Tutorials

From the Archives: Chevron Stamp Tutorial

Every single time I use one of my Chevron Stamps, I get an e-mail asking where I bought it.  I always direct people to the post I 'm sharing today, originally posted on October 27, 2010.  Enjoy!

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I've been watching this girl use her new chevron stamp on everything.  And it made me want one wicked bad!  I could have paid the $28 for this kit (which contains the stamp) just to get the stamp, but it simply wasn't in the budget this month.  I know that the stamp will be available in a few months, but I just couldn't wait that long! 

So I made my own. 

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And it was pretty easy.  So easy, that I'm going to show you how to make your own!

Supplies:

  • Carving Block
  • Ruler
  • Box Cutter
  • Linoleum Cutting Tools
  • Glass Mat
  • Pen

STEP ONE: Divide The Space

For all my measurements I used a quilting ruler that has a grid and allows you to see through it.  Best invention!

Measure two equal halves.  Mine are each 5/8" (otherwise known as 5 mini squares if you're using the quilting ruler).

Step1
STEP TWO: Determine the Angle

Going the opposite way (perpendicular to the lines you have just drawn), draw lines to determine the angle of your chevron.  I spaced mine 1/4" apart for a fairly mellow (non steep) chevron shape.

Step2
The farther apart the lines are, the steeper the angle of the chevron pattern.

STEP THREE: Connect the Dots (so to speak)

Use your ruler to connect the lower inside corner of each box to the upper outside corner.

Step3
Ah, you can see the design starting to take shape!

STEP FOUR: Mark What is Staying

Roughly color in which parts of the stamp image will not be cut away.  I chose to alternate which shapes would get cut away — like a checkerboard.

Step4
This helps to ensure that you like the image before you cut.

STEP FIVE: Cut

I like to use a box cutter and a ruler to cut the strip off before I carve the shapes. 

And then using your linoleum cutters, trim away everything that isn't colored in.

Step5
STEP SIX: Test Print

Do a test print of your stamp. 

Step6
If it looks good, congratulations!  If there are a few stray marks, go ahead and clean those up with your linoleum cutting tools.

I'm having a little bit of chevron madness!  I ended up making three of these stamps in varying sizes.

Threestamps
And you know, I have a funny suspicion that I just might end up buying the ready-made stamp in a few months as well!  I am officially chevron obsessed!

Take a peek at some of the lovely chevrons from flickr:

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1. Chevron Love, 2. Chevron Scarf, 3. Friendship Bracelet Patterns – Five Favorites, 4. Vintage 1960s Walborg Formal Beaded Evening Bag Gold, 5. Knit – Honey Bunched – worn, 6. Three Pattern Postcards, 7. Chevrons #1, 8. Blue Orange Chevron, 9. b9668 Eyes on Chevrons

And if I had the money, I would definitely buy this gorgeous necklace:

Fiona-paxton-chevron-beaded-necklace-profile
Isn't it super fab?  I wonder if I can figure out how to make it myself…?!  Hmmm.  Going to have to think on that one.

And after I initially wrote this post, I made even more chevron stamps!  Here are two more (non-alternating this time):

Last2chevrons
Here's a look at all five stamps:

5-stamps
It's a crazy addiction, I'm telling you!

Finally, here's a quick layout I made using some of the chevron stamps. 

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Eeek!  I know it's silly to be so in love with something so insignificant, but I just love how they look!  Here are the rest of the details:

BandNightDetail1-sm
Spray ink and watercolor paint, plus some washi tape.

BandNightDetail2-sm
I never would have chosen that sparkly blue-green ribbon (it came in a kit) but I love the punch it gives to the layout!

BandNightDetail3-sm
I used a white pen to punch up my chipboard letters.  (See all that yummy chevron-ness running under the title?!)

BandNightDetail4-sm
This flower is recycled.  I originally made it (punches + gesso + foam adhesive) for a treat bag.  Once the treats were gone I tossed the bag and kept the flower.  I was so glad to get to use it here!

So, do love chevrons as much as me?  I'm thinking of a thousand projects to use these stamps on.  My art journal is already covered in them.  Hmmm…I may print some fabric next…!

Thanks for stopping by!

Julie Fei-Fan Balzer

Based outside of Boston, Julie Fei-Fan Balzer is a painter, printmaker, and collage artist who constructs vibrant compositions. Her artwork investigates the interplay of identity and perception, inviting viewers to take a longer look. Julie works in layers, both physically and metaphorically, exploring what is visible and what is concealed. Passionate about connecting with and inspiring other artists, she shares her expertise through in-person workshops and her online classroom at MyArtPractice.com. Julie's achievements include high-profile clients, multiple publications - including her book, “Carve Stamp Play” - and exhibits in New York City and throughout Massachusetts. She is a graduate of Brown University.

