DIY Foam Stamps

Here is an oldie but goodie craft to share. As I continue to clean out my SD cards, I keep coming across crafts I did with lil man, but never had the chance to share on the blog. This one is from the beginning of May. Not “too” far behind, but yeah…it’s a little late. BUT I hope it still inspires you. Better late, than never. Right?

I call the craft I’m sharing today – DIY Foam Stamps. A lot of craft stores these days, carry a wide array of foam stickers for kids. I have seen them for every holiday at Michaels & Hobby Lobby. Even Dollar Tree has been known to carry them. They can be pretty cheap for the large amount you get & you can use them for a ton of crafts. Most commonly, just sticking them on things as if they were regular stickers. But today has a twist on using them! We are turning them into stamps. Stamps that can be used over & over again AND they are completely customizable.

Here is what you need:

* Wood blocks {Can be bought pre-cut or use scraps you have in your garage}
* Foam stickers {At least 3 in the same design, for each stamp}
* Paint {A more watery paint like fingerpaints or tempera paint work best}
* Plate/construction paper

First you will want to remove the backing on your stickers. Now place one sticker on the wood. Add your second & third on top of the first, making sure everything lines up. Press down to make sure everything is secure.

{If you want a customized stamp, you can cut pieces from the foam or even add pieces too}

Your new stamp will look something like the above. Notice how the stacked foam pieces are thick. This will help with the stamping part & getting a nice design.

Repeat the above steps for your other stamps.

Now it’s time for the real fun. Squirt some paint on a plate. I mentioned it in the supply notes, that a watery paint works best. It won’t dry as fast as other paints do and it’s easier for kids too. Plus the cleanup will be easier on the stamps.

Then hand over & let your child make some masterpieces. They just need to press their new stamp in the paint, then on the paper – just like any other stamp.

Once your child is done “stamping” rinse the stamps under the sink & let air dry before storing. And of course, let their masterpieces hang dry before displaying them for everyone to see.

My son hopes you enjoy this craft as much as he did! #gluedtomycrafts