So I took a trip to the local shopping mall and bought some cheap stuff in one of those clearance book stores. They have a fun arts and crafts section with low cost supplies designed to get you creative without being fearful of using up quality supplies and wasting money.
Scouting about the internets from time to time, I absorb a collection of ideas I know I want to try out at some point. It seems the ones most likely to stick in my mind are the really simple/easy ones.
I’d seen the lovely Journal Girl carve out some of her own stamps on some really big erasers, so when I found one next to some really cheap (£1.99 for 10) wood carving tools, it was a no-brainer.
Barely pausing to unwrap them, I set straight to it – with absolutely no idea what I was doing (and even less patience). Voilà, in less than five minutes, I’d created my very first stamp (and I still had all of my fingers intact – bonus!)
Next up, I’d bought a pack of brightly coloured fun foam (the kind you use to make cut outs with kids and assemble into simple shapes). I remember seeing this tutorial on Pinterest and without pausing to look it up, I set to making my own quick designs. Within just a couple of minutes I had some ready to use.
I put them to work on some recycled paint printed paper and produced a more thoughtful piece, but only after about an hour of going wild and letting loose making good use of the stamps in the background, in addition to some new chunky wax crayons (for chubby fingers to hold!)
There’s so much fun to be found in playing in your art journal! A nice reminder that it isn’t only there to help us explore our shadows and fears, it can also help us celebrate joy.
What fun will you find in today?
That looks like lots of fun. The more serious stuff makes me anxious! Actually fun normally does too, but this doesn’t seem like that sort of fun 😉
Teach me sometime!
PS so glad you still have all your fingers x
Yes, we shall play together. Once the decks are cleared a little here I’ll get a few of us around this big old table of mine and we can let loose! xo
I loved the eraser just as it was and might buy two of them, they’d be needed if I was to do art 🙂
As my friend Syda at Kreative Notions says – ” mistaeks are mandatory” 🙂 xo
Looks like great fun & I also love the message on the original eraser. Must get me some of those carving tools, I love carving things!!!
Kids would love to do the printing bit too!
Must channel the inner muse to really get my art journal moving!
Or just let yourself have a good old play? (I’ve made so many pages this last while because I didn’t do anything about sharing them. Made it much less pressured to just do it!) xo
yaaaaaay , my 1st message that actually stuck!!!
Yay! Finally, it worked 🙂 Yay!
LOVE!! I’m wanting to try making my own stamps. It’s on my list. Thanks for sharing this, I’m inspired 🙂
Coolio! I’m so glad to share the inspiration 🙂 Can’t wait to see what you come up with! Back to the store for me – and then to employ a little more patience in coming up with a design. xo
Hi Julie – thanks for this post – I’ve been thinking about making stamps for a while now. I’ve been out and bought my HUGE erasers, wow!! Now just need to schedule some play time xxx
I’m so glad this inspired you, Rachel – do be sure to share your stamps after playtime 🙂 xo
these are GORGEOUS. i love your art so much. <3
Aw, big love to you gorgeous girl xoxo
New to this page, but I love the idea – I’ve loads of funky foam in the house!