stamping tools

Even More stamping ideas

combined techniques, mark making, stamping tools / /

I have been enjoying making lots of tiny stamps for using in my sketchbooks. The summer weather has inspired two new motifs rocks and sailboats.

My inspiration comes from my sunfish sailing at the beach in New Hampshire.

It is a rocky shoreline and I am always collecting interesting beach rocks.

I was inspired by the stacks of rocks the I see on the beach. At first I played with crayons and watercolors to make my stacks.

stack of rocks

Then I remembered my roundish foam stamps. I combine them with thread and crayon resists. And then added some charcoal scribbles to a happy result.

stamped rock shapes

Yesterday, I enjoyed cutting out tiny sailboat stamps from craft foam.  A technique I teach in the Stamp Making + Books class. Details here.

sailboat stamps

The stamp making process is quite enjoyable and addictive. You can create several unique stance very quickly that can be incorporated into your sketchbook practice.

sailboat stamps

How is the summer season influencing your art making? Enjoy!

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Easy to make library pocket for sketchbooks

mark making, sketchbook ideas, stamping tools / /

I have been enjoying adding little pockets to my sketchbooks. I thought you might like it too. So here is a quick video:

Supplies that you will need:

  • index card or 4″ x 6″ paper
  • scissors
  • glue
  • art supplies to decorate

decorate pocket with stamped marks

You can fill your sketchbook pockets with tiny art work, blank paper or other notes.

library pocket in sketchbook

I often decorate with hand stamped marks, crayon, watercolor and markers.  If you want to learn how make ting foam stamps, then check out the details of my online class, Stamp Making + Mixed Media Books. All the lessons are available now. This technique is great for making holiday tags, cards and small bits of wrapping paper.

hand stamp holiday tags and cards

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Stamping backgrounds

mark making, stamping tools / /

I used my tiny handmade stamps to print some over all backgrounds. It is an easy way to get started in my sketchbook when I am feeling distracted.

hand stamped sketchbook page

I made a bunch of unique stamps with sticky backed foam. I like to ink these small stamps with broad tipped markers. This way I can ink the stamp with more than one color.

hand printed sketchbook page

Making several impressions with out re-inking allows me to make impressions with a range of value from light to dark. This makes for an interesting print.

hand stamped trees

Because these marks are hand printed, I can apply pressure to different parts of the stamp to get darker or lighter prints. The imperfect and incomplete trees above were created with just the one stamp. If you would like to explore this low tech method of mark making then check out the online class Stamp Making + Mixed Media Books.

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Join Me – New Class – stamp making

artist book, collage, combined techniques, monotype print, sketchbook ideas, stamping tools / /

I am excited about the new class that starts October 25th. This class is about:

  • Making small stamps out of sticky backed foam
  • Slipknot book form
  • a gelatin print lesson and
  • a bit of collage

I love this combination of techniques. There is something for everyone. So you can choose a focus that fits your interest at this time.

slipknot book with gelatin print and collage

The slipknot binding is great for sketchbooking, because it can be flipped and folded to always lie flat. It takes a bit of thread management to link the pages together, but it is a pretty easy book form.

Gelatin monotype with stamping

I am including a gelatin print session so you will have prints to respond to with collage and stamping.

The collage lesson is just to get beyond the blank page.

slipknot bound books

Read all the details and join us in Stamp Making + Mixed Media Book Workshop.

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Stamp some marks

foam plate printmaking, mark making, mark making tools, mixed media printmaking, stamping tools / /

Why I like to work with tiny foam stamps:

They are fast and easy to make. You just need sticky back foam sheets and something to stick it to. I like to use recycled styrofoam produce trays. But you can use sturdy thin cardboard too.

supplies for making foam stamps

The stamped image can be simple but still impactful. Sometimes geometric shapes and patterns are enough. I like to keep the stamps small so they are easy to ink and print.

It can be addictive to make piles and piles of stamps. And yet they take up very little space and are quite easy to store.

tiny foam stamps by linda germain

I like to keep a sample book with a record of stamps that I have already made especially the word stamps.

They are easy to ink and print. I like to use broad nibbed markers. This avoids the need to buy a bunch of stamp pads that just dry out too fast. I can even use more than one color at a time.

foam stamp image

It is easy to make impressions of different values rather quickly. This can add depth to the print.

And they dry quickly and support the flow of working in my sketchbook.

foam stamping in sketchbook

I invite you to explore tiny stamp making with me. Read all the details of the new Stamp Making and Mixed Media Workshop.

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