Labelling
Your Rubber Stamp
You might want to apply a copy of the image on
the top of the rubber stamp. In many cases
this is unnecessary,
and if you've used some pretty wood for the backing, you probably won't
want to cover it up with a copy of the image. But please
recognize that sometimes it's difficult for the stamper to tell which
way is up by looking at the rubber. To prevent him accidentally
stamping the image upside-down, it helps to
provide some sort of this-side-up indication on the back -- and the
best way to do that is with a copy of the image itself.
There are a couple of ways to apply the image. A method that
works well for me: When you've finished carving, use the stamp to
make a print on a blank
stick-on label.
Cut the image out and stick it on the top of the
hard back of the rubber stamp, oriented the same way as the rubber
stamp
underneath. Then apply a piece of clear packing tape or
self-adhesive laminating material over it to
protect it from rain and grubby fingers.
If you've visited other how-to sites, you'll note that many of them
suggest carving the rubber first, stamping the image directly onto the
wood backing, coating it with varnish, and then gluing the rubber to
the wood. I find the scheme I've described above better, though,
for several reasons:
- Using the inkjet printing method described, it's much
easier
to get the inkjet image onto the rubber with a complete 3-layer block.
- Having the 3-layer block already assembled gives you
something to hold onto while carving.
- It's easier to be gluing the solid rubber than the
already-carved stamp, and there's less chance of damage.
- The contrast of the image on the stick-on label is
better
than on wood -- especially if the backing isn't wood, it's black
plastic.
Using clear lacquer or varnish over a stick-on label might
work,
but it might soak into the paper label and cause it to look lousy or
even bubble up. Better to go with the tape or laminating sheets.
You might consider a
couple of other things, like writing your name and e-mail address on
the stamp
with a Sharpie pen in
case it gets lost and found. Perhaps you might just apply an
address label. Of course, you might consider writing or applying
the address label under the
tape or lamination you're applying over the image.
If you have a knob or handle on the top of your stamp, you obviously
won't be able to apply a label of the image. To help stampers
orient it correctly, you can just put an arrow on the top indicating
"this side up".
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