DIY printmaking & carving your own stamps

Welcome to DIY printmaking and carving your own stamps!

Welcome to linocut & printmaking 101. Printmaking is such a classic art form and it’s much easier than you think.

 

This linocut & printmaking 101 is perfect for beginners.

I shared this craft a few years back ago (here), but pulled out all my supplies again last weekend. This project never disappoints! Yes, it takes a bit of patience and there is a little learning curve, but that isthe entertainment of it all.

I made a variety of stamps while watching Santa Clarita Diet on Netflix, I can’t say  I loved the goofy-meets-gory mom zombie series, but it did keep me in my chair all day while I worked on these, I never changed the channel.

RELATED: More printmaking!

Here’s a video tutorial for you! 

SUPPLIES:

These are the supplies I used and you can get them at the craft store, or on amazon (affiliate links listed):

I use this linocutter kit because it has the extra blades inside the handle and works great on the pink cutting block.

√
There are different types of blocks to carve, this pink one is my favorite. The white one is too soft, and the brown one is too hard. The pink one is just right!

Ink. I suggest using ink meant for block printing. I used craft fabric paint on one of mine and it hardened the surface. TIP: Use baby wipes to clean your stamps immediately after printing to prevent this.

There are lots of printing inks, and a lot of colors. I only have black right now, but plan to buy a set of colored inks next!

And you’ll need a brayer…

Once you print, you can get fancy and use a Speedball Baren for Block Printing to burnish the stamp onto the surface, but honestly, I use a spoon! Or you could buy a big kit like this that has more than enough to get started: Speedball Deluxe Block Printing Kit.

You’ll also need a pencil, eraser and tracing paper. Black marker.

And paper to print your designs.

Steps:

Draw your design on the tracing paper, make sure it will fit on the size of the block. Once you’ve drawn it, press it face down on the block and use the spoon to burnish the image on the surface.

TIP: Remember your design will print backwards! If this matters to you, make sure to draw your design backwards on the block. Especially if you have words.

Remove the paper, then use the marker to color in where you DO NOT WANT TO CUT. This is important because one slip up can ruin your whole design.

OK, time to cut. The blades come in U shapes and V shapes. “U” are perfect for taking out big areas, and the “V” is great for finer detail.

TIP: Always cut away from you so you don’t cut yourself. This is also the reason I use the pink block, it is soft enough so I don’t dig in too much.

I use the V to outline all around the black lines, then I use the U to remove the rest.

Add the ink

Once it is all cut, apply a small dollop of ink on a very flat non-porous surface. I use a piece of Plexiglas. But you can use a paper plate, you can cover a piece of cardboard with wax paper, etc.

Roll the brayer over and over on the paint to get a thin, even coat on the brayer.

You don’t want too much paint because it will blot your design and fill your cuts with globs of paint.

Remember, just a thin layer will do. Then place the stamp on the surface, if you don’t have a baren, use a sheet of transfer paper on top and the spoon to burnish all the areas. Here’s a mini video!

 

 

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A post shared by Kathy Cano-Murillo (@craftychica)

Once it is all cut, apply a small dollop of ink on a very flat non-porous surface. 

Practice on paper until you get the hang of it, then make more and more and more!

 

I made various prints for cardmaking.

I used these wood bins to print on, they were a little tricky due to the shape, but they still came out super sweet!

I made a bunch of greeting cards too.

I also used them to make these storyteller shadowboxes.

RELATED:

Printmaking: How to carve a stamp and print it!

How to carve a sugar skull stamp

So what do you think?

Are you ready to try it? I just ordered more cutting blocks, I’m addicted. That’s another thing I like about this craft, the supplies are small and easy to travel with, and once you have them, all you need are items to cut. You can use them on potatoes, erasers, candles, soap, greenware clay, that’s all I can think of right now!