Just a heads up: This one took a good 30 minutes to carve. Make sure you have time to do this - you will not want to rush doing this project!
Here's what you'll need:
Linoleum / rubber stamp carving kit
Metal ruler
Utility Knife
Pen / Pencil
Self-healing cutting mat
STEP 1:: Cut rubber block to your desired size.
For my large chevron stamp, I cut an 8 inch by 3 1/4 inch rectangle.
STEP 2:: Using a metal ruler and pencil / pen, determine the angle.
Draw a line down the center of block.
Next, draw perpendicular lines (the horizontal ones).
(My lines are 1 inch spaced apart.)
TIP: The further apart the lines are, the steeper the chevron angle.
STEP 3:: Use your metal ruler to connect the outside corners on each side of the block to the center, vertical line. These lines will form the letter "V".
STEP 4:: Roughly color in which parts of the stamp image WILL NOT be cut away.
(Do you like your image so far? If yes, you're ready to cut! If no, go ahead and tweak it until you like it.)
STEP 5:: Start cutting!
Using your linoleum cutters, trim away everything that isn't colored in.TIP: use the metal ruler as a guide to help you cut super straight lines.
Roll out some ink and do a test print of your stamp.
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| Look how straight those lines are! All thanks to my trusty metal ruler... :) |
~~ Here's an example of how I used an
alternating chevron pattern to
create a unique postcard ~~
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| This postcard features a hand-carved chevron stamp, image transfer using package tape, a stenciled flower (using Artistcellar's new Pocket Stencil), and my graffiti handwriting on brown kraft paper. |
See how easy this was?! After this tutorial, I carved three more...I'll update this post with photos of them, so please be sure to come back!
UPDATE: here are three more chevron patterns!
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| side view of stamp; see how thick the rubber block is?! This is how I could use BOTH sides. |
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| Remember, if your block is thick enough, you can use both sides - just like I did with this one. |
I really hope my tutorial has inspired you to create your own! Commercial stamps are fine to use, sometimes, but I love the handmade character from making my own.
Go ahead and try carving one (or three!) and add a link to your photo. I'd love to see it!
*side note: this post has been entered in the New Friday Chevron challenge
