This project stemmed from an idea I had to create a camouflage effect with stampers. So I thought it would be fun to experiment with various shapes and ink colors. My original idea was based on a set of Colorations Easy-Grip Dinosaur Stampers from Discount School Supply, but then I expanded the project to include other shapes as well.
Today's Project: Stamp & Mask Shapes
Ask your child to think of an object that has an easily identified shape. Then, with your help, your child will create a piece of artwork with stampers and then frame this artwork with a frame cut out in that chosen shape. (In our example, we made 3 pieces in the shapes of a heart, a car, and a dinosaur egg.)
Supplies Needed:
1) Each piece of artwork will require a sheet of blank newsprint paper plus a sheet of similarly sized colored construction paper.
2) A variety of Easy Grip Stampers (3 for each piece of artwork).
3) At least 3 different colors of stamp pads (We used Colorations Stamper-Perfect Washable Stamp Pads.)
4) A white crayon
5) A glue stick or all-purpose white glue
6) Scissors
My son very much enjoyed this craft because it was fun and easy, plus it gave him a lot of freedom to be expressive. He even asked me when we could do this project again.
Step 1: After your child has decided upon a shape to use for the frame, draw the shape on a sheet of colored construction paper using the white crayon. (My son drew the shape of a car.)
Tip #1: Try to choose a shape that is easy to identify and has a lot of open space in the middle.
Step 2: Using the tip of the scissors, snip a slit in the middle of the shape. Then use the scissors to cut the shape out, leaving the surrounding area intact, to create your frame.
Step 3: Select your 3 stampers and 3 stamp pads. Then assign one stamper to each color.
Step 4: Have your child start stamping on a sheet of newsprint, encouraging him or her to use all 3 stamps to fill the page somewhat evenly. Depending on the shape of the frame, your child may not need to fill the whole page.
Tip #2: Make sure your child is not afraid to turn their stamper shape sideways and upside down and also to overlap the impressions.
Step 5: Next check that the stamped area is enough to fill the construction paper frame. If it is, then apply glue to the backside of the frame and then adhere it to the artwork.
Tip #3: Since there may be traces of white crayon lines from the original sketch of the shape, it is better to use the other side of the construction paper as the front of your frame.
Step 6: Once the glue has dried, use the scissors to trim off the excess newsprint so that none of it is showing around the edges. You can also take this opportunity to trim the edges of both paper layers to make the artwork more centered, if needed.
Tip #4: As a special touch, you can ask your child to sign his or her name on the front of the frame with the white crayon.
Here is how our dinosaur egg turned out . . .
Sine the area to cover was much larger, my son designed to stamp double-fisted.
Here is the heart I made in honor of Valentine's Day . . .
My son very much enjoyed this craft because it was fun and easy, plus it gave him a lot of freedom to be expressive. He even asked me when we could do this project again.
Thank you to Discount School Supply for providing stampers and stamp pads for us to use in this project free of charge. No compensation was received for publishing this article.
Great project! I've been looking for more easy craft activities to do with my 3 year old and those stamps look awesome. Very easy for little hands to use.
Posted on February 1, 2010 12:20 AM
What a fun & easy project!
I bet I could even do it! LOL
I can't wait to try it with my grandsons!
Thanks for the idea!
Faythe @GMT
Posted on February 1, 2010 1:09 AM
So cool! Love this for EASTER!
Posted on February 1, 2010 2:23 AM
What a cute little project. Stampers are not something I usually think of for projects but sound a far cry better than the mess my kids making with markers and paints.
Posted on February 1, 2010 2:37 AM
How fun! And, it doesn't look too messy. Definitely something I'd look into for my kids since they are so messy with paints.
Posted on February 1, 2010 8:43 AM
What a great idea! I am also looking for projects to do with my daughter and this is perfect!
Posted on February 1, 2010 9:01 AM
That is adorable! My son would love to make one. I love the stamps!
Posted on February 1, 2010 9:30 AM
What a great idea! I love that the kids can do almost all of it with just some supervision.
Posted on February 1, 2010 11:21 AM
Cute idea! I love the heart!
Posted on February 1, 2010 3:44 PM
What a great project! Luckily I have a sister-in-law who's an art teacher & will let her know about this! I'm not talented in that dept. and always relied on SIL to help the kids with their projects!
Posted on February 1, 2010 6:34 PM
Oh that looks like fun! Me and my boy are always looking for fun things to do during sissy's nap time! Your son did a great job!
Posted on February 1, 2010 10:28 PM
I Love this!! thanks so muc!
Posted on February 2, 2010 4:44 PM
What a great idea! My son is obsessed with stamps, so I can only imagine how excited he'd be over this too. We'll have to try it this weekend. Thanks!
Posted on February 2, 2010 7:57 PM
What fun projects! My daughter would love that.
Posted on February 2, 2010 8:06 PM
How fun! I was so into arts & crafts when I was little, I would have really enjoyed a kit like that.
Posted on February 3, 2010 12:54 PM
What a cute idea! I bet my kids will love this one :)
Posted on February 3, 2010 1:29 PM
So adorable! I have a daycare and this would be a PERFECT project for them to do - no matter their age!
Posted on February 4, 2010 12:01 PM
Those look great! Gonna have to try that.
Posted on February 5, 2010 9:10 PM
I've been looking for projects to do with my 2 year old and this one looks like fun!
ladyvdzine[at]yahoo[dot]com
Posted on February 8, 2010 5:48 AM
This could be adapted to almost any theme and I love how you give clear step by step directions and even the type of Stampers and Stamp pads used. This would be something that I think would appeal to my grandkids. Thanks for sharing
Posted on February 8, 2010 2:07 PM
Thanks so much for this wonderful post about a cool way to use Discount School Supply stampers and washable stamp pads! What a FUN, creative idea- and one that I bet many preschoolers to school age kids (and adults, too!) would love to do. Thanks so much!
-Laurel from Discount School Supply
Posted on February 8, 2010 2:30 PM
u know i go to yard sales where all they have are crafts, its like they got a whole shop for one price, and i never know what to do with it if i was to buy it, now i know!! and i love the idea of framing the kids artwork, its not something i ever thaught of so again thanks
Posted on March 28, 2010 2:38 AM
what cool ideas, i will definitely be doing these with my 5 year old cousin. she will be thrilled!
Posted on May 24, 2010 7:06 PM
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