Rubber Stamps

How to Create with Rubber Stamps.

For all the projects on this page you will need...

Decorative Gift Boxes and Tags

1. Paint a paper mache box with Anita’s acrylic paints. Try sponging on two different colours as this can look very effective, especially using the metallic paints. 

2. When dry, stamp and emboss your chosen design onto the lid of the box. To decorate the rim of the lid, coat with the clear embossing pad (in sections at a time if this is easier), and cover with embossing powder. Tap off the excess and melt with a heat gun for a lustrous finish. 

3. Stamp the same design onto a gift tag made from 2 colours of paper or card. For extra detail, paint the designs with Anita’s acylics using a fine paintbrush.

Adding Stamped Detail to Paper Ribbon to make a Unique Bow

1. Cut 2 lengths of contrasting ribbon, one approx 70cm and the other approx 50cm. Open out and flatten onto the table. 

2. Small stamp design works best as the surface us uneven. Large designs tend to become distorted - the Mini Bee is a good example. Ink up the stamp with a dye in pad (quicker drying) and stamp randomly over the ribbon. 

3. Fold the shortest length of ribbon to make a long loop and use a low temp glue gun to secure the end together, this forms the body of the bow. 

4. Pinch the middle of the loop together and secure with a paper clip or peg. You should now have two loops, one either side of the pinch to form the ‘bow’. 

5. Cut approx 10cm. of the remaining long length of ribbon and wrap around the pinched centre of the loops made in step 4. Glue with a low temp glue gun to secure. You should now have a bow with a middle knot effect. 

6. With the remaining ribbon, fold in half and glue the centre to the back of the bow you have just made. Cut the ends on the diagonal. These form the "tails" of the bow. Finish by shaping your bow as required. Great for decorating gifts wrapped in stamped paper with matching gift tags and card! 

Greetings Cards - 3D Grapes. 

3D cards are made by repeating your rubber stamp design 3-5 times on separate pieces of paper to build up layers. The grapes, were stamped, embossed and coloured using Anita’s Pencils 3 times. 

1. Stamp, emboss, colour and cut out one complete design and glue it down centrally on the front of your card (torn pieces of hand made paper make a great backdrop). 

2. For for the second image, stamp as before and cut out one of the leaves and a selection of the grapes (these may be in sections or individual). Stick over the first design using 3D sticky pads. 

3. From the third image, cut out just a few grapes and stick over some of the second stamped layer using sticky pads once more. The overall effect is of a 3D bunch of grapes (see P.13 of the ABC’s of Stamping booklet for a similar design).

Pop Up Cards - Congratulations. 

1. When making pop up cards, you need to firstly choose the coloured card or paper which is to make up the main body of the card and mark in light pencil where the fold is to be made. The rubber stamp design you choose is stamped pre to folding the card, directly over the fold line, so that some of the image is above and below the line. 

2. Place the card onto a cutting mat and use a craft knife to carefully cut around the part of the stamp which is above the fold line. You can choose to follow the outline of the stamp exactly or cut a shape around the stamp. 

3. Fold the card in half as marked and the cut out, part of the design should proud of the rest of the card. Add details.

Book Marks - Floral Design Theme. 

1. Using a stiff coloured card, cut a strip 5cm x 22cm approx. You can use deckle edged scissors for added effect or cut the base of the book mark into an interesting shape e.g. a point. 

2. Choose a stamp design which will give an overall pattern such as Anita’s Baroque Leaves (see right), and stamp the bookmark using a colour ink of your choice. Place the stamp onto some scrap paper before stamping to protect your work surface. 

3. Add interest by stamping a smaller co-ordinating design onto a contrasting colour of paper and colour in with Anita’s Pencils (we have used the small rose). Cut out the design with decorative scissors and stick down to a brightly coloured square on paper. 

4. Align with the bookmark and use a hole punch to make a hole through both the tab and the bookmark. Thread through coloured ribbon or quilling paper for added decoration.