Here’s a recycled project great for a rainy day. After making these stamps the other day, I wanted to try something that would allow the kids to be more involved in the process. So, remembering this smart project from glittergoods, I gathered a couple of styrofoam trays. I added some plastic bottle tops and there you go — custom stamps.
Supplies:
- styrofoam trays
- plastic bottle caps
- craft knife
- cutting mat
- stamp ink pads
- pen or pencil
First, I cut off the curved edges from the styrofoam trays with scissors. Then I traced the outline of a plastic cap onto the foam and let the girls make their drawings within the circle. I then cut these out with a craft knife because I found that scissors left a jagged edge, but it’s not a precision art here. Oh, and if you’re going to try to write words, remember to make them a mirror image (I literally had to walk into the bathroom and hold the letters to the mirror because my brain does not work that way).
I talked with the girls about positive and negative space and encouraged them to draw their designs with as little detail as possible. It probably would have been helpful to have the kids draw their designs on paper first and to show them a sample of a completed styrofoam stamp. After they drew their designs, I went over them with the pen to make sure the grooves were deep enough to avoid the ink.
Once I cut out the shape, I glued the styrofoam circle to the cap with the hot glue gun. I’m thinking that these won’t last forever because the styrofoam flattens out a bit, but they are a lot of fun. My four-year-old wants to make more and more of these, so I guess we’ll have to go back to the farmer’s market and buy more muffins.
I love printmaking in any form!!
What a great idea! Thanks so much for sharing your ideas, etc. I enjoy your website.
Yes! Something simple, fun, and crafty to do tomorrow before groceries and baseball practice. Love the ideas!! 🙂
Very cool! I’d have to use a mirror too, writing backwards definitely isn’t a talent of mine!
I love this idea! This will definitely be on my to do list! Thanks.
great idea! i did the glittergoods project this summer with kids at work and since i didn’t have 50 styrofoam meat trays readily accessible, i bought a package of stryofoam plates which worked beautifully. but… maybe you like an excuse to buy the muffins. 🙂 thanks for sharing your stamp idea!
Okay these are just too adorable.
These are so great! I am the head of the art dept. at a girl’s camp, and experimented this past summer budget and child friendly ways to print. I’ll print this out to add to the ideas binder. Thanks!
Aww, those are so cute! There is something so sweet about crafting with caps. It reminds me of after school activities. Thanks so much, I’ll be linking.
This is such a great idea! I’ll keep this one in mind for when those rainy days are coming!
I think my kids are going to love doing this because they ask all the time for quick crafts to do THEMSELVES!!! Thank you.
This is a cool and simple idea. Love it.
Cute! I love the little face stamp. We’ve been printing with craft foam lately instead of Styrofoam and I like the craft foam better. It cuts much more easily and the edges are smooth. My kids have an easier time carving into it too.
This is just genius. Pinning and stumbling it to use later.
I love love love this idea! I teach a class on religion to 5th graders on Saturdays and this would be so perfect for them. They could make a series of stamps and use them to tell a story or for younger kids an alphabet or numbers or shapes set could be made to teach those skills. The possibilities are endless. Oooooh my creative juices are flowing. Thanks for sharing. I have also made a lot of bottlecap pin cushions. IF I ever get the know-how of posting Id love to share the idea. Anyone interested can email me for details on the book that shows all kinds of bottlecap pin cushions from ladybugs, flowerpots, beehives, crowns, mushrooms etc. great craft boutique selling item. Happy Stitchin’ SueQ
I love this idea! My grade 3 students will love it too. Thank you
Wow! Who would have thought of doing this! Next time my smaller relatives are here, we might turn something like this…
This is a really fun idea! Thanks for sharing it.
I’ve been looking for a use for the many bottle tops that come in and go out of the house and am thrilled with this lovely idea. It’s simple, sweet and very do-able. I’m looking forward to making these with my daughter and having fun designing bottle-top-print cards and wrapping paper. Thank you!