Tutorial: Advanced Hand-Carved Eraser Stamp (Wood Grain)

This tutorial is for a hand-carved stamp with a very detailed wood grain design.  Although this is a short tutorial that requires only a few supplies, it is a very advanced project!

If you're just starting to carve stamps from erasers, you'll want to check out my Basic Hand-Carved Eraser Stamps Tutorial first.  Before attempting this project, you should become familiar with carving erasers into stamps with simpler designs.  Once you're comfortable with the basics of hand-carving stamps, then feel free to attempt this project.

For this project I used one of those really big erasers that are "For Big Mistakes". Hehehe  I was able to get this 2"x6" eraser in the dollar section of a local craft store for just $1. 

WARNING

This project is for adults only!!

Using a craft knife is very dangerous and you must be very careful!!

SUPPLIES

Printed image

Tracing paper

Pencil & Pen

Craft knife (X-acto knife)

Large eraser

Step 1: TRACE IMAGE

Print Image

Print the image you wish to turn into a stamp.

Trace Image

Place the printed image under a sheet of tracing paper.

Using pencil, trace the image onto the tracing paper very heavily.

Note: Feel free to take some creative liberty while tracing.  The image doesn't have to be exactly like the printed image!!  I added an extra knot to my wood grain. 

Step 2: TRANSFER IMAGE

Transfer Image

Flip the tracing paper over and put the pencil side down onto the eraser.

While holding the paper steady, rub the paper with your finger.

Darken the Image

Trace the transferred image using a pen that won't damage the eraser.

Note: This will keep the image from rubbing off while carving.

Step 3: CARVE ERASER

The sketch above is of a side view of a carved stamp.

Imagine the blue rectangle is the original eraser and the red lines on top are the parts of the stamp you want to show up on paper.

When carving your stamp you'll want to carve into the eraser at an angle going away from your image. Try to not carve straight down and definitely don't carve under your image!!

Carve the Eraser

Using your craft knife, gently trace around the image while making sure to angle your blade away from the image.

Very carefully carve out the parts of the eraser that do not have your image on it and that you don't want as part of your stamp.

Note: Do not cut too deeply into the eraser if you're removing small areas of the eraser.

FINISHED

Thanks for reading!!  Until next time...