How to Rubber Stamp Wearable Art

Project designed by Grace Taormina.

Materials and Tools:

Rubber Stampede rubber stamps:
- 72130 Pointy Flower - discontinued use any desired flower stamp
- 72078 Primitive Leaf
stamping paints - discontinued, use any desired brand (black, ivory, terra cotta)
short sleeve cotton shirt
applicator wedge sponge
paper plate
1" wood buttons
wood beads with holes
black newsprint or scrap paper
scissors

Steps:

1. Pour small amount of stamping paint onto paper plate. Use the flat edge of the wedge sponge to load paint onto sponge. Pat paint onto stamp. Stamp image onto surface.
2. Use black paint to stamp pointy flower and primitive leaf images on scrap paper. Cut images out. These will be pattern to determine placement of images on garment.
3. Arrange pattern onto garment using a loop of masking tape to keep patterns in place. Once you're pleased with the layout, begin stamping the garment.
4. Insert a couple layers of blank newsprint between the front and the back of your garment to protect paint from seeping through to the back. Make sure the newsprint is flat and wrinkle-free.
5. Mix some ivory paint with the terra cotta paint to create a light tan color. Apply paint to the "back" side of the primitive leaf stamp. Remove the leaf patterns one by one as you stamp each image. Re-ink the stamp after printing each image. This design will be a solid tan oval shape. Allow the images to dry.
6. Load the pointy flower stamp with black paint. Remove the pointy flower patterns one at a time as you stamp each image with black paint. Re-ink the stamp after each impression.
7. Load the primitive leaf stamp with black paint. Stamp over the solid tan oval design with the primitive leaf design. Repeat the process for each solid tan oval shape.
8. Sew 1" wood buttons at the center of each stamped pointy flower image. Sew a wood bead between each of the pointy flower images.

• Cotton garments stamp best but 50-50 cotton/polyester blends also work.
• Prewash garment before stamping and iron well.
• Experiment with different stamp images and stamping paint colors depending on the color of the garment.
• Stamp on scrap fabric and use as applique to embellish garments.
• Try using stamps to create an all-over pattern, then stamp over pattern with different images in contrasting colors to make unique, one-of-a-kind conversational clothing.
• Details make the difference. Embellish stamped images with embroidery, cross-stitching, ribbon embroidery, dimensional paints, buttons, bows and trinkets to add interest and charm to your garments.

Resources

• Guests

  • Grace Taormina
    Vice President of Product and Creative Development, Rubber Stampede
    Website: www.deltacreative.com