Every now and then I get an idea and can’t wait to try it on my own. Lately artist Julie Fei-Fan Balzer has been talking about her new obsession- stamp carving- and it gave me an idea for some erasers that I’d bought at the Dollar Store:
(Don’t tell my daughter- they were supposed to be treats for her! )
I cracked open my Speedball Linocutting supplies and just kinda went to town.
Step One: Get cheap erasers at the Dollar Store.
I doodled on the erasers, planning to cut on the lines I’d drawn.
Then, holding the tool at a 30-degree angle, I gently carved away the soft eraser. It was surprising how easy it was to cut. I’m impatient by nature, so I made a point to go slow.
I also found that it was easier to move the ERASER than it was to turn my hand- the same principle of moving your paper but holding your wrist still when doing fine detail cutting.
I even made a quickie video:
I hope this inspires you to try out a new technique!
If you are considering purchasing supplies to carve your own stamps, I’d appreciate it if you used my affiliate links:
January 6, 2012 at 6:16 am
Great idea very cute!
January 6, 2012 at 7:01 am
You’ve actually done what I had only thought of doing! Like you, I’m impatient, but there are a few small carvings I might try. I have been making my own stamps, using black Tulip paint on pieces of heavy clear plastic. They are easily manipulated while they are wet, and dry, are raised enough for stamping. Clear silicone jel comes out too slow and nozzled bottles of gem jel dry, crack, and fall off. Just a little tip in case you want to try it. The Tulip paint has a small nozzle and is dimentional. BTW- their puff paint spreads too much.
January 7, 2012 at 11:05 am
Huge breakthrough to use the shaped erasers as a design inspiration! Thanks for that.
January 23, 2012 at 10:44 pm
GREAT IDEA