Oct 1, 2009

How I carve a stamp with eraser

Yesterday I carved a cat stamp and made small gifts for my customers.
I'm not so good at carving, but I'd like to show how I did it.
I hope it would help you.

At first, I draw a design, this time, a cat. To copy it on the eraser, please draw it with pencil.
How to carve a stamp 1

Then put it on the eraser and scratch it well.
How to carve a stamp 2

I copied it.
How to carve a stamp 3

I use this OLFA cutter knife for carving.
How to carve a stamp 4
The tip of the knife is sharper than usual cutter, and it makes easier to carve detailed design.
How to carve a stamp 5
You need only cutter knife, eraser and a cutting board. If you have carving knives, it will make it easier.

I cut the piece of just around the cat.
How to carve a stamp 6

Then, begin from the outline. The most important thing is the angle of the knife.
How to carve a stamp 7
Like the picture, cut at the line at a 45 degrees (or so) angle.

Then cut it from the outside with the same angle.
How to carve a stamp 8

How to carve a stamp 9
You should have carved like "V". It makes stamp sturdy.

Conitue it.
How to carve a stamp 10

When you cut the outside of the outline, put the cutter knife like the picture.
How to carve a stamp 11

How to carve a stamp 12
I finish the outside of the cat. I couldn't cut near the tail, but if you use the carving knife, it should be better...

Then go to the inside with the same way. When you carve the detailed place, please carve it lightly.
How to carve a stamp 13
How to carve a stamp 14

I finished it!
How to carve a stamp 15

I stamped it on the fabric with the ink for fabric.
Stamp on fabric
It doesn't disappear if you iron it after stamping. I love this ink.

Then, I cut them all.
Cut them
And put a cotton code on the top.
Put a code

Sew with back fabric
And I sewed with the backside fabric leaving a space to turn it out.

Close the opening
I closed the opening.

Cat charms
At last, I decorated them with Sashiko stitch.

They are for my customers. I put them for whom get 20 dollars or more.

I carved only about 10 stamps. It's easy to begin and you can make your original design with them. Please try it!

Have a good day.
I'm going to go for a trip from 4th. October. I'm really excited now. But it would be rainy days...

39 comments:

Laura Laurent said...

That's really cute! I love your projects!! Look at the cat sarubobos I made http://princesspyro00.deviantart.com/art/Rainbow-Kitties-138829101

fleur said...

It's so sweet!!!

Anonymous said...

Thank you very much for the tutorial. Damn, I MUST make some stamps no! ;D

And the gifts for your costumers look sweet. :)

Ely said...

wowwwww is fantastic!!! thanks to idea :-)hugs Ely

jacqueline said...

Dear Mai, thank you for the step by step and being such an inspiration to me. :) I adore your kitty tags. I will want to really try this as soon as i find a craft shop that sells these stamping rubber. Have a lovely merry happy day and love to you!

Katherine said...

your photographs are beautiful. love the kitty tags!

Daniela Mayumi Kodaira said...

Hi Mai, your stamps are so beautifull! you've really got a good hand to make it so perfectly! Please, tell me where did you got the rubber, and what is its name, just to see if I can find it here in France... thanks a lot!

Anonymous said...

Thank you for the tutorial - the cat stamp is just adorable and the tags are so charming!

--Vicki K.

lindsey said...

Oh goodness those are so cute! Thanks for the info on the carving process - I've never thought to use an xacto as i thought i would chop my fingers off! I was never happy with the carving tool though so I'll have to try this.

Graka said...

Hi! I really love your blog, your photos and your stuff!!! I really appreciate your tutorials,they're wonderful and more wonderful is the people who share their knowlegde with others,n__n I'm just making a pen case but I have a problem: I don't Know how to close the "final space" with some seam that looks good,you could please tell me how? I'll be very grateful!!! ^^
Hugs from Mexico (and sorry for my bad english)

Unknown said...

