Super Fun, Super Easy, Super Cute DIY Craft Foam Stamps

I have been fascinated by DIY stamps for the past year or two, pining to find some creative time and make a bunch. Unfortunately, living in China, getting even simple craft supplies to make some was not easy. I did manage to make one from some adhesive medical padding I found lying around my apartment and use it on a scrapbook layout featured here.

But it wasn't enough!

As part of my intention to make 2013 a year to THRIVE! EXPERIMENT! & BE GRATEFUL! Last week, I challenged myself to make TEN of them from adhesive craft foam. I ended up making FIFTEEN! Yay, me!

And now that I've done it, I don't know why I waited so long to try.

I've been so inspired by the experience that I find myself jotting down ideas and sketches of the next stamps I want to make as well as projects I am going to make with them.

If you've been to my blog this week, you know that I have already used some in my Project Life album here.

Here they are! All made last week.

Lotus Root x 2

Flower Petal also great shape for making patterns

Swirly triangle for patterns

Sunburst Graphic inspired by Project Life Core Kit - Seafoam Edition

MacBook Laptop based off a drawing made by my 7 year old son. He wanted to make his own stamp, so I had him draw a picture and made this.

Easier than it sounds.

Braden's sketch of the stamp he wanted me to make. 

Hexagon - also good for patterns, think honeycomb. I plan to make a honeycomb stamp as well. The possibilities are (almost) endless.

Here is my circle stamp that I made when the circle journaling labels I had weren't cutting it - I made my own out of Avery Sticker Project Paper, White, 8.5 x 11 Inches meant for the InkJet printer.

Here is an adorable cupcake stamp that hasn't even been used yet. But as you can tell by the name of my blog (Nihao, Cupcake!) or if you are a regular reader, you know that I make & decorate a lot of cupcakes, so of course that one is obvious!

A pot stamp to be used on my ONE NEW RECIPE A WEEK cards. You can read about that goal here.

City Skyline - I LOVE this one. Inspired by some adhesive border tape I bought while in Japan. I've always LOVED city skylines. Adorable and so easy to make. Simple lines and cuts.

A zig zag stamp great to use for patterns. When stamped in a row makes a nice chevron pattern/stripe.

I LOVE these little cameras. I made two because when making the original I forgot the stamp makes a mirror image and I wanted the details on the opposite side, but both work great. 
I originally saw the image of the camera on the side of a coffee thermos. I memorized it, jotted it down the first chance I had and came home and sketched it on to a Project Life grid journaling card before making my stamp. It's another favorite! You could totally use this one to make a pattern and create your own patterned paper or title cards for PRoject Life!

And finally, here is the Coffee Cup To-Go stamp. Excuse the poor quality of the photos but I forgot to take a pic of that stamp & had to do it well after the sun went down. Inspired by a similar image on my Starbucks gold card. That one had a circle where I put a star.

 

Let me know what you think! Which one is your favorite? Any ideas for other stamps. I love to add little bits of detail to make them more than just simple shapes. It adds so much character. You will be seeing these showing up in my Project Life layouts and you will be seeing many more of these things as I am filling a notebook full of ideas.

The best part, the sheet of adhesive craft foam I used, (which still has plenty left over to work with), was only 89 cents at Michaels! 

Very soon I will post a tutorial of sorts on how I made these SUPER EASY & SUPER ADORABLE & SUPER CHEAP craft foam stamps, so you can get started making your own. In fact, they are so easy, you probably don't even need my instructions, but I will post any how sharing my process and Tips & Tricks. 

I will also be posting SOON (fingers crossed), projects I have made using them. The stamp you see in the very first photo of this post was made the week before my TEN STAMP challenge week and I used it to make my son's birthday party invitations (part of my 24 Projects in 12 Months goal). So you will be seeing that stamp and resulting project coming up as well.

I also have plans to update my excercise and ONE NEW RECIPE A WEEK challenge too. All are coming along famously. Hurray!

Thanks for stopping by and please let me know what you think about the stamps. And if you decide to give it a try, come back and leave me a link to your stamps and what you made as I would love to pop over and see.

Here is my much anticipated tutorial on how to make these SUPER FUN, SUPER CUTE & SUPER EASY stamps from craft foam.

Comments

[Rebekah]

Wow, how cool is that! Love the chevron zig-zag! And the camera and coffee cup! Neat-o!! Hope you are well on the mend!

[sew~amy]

I had to skim through your post...I love your stamps. Is there a tutorial to make them?

[Nihao, Cupcake! by Margie]

Gosh, thanks Amy! I'm happy to hear that. I had a How-To post in the works, so I went ahead and finished it and published it this evening. I hope it helps. Please let me know if you have any questions. Here's the link: http://tinyurl.com/b2tvkc2

[Nihao, Cupcake! by Margie]

Thanks, Rebekah. This cold, however, is hanging on to me for dear life and will NOT let go. It has taken another turn for the worse. So I'm going to bed early yet again.

[Smitha Katti]

I love the stamps you made!!!! The starbucks one, the ninja one the starburst one!! You are so creative and clever!!

[Nihao, Cupcake! by Margie]

Thanks for the compliment.

[Lorna S]

Thanks for this technique - I love creating my own stamps too, but carving the linoleum or hard rubber stamp blocks is challenging for arthritic finger joints. This method looks much easier. How long will these stamps last?

[Nihao, Cupcake! by Margie]

Yes, I think they would be. You know that is a good question. Ive only been using mine for a few months and they are holding up pretty good. Ive been using stamp cleaner to clean them when necessary. I would imagine they wont be as long lasting as linoleum stamps but the good news is they are much easier to produce and of course lots cheaper so if they run out, you can always make more. Let me know if you make any as I would love to see them!