Rubber stamping is a simple technique that has a wide range of fantastic uses. You can make greetings cards, embellish scrapbook pages and use within other paper craft projects. This week’s picture shows a birthday card to which I’ve added stamped flowers and leaves. You will need stamps, cardstock , a heat gun, embossing powder, a small paintbrush, pigment or embossing ink and a tidy tray or scrap paper.
Place your stamp with the rubber side facing you and with a light tapping motion apply ink to the surface, making sure that you have covered all the raised area of the stamp.
Carefully place the inked surface on the card and apply a firm pressure all over to get a good impression. It’s important that you don’t use a rocking motion.
Using a tidy tray or scrap piece of paper beneath your card, sprinkle the powder over the wet image. Sometimes it’s a good idea to flick the back of the work to get off any stray bits of powder, otherwise use a paintbrush to remove any specks. If you are working to a budget this is a simple (yes, it really is simple) and effective way to go.
Turn on your heat gun and hold about 2-3 inches from the work, and as soon as you see the powder melt move the stream of air to the next portion. Make sure that you don’t overheat the powder, as it will just go flat. Finally cut out your stamped image, colour it in and attach it to your card.