Tyra L. Smith Cloud9@netnet.net
Let me give you an idea that might save you a little money. If you have a laser printer (or access to a photocopier)....you can print ANYTHING from you computer and transfer it to paper, cardstock, textiles, etc... Making it into an actual "stamp" really isn't necessary.

Here's what you need:
1. A printed image for transfer
2. ChartPak Colorless Blender Pen (only costs about $3)
3. Cardstock or other surface to put the transfer on.
4. Whatever medium of color you will use to add color to the trasferred image.
5. Bone Folder

To make your image for transfer: It needs to be a "toner based" print and not from a regular computer printer. Two ways to do this:
--If you have a laster printer, create your image on the computer (in whatever way you like), print it on the laser printer....the laser print is your image transfer.
--If you only have a regular computer printer (not a laser printer), then create your image on the computer, print it off....then make a photocopy of it. The photocopy will be your image transfer.

Now take your image transfer, lay it face down on the surface you want to transfer it to. Use a little low tack tape to hold it in place. Go over the back of the area that is printed (you can usually see where it is from the back) with the Chartpak Colorless Blender Pen. If its a large area, do a little at a time. Use a bone folder to "rub" over the area you applied the Chartpak Colorless Blender, use gentle but firm pressure. Rub the entire area. Do this until you've covered the area to be transferred. Once you go over an area with the Chartpak Colorless blender, it is VERY easy to see where the print is and will let you more easily see where you need to apply that colorless blender pen. Now pull off the image transfer and you'll see that the image has been transferred to your surface. You can now color it in any way you want.

I even use this technique to transfer an image to a tshirt so I can paint it. The Chartpak Colorless Blender pen runs about $3 per pen, much cheaper than the stamp maker machine I'd bet. The only drawback is that the pen does have a slight solvent odor, but it doesn't hang around long. Use it in a well ventilated area and you'll be fine.