Come with me on a journey into how my brain works.

I had this scrap of rubber:

from the Balzer Designs Blog: Interlocking Garbage Stamps

I carved a quick pattern stamp out of it:

from the Balzer Designs Blog: Interlocking Garbage Stamps

Then I tried printing it tip-to-tip:

from the Balzer Designs Blog: Interlocking Garbage Stamps

That empty rectangle gave me an idea!  I took another scrap and cut it in half:

from the Balzer Designs Blog: Interlocking Garbage Stamps

See how that little rectangle nests (sort of) perfectly into the empty space?!

from the Balzer Designs Blog: Interlocking Garbage Stamps

I ended up trimming both scrap halves so that they fit a bit better and then carved them into pattern stamps:

from the Balzer Designs Blog: Interlocking Garbage Stamps

And here's what it looks like when they all come together:

from the Balzer Designs Blog: Interlocking Garbage Stamps

And in color:

from the Balzer Designs Blog: Interlocking Garbage Stamps
from the Balzer Designs Blog: Interlocking Garbage Stamps
from the Balzer Designs Blog: Interlocking Garbage Stamps
from the Balzer Designs Blog: Interlocking Garbage Stamps
I hope you enjoyed that peek into my creative process!  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.

198 thoughts on “Interlocking Garbage Stamps

  • Very helpful tutorial. Are the tick marks 1/4″ markings? Do you begin a fresh block of rubber by first measuring into strips then marking inches or other measurements to further subdivide the strips? Your process looks very orderly, so I was wondering about your precarving setup strategies. Thanks.

    Reply
  • Very helpful tutorial. Are the tick marks 1/4″ markings? Do you begin a fresh block of rubber by first measuring into strips then marking inches or other measurements to further subdivide the strips? Your process looks very orderly, so I was wondering about your precarving setup strategies. Thanks.

    Reply
  • Very helpful tutorial. Are the tick marks 1/4″ markings? Do you begin a fresh block of rubber by first measuring into strips then marking inches or other measurements to further subdivide the strips? Your process looks very orderly, so I was wondering about your precarving setup strategies. Thanks.

    Reply
  • Very helpful tutorial. Are the tick marks 1/4″ markings? Do you begin a fresh block of rubber by first measuring into strips then marking inches or other measurements to further subdivide the strips? Your process looks very orderly, so I was wondering about your precarving setup strategies. Thanks.

    Reply
  • Very helpful tutorial. Are the tick marks 1/4″ markings? Do you begin a fresh block of rubber by first measuring into strips then marking inches or other measurements to further subdivide the strips? Your process looks very orderly, so I was wondering about your precarving setup strategies. Thanks.

    Reply
  • Very helpful tutorial. Are the tick marks 1/4″ markings? Do you begin a fresh block of rubber by first measuring into strips then marking inches or other measurements to further subdivide the strips? Your process looks very orderly, so I was wondering about your precarving setup strategies. Thanks.

    Reply
  • Very clever and pretty. Can’t believe how easily you come up with designs.

    Reply
  • Very clever and pretty. Can’t believe how easily you come up with designs.

    Reply
  • Very clever and pretty. Can’t believe how easily you come up with designs.

    Reply
  • Very clever and pretty. Can’t believe how easily you come up with designs.

    Reply
  • Very clever and pretty. Can’t believe how easily you come up with designs.

    Reply
  • Very clever and pretty. Can’t believe how easily you come up with designs.

    Reply
  • FANTASTIC design! Great prints. You are so clever and thrifty and generous with sharing your ideas. I appreciate that. Thanks! 🙂

    Reply
  • FANTASTIC design! Great prints. You are so clever and thrifty and generous with sharing your ideas. I appreciate that. Thanks! 🙂

    Reply
  • FANTASTIC design! Great prints. You are so clever and thrifty and generous with sharing your ideas. I appreciate that. Thanks! 🙂

    Reply
  • FANTASTIC design! Great prints. You are so clever and thrifty and generous with sharing your ideas. I appreciate that. Thanks! 🙂

    Reply
  • FANTASTIC design! Great prints. You are so clever and thrifty and generous with sharing your ideas. I appreciate that. Thanks! 🙂

    Reply
  • FANTASTIC design! Great prints. You are so clever and thrifty and generous with sharing your ideas. I appreciate that. Thanks! 🙂

    Reply
  • I remember doing this in high school! We cut stamps out of linoleum. I love the pattern you created, it reminds me of Mexican folk art, very festive! Thanks for sharing your creative process!

    Reply
  • I remember doing this in high school! We cut stamps out of linoleum. I love the pattern you created, it reminds me of Mexican folk art, very festive! Thanks for sharing your creative process!

    Reply
  • I remember doing this in high school! We cut stamps out of linoleum. I love the pattern you created, it reminds me of Mexican folk art, very festive! Thanks for sharing your creative process!

    Reply
  • I remember doing this in high school! We cut stamps out of linoleum. I love the pattern you created, it reminds me of Mexican folk art, very festive! Thanks for sharing your creative process!

    Reply
  • I remember doing this in high school! We cut stamps out of linoleum. I love the pattern you created, it reminds me of Mexican folk art, very festive! Thanks for sharing your creative process!

    Reply
  • I remember doing this in high school! We cut stamps out of linoleum. I love the pattern you created, it reminds me of Mexican folk art, very festive! Thanks for sharing your creative process!

    Reply
  • Love the interlocking of the colors.

    Reply
  • Love the interlocking of the colors.

    Reply
  • Love the interlocking of the colors.

    Reply
  • Love the interlocking of the colors.

    Reply
  • Love the interlocking of the colors.

