Carving A Rubber Stamp From An Eraser - How To

I'm waiting for the book Making an Impression: Designing & Creating Artful Stamps

to come in at the library, the problem is, I want to try it today. I'm not going to let a small thing like finding out how to do it get in my way.

This turned out to be more challenging then I thought. First I had to find my Linoleum block cutters; they were hidden in vintage metal metal picnic basket labeled Printing. Then I needed to track down a new eraser. My daughter helped me find it in a clear glass jar labeled Erasers; she's still chuckling over that. I didn't ask help locating my ink pad which was fortunate since I eventually found it in a box labeled Stamps. Perhaps I should have cleaned my studio but I decided it wasn't necessary since everything is labeled.

Erasers are remarkably easy to cut, this is code "for don't press your tools down hard since the lines get thicker than you planed." I think starting with an eraser wider than your thumb might also be a good idea.

Next time I'm going to actually draw the design before cutting. I thought, it's only an acorn, they aren't tough to draw. Lines are your friend.

I did an inking to see how things were going and sliced off part of the excess with a razor blade. The final stamp turned out pretty cute and I didn't cut myself, I'm calling it a win.

Happy Trees Vintage Paint By Number Painting - Arts and Crafts

Some people talk about how soothing Mr Rogers voice is; for me, it's Bob Ross when he expounds on "happy trees." I decorated the cabin several years ago with garage sale art since break-ins are always a possibility for property that you don't occupy regularly. I wanted art work that was not overly dear.

One of my purchases was a paint by number of a deer next to a woodland stream. The above painting was thrown in. I washed it, drew on the letters, and painted happy trees in acrylic paint.

I knew the original was heavily textured but I was wrong, it was downright lumpy. It's very difficult to paint straight, smooth lines on a lumpy surface. I love the new version and the fence posts being in front of the font gives it a lot more dimension. I have another purchased painting stored in the back of the garage that is becoming jealous. I think it wants a new life as slightly quirky art.

Arshile Gorky Inspired Abstract Expressionist Modern Painting

I did this originally as a digital image. Painting straight edges is surprisingly challenging. I tried painters tape and went back to freehand since the results with tape were disappointing.

Origami Turtle Magnets - Arts and Crafts

I tried to make an origami tetrahedron but the locking action wasn't working well for me. I needed an easier project so I made the turtles from some specialty paper that I had. They looked cute so I affixed half a magnet that was made to go on the back of a business card to each.

Giant Folk Art Painted Wood Dice - Arts and Crafts

I found a huge wood square and painted it to resemble dice since every game board needs dice. OK, this one takes two hands to pick up so it might not be practical but it looks great on the floor with a giant "jack" that I bought a few years ago.

I wonder what it was originally, perhaps part of a support column in an old barn.

Painted Wood Vintage Style Game Board - Arts and Crafts

I painted this game board on a piece of plywood. I found a little crackling medium so it was applied in scattered areas. The edging (pine molding) is raised to corral crazy dice rolls. The board was aged by lightly sanding the surface.

Mini Book Made From Scrapbook Paper - Arts and Crafts

I still have a ton of scrapbook paper so I made a new book. Directions:

Cut a 12 inch square piece of scrapbook paper in half. Fold the 12" x 6" paper in half so it becomes 6" square.

Glue the back sides of 2 paper pieces together. I used a glue stick. Keep gluing the additional paper to to proceeding pages. The folded spine pieces should line up.

Glue a cover piece on the front and back. Make a spine piece and glue it in plae.

Kazimir Malevich Inspired Geometric Abstract Modern Painting

I made this as a digital poster several months ago and thought it would be fun to redo it as a painting. I designed it to be vertical but I think I prefer it horizontal.

Spooky Halloween Fence with Halloween Images Behind the Fence - Arts and Crafts

I saw this spooky Victorian gate at the Graphics Fairy and was inspired. The witches, owl and black cat are scanned cake decorations. I made it to go across my mantle but posted it here at 11 inches wide. If you click on the image it will become larger. You are welcome to use it for your personal use.

Fortune Cookie Pop-Up Card - Arts and Crafts

I have many fortune cookie fortunes so I thought it would be fun to make a pop-up card for one.

I put the fortune cookie image back to back so I'd have a fold line.

