Handicrafts: The Rubber Stamping Phenomenon

By Michele Blandino

Paper crafts, including scrapbooking and card making, have become enormously popular in recent years. As this hobby has gained popularity, so has the number of techniques and tools that can be used. One of the most popular techniques is rubber stamping.

As you would expect, rubber stamping involves the use of stamps and ink. These tools can be used to create patterned papers, backgrounds and other designs. The techniques range from the simple direct-to-paper in which ink is applied to the stamp and then the stamp is applied to the paper, to the more complex “Joseph’s Coat” which utilizes a combination of a special water-mark ink and a tool called a brayer which work together to create a kaleidoscope of colors.

Choosing Your Materials

Getting involved in rubber stamping is quite easy. There are a number of direct sales companies that sell rubber stamping products and supplies and a wide variety of items can also be found in many large craft and hobby stores. Because there are so many types of products available, it is easy to become overwhelmed and confused. And, while there are specific tools required for specific techniques, virtually every technique requires three things: ink pads, stamps and paper.

With so many brands and types available, the choice of materials such as ink pads, stamps and paper is largely a matter of personal preference. While not entirely necessary, many rubber stamping enthusiasts choose to purchase all of their ink pads and paper from the same manufacturer so that their projects will be color coordinated. Other stampers may prefer to buy their stamps from only one manufacturer while others choose their stamps based solely on the design.

Stamping within a Budget

When beginning a rubber stamping hobby, it is important to exercise a certain amount of restraint when it comes to purchasing supplies, otherwise you may find your expenditures quickly adding up. The best way to do this is to only buy the supplies you need to complete a specific project and resist the urge to buy materials and tools that you would like to try out at some point. While your intentions might be good, the reality is that many of these supplies wind up going unused.

Another way to cut costs is to share supplies with a friend, especially stamps. Because stamps are usually used for specific projects, it is unlikely that you and your stamping friend would be using the same stamp at the same time. By splitting the cost, you can either spend less, or have additional money to buy more stamps.

Be Inspired

The best way to up with ideas for stamping projects is to go online. Many avid rubber stampers have their own web pages where they post pictures of their artwork. You can find hundreds of these galleries by using the search term “rubber stamping gallery” in your favorite Internet search engine.