Idea #21 Decorate a candle with rubber stamps

I've been having too much fun on Pinterest. What a great source for ideas on how to use rubber stamps! I recently gave decorating a candle with rubber stamps a try. It worked out so well! You need to do this! It could not be easier. Here are the directions I used. I used a favorite stamp I designed a long time ago that has been so versatile - my Contemporary Leafy Stem stamp. The ink I used was VersaFine Ink in "Olympia Green."

Rubber Stamp Idea #19

Do you have any of those wonderful paint chip cards laying around from the hardware store? Or, if you are like me, you swipe them just because the colors inspire you. Well, a fun and simple idea to use them for something useful is to make bookmarks! I stamped mine using Staz-On brand ink which dries smear-free and waterproof even on slick papers. On a few I removed a quarter circle at the corners using my 1-inch circle punch. A bit of ribbon completes it. A great craft for your kids! They can make them for all their friends and teachers this holiday!

Rubber Stamp Idea #16 - Shrinky Dink Jewelry
So, I hate to admit it, but I am old enough to remember when Shrinky Dink plastic sheets first came out. I had a ball with it then and love it even more now!

If you are not familiar with the stuff, you can read all about it here. I purchased mine in a local craft store and chose the Frosted variety.

Making earrings, pendants and keychain fobs is fun and easy with rubber stamps. You will need to choose a stamp with an image about 3 times the size of the desired finished product. Stamp with a waterproof ink like Staz-On. Color in the image if desired using markers or good quality colored pencils. Cut out the image as desired leaving a tab to punch a hole for any findings you might be using. Alternatively, plan on gluing the appropriate finding onto the back. Keep in mind that the hole shrinks, too! A standard hole punch is about 1/4" or 6 mm. It will shrink down to about 2 mm. I goofed up on my earrings and used a small punch that makes a 1/16" hole and couldn't get the earring wire through without enlarging the hole.


Now the fun - pre-heat your oven or toaster oven to 325 degrees. Place your shrink objects onto a piece of brown paper from a grocery bag or cardstock and then onto a cookie sheet. Make sure there is plenty of room between objects. Place in the oven. Don't freak out when you see your creation warp and twist as it shrinks! In about 1 -2 minutes it will lay flat again. Count for an additional 30 seconds and remove. Press flat with a pad of paper or something similar to set the flat shape. Add your findings and your done! You can make a slew of earrings in just minutes!

Other ideas: Use long border stamps to make rings and bracelets. Curve into desired shape while still warm.

Goofed Up? Return to oven for 1 or 2 minutes to re-soften the plastic. Now you can reshape!

More Rubber Stamp Ideas

Rubber Stamp Idea #15 - Make Stickers!
I love making stickers, but I don't want to invest in an expensive machine. I also wanted to be able to have nice, even sheets of stamps. Something that is not always easy to do with the machines. So, I figured out how to make lovely stickers just using the Xylon machine adhesive refills. They are pricey, but quite reasonable if you are a thrifty shopper and use the discount coupons for Joann Fabrics, Hobby Lobby or your local craft store.
Here's what you need: A Xyron brand sticker machine refill in your choice of width, printed images or stamped images on quality paper, scrapbooking paper punches in your desired size and shape.
Here's how it works: The sticker paper comes on a cartridge and consists 2 rolls - one is of a sticky, adhesive coated waxed paper and the other is of a clear flim. The idea is that you place your punched out image onto the sticky paper in neat rows. The clear film is then pulled out over the sticky sheet and pressed onto the surface. The clear film will stick to the exposed adhesive between your stickers. When you pull it off again, it will come off with the extra sticky adhesive adhered to it. You are left with a sheet of stickers!


Here's a few tips for success: The adhesive is really sticky and can get all over your fingers and scissors. One thing to do is give yourself plenty of room on a table surface protected by something you can get sticky. I like to work on a plastic placemat. Cut a narrow strip of paper a bit wider than your adhesive roll. Stick it to the end edge of the adhesive strip to protect your fingers as you pull out the paper adhsive side up. Only pull out what you think you will need for your die cuts. Place your die-cuts carefully in neat rows. You can not lift again them once they are down! When you are finished, place another narrow strip of paper across the roll at the end of your stickers. Cut through the strip of paper to prevent your scissors from getting all gooey. Now, pull out the clear film. Pull out a length slightly longerthan your sticker sheet. Place the film down on your work surface. Then, very carefully and well aligned, place your sticker sheet face down onto the clear film. flip it over and rub it very, very well between the stickers to grab hold of any excess adhesive. Hold onto your sticker sheet, then pull off the film in one smooth stroke. Remember, the film is now covered in the extra adhesive. If you drop it onto yourstickers, they will get ruined! Cut a short length of clear film and reapply to any sticky spots you missed.Ta-Da! Stickers!

Rubber Stamp Idea #6
Stamp fondant covered cookies and cakes

Etsy customer Linda recently sent me pictures of some beautiful cookies decorated with stamps from my shop. Writes Linda: "All you do is get a scrapbooking sponge dauber like this and then get some food color gel/paste like a Wilton color paste, dab a bit of the color on the dauber and then dab on the stamp and then stamp onto your fondant covered cookie and presto, your beautiful design is stamped onto the cookie. The gel dries out so it won't smear, best just to leave the cookie on a drying rack overnight to let it dry." The manufacturer of the material I use assures me that their photopolymer is non-toxic and that they are seeking FDA approval to promote food use. Premade fondant is readily available.

100 + Uses for Rubber Stamps!

If you're the creative type, no doubt you have had the opportunity to play with rubber stamps. Made cards for your friends and family? Perhaps you are into scrapbooking? Great!

However, there are soooo many more fun and imaginative things you can do with rubber stamps. Together with my fellow crafters on Etsy.com, I have come up with 103 different ideas - and I'm still counting!

Care to check them out? Together we can explore them one at a time. We'll talk a little about technique and hopefully visit with a crafter/artist that employs that technique.

Inspired? Visit my Etsy shop for fun stamps.

Let the adventure begin!