Guide Note
Rubber stamping involves dipping rubber blocks, which have been carved with specific images, in ink and then pressing the blocks onto another medium such as a piece of paper to create a reproduction of the image.
Once thought of as simply office products, rubber stamps also provide hobbyists, artists and crafters with a wide variety images and designs that they can creatively apply in an almost infinite number of ways.
Fast Facts
- Stamps were traditionally mounted on a backing cushion onto a wood block
- Newer polymer stamps are unmounted and used with acrylic blocks
- Inks used with rubber stamps include pigment inks, dye-based inks and solvent inks
- Heat embossing stamped images is one of the more popular techniques
- Homemade rubber stamps can be created by carving an image into an eraser or potato
Applications
Creative rubber stamping spans card making, scrapbooking, decorative crafts, home decor, mixed media and even jewelry making. New rubber stampers can start with an image or two, an ink pad and a few pieces of paper or card stock and create a beautiful keepsake, while experienced stampers may add glitter, watercolors and encaustic wax to their products.
