How To Make Your Own Cool Stamps from Craft Foam - Super Fun, Super Easy & Super Cheap

I've wanted to make my own stamps for quite some time. There are all sorts of ways to make them. Some require special materials and tools that can be a little pricey and take some practice to get right. So to begin with I decided to try something cheap and seemingly easy - Adheseive Craft Foam stamps made from foam sheets like these.

You will need:

1) a sheet of ADHESIVE craft foam

2) an idea for your image, shape, etc. (a notebook to jot down ideas or sketches)

3) a pencil

4) graph or grid paper (optional) to sketch your design or make a template

5) scissors - smaller, very sharp scissors are best for small details. You could also try using a craft knife in which case you would need a self-healing cutting mat. 

6) clear stiff packaging or a clear acrylic frame

I made all of fifteen stamps shown in this post from this one piece of craft foam and I still have plenty of foam left over for more. This sheet cost me .79 cents at Michaels.

As you can see, for most of the stamps, I drew the image I wanted directly onto the craft foam with a sharp pencil. If you make a mistake, it erases easily and any residue will not affect your stamp.

For some of my ideas, I sketched them in a notebook first or wrote down possible ideas in list form.

Once I was happy with my design, I cut them out with large scissors and then went back for "fussy cutting" with a pair of smaller scissors. I do not recommend the scissors you see in this photo. They are not very sharp but they did an adequate job. My favorite scissors are still in storage so I don't have access to them now. I suspect scissors like them would work much better. Or I want to try out a craft knife on a self healing mat and see how that works out.

Designs with simple shapes seem to work very well. I saw this camera on the side of a coffee mug and drew it on grid paper (Project Life grid card). Then with a few cuts at the corner of the craft foam, cut these rectangles out. As you can see, I drew on the details and then cut them out with my tiny scissors.
For the circle in the center of the camera, I really only cut through the top half of the craft foam which made for some nice detailing.

You can see on this To-go Coffee Cup, I just barely etched a line between the cup and the lid, but surprisingly this is all it took to add the little bit of detail.

Although I didn't do a very good job of an even impression with this stamp, you can see that hint of a line which is all it needs to loook a little more realistic. 

Here is a template I used for the starburst image. I used a project life grid card and sketched out my lines, for a couple of them I used a ruler so they would be straight.

I cut out the necessary rays, using part of the label from the craft foam to make sure the pieces didn't fall away (since all the cuts join at the center of the starburst).

I traced around the template on to the craft foam.

I adhere each foam shape to something clear and stiff to make a stamp. For this sunburst, I taped the template to the back side of my plastic and stuck the foam pieces over the template on the other side, so they would fit together perfectly (or as perfect as possible).

For this stamp, I had some leftover packaging - basically a clear plastic box, so I stuck my shape to that. The clear box is a little flimsy for my needs though it works adequately.

Here's a picture of it in action. 
For the rest of my stamps, I wanted something stiffer than the clear packaging, so I bought myself a 4x6 clear acrylic table frame. I think it was around $2.50 and I had a 40% off coupon! I ended up breaking off the back piece (that folds over) as well as the small piece on the bottom (it is turned side-ways in this photo), so I could use the three pieces independently. I also bought a clear acrylic box frame (comes apart in two pieces with 3 sides each that can be broken apart). I love using something clear so that I can see exactly where I am placing my stamp.

I hope that is clear. 

To review:

1) Transfer your design on to a sheet of adhesive craft foam. Start in the corner or close to the edge to save the rest of your foam for other stamp designs.

-you can do this by tracing a template cut from cardstock or by drawing directly on your craft foam

2) Cut out your design using sharp "fussy cutting" scissors or a craft knife and self-healing cutting mat

3) Ahere your foam shape onto something clear, plastic & stiff (up-cycled packaging or an old clear acrylic frame you don't need any more).

 

Go HERE if you'd like to see all of the stamps I made last week.

Go HERE and HERE if you'd like to see them in use in my Project Life layouts of the past two weeks.

I hope to be making more things with my homemade stamps and when I do, I'll be sure to post at my blog. I'm thinking more Project Life journaling cards and title cards, patterned paper, a card -- any other ideas? I might have to pull out my art journal and experiment.

Please let me know in the comments here or via email (link on my blog) if you have any questions about how I made them! And if you make your own stamps, please come visit me at my blog, Nihao, Cupcake!, and leave me a link so I can come see what you made.

Comments

[gin]

i love the idea of making my own stamps to customize my creations. Thanks for sharing.

[Nihao, Cupcake! by Margie]

You should try it! It really is simple and quick. Please let me know if you make one, I'd love to see it.

[brooke]

These turned out great, Margie! I love this idea!

[Nihao, Cupcake! by Margie]

Thanks! They turned out much cuter than I had expected. I cant wait to see yours!

[Amy]

Thanks for this great idea! Will have to try it.

[Nihao, Cupcake! by Margie]

I hope you have as much fun as Idid. Let me know if you make them - Id love to stop by your blog and see!