Stampin' Saturdays: Printing with Styrene

Drawing in my designs on the styrene

   Happy Saturday everyone! Doesn't it feel like fall? The leaves are turning golden again! I love it so much that I made pumpkin pancakes for dinner last night and breakfast this morning.  Yums. 

    Last night I made some styrene stamps and had fun with it AND made a lot of bad prints. To be honest, styrene  printing is best used in a printmaking style with ink and brayer rather than a stamp pad, but it is still fun and easy to do. I also can't help but feel a bit better about myself if I can save some non-biodegradable matter from ending up at the landfill, so you're being eco-friendly if you do this craft! Yay!

   

You will need these items:


1. Flat styrofoam containers, washed and dried.
2. A very dull pencil
3. Scissors and a utility knife will be handy
4. Optional: Wood glue and blocks like Jenga blocks
5. Ink and brayer or stamp pad
6. Paper or cards to print on


Here are the steps:

1. Cut styrofoam takeout containers so you have only flat pieces

2. Cut those to any shape and size you'd like. I used another Jenga block size for one of my stamps.

3. Use a very dull pencil (non mechanical kind) or a ball point pen to draw in/press in your design. If you're doing letters they must be in mirror image. (Side note -- check your spelling if writing in mirror image. I forgot coffee has two e's so I made a stamp that says "Coffe?". Egh. It's been a long week.)

4. If you want, glue the back onto your Jenga block or another sturdier object with wood glue. This is very handy if you are using your styrene with a stamp pad. 

5. When your stamp is ready, do some tests and print away!

---

Some Jenga block stamps waiting to dry with a large floral design block ready to go.

I used two stamps on the left green card and one big floral design on the orange and brown cards. Please excuse poor quality cell phone photos :)

    One thing I like about printing with styrene is that it is imperfect, which gives each print an antique look every time. If you are a perfectionist, this is not for you! I also like that simple designs like lines (see bottom of the green card) or dots, or shapes can make interesting textures to print. I have more printing to do I think! Have a great Saturday.


-- Amy