Tag Archives: carving

Forray into lino carving.

I’ve played around with stamp carving before, a few years ago when I started this whole crafty blog thing. Recently I carved a big stamp to try something different for a cup cozy design.

On the weekend I attended a workshop run by Uniiverse on lino cutting. It was run by Etsy shop. He was really nice and while I’m sure I could have figured this out myself since I’m crafty like that it was great to have him there to ask questions and be a guide.

I fell in love with these feather wall decals a little while ago and want to cover my bedroom wall with them. However, that could get expensive. I debating cutting them out of fabric myself but I don’t think I’ll get nice clean lines or prevent fraying. So when the workshop came up I decided I would carve a feather and then I can use it to stamp onto my wall.

I’m happy with how it turned out, the fine lines show up and everything. The tricky bit will be to do it properly on the wall. It’s easy to toss away a ruined piece of paper! I also think this is how I’ll be making my Christmas cards this year. As if I didn’t have enough crafts on my plate now I’ve stumbled into a new one I like.

A new journey.

I finally got around to reading Making an Impression by Geninne Zlatkis. I took it with me to my overnight spa trip. So it was prefaced with a few hours quiet time, then I laid in bed with some music on, on a belly, in my jammies and read the book with my shiny new sketchbook right beside me.

I’m dying to get into stamping and printing my own fabrics, I’m collecting ideas on this Pinterest board. I’m making an effort to work hard at researching techniques and gathering ideas and inspiration.

It didn’t take long to flip through the book and soak up all the lovely images. In about an hour I filled the first page of my sketchbook with doodles of possible stamps, designs for fabric and new cup cozies! I really have to make more time in my busy life to do this again.

If you’re looking to get inspired along the same lines visit Geninne’s blog for some great ideas and pretty, pretty images.

Carving stamps, finally.

Strangely, I bought supplies to carve my own stamps ages ago and then it turned out to be a Style School assignment.  I had planned to carve something that I could then stamp onto fabric and make labels for my sewing projects.  But it started to get complicated finding an ink that would stay through washing.  So my supplies sat there . . . until today!!

The glasses should look like those fun 50’s frames, I wasn’t brave enough to attempt carving out some little rhinestones, perhaps I’ll make a second try.  The little fox is winking, so he should look like that.  I had carved the word ‘crafty’ next to him but as I was cutting apart the stamps I realised I hadn’t mirror imaged the word.  Don’t ask me how I sketched it out this afternoon, then sat and carved it during a movie and I didn’t notice until basically ready to stamp with it that I had made a mistake!  I’m going to blame it on Tired Mommy Brain.  Yes it’s a real ailment, it must be, it has capitals.   The thread and spool are something I was thinking of for business cards/tags.

I can’t believe I haven’t tried this before!  It was really easy and fun and addictive.  I think I may have to pop back to the art store tomorrow.