Art stamping is the process of creating artwork with rubber stamps. It can be done on assorted mediums – fabric, metal, wood, and glass all work well with art stamping. Paper, however is the foundation from which art stamping emerged. The process of art stamping on paper as described below can be applied to most other mediums.

The first step is to select a stamp, ink the rubber image evenly, and then press the stamp firmly onto the paper. Be sure to make a clean top to bottom impression and not to sway the stamp back and forth. This will ensure that the edges are free of blurs or smudges.

To load color onto the stamp using ink pads, place the stamp on a work surface with the rubber facing up. Tap the ink pad gently onto the rubber. This technique of loading color with ink pads makes even the largest rubber stamps easy to handle. Another option is to use a brayer. First, roll the brayer onto the ink pad. Then roll the brayer over the surface of the rubber stamp from edge to edge to apply an even layer of ink.

Color can also be loaded to rubber with colored markers. The added bonus of colored markers is that you can choose specific areas of the rubber with the colors of your choice. Please note that because ink from markers dries faster than dye- or pigment-based inks from pads, you will need to moisten the ink by holding the rubber stamp to your mouth and exhaling a burst of warm breath. This will revitalize the colors. Also note that by moistening the stamp with your breath, you might get several stampings from one inking.

Aside from ink pads and colored markers, artists have used assorted substances such as acrylic paints, specialty paints, resist inks and bleach to create wonderful effects.

Magazine issues with related article(s):
• Paper Towel Art by Debbie Neis: Somerset Studio May/June 2004
• Playful Plastic Rubber Stamped Resin Jewelry by Sherril Kahn: Somerset Studio July/August 2003
• Stamped Gift Boxes by Lea Everse: Somerset Studio November/December 2001