You can create beautiful designs and shapes from a stamp print. Use fabric ink and stamps to turn simple linen towels into something special. This is an easy technique to apply to anything from towels to shirts to postcards.
Materials
- Linen or flour sack towels
- Fabric ink
- Rubber for stamp carving
- Rubber carving tools
- A pen or marker
- Ink roller
- Ink dish
- Print presser (optionally you can always use your hands or the back of something flat like a wooden spoon)
Steps
- Use a pen to draw out your design on the rubber stamp.
- Carve out the design using rubber stamp carving tools. I find it easiest to carve the outline first then the details and then all the whitespace where no ink should be. Make sure to carve the whitespaces deep enough that the roller will not hit it.
- Spread out the fabric ink onto the ink dish. Using your roller pull some of the paint out and roll until evenly spread across the dish and the roller.
- Roll over your rubber stamp making sure that it is coated evenly and generously.
- Carefully press the stamp onto the towel and apply even pressure with a presser or the back of a wooden spoon until you transfer the ink.
- Peel back the stamp and let the ink completely dry.
Notes
- Make sure to follow the directions for the fabric ink you have to maintain the print.
- I like to test the stamp print on a scrap piece of fabric to make sure I like the final design and that I am applying the adequate pressure to transfer the ink.
- For complicated designs you can use carbon paper to help trace onto the rubber for carving.
From decorative designs and monograms stamp printing can be a great way to add personalized touches to your crafts. Have fun!