Roller stamps

As I mentioned last post I've been busy making roller stamps. They are so easy and cost next to nothing to make, but first I thought I'd show you the cover I'm in the process of making, as part of the demo in my Fabric Journal workshop. I seem to be obsessed with old metal tins and have even added parts of them to the front cover as part of the decoration.

the cover in the making, I still have to add the spine and the binding.

these are the things required to make the roller stamps - toilet roll centres, thin adhesive backed foam, you can use other thin foam (no more than 3mm thick or it doesn't bend as easily) and glue it down with gel medium, pva glue or mod podge - small scissors and a foam paint roller (the toilet roll tube fits over this and acts as the roller).

these are just a few of my completed rollers - cut the foam into simple or intricate shapes with small scissors - the circle one on the end was made using the foam that was removed from the centre of the rings in the second roller from the left - DON'T wash them, the more you use them the more the acrylic paint helps to seal them - one sheet of foam will make quite a few stamps - you can use the pre-cut shapes found in craft stores but they are usually thicker and don't stick as well, I would recommend re glueing them before you stick them down - if you have any problems with the ones you cut staying down, just add a little more glue

these are the results of the stamps in the above photo - I use acrylic paint with mine.

as I worked in my studio, last week, I looked out of the window and saw this lovely rainbow, by the time I found my camera it had started to fade, but I love the effect the sun had shining on the top of the tree. Looks like a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. On clear days I can see the bay just over the hill, it really is lovely.

Thanks again for visiting and your lovely comments. I hope you try the stamp making, it's very addictive and costs next to nothing.