Carving Thanks, Not Potato.

감사 means "thanks" in Korean.
Not to be confused with 감자, which means "potato."

So I used a dark graphite pencil to write 감사 on a piece of vellum (any paper will do).

Flipped it over and rubbed the back side so the image could transfer onto the rubber. Then I carved the strokes that make up the word. The effect is that the negative space of the word gets inked rather than the actual strokes that make up the word. Make sense?


Love the sweet little stamp cause it gives you lots of ways to react to it for art-making. I also like that the negative space that gets inked and stamped kind of looks like a potato. :)

Carving Swords and Gloves

Thought I'd show you the fun I've been having as I continue to carve more rubber. I've been interested in sword fighting. Not real fighting but just the moves involved with it. In particular, I'm interested in Japanese sword fighting. Mainly because I've been inspired by a fitness instructor in my life named Lynn who has these amazing sword moves that she teaches. Amazing.

Anyway ... here's my first carved sword. A little bit wonky, right? But as I was explaining to a friend recently, the great thing about carving rubber is that sometimes, it becomes wonky. And that's a good thing. It makes the process and end result unique and memorable. Unique.
On guard.

And here's my wonky pair of boxing gloves.
So imperfectly wonderful, right?
Gloves on.

Rubber Carving and Doodling Tutorial

The thing I love about carving rubber is that even when you carve popular images and shapes, no one will have the exact same stamp as yours, because each piece of handcarved rubber has its own unique characteristics.

Like the single raindrop. I love the shape. And my carved raindrop is something I use all the time.

You can do so much with it ... like rows and rows of red drops all pointed in one direction.
Or three columns of black drops with some pointing up and some pointing down to create a different pattern.

And then clusters of brown drops that look like flowers.

Add some doodling and they are over-the-top fabulous.


Same thing with the popular hexagon shape. Such a popular shape these days, right? So carve yourself one, two, or three in sizes small to large and you can make these shapes your very own.

Experiment with them and see what they can do!
And as always ... add doodling to bring them to life.


The details of carving rubber are explained thoroughly in my new book, Stamp It!, which is availalbe here. Happy carving, stamping, and doodling. :)

Doodled Rocks with Washi Tape Tutorial DIY

Thought I'd show you what I've been making lately ... with rocks, washi tape, and a white gel pen. Washi is really the leader, as I just stick rocks with pieces of washi that I like and then react to the washi on the rocks with a white gel pen by adding little doodles and marks.

For the one below, I cut the thicker washi with the fun chevron patterin in half lengthwise and let the pattern in the tape guide the entire design.
Gift toppers. Paper weights. Favors. Hostess gifts.

Rock on. :)

Studio Explorations :: Practice. Play. Persevere.

Practice. Play. Persevere.

Brown sandwich bags stamped, lettered (with sumi ink),
and embellished with washi tape and sheet music.

Studio Explorations :: I Have Loved

I have loved you for 1,000 years.
And I will love you for 1,000 more.

DIY Rubber Stamped Water Bottles Tutorial

Here's another easy peasy project for you: Water bottles with super cute stamped labels!
Here's how I did it.

I used basic rubber carving methods to carve an image of a little boat onto rubber. Here is a tutorial that I shared with you a while ago on how you carve rubber. Although the original tutorial was with an eraser, you can also do it on larger blocks of carving rubber, which is what I did.

After carving the stamp, I stamped it with a blue inkpad onto pre-cut labels that are designed to be used for water bottles. I found these in the bridal section at Michaels.

I peeled off the existing label on the water bottle and then slapped on the stamped one around it.

All together now: Easy Peasy!

Happy crafting. :) (All photos by Cynthia Shaffer)

Stamped Pencil Jar Tutorial

Check out my cute little pencil jar.

I first started by carving a sweet little heart stamp. (You could use a store-bought stamp as well.) Next, I painted a sheet of ledger paper with red and yellow acrylic paints.
Then I used my carved stamp to stamp a row of red hearts onto the painted paper. Once dry, I tore the paper into a thick strip.
I inserted the strip into a mason jar and then placed my pencils inside.

(All photos by Cynthia Shaffer)

Happy crafting. :)

Crochet Hemp :: Crocheted Wire Heart Tutorial

Happy Valentine's Day!
Here's a little something I made to celebrate the occasion. A little crocheted wire heart tutorial.

Take a piece of wire and make a tiny twisty loop.

Turn that loop upside down and then curve both ends into the shape of a wire and twist the shorter end onto the longer end to make the bottom point of the heart.

Crochet single crochets all around the entire sire heart using crochet hemp (of course!) and then weave in all ends with a darning needle.
Cut two little hearts with red felt and attach them through the tiny loop using a small brad.


Twist the long end and place it into a vase or jar. (Add a bit of sheet music or tissue into the jar to keep the wire stem in place.)


Happy creating. :)

Simple Valentine Tutorial

This Valentine tutorial starts with a simple piece of red felt cut into the shape of a heart that is attached to a mini cupcake liner and then to a small white paper plate.

But before that, the perimeter of the plate is crocheted with crochet hemp. Just a simple scallop made with 4 chain stitches, then a single stitch onto the plate, repeated all the way around.

And then little dit dots made with red and black paints, applied with the point of a pencil or the end of a small paintbrush.
Ready to hang in all its glory, all its simplicity.

For this and all future Valentines, give me simplicity. Give me auithenticity.

Give me conversation with an awareness and compassion of the world around us, filled with good eye contact and active listening. Give me garlic and onions that I can chop to put into the pot that can work with other ingredients to make a killer soup. Give me Chopin's channel on Pandora where a tune inspires us to get up to dance, prance.

Don't give me a fancy car, the smell of thick cologne, a three-piece suit, or a party filled with people who watch Fox news and talk about their next remodel.

Give me simplicity. Give me authenticity. Give me love.