Here’s how I use a stamp on a Rock to create a beautiful Unicorn
I like to do many different types of crafts. I consider rock painting to be really fun and a great way to spend time with my family. Another type of crafting that I love is paper crafting. The other day, I was wondering if there was any way to put some of these paper crafting supplies to use on rocks. A craft supply that I use a lot is rubber stamps, so I decided to figure out how to use a stamp on a rock and see what I was able to create. Stamping is a great alternative for someone who does not draw well but still wants to create amazing rock projects.
Rock Stamping Supplies
I need to introduce you to a few new supplies for this project. I used StazOn jet black ink, StazOn cleaner, a clear stamp block and some rubber stamps.
StazOn is different from other types of ink. It is solvent ink and not water-based. It is more like a permanent marker in ink pad form. That being said, StazOn does not wash out of clothes. StazOn is difficult to wash off of your hands and remove from surfaces.
Please be very careful when using this ink to stamp on a rock. It has a clear plastic cover underneath the lid to help protect you from accidentally getting the ink everywhere if you drop it. It also has a bit of a permanent marker smell. Once you have used the ink, put the lid back on right away. This will also keep your ink pad from drying out. StazOn comes in many colors, but I chose to stick with jet black for this project. You can purchase StazOn ink at the link here StazOn Supplies at Hobby Lobby.
StazOn also makes its own brand of cleaner. This cleaner is what I will use to remove the ink from my stamps after I have used them. Soap and water will not get StazOn ink out of your stamp. You can get StazOn ink cleaner here StazOn Ink Cleaner.
A clear acrylic block is what I use with the rubber stamps to apply the image. If you do not have a clear acrylic block, do not worry. You could use a small piece of wood or a Jenga piece. However, I do recommend using something that is clear if possible. It makes positioning your stamp much easier.
I purchased these stamps at a local craft store. They are made by Momenta. Most of these particular stamps do not have a lot of blank area that I can color in, but I am going to try to use the unicorn stamp today and color in the hair and tail.
Other Rock Stamping Supplies
Other supplies I used were white acrylic paint, flat end paint brush, and paint pens.
Paint pens for Rock Painting
I ordered these paint pens off of Amazon and I am so excited about them. They were
inexpensive, shipped quickly, and came in a great variety of colors, including silver and gold.
I also had a paper plate, cup of water, and some paper towels handy.
Rocks for this project should be as flat as you can find. When you use a stamp on a rock, the general rule is to go straight down, press, and come straight back up. You may not be able to do this exactly since your rock will likely have some curvature. Just try to keep the rocking of the stamp to a minimum. Rocking your stamp can easily blur your stamped image.
The First thing I did was put a few coats of white acrylic paint down on my rocks. Since this was my first time trying this, I decided to stick to white paint. You could use any background color that you wish. A lighter color will be easier to stamp and color on. Once completed, wash your brush thoroughly and allow to dry.
Stamping your Rock
After the white paint dried, I placed my unicorn stamp on the clear block. You should just have to press the stamp to the block lightly, static will hold the stamp in place.
Then, I dabbed my stamp in the StazOn ink pad. Use a straight-down and straight-up motion until you have covered all of your stamp. Do not press into the ink. This will cause large globs of ink to settle on your stamp.
Next, press your stamp down on the rock as straight as you can. As I stated before, you may
need to rock the stamp a little to completely cover the rock’s surface. Give the ink a few minutes to dry.
Don’t forget to clean your stamp
In the meantime, clean your stamp before the StazOn ink is there forever. Turn the stamp on its back and dab the StazOn cleaner on the grooves. You can then wipe the ink off with a damp paper towel. Repeat if needed.
Time to Paint your Stamped Rock
Time to get out those paint pens. The pens will need to be primed before you can use them. Give them a good shake. You will hear the ball moving around inside the pen. Then, pump the tip of the pen several times against a flat surface until the paint is flowing. I used my paper plate for this.
Now you can fill in your unicorn with any paint color that you have. This process did not take long and the pens were very fast drying. I really liked the way the colors popped on my rock.
Sealing your Stamped Rock
To protect my stamped rock from the sun and rain, I sprayed a light coat of Modpodge acrylic sealer. I do this outside and place my rocks in an old box. This will contain the mess and help keep you out of the fumes. I let the rocks dry overnight and then looked for a place to display them in my garden.
How to Stamp on a Rock – Conclusion
I am so excited to try this again with some different stamped images. I am already pouring through my box of stamps to find the next image I want to use. This was a fast easy project that anyone can do. I recommend assisting children, especially with the ink pad (remember, StazOn really does stay on) and the spray sealer.
Here are a few links to other clever rock stamping projects – How to Use Stamps to Paint Rocks, Color Made Happy Rock Stamps, and Rubber Stamps Rock Stamping.
I find when I use a stamp on a rock I can complete projects in half the time of a typical painted rock project.
My Unicorn looks great in our rock garden with our daisies and butterflies.
Good luck with yours!