Basic Stamping on Wood

by Susan L. Ruff
(Stamping Sensations Painted Turtle Studio Collection)

Go beyond cards to make beautiful, and functional, gifts!

1) Prepare the wood surface:
Wood should be smooth to get the best quality impressions. A tight grain is also easier to stamp, unless the grain plays a part in the overall look of your project. If the wood piece is not smooth, sand with the grain using a fine grit sandpaper Depending on your project, start with a 150 grit sandpaper and work up to 300 grit. Remove excess dust with a tack cloth or a slightly dampened cloth. Sanding sealer, available in your hardware store, is useful to keep the ink/paint from being absorbed too much into the wood.

Always practice on scrap wood first! Test on the bottom of pre-constructed form (box, clock, etc.) You can always cover it later with something like felt.

Acrylic spray is recommended as a sealant on most projects where the color may rub off. It is available in a variety of finishes from high gloss to a satin or dull spray. Sealants may dull the sparkle of some embossing powders and glitters.

2) You can stamp on raw wood using:
Dye Ink pads - requires a sealant after stamping. Acrylic spray is recommended because dye colors run easily when moist. Use several light coats according to instructions on the can. Brush on varnish will cause the colors to smear together and look muddy.

Fabrico Ink pads - Should be heat set after stamping and before coloring with pencils or paint.

Pigment Ink pads - Can use embossing powder. Even if not embossing, heat set after stamping and before coloring. Be careful using any pencils to color in an embossed image. The embossed linework tends to chip off when rubbed too hard while coloring with the pencil.

Crafter's Ink pads - No need to heat set it. Cleans up with a special solvent.

Acrylic Paint- thin paint out with water. Tap it on the stamp using a foam brush that's been lightly coated with paint. Can also be applied after sealing the wood with a base coat.

3) Color on raw wood with:
Oil pencils- for use only on raw wood. Can blend together colors with turpentine and a Q-tip or brush. Seal afterwards. Oil paint may also be used but but should be thinned down. It requires a long time to dry.

Colored Pencils- for use on raw wood where the grain will grab the pigment. Seal afterwards. Use white to blend the colors together and smooth them out. It will only slightly lighten the base color. Seal afterwards.

Watercolor pencils- Can blend together with a lightly dampened paint brush or Q-tip. Let dry before sealing.

Acrylic paint- Thin with a little water if using over an embossed image. thin it out with water if you want the wood grain to show through. It can be wiped off the embossed area with a Q-tip.

3-D Crystal Lacquer- Clear and colors. Color lacquer requires wood with a light base color, preferably white. Since the lacquer is transparent, any color will show through and change the overall color. For instance, if you have a pale yellow base and put purple lacquer on top, it will appear brown!

Chalks or Pastels- Blend together colors a Q-tip, applicator, tortillon, or finger. Seal afterwards to avoid smudging.

Stencil Paint- Can blend together colors a Q-tip or stiff brush. Seal afterwards.