I wanted the inside to be brown so I printed the image on kraft paper card stock. A mellower brown would be better.

Cut the printed image out. Use the cut out portion as a template for the inside. You will have 2 cut out shapes, one plain paper, the other printed.

Crease inside and outside shapes along the fold line.

Take the inside piece and cut a small tab. Crease the tab so that it can bend in the other direction.

Glue the 2 paper pieces together  being careful not to glue the cut tab. Check that the card closes properly.

Glue a fortune to the raised section of the tab. Be careful not to glue it so close that the card won't open and close properly.

Blue Painted Vintage Folding Chair - Arts and Crafts

I bought this pretty little chair at a garage sale for $5 and painted it my favorite garden accessory color, blue.

It doesn't fold up the normal way, you grab it by the handle at the back of the seat and that's the portion that comes up.

I was fortunate that all the finish had worn off so I simply painted it without doing more than a little clean up.

Concrete Molded Fish - Arts and Crafts

I have an old Ronco Ice Mold, it's a flexible silicon type mold that rests inside a box. Yes, you can pour something as heavy as quikrete and have the mold survive. I molded a plaster one as well but that's taking longer to dry.

In case you were wondering, I will never use it again for food.

Steampunk Gear Macrame Bracelet - Arts and Crafts

The gears remind me of steampunk while the orange nylon cord feels a little 1960s.

I did a simple square knot since it was the only knot I didn't forget how to do after my macrame planter phase.

I used to be pretty good at macrame, I even sold some sculptural display pieces. I did so much of it I bet I could figure out if I only applied myself. Alas, the square knot is right at the front of my brain.

Spray Painted Planter - Arts and Crafts

I was walking by the lake and saw a dead plant in a metallic gold planter. The rose pattern was attractive but the shiny gold hideous. Fortunately I had some red spray paint and I'm quite pleased with the result.

I even remembered to wear gloves so I don't have a red index finger; it's a good day.

Leather and Rock Bracelet - Arts and Crafts

We picked up some rocks with natural holes in Duluth and I threaded it on a piece of black leather.

Crocheted Potholders Using Cotton Yarn - Arts and Crafts

I was trapped in a car again. I single crocheted 4 squares and then crocheted them together, reversing the pattern for stability. At least it's not an afghan. I have no idea what I'm going to do with all this yarn, what was I thinking?

I remember seeing a few skeins of cotton yarn at Walmart and it sparked a shopping frenzy. Art supplies and yarn, it's a weakness.

Recycled Cut Paper Pear Collage - Arts and Crafts

We are coming up on pear season and I found these great paper bits in a desk drawer. All the paper is recycled from printed items.

The outside of the pear is a printed photo of a graffiti covered stone wall. The inner stem is the dress on a woman. The background is the back page of a brochure.

Hand Drawn Spooky Staircase Pop Up Card - Arts and Crafts

Who knows what's living under the stairs? The portraits on the wall are cthulhu, a bird man and the Loch Ness Monster.

The fish bowl has a dead fish. The broken floor has a hole and ladder. The potted plant is dead and the spider is wearing a top hat.

A digital download for you to make and possibly color is available on Etsy.

Printable Vintage Minneapolis Public Library Card Pocket - Arts and Crafts

I bought a book from 1910 just for this card pocket.

I'm glad I don't have any late fees since the repercussions are severe. I would hate to be imprisoned for a 2 cent/day fine.

I cleaned up the image in Photoshop, made the background transparent and printed the card holder on a manilla file folder. It would have been easier to recreate it but I wanted to use the old font.

If you click on this photo you can get a full size printable card pocket. I left some of the grunge since it gives character.

Library Card Style Pockets Made From Book Pages - Arts and Crafts

I like having glue-able pockets that I can place in my artist journals.

This one was made by folding a sheet of paper, leaving one side longer than the other. Trim the paper so that you have a tab that can be folded over and glued in the back.

I was going to look for a pattern for you but there is a plethora if you Google "library card pocket template" I like just making it up on a case by case basis to best use the book paper.











I wanted this adorable border to top my library pocket so I cut a rectangle, folded tabs on 3 sides and glued a larger rectangle in back to make a pocket.

This was done basically the same as the last but I used scrapbook paper for the pocket back.