64 thoughts on “From the Archives: Chevron Stamp Tutorial

  • Hola, me encanta tu blog, llevo mucho tiempo siguiendote, tus tutoriales me dan muchas ideas, aunque luego no tengo tiempo para hacerlo todo!
    Enhorabuena!

    Reply
  • Hola, me encanta tu blog, llevo mucho tiempo siguiendote, tus tutoriales me dan muchas ideas, aunque luego no tengo tiempo para hacerlo todo!
    Enhorabuena!

    Reply
  • Hola, me encanta tu blog, llevo mucho tiempo siguiendote, tus tutoriales me dan muchas ideas, aunque luego no tengo tiempo para hacerlo todo!
    Enhorabuena!

    Reply
  • Hola, me encanta tu blog, llevo mucho tiempo siguiendote, tus tutoriales me dan muchas ideas, aunque luego no tengo tiempo para hacerlo todo!
    Enhorabuena!

    Reply
  • Hello, I love your blog, I’ve been following you a long time, your tutorials give me lots of ideas, but then I have no time to do everything!
    Congratulations!

    Reply
  • Hello, I love your blog, I’ve been following you a long time, your tutorials give me lots of ideas, but then I have no time to do everything!
    Congratulations!

    Reply
  • Hello, I love your blog, I’ve been following you a long time, your tutorials give me lots of ideas, but then I have no time to do everything!
    Congratulations!

    Reply
  • Hello, I love your blog, I’ve been following you a long time, your tutorials give me lots of ideas, but then I have no time to do everything!
    Congratulations!

    Reply
  • I love that you made your own, thanks for sharing how to do this. What a cute layout with it. I love seeing this in your journals too.

    Reply
  • I love that you made your own, thanks for sharing how to do this. What a cute layout with it. I love seeing this in your journals too.

    Reply
  • I love that you made your own, thanks for sharing how to do this. What a cute layout with it. I love seeing this in your journals too.

    Reply
  • I love that you made your own, thanks for sharing how to do this. What a cute layout with it. I love seeing this in your journals too.

    Reply
  • This sooo great!

    Reply
  • This sooo great!

    Reply
  • This sooo great!

    Reply
  • This sooo great!

    Reply
  • LOVE THIS! I will try my hand at carving my own stamps-I really like the large chevron one- that’s beautiful! I also LOVE the page- the stamping and photos that are more impressions than full representations of what happened are positively gorgeous!

    Reply
  • LOVE THIS! I will try my hand at carving my own stamps-I really like the large chevron one- that’s beautiful! I also LOVE the page- the stamping and photos that are more impressions than full representations of what happened are positively gorgeous!

    Reply
  • LOVE THIS! I will try my hand at carving my own stamps-I really like the large chevron one- that’s beautiful! I also LOVE the page- the stamping and photos that are more impressions than full representations of what happened are positively gorgeous!

    Reply
  • LOVE THIS! I will try my hand at carving my own stamps-I really like the large chevron one- that’s beautiful! I also LOVE the page- the stamping and photos that are more impressions than full representations of what happened are positively gorgeous!

    Reply
  • Love this! I have never done this before so could you please be more specific about the supplies since I need to purchase (exact brand and blade size etc)? Thanks!!!

    Reply
  • Love this! I have never done this before so could you please be more specific about the supplies since I need to purchase (exact brand and blade size etc)? Thanks!!!

    Reply
  • Love this! I have never done this before so could you please be more specific about the supplies since I need to purchase (exact brand and blade size etc)? Thanks!!!

    Reply
  • Love this! I have never done this before so could you please be more specific about the supplies since I need to purchase (exact brand and blade size etc)? Thanks!!!

    Reply
  • I love every one of those stamps! I finally tried it myself and omg it is so much fun. I ended up with three that I have already used in my journal. Thank you for giving me the encouragement to try, other wise I would have never attempted it.

    Reply
  • I love every one of those stamps! I finally tried it myself and omg it is so much fun. I ended up with three that I have already used in my journal. Thank you for giving me the encouragement to try, other wise I would have never attempted it.

    Reply
  • I love every one of those stamps! I finally tried it myself and omg it is so much fun. I ended up with three that I have already used in my journal. Thank you for giving me the encouragement to try, other wise I would have never attempted it.

    Reply
  • I love every one of those stamps! I finally tried it myself and omg it is so much fun. I ended up with three that I have already used in my journal. Thank you for giving me the encouragement to try, other wise I would have never attempted it.

    Reply
  • oh wow thanks so much Julie! I think I want Santa to bring me the tools to do this!

    Reply
  • oh wow thanks so much Julie! I think I want Santa to bring me the tools to do this!

    Reply
  • oh wow thanks so much Julie! I think I want Santa to bring me the tools to do this!

    Reply
  • oh wow thanks so much Julie! I think I want Santa to bring me the tools to do this!

