How to make your own rubber stamp
Here’s me making a logo stamp for our taiyaki popups. The first stamp was just the taiyaki, but it felt like something was missing without the little tanuki… so I made another one with him peeking out from behind.
First, you need a simple design. Print it out to fit the size of your rubber stamp mat (I got mine from Daiso for $3.50). The bigger the stamp and the fewer the details, the easier it is.
Next, transfer the design. I traced it with a 6B pencil, then carefully placed the traced side down and rubbed over it with my nails to get the pencil to transfer.
Now the fun part! Carve out your design. I’m not a pro, but I found it’s easier to cut around the outlines first, then carve out the rest.
Once the carving is done, put some ink onto your stamp and do your first stamp test! Check for any areas that need fine-tuning. And just like that, you've made your own stamp! Yay!
What I love most is the imperfect details. The lines and textures make each stamp so unique. If you’ve ever thought about making a stamp, this is your sign. It’s not as tricky as you might think, and you’ll be surprised at how much joy it brings.
I added a little digital touch to mine to turn them into simple business cards for my next taiyaki popup. I couldn’t decide which colour to go with, so I made them all.
Fun fact: The carving tools I used came from The Sumida Hokusai Museum in Tokyo. Hokusai (1760–1849) was one of Japan’s most famous artists, best known for The Great Wave off Kanagawa. He was a master of ukiyo-e (woodblock prints) and his work has inspired artists all over the world for centuries. If you're ever in Japan, make sure to take a visit.
DIY Blog: Making your own rubber stamp by Tanuki & Co
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