I`m into creating stamps using rubber blocks to carve with and I can`t tell you how difficult it is to the letters straight and sharp with an x-acto knife. I would like to have a few stamps with a serif font possibly Times, but just thinking about how much more difficult that would be discourages me. Any ideas?
My signature would be a fantastic stamp idea. Maybe then I`d use my checkbook more often, but I haven`t the faintest idea how to go about doing script on stamps.
Have you tried using a metal ruler to guide you with the straight cuts? Just a thought.
As for creating a signature stamp, there are two ways that I know of. The first way is to use a soft pencil to write your signature on a piece of paper, then take the paper, flip it over and rub the back of the image onto a piece of carving material. Your nail or popsicle stick should work fine to transfer the image.
The second way is to take your signature and photocopy it. Then take the photocopied signature image and flip it image side down onto the carving material. Take a cotton swab and dab acetone, nail polish remover or rubbing alcohol to the back of the photocopied image. The acetone transfers the toner from the photocopied image onto the block for carving. I would imagine that carving out a curvy image like a signature would be rather challenging, but I think that with steady moves with your number 1 lino cutter, it could work out nicely. I find that when I rotate the piece instead of my hand, I can handle the curvy cuts better. I wonder if there is a tool out there for this purpose- maybe a lazy susan could work?
There is a great book on rubber stamp carving by Luann Udell- I believe that's her name. She has detailed instructions on carving curvy images as well as signature stamps.
Happy carving and stamping, Doreen
I guess the book your talking about is Rubber stamp carving: techniques, designs & projects. I found a copy at the local library and I`m going to try to stop by and pick it up soon.
I haven't yet tried a straight edge ruler for making sharper lines. Thanks for the tip. I`ll give it a try soon.
You might also check art supply stores for linoleum carving tools, long used by print-makers to carve printing blocks. They have V- and U- shaped blades in various sizes that make cutting sharp, clear images into erasers
*much* easier than using an X-Acto knife. One sources for them is Dick Blick:Hi, all,
Got my carv> Bier de St>
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