Cap Stamps
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.