Hi Mai,

Did you go to the hobby section of Yodobashi-camera Yokohama 6th floor? Not a GANPLA corner. On the other side, there is a corner for other PURAMO's, and there is good tools. I bought a some small knifes and such items may help your work. It sold for hobby there but seems originally made for surgery.
http://feather.co.jp/jMedical_Surgery.htm
I have scalper type, No. 10, 11 and 12.

It's cost about 300yen each, but it's worth to pay. It is double edged and very sharp.

the shoppe owner said...

I just found your blog. You make some adorable items :O) I love the little bags with buttons, and these kitty stamp ornaments are so cute! I'm going to visit your shop now. I admire that you seem to do everything by hand.

amrita said...

sei troppo brava!!!!!!^__^

Becky said...

Thanks for the tutorial. Soooooo cute!

iru said...

lovely tutorial, this is soo helpful. i love all your projects=)

kodama said...

hoy me he dado un festival de trabajos maravillosos, creatividad,eres maravillosa, admiro a muchas amigas, pero tú eres fantástica, te felicito, me encantó visitarte y desde hoy me tienes como tu fiel seguidora, un abrazo a tu familia y tambien a tus gatos son bellos, tus fotos facinantes

Driftwood & Turtles said...

Inspiring ~ Always a pleasure to visit your blog.

Thank you.

helena said...

wonderfull work. have a nice day!

Claudia/Ompompali said...

Thanks for this tutorial. It always looks so easy when you show us how you make things.I appreciate your photos and your work very much and love visiting your blog. Greetings from Germany!

mairuru said...

Hello Daniela,
I got it from my friend.
It's this!-> http://www.in2art.com/art-supplies/speedball-speedystamp
I hope you could find good eraser for your craft.

Daniela Mayumi Kodaira said...

Hello Mai,
thanks for the information. In fact, I also asked to your friend Kyoko, and she'd gave me the link. I've just made an order. I'll show you when my stamp is finished!
Thanks a lot!

mairuru said...

Hello Graka,
It's not so difficult, but I also couldn't do it well at first.
You can see the process here.
http://www.teddybeargallery.net/lesson/cotton/c_konoji.html
It's written in Japanese, but I think you could understand the way from the pictures.

I'm sorry I cannot find the English word of this technique.

mairuru said...

Hello Daniela,
Oh, she is the person who gave it to me!!!!
I'm happy you could order it.

Ayu@Sweetlilcraft said...

Great job!!I'm love it^^. Thanks a lot for the tutorial.

Graka said...

THANKS MAI!!! Is really easy understand with the photos =D

Rachel@oneprettything.com said...

You're not so good at carving? Are you kidding me? This is fantastic and so well explained. Thanks so much, I know of a couple people looking for eraser carving tutes, I'll be linking.

elenor said...

very, very nice. thank you!

Cucicucicoo said...

oh that's great! I've been into a stamp thing lately, but had never even heard of eraser board like that. the cat is so cute! love it!

kolo ko said...

Thanks so much for posting this tutorial. I appreciate your generosity.

Lia said...

I really need to start doing this...I have all the equipments...but carving it seems scary :) You've done a wonderful tutorial :) I might even try it tonight ;)

amelie.mydaruma said...

REally cute and a very well made tutorial too.
tahnks for sahring this.
Amélie, Lyon, France
Ps: first visit here but i'm sure to visit again!

hanna said...

This so so sweet, thankyou for sharing :)
Hanna

Anonymous said...

For a long time, I have been wondering how to make a stamp without buying one! (I'm really cheap)This is so cute and clever! Thank you!

Colin Purrington said...

These directions and photographs are inspirational. Thank you so much.

Unknown said...

Hi! great photos! I was wondering what ink pad you use? Do you know if you can use any kind of ink, then iron to make permanent?

disfrutar del sexo said...

Thanks so much for this post, pretty helpful data.

sange said...

It's so lovely and cute!

Laura said...

Thank you for this post!! I've been looking for a long time around the net, searching for something like it!!

So easy and understable (not sure if this word really exists xP)

Thank you!!!

Lynda said...

Thank you for your lovely idea! This is very cute and seems easy enough, however I can't possibly find this flat eraser material here in Utah USA
Any ideas?
Lynda :)