DIY Stamps
As with the potato, common household items can serve another purpose before they’re bound for the garbage can: a stamp.
Celery: After the edible stalks are cut off, the end resembles a rose. Dry it out with the cut side down to remove most of the water, brush some paint onto the ends and use as a stamp. Experiment with how much paint to add to create roses to your liking.
Triangle stamps made out of an eraser (left) and rose stamps made from celery stalks (right)
Eraser: Have some pencils and erasers gathering dust now that you’re not in school? Draw a design on the eraser and carefully carve out the design with an x- acto knife or a linoleum cutter. A simple design, like a triangle, works best on the eraser end of a pencil. Brush on a light coat of paint or dab on a stamp pad.
Closeup of the eraser stamps used on a personalized birthday card
Wine corks: Similar to erasers, draw a design on the end of the cork and carefully carve it out. The cork takes well to a stamp pad or brush on paint.
Star and triangle stamps carved from old wine corks
Empty toilet paper roll: Keep as a circle, or gently fold into a heart-shape. Dip into some paint and stamp away.
Heart-shaped stamps made from an empty toilet paper roll
Heart-shaped stamps made from an empty toilet paper roll (left) and a chevron design stamp made from a large eraser (right)
With these stamps you can create custom artwork or gift giving supplies:
- Buy blank cards or cut and fold cardstock and stamp to create homemade thank you, birthday or other occasion cards
- Decorate a plain bag from a store to turn it into a gift bag
- Make your own one-of-a-kind wrapping paper by stamping newspaper, butcher paper or paper bags (for smaller gifts)
I hope this inspires you to look for the beauty that everyday objects can create. Happy crafting!
For more tips, home projects, recipes and inspiration from Justine head to www.youresomartha.com where she documents her inspiration and attempts at all things domestic.
