got a real kick out of it; my husband didn't think it was funny. What not to do? Don't pick a detailed stamp. Wash the area off with alcohol first. The second most fun thing was a door. I go to Mexico a couple of times a year with a group called Corazon. This is a nonprofit that attempts to build community among the uprooted villagers. Part of building community is building a new home for a very poor family. The last few builds, I've been taking stencils and the big foam Decor stamps with acrylic paints. We then allow the matriarch of the home to pick a design for her front door. We then show her how to paint the design. We also finish off all the walls with a coordinating design. This is so much fun and gives the owner of the new home a real stake in the product. The only tip: make sure that you pick up the right antihistamine!
I love to stamp on paper, clay, sandpaper, cork, glass, whatever shows up. However, two of my most rewarding experiences with stamping on nontraditional surfaces involved a blood clot and a door.
First, the blood clot: my husband developed a clot in his calf, and after being the biggest baby in the nursery for days, he finally went to the doctor. The doc told me to watch for signs that the reddened area was extending. How can you tell how far is normal on the human body? I took a stamp of a little devil, inked it with permanet ink and stamped it at the edge of the red area. That gave me a visual reference point. The doctor got a real kick out of it; my husband didn't think it was funny. What not to do? Don't pick a detailed stamp. Wash the area off with alcohol first. The second most fun thing was a door. I go to Mexico a couple of times a year with a group called Corazon. This is a nonprofit that attempts to build community among the uprooted villagers. Part of building community is building a new home for a very poor family. The last few builds, I've been taking stencils and the big foam Decor stamps with acrylic paints. We then allow the matriarch of the home to pick a design for her front door. We then show her how to paint the design. We also finish off all the walls with a coordinating design. This is so much fun and gives the owner of the new home a real stake in the product. The only tip: make sure that you pick up the right antihistamine!
Vivian Montre vmontre@netshel.net
Stones have been mentioned, but what I stamped on them is a bit different. I made a set of words stones for sitting in a bowl on my daughter's desk at work. She is a licensed social worker for Kaiser. I came up with the idea after seeing the beautiful sand blasted stones our local nursery sells for gardens. The stones I stamped are much smaller, ocean tumbled and very smooth. The words I used were moods and feelings related. The purpose: pick a stone that helps explain how you are feeling. Turns out they are great for working with troubled kids.
Stones have been mentioned, but what I stamped on them is a bit different. I made a set of words stones for sitting in a bowl on my daughter's desk at work. She is a licensed social worker for Kaiser. I came up with the idea after seeing the beautiful sand blasted stones our local nursery sells for gardens. The stones I stamped are much smaller, ocean tumbled and very smooth. The words I used were moods and feelings related. The purpose: pick a stone that helps explain how you are feeling. Turns out they are great for working with troubled kids.
For information on related topics see:
Tips & Techniques:Brown Paper Bags, Stampbord, Transparencies, Wallpaper
Newbie Center: Basic Supplies-->Surfaces
Tips & Techniques:Brown Paper Bags, Stampbord, Transparencies, Wallpaper
Newbie Center: Basic Supplies-->Surfaces