handmade stamps & packaging ideas

Here is a “quick” blog to share a handmade stamp DIY plus a few packaging ideas for those of you who, like me, are just now wrapping the gifts for loved ones.  If you’re ahead of the game, maybe save these ideas for the next time you have a gift to give.  One of my new year’s resolutions is to blog the things I say I’m going to blog and blog them on time. Not a few days before the holiday :) I keep doing that, I’ve noticed!

I was in Barnes and Noble reading some magazines as Chase played with their Thomas the Tank train table. I found this idea to make handmade stamps in one of the magazines and to be honest, I can’t remember which magazine to give credit to!  And I’m sorry but I am pretty sure I butchered their idea terribly, but here are my not-so-perfect-but-pretty-cute handmade stamps and how I made them.

Supplies needed;

Foam paper- (colour doesn’t really matter) You can get the sticky back and then you won’t have to use the hot glue gun. It was more expensive to buy a pack of sticky back foam paper so I ended up going with the plain foam paper and using my glue gun.

Hot glue gun (or sticky back foam…)

Xacto knife or scissors

Ink pad

Wooden block  – (if you’ve got extra wood lying around, just use that, it doesn’t really matter what kind of wood. I got mine from Wal-mart for less than $1)

I tried a few different ways to make these stamps. With this stamp I just drew a bird with a heart directly on the foam.

It turned out pretty big, but super cute.

For my second stamp, I cut out a few paper snowflakes and then traced it on the foam and cut it out.

Perhaps my favorite stamp though was the owl stamp!

I googled “cute owl” or something like that and found this image. I drew this cute little owl , cut him out and wa-la!

Packaging Ideas;

Fabric wrapping :) Especially for a loved one you know would use the fabric! It’s like a gift wrapped around a gift!

I stamped the owl and used the sewing machine to add an extra something and  made a packaging tag which will have the name on the back.

I like brown paper packaging because you can decorate it yourself but I’m also a huuuuuge sucker for super cute wrapping paper. 

Anyways, this one is for a gift card. I would sew the edges of this one, but honestly, tonight I’m just too lazy tired to get up and do it.

When I have more time, I’d love to try to do some more intricate stamps for handmade cards. But for now… hope you enjoyed and give it a try yourself.