Today, I got a sudden urge to mess around with something crafty, and I decided to make some Chinese zodiac stamps. It turned out to be quite a fun little project!
First, I gathered my materials. I dug out some old rubber carving blocks I had lying around, a craft knife, some tracing paper, and a pencil. I also grabbed my ink pads – gotta have those vibrant colors!
The Design Process
Next, I needed to figure out what designs I wanted. I hopped online and looked up some simple Chinese zodiac animal images. I wanted something easy to carve, nothing too intricate since I’m no expert carver.
- I printed out the images I liked.
- Then, I placed the tracing paper over the printed images and carefully traced the outlines with my pencil.
- After that, I flipped the tracing paper over and placed it onto the rubber block.
- I rubbed the back of the tracing paper firmly to transfer the design onto the rubber.
Carving Time!
Now for the fun part – carving! I carefully started cutting away the rubber around the design, making sure to follow the lines as closely as possible. It’s important to take it slow and steady, especially with the smaller details. It is so easy to make a mistake.
I am so happy with my little zodiac animals! I can use them to decorate cards, notebooks, or anything else that needs a little personal touch. It’s a super satisfying feeling to create something unique with my own hands.
