How to make your own stamp

How to make your own stamp.

I wanted a logo stamp for my etsy shop but everywhere I looked it was very expensive to take my design and turn it into a stamp.
I'm pretty crafty so I decided to make my own.
It actually worked!!

So for all of you crafty people, here is a tutorial on how to make your own custom stamp.

Materials needed:
craft foam sheets 
rubber cement    
xacto knife or cuticle scissors
a design you want to use
some 2x4 scraps or whatever scrap wood you can find
stamp pad 
paper


Start with a design. My design is a rabbit I drew.

Transfer your design to the foam.
Very carefully cut around your design. If you are using an exacto knife be careful. They are very sharp. The parts you leave will be where the ink is placed. 
If your design has words make sure you transfer them backwards on to the foam.

Cut a rectangle, square or other large geometric shape around your design. Rubber cement the design to another piece of foam. Place something even and heavy on top of it like a book or several dvds.
In 1/2 an hour it should be dry. 

Rubber cement the 2 pieces of foam to your wood. Place something large and obnoxious on it again. 

wait at least an hour.

Now stamp and enjoy. 

My wedding dresss

I'm knitting my own wedding dress. It is not a traditional wedding dress but neither is my wedding nor is my marriage. 

I'm knitting a slip dress from knitting lingerie style. 

I'm using a cotton linen blend yarn in a pomegranate color with a cream trim. 

I hope I get it done in time. 

Becoming red riding hood

I've decided to be little red riding hood for Halloween this year. Unfortunately the costume are very expensive so I am making my own costume.

I bought a red cape yesterday from roger for $12. I will add trim to the edges to make it a little more finished.

I have 2 pair of black boots to choose from that I got at JC Penney last year for $9.97.

I bought a gauzy swim wear cover up as a peasant shirt from JC Penney for $4.50.

Tomorrow I'm going to the thrift store to see what else I can find.

you spin me right round .....

I want to buy a spinning wheel and learn to spin my own yarn.
yes i am crazy, no, i don't care.

I want to learn to spin really good and then maybe i can go to the ren fest and get paid to spin.
that would be awesome.

To dye, perchance to dream

I decided today to dye some cotton yarn a nice taupe color for some dishcloths a co worker asked me to make for her. When she asked me i said "of course i can dye yarn a taupe color."
How could it be.

I bought some white cotton yarn and a bottle of rit dye in taupe.  i put the dye in the big cooking pot on the stove with water. turned on the stove.



I unwound the an entire 4oz skein of lilly's sugar and cream yarn, tied it off and put it in the dye bath.   I watched family guy as i dutifully stirred and agitated my yarn.

here  i'm using my kitchen drawers as a niddy noddy

after family guy was over i watched half of the simpsons and took out my yarn and rinsed it.

This is not taupe. This is an evil weird redish cream color masquerading as taupe.
who invented taupe anyway.  i can save this skein. i can over dye it with the cranberry color she wants and no one will be the wiser.

ok now i have taken out my second skein of white yarn and will try again. i will only dye this skein a third at a time.

pour out some of the dye bath as there was too much dye. add more water.


this looks better but still not quite what i hoped for.


next batch add salt, turn off stove. agitate more. aghhhh this is agitating me more than i'm agitating it.


ok last batch. warm water on stove and turn off burner. agitate let it sit. repeat.


I give up.

I took the first taupe sample, the one thats too dark, to work to show the lady and she loves it.

I will dye the cranberry next week.

Lace is like March

I'm knitting a nice lace wrap for easter in a very lovely shade of green. Its my personal indulgence. I've never knitted lace before but here is my conclusion.
Lace is like the month of March; in like a lion, out like a bitch.
Lace hates me and right now i hate it too.
my friend told me that lace just hates everyone. she's fickle that way.

Sock obsession

I think i have a sock and shoe obsession.
i have 3 sock drawers.
wooly warm socks (winter) no show socks (summer)
white/ black / grey
novelty and handmade

i have probably 70 pair of shoes. eeek

i have 9 sock projects i'm doing for myself this year
i have 3 sock books

i made socks for my bunny

i work in a shoe store