How ever tentative your link to Ireland is, Saint Patrick's Day presents a great opportunity for rubber stamping. There are lots of possibilities for Saint Patrick's Day stamping, from handmade cards, through to small gifts and themed table decorations.
Saint Patrick's Day Themes for Rubber Stamping
There are many themes that can be used in Saint Patrick's Day rubber stamping projects. These include:
- Shamrock -the shamrock is an iconic image that is instantly recognizable. It has been adopted as the badge of Ireland and is often seen at sports events. It is the symbol of the Irish Tourist Board and Aer Lingus.
It is not the official emblem of Ireland, however, this is the harp. The shamrock is distinctive because of its trefoil or three leaved shape. It is easy to use in rubber stamping projects. A trefoil can be used simply on its own to give an elegant and classic feel to a card or project or it can be used as part of a bigger design. A whole page can be stamped with shamrock images and this would be perfect as background paper for other projects. When you are buying shamrock rubber stamps remember that a shamrock needn't just be for Saint Patrick's Day! The shamrock is often connected with good luck, therefore a shamrock rubber stamp could also be used throughout the year in good luck projects. - Leprechauns - the image of a leprechauns varies from a cute and whimsical male fairy through to more traditional styles of leprechaun. The wide range of styles means that there is likely to be a leprechaun rubber stamp for different stamping styles. Leprechauns are typically presented with distinctive red hair and green jackets. Rubber stamps depicting other figures could be colored using these colorings to create a broad impression of a leprechaun. Other important leprechaun accessories include a pot or crock of gold.
- Guinness - one of the most well known Irish exports is Guinness. With its dark black body and white frothy head this offers many stamping opportunities. While the brand copyright will not allow for the copying of the Guinness logo, simple rubber stamping techniques are all that are required to create a card that suggests 'a pint of the black stuff'. Try stamping an all over design on the bottom three quarters of a card or piece of paper using black ink. Repeat this over the top quarter with white ink. Use a light colored paper to give emphasis to the stamping in white.
- Celtic Symbols - Celtic symbols are popular with rubber stampers as they are a very versatile image that can be used in both traditional and contemporary designs. A heat embossed Celtic symbol, with its glossy raised surface, can look very effective. The Celtic cross is particularly effective and makes an interesting addition to a St Patrick's Day rubber stamping project.
- Harp - the harp is the official emblem of Ireland. This makes a very elegant rubber stamped image and can be used as a single design on a card or as part of a more complex design. Harp themed rubber stamps are often found in the St Patrick Day sections of rubber stamp supply stores or catalogs. They can also be found in the music categories of rubber stamp catalogs.
Colors
The traditional color of Ireland is green. A rich emerald green color, therefore, is ideal for St Patrick's Day rubber stamping projects. This helps to create an overall St Patrick's Day feel to a project. There are many tones and shades of green and monochromatic (using shades of the same color) designs can be particularly effective. The strong use of color is also a useful way to create a St Patrick's Day look to a project, even when using non traditional stamps. Black and white inks are, of course, useful for creating a Guinness themed design.
Gold metallic accents complement the green color and this is a good way to create the image of the pot of gold that so often feature along side a leprechaun.
Making St Patrick's Day Handmade Cards
Even if you don't celebrate St Patrick's Day, this can be a good excuse to simply make some cards to send to family and friends. Everyone loves a handmade card and this is a great way to show someone that you are thinking of them. Add a few St Patrick's Day themed embellishments to add an extra special feel to your cards!
White card blanks are ideal for St Patrick's Day projects as it shows up the bright greens used in many designs. Other natural shades of background can also look effective. Another alternative is to create your own unique background papers using St Patrick's Day themed stamps.
Tips for Buying Rubber Stamps for St Patrick's Day
Here are a few tips to help you make the perfect purchase for St Patrick's Day:- Buy stamps without wording and this will allow the stamps to be used in other stamping projects.
- Look for stamps in end of season sales. Often occasion themed stamps are sold at discount prices after the event to make way for new stock.
- Stamps that can be used on their own to to build up other designs often present good value for money as they are versatile and can be used in many different projects.
Suggested Shopping List
Here are some supplies that might be useful to get you started on St Patrick Day themed rubber stamping projects:
Celtic Rubber Stamps
- Card Blanks
- Green Ink Pads
