31 Days of Scripture Art Journaling:: Day 21: Carving Stamps

Welcome back to scripture art journaling!

Start here.

If you're new here, here is the beginning of this series,
which I will finish in the new year.
The series starts here.

I'll be posting two art journaling tutorials for the next five weeks,
on Mondays and Wednesdays to finish up the series.
If there is enough interest, I thought about opening up a
linky where we can share our journals?
Just a thought, if people are interested.

Day 21: Carving Stamps

I'm all about using what you have, or using what you find,
and not spending a bunch of money.
On Day 11 I talked about adding texture
to your page with found objects.

Today we'll be carving our own stamps.
Here's what you'll need:


A Carving Block

Speedball Linoleum Cutter (#1)

a brayer

and all the other basics:

acrylic paint
patterned paper
gel medium (Mod Podge)
paint brushes


1. Prep your journal page

First prep your journal page with gesso,
as I explained here in Day 9.
Squirt a color or two right on the wet gesso.
Spread the paint around with a dry paper towel,
a brush, a gift card, or your fingers.
Each will make a different texture.
Play around and see what you love.
Last, cover your wet page with a paper towel to remove
excess paint and give it a little more texture.
Take the paper towel and press it down on a different page
to add some color.

2. Big Paper Collage

Once your paint is dry, use patterned paper to collage your pages.
Use big pieces to fill up the background.
Adhere the paper with gel medium or Mod Podge.





3. It's time to carve your stamp.

This is fun. I know I always say that, but it really is.
I doodled directly on the carving block.
Birds again? I know, but it's all I could think of.
Here is a great page with ideas for hand-carved stamps.
The possibilities are endless. Seriously.
I could do this all day. And all night.

So doodle some pictures on scratch paper or in a journal.
Pick the 2 or 3 that you like the most,
doodle on your stamp, and start carving.
The cutter has different sized blades you can trade in and out.

4.Add texture with found objects.

Before you start stamping use a found object like a
 lid or a q tip or squished up paper towel.
{I used bubble wrap.}

5. Stamp away
Squeeze your paint out on your palette.
I like to use different shades of a color.
Roll your brayer in the paint, put it on your stamp, and stamp away.
*Tip: The first stamp can be a little muddy because
 there is so mush paint on the stamp.
Usually the second and third stamps are the best.

6. Use a Paper Towel as a Stamp

When you're done stamping, press a paper towel on the wet paper.
Then stamp another page of your journal with the paper towel.
{I hope this is making sense.}

7. Paint your scripture with white gesso.
I use the teeny tiniest brush I could find at the craft store.

When the white paint is dry, paint over the words with a color.

8. Paint over the final words with black paint.
And you're done!

Take courage, my friends.
I hope you had fun with this one.
I'd love to see what you create.
Join me on Facebook & attach a picture
Thanks for hanging in there with me!

Day 22: Focus on the Process

See all 31 days.