Lemonade Day 36: Block Stamps for an Ocean Scene

. I'm taking the opportunity of this unplanned time off to connect with the many artists and creators in this wonderful city that I love. Come with me on my 100-day odyssey of art and creativity in Long Beach. I call it .

August 6th was Day 36.  I tried making some block stamps for tomorrow's stamping session.

It's fun to make something from nothing.  Something from someone's leftover materials, or nature's discards.  I've got quite a few items for block stamping that I picked up from various places.

The idea is to either carve patterns in wood for block stamping, or to stick various things to wood blocks that I retrieved from the discard bin at Lowe's.

Today I used some sheet rubber that I got some time ago from Bud's Auto Upholstery.  When I got it, the plan was to use it as a backing for hammering sheet copper. I've got more that I'll save for that, but I thought it would be interesting to try making a simple scene by cutting the sheet rubber and sticking it to the wood.  It has some texture to it, so it'll be interesting to see how it prints out.

I read somewhere that silicone adhesive is what I should be using, and I was lucky to have some in the garage.

Here are the steps:

1. Cut pattern to be inked/painted out of sheet rubber.
2. Fix to wood blocks (I am using 3, one for the ocean, one forthe sand, one for the sky.)
3. Glue using silicone adhesive (we'll find out if this works. If not, try something else!)
4. Clamp tightly and allow to dry.

Want more lemonade?       

Tidbits, Things, Trails

• I've got lots of other things to stick to blocks: dried reeds, wool, felt, a speedball rubber pad, paper coasters, wood shims for cutting/sanding, pine needles, redwood bark (if it holds up), some tree parts I picked up off the ground.
• A thought: I should have sandpapered the back of the sheet rubber before sticking.
• Mary comes back tomorrow to help me!  She may bring some fibers from kitty for mixing... for herself.

Next up: 

We'll see if it works! If it does, on to the rest and then to stamp... something!  If it doesn't? Find more types of glue!

• Need to contact me?  info@handmadepenguin.com

Trish Tsoiasue writes as herself about creative and maker topics for and as Handmade Penguin for the Handmade Penguin Blog.