Making your own stamps is very easy and quite fun. It’s so easy to carve out a beautiful design and get lost in the fun. My son loves art and he always loves it when I can make him something he can use to create his own work of art. So I thought I’d make him some car and truck stamps.
![stamp carving](https://www.punkinpatterns.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/cars00011.jpg)
They’re so simple.
![stamp carving](https://www.punkinpatterns.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/DSC05358.jpg)
![stamp carving](https://www.punkinpatterns.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/DSC05347.jpg)
![stamp carving](https://www.punkinpatterns.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/DSC05608.jpg)
Here’s what you’ll need:
Carving blocks (Speedball Speedy Carve Blocks are a great choice, you can find them here or here.)
A linolium cutter with different tips (#1,#2, #5) — I got mine from this great starter kit.
A utility knife or X-Acto knife
Pencil
Pen
Ink pad for stamping
![stamp carving](https://www.punkinpatterns.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/DSC05286.jpg)
Car Template, which you can download here.
![stamp carving](https://www.punkinpatterns.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/cars-and-trucks-232x300.jpg)
Before we start, let’s take a look at the linoleum carving tips. I have a #1, #2, and #5 tip. The #1 tip (shown on the right) is used for outlining your image. Tip #5 is in the middle. It yields a wider cut. On the left is tip #2, which gives a deep, but still narrow cut.
![stamp carving](https://www.punkinpatterns.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/DSC05320.jpg)
Start by printing out your image that you’ll use to make stamps. You can use anything or draw something by hand. Take a pencil and shade in the back of your image.
![stamp carving](https://www.punkinpatterns.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/DSC05294.jpg)
Turn it over and place your image on your carving block and trace the image with a ball point pen.
![stamp carving](https://www.punkinpatterns.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/DSC05298.jpg)
You should end up with your image in light pencil on your carving block.
![stamp carving](https://www.punkinpatterns.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/DSC05299.jpg)
If you like, you can darken your image with a ball point pen.
![stamp carving](https://www.punkinpatterns.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/DSC05300.jpg)
Using an X-Acto knife or utility knife cut out the stamp, to make your work surface a little smaller.
![stamp carving](https://www.punkinpatterns.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/DSC05305.jpg)
![stamp carving](https://www.punkinpatterns.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/DSC05306.jpg)
Take your linoleum cutter and using a #1 tip, start to carve away along the outline of your image.
![stamp carving](https://www.punkinpatterns.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/DSC05313.jpg)
Keep going until you’ve outlined the entire image including any details.
![stamp carving](https://www.punkinpatterns.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/DSC05326.jpg)
Switch to a tip that gives a little deeper cut (like a #2 tip) and cut away more around your outline of your image.
![stamp carving](https://www.punkinpatterns.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/DSC05328.jpg)
Continue cutting away more with a wider tip (like a #5 tip).
![stamp carving](https://www.punkinpatterns.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/DSC05332.jpg)
Finally cut away some of the excess block from around your stamp with your X-Acto knife.
![stamp carving](https://www.punkinpatterns.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/DSC05336.jpg)
![stamp carving](https://www.punkinpatterns.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/DSC05338.jpg)
Test out your stamp on paper. (You may need to go back and remove a bit more, depending on how this test stamp looks.)
![stamp carving](https://www.punkinpatterns.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/DSC05345.jpg)
Continue for your other stamps.
![stamp carving](https://www.punkinpatterns.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/DSC05347.jpg)
![stamp carving](https://www.punkinpatterns.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/DSC05358.jpg)
Finally let your little artist have fun. (Make sure your ink pads are washable for your little ones!) Here’s what Connor did! I love it!
![stamp carving](https://www.punkinpatterns.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/DSC05618.jpg)
Happy stamping!
I am in love with this! I can’t wait to get my hands on the supplies. My son will go crazy!
Really, really cute! I don’t see a ton of boy craft ideas, so I love this – perfect for everyone! I love his final picture – it’s fantastic! Thanks for sharing!
love stamp carving! this is awesome!
Pam Going Postal
I love it! Thank your for your inspiration!
Wow, this is really cool, I would never have thought to use a carving block this way! Thanks for the inspiration.
This is a great project and I love the picture your son Conner made with the stamps. I am hosting a linky party and think this project would be great for it. I hope you’ll stop by my blog and link up.
Jennie
http://willowbeanstudio.blogspot.com/
Hi! I love your step by step tutorial for stamp carving! Was wondering though, how do you carve small details particularly small dots when using your speedball linolium cutter?