    Reply
  • I can see why you’d be so addicted to this! I’m going to have to go find me some carving blocks and tools and make some of these too – love the idea of being able to have the stamp I want instead of settling for what’s in stock at the store or online.

    Reply
  • I can see why you’d be so addicted to this! I’m going to have to go find me some carving blocks and tools and make some of these too – love the idea of being able to have the stamp I want instead of settling for what’s in stock at the store or online.

    Reply
  • I can see why you’d be so addicted to this! I’m going to have to go find me some carving blocks and tools and make some of these too – love the idea of being able to have the stamp I want instead of settling for what’s in stock at the store or online.

    Reply
  • I can see why you’d be so addicted to this! I’m going to have to go find me some carving blocks and tools and make some of these too – love the idea of being able to have the stamp I want instead of settling for what’s in stock at the store or online.

    Reply
  • You are so inspiring!! I just made my own chevron stamp tonight from an old making memoiries foam stamp!! Great idea!!!!

    Reply
  • You are so inspiring!! I just made my own chevron stamp tonight from an old making memoiries foam stamp!! Great idea!!!!

    Reply
  • You are so inspiring!! I just made my own chevron stamp tonight from an old making memoiries foam stamp!! Great idea!!!!

    Reply
  • You are so inspiring!! I just made my own chevron stamp tonight from an old making memoiries foam stamp!! Great idea!!!!

    Reply
  • I’ve just stumbled here from howaboutorange and I am in love… can’t wait until payday so i can sign up for your art journalling course 🙂
    Please can you tell me where/how you printed the photos in the layout above? they look like instagram photos…

    Reply
  • I’ve just stumbled here from howaboutorange and I am in love… can’t wait until payday so i can sign up for your art journalling course 🙂
    Please can you tell me where/how you printed the photos in the layout above? they look like instagram photos…

    Reply
  • I’ve just stumbled here from howaboutorange and I am in love… can’t wait until payday so i can sign up for your art journalling course 🙂
    Please can you tell me where/how you printed the photos in the layout above? they look like instagram photos…

    Reply
  • I’ve just stumbled here from howaboutorange and I am in love… can’t wait until payday so i can sign up for your art journalling course 🙂
    Please can you tell me where/how you printed the photos in the layout above? they look like instagram photos…

    Reply
  • Question: Why a glass cutting mat?

    Reply
  • Question: Why a glass cutting mat?

    Reply
  • Question: Why a glass cutting mat?

    Reply
  • Question: Why a glass cutting mat?

    Reply
  • Where can you find the carving blocks, like Michaels? Or where? I’ve watched you carve so many now I’m dying to knowhow to get started…Andthank you for reprint to my last comment! you’re such a sweetheart….love everything you do, but you’re killing my budget hehe.
    Thanks again ,
    Melissa

    Reply
  • Where can you find the carving blocks, like Michaels? Or where? I’ve watched you carve so many now I’m dying to knowhow to get started…Andthank you for reprint to my last comment! you’re such a sweetheart….love everything you do, but you’re killing my budget hehe.
    Thanks again ,
    Melissa

    Reply
  • Where can you find the carving blocks, like Michaels? Or where? I’ve watched you carve so many now I’m dying to knowhow to get started…Andthank you for reprint to my last comment! you’re such a sweetheart….love everything you do, but you’re killing my budget hehe.
    Thanks again ,
    Melissa

    Reply
  • Where can you find the carving blocks, like Michaels? Or where? I’ve watched you carve so many now I’m dying to knowhow to get started…Andthank you for reprint to my last comment! you’re such a sweetheart….love everything you do, but you’re killing my budget hehe.
    Thanks again ,
    Melissa

    Reply
  • Where can you find the carving blocks, like Michaels? Or where? I’ve watched you carve so many now I’m dying to knowhow to get started…Andthank you for response( is what it was supposed to say)to my last comment! you’re such a sweetheart….love everything you do, but you’re killing my budget hehe.
    Thanks again ,
    Melissa

    Reply
  • Where can you find the carving blocks, like Michaels? Or where? I’ve watched you carve so many now I’m dying to knowhow to get started…Andthank you for response( is what it was supposed to say)to my last comment! you’re such a sweetheart….love everything you do, but you’re killing my budget hehe.
    Thanks again ,
    Melissa

    Reply
  • Where can you find the carving blocks, like Michaels? Or where? I’ve watched you carve so many now I’m dying to knowhow to get started…Andthank you for response( is what it was supposed to say)to my last comment! you’re such a sweetheart….love everything you do, but you’re killing my budget hehe.
    Thanks again ,
    Melissa

    Reply
  • Where can you find the carving blocks, like Michaels? Or where? I’ve watched you carve so many now I’m dying to knowhow to get started…Andthank you for response( is what it was supposed to say)to my last comment! you’re such a sweetheart….love everything you do, but you’re killing my budget hehe.
    Thanks again ,
    Melissa

    Reply

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