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Stamping is one of the easiest decorative techniques out there. All you really
need to know how to do is push a stamp into a bit of color, and then apply it
firmly to the wall. However there are a number of tricks and tips that can be
employed to make your decorative stamping stand out as the work of an artist and
not an amateur.
First you have to figure out what you’re going to stamp. Stamping can be used to
apply decorative color to almost any flat surface. Some people use it to adorn
wooden chests, shelving, lamp shades, and even table top surfaces. One inventive
use for stamps is to create your own custom linens, marked with initials or a
family crest. A lot of people also use stamps to create borders along walls,
trailing above a dado rail, or along doorways and windows.
There are a wide variety of rubber stamps which can be purchased at your local
arts and crafts store. It is also possible to make your own stamps from soft
artist’s eraser, or printing blocks.
One of the most important things to pay attention to when stamping is spacing.
If you don’t have a reference point to work with, it will be almost impossible
to tell whether you are printing the stamped images evenly or not, and whether
the spacing between them is the same.
Unless you are stamping randomly, you need a straight line to follow at the very
least. This can be a natural line, such as the molding found along a wall, or
can be traced on by you, using a meter stick and a light touch of pencil.
To keep your spacing straight, cut an L shaped piece out of a sheet of
cardboard. The bottom of the L should be the height you want the stamp to go on
above your reference line. The width of the tall part of the L should correspond
to how far you want the different stamped images to be spaced apart from one
another.
Stamping itself should be done very carefully. You want to make sure that the
ink goes on the stamp evenly, so that the image comes out looking clear and
crisp. If you are applying the images to a wall, latex paint should be used. If
you are stamping wood or paper, use acrylic paint diluted slightly with water.
Specialty craft paints are best used when stamping ceramic or glass surfaces.
If you have trouble getting the stamps to print clearly, a sponge roller can be
used to get the paint on evenly. You should also practice the stamping on a
spare piece of paper a few times to get the technique right. If you do mess up
when actually stamping the surface, don’t try to go over it again with the same
stamp. The effect of stamping isn’t precise so a little bit of an error on a few
of the designs probably wont be noticed.
In the end stamping is a very simple way to create a repeating pattern across
your surfaces. It doesn’t take much skill or expense, just a little care and
caution, and you can create an effect which is impressively stylish.
This article is provided courtesy of PebbleZ’s line of natural stone candle holders crafted from real
pieces of onyx, gemstone, and imported Kenyan sandstone. The article was written
by Joey Pebble, an artist and stone designer.
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