How to Rubber Stamp Fabric

Once you start to stamp fabric you will be hooked! It is my favorite thing to pull something I've stamped out of the dryer and use it again. I've stamped tote bags, wine bottle bags, bed sheets, pillowcases, silk scarves, facecloths, and more. I hope this tutorial inspires you to stamp something pretty today!

You stamp fabric with an ink known as pigment ink. Stampin' Up! (r) calls their line of pigment ink "craft ink". It takes a pigment ink to hold colour to the fabric- if you try using dye ink to stamp fabric your project will bleed or wash out. For a discussion on various types of ink, please check back. I will be discussing that in the future.

Your stamp pad should say "fabric" or "pigment".

You can also use paint. This is something I haven't actually done yet, but I will possibly tackle this project sometime in the next few weeks and add details on how that works. I will include a link on this page to the gallery it will reside in.

For this tutorial, I am stamping on a fabric tote bag I bought from Michaels.

To get started, first gather your supplies:

-fabric ink

-fabric tote bag

-bold-image stamp

-scrap paper

-heavy cardboard, such as a cut-up cereal box.

This fabric I am stamping on is textured like canvas, and so a bold-image stamp is necessary. When you stamp fabric you need to pick the stamps you use according to the fabric you are using. For example, if I was stamping on a silk scarf, I could use a more gentle, slightly more detailed stamp.

A lot of newer stampers, and some more experienced ones too, don't trust themselves to stamp fabric randomly. If this describes you, it is a good idea to stamp on scrap paper before you stamp your fabric so that you can have an idea of how to lay it out.

I'll use a heavy, bold-image stamp set called Stitched Exotics. It embodies the look I want this plain white tote bag to have.

When you are happy with your practice stamping run, take a deep breath and ink up your stamp very well. It's very important that you do not rock the stamp. This kind of ink picks up so easily on the edges of the rubber or on the wood block and fabric tends to jump up to greet it. Press it firmly down onto your tote bag, applying slightly harder pressure than you would onto paper. Pull it straight up, and so on, until you are finished stamping.

Remember, it's easy when you are creating something to take one step too many and not like your finished result...so take your time on your project, evaluate after each stamp to see if you want to go further.

Check out my gallery for the finished first side of the tote bag. I plan on stamping both sides the same way- but I can't yet...

It's important to leave your stamped fabric alone to air dry. I suggest overnight at least. When it's finger-dry, not tacky, pull out your ironing board. Set it to high heat, as high a temperature as your fabric can take, and leave the steam option off. Place an old dish towel over the stamped portion of the fabric, and iron repeatedly, until you've ironed over the entire stamped portion for about 5 minutes. This process "sets" the stamped fabric so that it can be washable at one point or another- though it would be a good idea to wait to wash your item for a few weeks at least.

Don't be disappointed if the first time you stamp fabric you aren't quite straight, or you've got a few edge lines. It takes practice to calm your nerves.

I suggest as a fabric stamping project you start with something tightly-woven, such as a pillow case, to get used to the differences between rubber stamping fabric, and rubber stamping paper. You should know, too, that the stamped fabric will not be as brightly coloured as your craft-ink paper projects because the ink gets soaked into the fabric as opposed to sitting on top, as it does with paper. The colours will fade somewhat after washing as well, but that being said I have facecloths and dish towels that I've washed repeatedly and they still look beautiful.

The bottom line? Don't be afraid- enjoy your stamping, and create something beautiful for you, your family, and your friends. Gifts of useful, rubber stamped fabric items are always a pleasure to receive.

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