I might have a teeny tiny obsession with stamps – it all started around the holidays with my stamped paper bag wrapping paper.  Since then, I’ve been on the lookout for cute stamps.  I’m trying to keep my budding obsession in the teeny tiny phase, though… because let’s be honest: I don’t exactly have a need for stamps – I don’t scrapbook, I don’t write very many letters – and I can’t even think of another reason to use decorative stamps (suggestions welcome, of course!).  And—they can be a bit expensive.  But I’m still drawn to them – so after pinning a ton of DIY stamp ideas, I finally committed to a tutorial.

It’s easy!  And once I made the stamps, it was easy to find lots of ideas for new projects.  When I was on a mission to fill my blank canvases, I kept exploring the same blog and found another great pin that inspired my next canvas for the living room- a cross hatch silhouette!

It was the  perfect project for the third canvas to join my new collection of art for the living room… scroll down for both DIY ideas!

DIY Stamps 

Time: 15 minutes

Cost: $5-10, depending on what you already own (individual prices listed under supplies)

Supplies:

• sheet of craft foam ($1)
• thick cardboard or wooden block
• super glue ($3)
• ink pad ($5ish)
• (optional) mod podge ($6)

Instructions:

1. Decide what kind of shape you want – I looked here for ideas.  Simple, geometric shapes are the easiest for creating a pattern to fill up a large space.  (I made three – a cross hatch, arrows, and triangles.)

Cut shapes out of the foam sheet. (Remember that the inked stamp will be a mirror image.)

2. Glue the shapes to a rectangle or cardboard or wooden block.  The tutorial I followed just used a toy block – but I cut up an Amazon package and it worked just as well.

3. Let the glue dry and you’re ready to stamp!

Optional: Use the stamp on a white piece of paper, and adhere it to the top of your block with Mod Podge.  It’s helpful to see what the stamp will look like, especially if it’s directional.

…

And now… ook what I did with my stamps!

DIY Cross Hatch Silhouette

Time: 5 minutes

Cost: $5-10, depending on what you already own (individual prices listed under supplies)

Supplies:

• cross hatch stamp
• ink pad ($5ish)
• printer
• (optional) mod podge ($6)

Instructions:

1. Google “cute whale outline” or whatever shape you want, and print the image.

2. Cut out the shape carefully to preserve both the outline and the inner shape.

3. (Optional) I had leftover half-circles of tissue paper from another project (coming soon!), so I positioned them like waves around the shape of the whale on the canvas.  I used Mod Podge to attach them to the canvas, and after it dried I went to town with my cross hatch stamp.

4. Position the template and stamp the pattern to fill the entire shape.

I ended up going over the stamp with a bit of paint to make it darker – if I had to do it over again, I would have either started with paint or used better ink.  (I have no idea what is considered “good” ink – but the off-brand I used showed up fine on plain paper but not so well on canvas.)

I love my little whale, and he fits in just swimmingly with the other art in the living room. I’ve almost gotten through all of my new DIY art (click here to see the palette knife art or dogwood canvas), so hopefully I can share a before/after wrap-up next week.  I don’t really have a master plan, but I think I’m subtly trying to bring in a nautical/ocean/water theme to the apartment – if I ever switch up the artwork again, this canvas would fit right in with my nautical wall of art too.  I’m getting ahead of myself here (trust me) – but wouldn’t this whale be cute in a nursery?  Or how about a whole Under the Sea gang with an octopus, starfish, anchor, etc.?  So many possibilities!

As usual, Pinterest has saved the day! I’m linking up to a few of my favorite Pin-spiring link-ups:

Hey, that’s Pin-tastic!, hosted by I Love You More than Carrots

Bake, make, or decorate… but most importantly, do!

Monday Funday, hosted by C.R.A.F.T.