How to easily stamp names/words?

I might be the last one on earth to tell you this but I'm going to share anyway! It's an easy way how to stamp names and words. Perhaps this might be the tip you have been waiting for forever! :)

Here is what you need:
alphabet letterstampset, masking tape, paper, inkpadPick out the words that you want to make.

Put the stamps down on the table and cut a piece of masking tape.

Pick up the stamps while firmly holding them together.

Press firmly onto the stamps so that they stick to the masking tape.Close the masking tape all around the stamps.

Now you have 1 stamp of 4 letters.

Press the inking pad onto the stamp.

Stamp the word on the surface you want to stamp on.

I have two identical stamping sets so it's easy to make multiple words.

I wish I had three, but I don't so I needed to use
the letter 'L' from one of the above stamps.

And this is the result...

It's very easy to make your own shopname too.
In case that's a long name, use a liner or box
to make sure the stamps are lined up nicely.

Add a piece of masking tape to the stamps.

Press the masking tape firmly around the stamps.

When the stamp is long, you have to make sure that you press firmly
on the beginning, middle and end of the stamp to get an even result.

Tada: ArtMind!

Don't know if this was useful for you, but I remember I was completely enlightened when I first found out how to do this! :)

Now go look at these clever fabric labels by EvaForeva - what a fantastic idea to add your label to your work! :)

How to make a halloween ghost?

Halloween is still some time away but most people start decorating a few weeks before already. I wanted to share this fun project with you. It's easy to make and it's a great result for decorating your window sill or cabinet. I'm sure lots of kiddies will enjoy making these ghosts. Boo!
Here is what you need:

plaster, little plastic container, clothespeg, wooden stick, water in a container,
plaster bandages, wire, paper balls (1 large & 2 smaller ones), scissors, sharpie marker

Make some plaster. Use 1/3 water and 2/3 plaster.

Poor the plaster in the little plastic container.

Add the wooden stick in the middle of the container.
To hold it there you can let a clothespeg rest on the container.

While the plaster in the container is setting, cut up pieces of plaster.
Make some big (20cm or 7,5") and some smaller ones (10cm or 4")

Take the plastic container around the plaster away.Punch with your scissors a hole in the biggest paper ball.Put the paper ball on top of the wooden stick.

Twist some wire around the stick and
add the smaller paper balls on the ends.

Dip the plaster band into a bit of water and gently
rub over it so that the holes fill itself with plaster.

Drape the plaster bands over the paper balls.

Continue draping more plaster bands over the wire too.

Let it dry for a while.

And add a happy face to it! This ghost is not so scary, is it? :)

You can make these in any size you like. If yo like to make a huge one, I advise you to dip old sheets into plaster. You will have to work quick then because the plaster will set fast.
Happy Halloween! :)

How to make a plaster stamp?

Since I was making a few moulds today, I remembered that I planned to make a tutorial on how to make a plaster stamp. Plaster stamps are not hard to make and they are great fun to use in your modelling projects. You can use regular stamps too but they are much softer so somtimes it's hard to use them for pressing into clay.

Here is what you need: a rolling pin, a cutter, a stamp and a piece of plasticine.
Plasticine is soft clay made of plastic so when you poor the plaster in there, it will come off very easily afterwards.

Take a piece of plasticine and kneed it a little bit.
Make a flat piece with a rolling pin. Make it about 0,5cm or 0,2inch thick

Press a stamp into the flat piece or plasticine.

Make it nice and round with a cookie cutter.

Roll a flat piece of plasticine and twist it around the stamped piece.

Let the ends cross each other and cut the excess plasticine away with a knife.

Press the plasticine clay firmly together on the bottom so no plaster will be able to escape.
Make some plaster ready. Mostly it is made with 1 part of water and 3 parts of plaster but it depends on the kind of plaster you use.
I always go with the pyramid method: you poor the plaster into the water at the same place and a pyramid will form. When the pyramid doesn't suck any water anymore, it's enough plaster and you can start mixing it with the water.
If you like that the plaster will set quickly, you can use lukewarm water or add a pinch of salt.
Poor the plaster into the plasticine mould.
You can also poor liquid (porcelain) clay in there and fire the stamp.
Let it set for a while and take the plasticine away. Cut away the rough edges with a kitchen knife.
Now you can stamp your heart out in any modelling material. :)