In this interview Judi Kauffman, author of By the Batch: Creative Cards, Postcards, Envelopes & More, (Watson-Guptill) talks to us about many different aspects of rubber stamping. Judi has a wealth of experience of rubber stamping, including designing, writing and creating her own line of stamps. In addition to her books, Judi's work regularly appears in many major craft magazines including Scrapbooking & Beyond and Scrap & Stamp Arts.
Examples of Judi's work can be seen in the gallery that accompanies this interview. More information about By The Batch can be found in this review.
How long have you been working with rubber stamps?I’ve been stamping for over 50 years, though when I was a little girl that’s not what we called it. My parents were both artists. I got my first carving tools at about six so I could carve erasers and potatoes to make block prints. The commercial printer whose business was across from my dad’s turned my drawings into rubber stamps, the kind with wood handles, and I used them to make dozens of cards and postcards and decorated envelopes. I’ve always loved working in series or editions. That’s what drew me to stamping and later to a college major in printmaking.
What aspects of stamping do you particularly enjoy, how do you use stamps?I love to make bookmarks, cards, postcards, note paper, tags - you name it. I’m from the generation that wrote letters and thank you notes and sent cards for every occasion. It’s part of who I am and what I do. I use stamps to make Precious Metals Clay jewelry, to decorate light switch plates, fabric and clothing, wood trays, leather purses. If it doesn’t move, I’ll probably stamp on it, which means at this point that my husband and dog are still safe, though the dog has a stamped bandana.
How do you design a stamping project?I work many different ways. Some of the time I start with a stamp or a group of stamps and the ideas flow from the supplies that are in front of me. Other times, I’ll have a technique or a theme in mind and that guides the project. There are occasions when an idea pops out of nowhere and I choose stamps that fit it. Or an editor or manufacturer will call and ask me to do something specific. Part of being a freelance designer is generating assignments, so I frequently propose ideas to manufacturers and publications. The editorial calendars are planned long in advance so I can be working on Christmas cards in May, Mother’s Day gifts in January. I like the variety, the juggling act, very much.
I play and experiment nearly non-stop. I start with an hour or so of puttering in the studio first thing every morning. I’m always thinking about what I want to do next, what I might do someday - I fill notepads and sketchbooks. I’m never bored and I doubt I’ll ever run out of ideas. I took two dozen stamps, six ink pads and a box of 500 envelopes on my last car trip to Vermont. The difference between what I do for work and what I do for pleasure is simple: If it’s work I have to be able to write step by step instructions, if it's for fun I don’t have to limit the number of inks I use or think about how to tell someone else to duplicate the project or use it for inspiration.
Whether I'm baking cookies or stamping postcards, I love having a bountiful outcome. I always work in series and batches. If I’m making postcards I make a dozen or more, if I'm stamping envelopes I rarely stop at fewer than twenty. I've been a book review columnist for nearly 15 years, and I had never seen one that taught card-making with this particular slant so I thought I could fill a need. Other authors either feature one at a time cards or duplicates made assembly line style. By The Batch is about making one-of-a-kind cards in series using the same supplies - no two alike, though they all have connecting threads. It's an ideal method for anyone who gets bored easily or who wants to make cards to sell.
Plus, after several decades of teaching, I wanted to write a book that includes theories as well as instructions - the “why” as well as the “how to” - so I made sure to put in a lot of options for each project, explored ways to expand creativity, and included practical advice like how to set up a work table.
That’s a tough question. To me, a great card is one that a friend stamps with love and sends for a special occasion or for no reason at all. It doesn’t have to be meticulous or complicated. Stamping doesn’t require perfection, it’s not done by machine; it’s all about what human hands can do.
However, the question has a different answer if we’re talking about making cards to sell or if someone values and wants to develop skill and proficiency. Great cards falling into that category require strong design, unique ideas, good technical skills, and high quality materials. If the cards are to be sold, copyright is an issue. The stamps have to be from angel companies (the company gives stampers permission to sell what they hand stamp).
Stamping is very easy, so beginners can make great cards right from the start. But stamping is something that can become a lifelong passion, a true art form. With simple tools - rubber stamps, inks, and little more - stamp artists build skills and develop a personal style over the years just like painters, quilt makers, and sculptors do, changing and expanding their interests and learning new techniques as they go along.
I’d offer these tips:
- Learn when to stop, cards don’t have to be fancy or complicated.
- Invest in high quality tools and supplies.
- Don’t be afraid to make mistakes.
- If you see a stamp you like, buy it before it’s discontinued or retired (many stamp companies change what they produce on a regular basis).
