Design your own stamps without carving

This is an interesting technique of making stamps with silicone caulking and acrylic plexiglass. You can save money and creat stamps with our own design. 

Thanks to http://blog.makezine.com/ for the nice tutorial!

Materials

1/8″-thick acrylic plexiglass; can be found at hardware stores

X-Acto knife

Metal ruler

Silicone rubber caulking (clear) ; can be found at hardware stores

Water-based paint

Brayer

 

Note: You can cut plexiglass to size by scoring a straight line several times using an X-Acto knife and metal ruler, and then placing the plexiglass on a table with the score line over the edge and snapping it in one quick motion.

 
Step 1: Sketch your designs on paper. These botanical designs range between 4″-6″ wide. The leaves are 2″-3″. But your designs can be any size you like.

 
Step 2: Hold the caulk tube vertical and tap it against a flat surface 8-10 times to remove any air bubbles. Cut the tip of the tube with scissors. I usually cut about 1/8″ away. Remember, the size of the hole on the tip of the tube will be the thickness of your lines, so cut cautiously! You can always cut a little more off, but once the tube is cut, you can’t make the opening smaller again.
Place your design under a piece of plexiglass and trace over it with the caulk, making sure you are evenly squeezing the tube and all drawn lines are touching the plexiglass. The harder you squeeze the tube, the thicker your lines will be. In some designs, this might be a desirable effect. You might want to practice on some scrap paper or plexiglass before you start on your stamp.

 
Step 3: Let the caulking cure for 24 hours, and then your stamp is ready.

 
Step 4: On a sheet of plexiglass, squeeze a dollop of paint. To create an ombre print, you will need to use two paint colors at the same time. Load the brayer with paint as you roll.

 
Step 5: Using your brayer, apply the paint on the stamp. You will need to make three to four passes to ensure all lines are covered.

 

Step 6: Carefully press the stamp on your desired surface.




 
Step 7: Create a beautiful botanical pattern! Clean your stamps immediately after use by wiping the surface with a dampened paper towel and any small spaces with a dampened cotton swab. Then, wash gently under running water with a little bit of soap.