5 Ways to Make Custom Stamps Natural or Recycled Items

There are so many cool ways to make recycled stamps. Here are five options that use natural or recycled materials.
Potato Stamp (1 of 1)

In my previous post, I claimed that carving your own stamps is vastly better (cheaper, more eco-friendly, more creative, producing a better result) than heading off to the nearest big-box craft store and coming home with a store-bought rubber stamp.

If you’re committed to reducing your footprint as a consumer, however, then even purchasing just the stamp carving blocks that will enable you to make all your own custom stamps can be just too much purchasing.

Fortunately, there are loads of recycled, upcycled, and natural materials that can also be carved into excellent stamps. Some can be composted after use, some can be recycled, and some can be kept until you’re next project, but they’re all great alternatives to store-bought lino blocks.

Here are five OTHER things that you can carve to make your own custom stamps:

pencil eraser stamp

1. Eraser Stamp

To make a teeny-tiny stamp perfect for gift tags or business cards, check out this pencil eraser stamp tutorial, courtesy of Creature Comforts.

For the best results, you’ll need to start with an unused eraser, but if you have any totally ancient pencils, now you finally have a purpose for their aged erasers that have become too stiff to actually use for erasing.

[image property of Creature Comforts.]

styrofoam stamps

2. Styrofoam Stamps

I used to get SO mad whenever, through a purchase or a gift, I ended up with some styrofoam that it was then my responsibility to get rid of. However, now my girls and I are thrilled on the rare occasions that we happen to get some, because creating stamps out of styrofoam is so fun.

Don’t believe me? Check out this styrofoam stamp tutorial from Crafterella. This is an especially suitable project for children, as Crafterella points out, because the tools are safe and the results are just amazing.

[image property of Crafterella.]

potato stamp

3. Potato Stamp

Although you definitely made potato stamps when you were four years old, potato stamping isn’t only for four-year-olds.

Check out this potato stamp tutorial from Noe Place Like Home, and see how you can keep more stuff out of your storage spaces by carving a stamp, using it, and then eating it…well, not the painted part. Compost that part.

[image property of Noe Place Like Home.]

cork stamps

4. Cork Stamps

If you have some old corks on your hands, then try upcycling them into stamps with this cork stamp tutorial from Craft Chi.

By neatly slicing off the old carving, you can re-use the same cork to make multiple stamps. You can also carve a pattern into the sides of the cork to create a stamp that you can roll across a surface.

[image property of Craft Chi.]

spool stamp

5. Spool Stamp

It’s a bit of a one-trick pony, but if you want a stamp that’s in the shape of a button, then this spool button stamp tutorial from Kira’s Crafty Life makes the perfect button stamp.

If you don’t have any stash craft foam on hand, then try making the stamp face out of cardboard, egg carton styrofoam, or an even application of hot glue.

[The image on this page is the property of Kira’s Crafty Life.]

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