Category: stamps

diy recycled gift wrapping paper

Post author By Jess Ross Creative
Post date January 11, 2013
2 Comments on diy recycled gift wrapping paper

I meant to get this post in before the Holiday Season ended but didn’t have enough time, or it might be because I was to busy eating chocolate, reading, and taking naps

Using stamps that I have carved from rubber, (except for the gnome stamp which I bought at Paper Source), paper grocery bags, ribbon and colorful paper, I was able to wrap some gifts. I love doing this, whenever I have the time, because the gift wrapping becomes like an extra gift. It’s a nice way for me to show people I care about them, even though I may not be able to afford an extravagant present (at least that is what I tell myself).

I recommend using a pigment based (or thicker) ink for the stamp so it really stands out against the brown of the bag. Color Box stamp ink is my absolute favorite.

art blue design etsy ocean sea stamps tattoos waves

holy tattoo batman!

Okay, I apologize for the following bit of shameless (or shameful) self-promotion…. but I am just so excited/honored that I had to share!! A few months ago I sold a greeting card of one of my wave carvings to someone through my etsy shop. Here is a picture of the stamp:

What’s the big flippin’ deal right? Well, this amazing individual messaged me a few days ago to show me pictures of her arm.. Why did she send me a picture of her arm you might ask….BECAUSE..she got my wave carving tattooed on it:

I feel incredibly honored and flabbergasted. It is kind of crazy to think that something I created is on someone’s arm forever (unless of course she opts for laser removal surgery) …that’s a lot of pressure! What if it becomes one of those tattoos she regrets?

art chicago diy etsy handmade illustration paper goods print stamps

things i’ve made recently.

I really got into carving stamps when I was planning my wedding. I couldn’t find the designs that I really wanted so I figured I would make them.

It turns out, it is a lot of fun to do them….kind of relaxing in a way…..

and well I kind of got carried away.

mr. ele-phunk.

this tree is the largest and most intricate stamp i’ve made….its about 6″ x 6″

lately, i’ve developed a strange obsession with fake mustaches and disguises…so, i made a stamp….errrr. i call him “sexy mustache.”

they are really easy to do and pretty inexpensive. The carving tool (including several inter-changeable sized cutters) is about $7.00, http://www.dickblick.com/products/speedball-linoleum-cutters/ and the printing block costs about $9.00 for an 9″ x 12″ piece of carving rubber, http://www.dickblick.com/products/blick-e-z-cut-printing-blocks/, (which can make a LOT of stamps!)

anywho…i’ve started to sell some stamped greeting cards on etsy which you can see here. no takers so far: http://www.etsy.com/shop/jessbobess