When I was little we had a plastic bin filled with stamps. I remember how it smelled when I popped off the lid- the rubber, wood, and ink mixed together. My arms and legs were as likely to be stamped as the paper.
Stamps are a classic art making tool and these five stamp sets are simple, fun, and full of opportunity. You can use the different shapes and ink colors to build complex creatures, scenes, and stories. Along with each stamp set, you will find an excerpt from the creator/seller and a few creative prompts and questions.
Stampville
“You are the architect, planner, designer, and builder with this set of rubber stamps and two colored ink pads. The matchbox-style box contains twenty-five woodbacked stamps in an assortment of shapes and textures, all the essential building blocks needed to create a simple house, a whimsical village, or a towering architectural marvel—the combinations are infinite and immediately gratifying.“
Quick Creative Prompts
- Stamp your neighborhood, including your favorite places and any important features. What would you want to remember if you moved away?
- Stamp a map, real or imagined, like the walk to school or a treasure map. Would a stranger be able to successfully use this map?
- Dream up a fantasy city, make it as big as you want! What makes this city special? What kind of community lives there?
Sea Stamps
“Fins and shells, tails and scales, Sea Stamps is a spirited collection of twenty five shapes and textures waiting to be mixed and matched to invent your own creatures in their sea surroundings-bustling tide pools, bright coral reefs, and magical ocean floors. The combinations are infinite!“
Quick Creative Prompts
- Stamp an ecosystem you’ve visited or learned about in school, like a swamp, river, or ocean. What vegetation is there? What animals call this place home?
- Stamp an obstacle course for a sea creature. What would they consider a challenge? How would they like to have fun?
- Stamp a sea creature family in their home. Who is in the family? How would they decorate?
Stamp Garden
“Grow your own garden with this set of high-quality rubber stamps + two colored ink pads. The sturdy matchbox-style box features 25 wood-backed stamps in an assortment of shapes and textures, from leaves and stems to buds and petals—even a bee! Everything you need to cultivate an imaginary garden, beautiful bouquet, or botanical pattern.“
Quick Creative Prompt
- Stamp a magical garden where magical things would happen. What makes something magical? How do you feel in the presence of magical things?
- Stamp a plant that would have the antidote for a problem in your life. What do you need help solving? How will you feel when this problem is solved?
- Stamp a safe path through a scary forest. Who is lurking in the forest? What is at the end of the path?
Stamp Bugs
“Unleash endless creativity with this insect-inspired stamp kit. Get creative! Instead of plain insect stamps, stamp bugs offers an assortment of buggy shapes and textures, so you get to decide what bugs—real and imagined—you want to create. Use the ink pads provided across crafting and DIY projects, from scrapbooking to card making. Sturdy wood-backed rubber stamps. combine bug parts, antennae, wings, and legs to make your own bumblebees, dragonflies, fireflies, ladybugs, spiders, and so much more. the possibilities are endless.”
Quick Creative Prompt
- Stamp a bug with superpowers. What qualities make someone brave? What makes someone strong?
- Stamp a bug that would be scary to see in real life. When were you last scared? Where do you feel fear in your body?
- Stamp a bug that could protect you. What does safety feel like? What do you need protection from?
Shape Stamps
Shape Stamps invite you to see more than the shapes in front of you. Layer, overlap, and connect their various forms to create characters, landscapes, or still life masterpieces. Dab and press however you see fit to imagine endless designs and compositions.
Quick Creative Prompts
- Stamp a self portrait. Which of your features do you like the most? How do you see yourself?
- Stamp a safe memory. Who was there? What was happening?
- Stamp the dream you had last night. Can you remember concrete images from the dream? Or can you only describe how it felt?