How To Make A Japanese Stamp

Learn how easy it is to carve your own stamp with this D.I.Y. tutorial. 

Materials:

Soft cut carving block (search for 'soft lino block' on eBay)

Pencil

Free clip art design (Here is a great collection of Japanese designs I have compiled)

Tracing paper

Lino cutting/carving tool

Ink pad

Instructions:

1.

Trace your clip art design onto tracing paper with a pencil. Turn the paper pencil-side down and cover all the lines in pencil. This will create a transfer. 

2.

Now you have your outline.

3.

Start by carving lightly around your pencil lines.

4. 

Now carve out the rest of the background and deepen the cuts around your design.

5.

Test your stamp by inking it with a stamp pad. Press it onto some paper. Now you will be able to see any tiny lines you have missed carving out because they will have ink on them. Carve these out.

6.

All finished! The possibilities for designs are endless.