diy stickers

inverted hello

20 sheets of address labels was a recent find at my local second-hand store. Originally I was going to make my own address labels, but then it dawned on me that I could make some stickers.

Rather than make them using a jpeg and my printer, I decided to paint them using acrylics and my handmade stamps and stencils. Below is a quick tutorial of how I did this.

applying a thin layer of gesso

Here is what I used to make these stickers:

• a sheet of self-sticking, clear labels
• gesso
• acrylic paints
• stencils
• stamping inks
• linocut stamps

So let's begin!

First, I applied a thin layer of gesso.
To keep it spreading thinly, I added a bit of water as I brushed on the gesso.

stenciled circles and blotting with tissue paper

Next, I stenciled shapes onto the gesso using yellow acrylics. To aid in drying, I took off the excess paint with a sheet of tissue paper.

side note: Using tissue paper as a blotter will leave the tissue paper with varied colors and patterns which can be used later in collages.

sheet of finished label stickers

Next, I used various stamps with acrylics and stamping inks. Can you read what it says? I have several failed stamps where I forgot to carve the mirror image of the word. I have saved them to use as embellishments.

postcard with sticker and artistamp

Since some of the stamping inks I used were not waterproof, I sprayed the sheet of labels with a fixative. Now they are ready for my mail art. Since the labels are clear, anything under the label will still show through, so I can use them in journal pages as well.

Here's to another creative week!

joining sunday sketches