Carving your own stamps can be a great way to create a stamp design that is a little different. While it is possible to draw an image onto the surface of the stamping block with a pencil, drawing freehand isn't something that everyone is comfortable with. If you are one of these people then don't worry - help is at hand! There are a wide range of free stencils, images and templates that are perfect for stamp carving. There are a number of ways of transferring the printed image onto carving block. Some printed images can simply be ironed onto a carving block using a warm iron. This depends on the type of printing ink and the results are variable. One of the most common ways to transfer a printed image is to use a soft pencil. See the following pages for more information.
A note about copyright - before using an image it is important to check the copyright details and any usage restrictions. If you want to use an image to carve a stamp, but are unsure whether this is allowed, check with the copyright holder before using the image.
See the following pages for a step by step guide to transferring images.I have used a free daisy stencil from Marion Boddy-Evans, About.com Guide to Painting. This is just one of many that Marion has available.
Free Templates for Stamp Carving
There are a wide variety of interesting free stencils available here at About.com that are suitable for stamp carving projects. The links below will take you to some comprehensive collections of free stencil images.- About.com Painting - an extensive range of stencils that includes flowers, holidays, Celtic designs and many other themes
- About.com DIY Fashion - many different types of stencil that are ideal for stamp carving
- About.com African History - an extensive collection of African themed stencil images