    Reply
  • Love the interlocking of the colors.

    Reply
  • You are the best when it cones to create a handmade rubber stamp, how do you align them to stamp
    So perfectly on the paper ? I struggle with that when I stamp with a non clear stamp.

    Reply
  • You are the best when it cones to create a handmade rubber stamp, how do you align them to stamp
    So perfectly on the paper ? I struggle with that when I stamp with a non clear stamp.

    Reply
  • You are the best when it cones to create a handmade rubber stamp, how do you align them to stamp
    So perfectly on the paper ? I struggle with that when I stamp with a non clear stamp.

    Reply
  • You are the best when it cones to create a handmade rubber stamp, how do you align them to stamp
    So perfectly on the paper ? I struggle with that when I stamp with a non clear stamp.

    Reply
  • You are the best when it cones to create a handmade rubber stamp, how do you align them to stamp
    So perfectly on the paper ? I struggle with that when I stamp with a non clear stamp.

    Reply
  • You are the best when it cones to create a handmade rubber stamp, how do you align them to stamp
    So perfectly on the paper ? I struggle with that when I stamp with a non clear stamp.

    Reply
  • You are amazing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Please what inks/stamp pads did you use for the coloured prints? Thanks!!

    Reply
  • You are amazing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Please what inks/stamp pads did you use for the coloured prints? Thanks!!

    Reply
  • You are amazing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Please what inks/stamp pads did you use for the coloured prints? Thanks!!

    Reply
  • You are amazing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Please what inks/stamp pads did you use for the coloured prints? Thanks!!

    Reply
  • You are amazing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Please what inks/stamp pads did you use for the coloured prints? Thanks!!

    Reply
  • You are amazing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Please what inks/stamp pads did you use for the coloured prints? Thanks!!

    Reply
  • My favorite journeys are into your brain. Ok, that sounded way less creepy in my head.
    I love and appreciate you sharing your process. Best teacher EVAH!!!

    Reply
  • My favorite journeys are into your brain. Ok, that sounded way less creepy in my head.
    I love and appreciate you sharing your process. Best teacher EVAH!!!

    Reply
  • My favorite journeys are into your brain. Ok, that sounded way less creepy in my head.
    I love and appreciate you sharing your process. Best teacher EVAH!!!

    Reply
  • My favorite journeys are into your brain. Ok, that sounded way less creepy in my head.
    I love and appreciate you sharing your process. Best teacher EVAH!!!

    Reply
  • My favorite journeys are into your brain. Ok, that sounded way less creepy in my head.
    I love and appreciate you sharing your process. Best teacher EVAH!!!

    Reply
  • My favorite journeys are into your brain. Ok, that sounded way less creepy in my head.
    I love and appreciate you sharing your process. Best teacher EVAH!!!

    Reply
  • WOW another whole world is opening up.

    Reply
  • WOW another whole world is opening up.

    Reply
  • WOW another whole world is opening up.

    Reply
  • WOW another whole world is opening up.

    Reply
  • WOW another whole world is opening up.

    Reply
  • WOW another whole world is opening up.

    Reply
  • I love how your brain works! Please keep sharing the wonders of your creative mind.

    Reply
  • I love how your brain works! Please keep sharing the wonders of your creative mind.

    Reply
  • I love how your brain works! Please keep sharing the wonders of your creative mind.

    Reply
  • I love how your brain works! Please keep sharing the wonders of your creative mind.

    Reply
  • I love how your brain works! Please keep sharing the wonders of your creative mind.

    Reply
  • I love how your brain works! Please keep sharing the wonders of your creative mind.

    Reply
  • Wherein Julie makes beautiful art with something she labels garbage — lol 🙂

    Reply
  • Wherein Julie makes beautiful art with something she labels garbage — lol 🙂

    Reply
  • Wherein Julie makes beautiful art with something she labels garbage — lol 🙂

    Reply
  • Wherein Julie makes beautiful art with something she labels garbage — lol 🙂

    Reply
  • Wherein Julie makes beautiful art with something she labels garbage — lol 🙂

    Reply
  • Wherein Julie makes beautiful art with something she labels garbage — lol 🙂

    Reply
  • Great inspiration. I need to get some carving tools out.

    Reply
  • Great inspiration. I need to get some carving tools out.

    Reply
  • Great inspiration. I need to get some carving tools out.

    Reply
  • Great inspiration. I need to get some carving tools out.

    Reply
  • Great inspiration. I need to get some carving tools out.

    Reply
  • Great inspiration. I need to get some carving tools out.

    Reply
  • I was duly impressed following your process until I got to your colored tag with the added small stamp in a constrasting color scheme in the middle and the whole thing made me exclaim a “ouhouh…” with joy. Beautiful, Julie.

    Reply
  • I was duly impressed following your process until I got to your colored tag with the added small stamp in a constrasting color scheme in the middle and the whole thing made me exclaim a “ouhouh…” with joy. Beautiful, Julie.

    Reply
  • I was duly impressed following your process until I got to your colored tag with the added small stamp in a constrasting color scheme in the middle and the whole thing made me exclaim a “ouhouh…” with joy. Beautiful, Julie.

    Reply
  • I was duly impressed following your process until I got to your colored tag with the added small stamp in a constrasting color scheme in the middle and the whole thing made me exclaim a “ouhouh…” with joy. Beautiful, Julie.

    Reply
  • I was duly impressed following your process until I got to your colored tag with the added small stamp in a constrasting color scheme in the middle and the whole thing made me exclaim a “ouhouh…” with joy. Beautiful, Julie.

    Reply
  • I was duly impressed following your process until I got to your colored tag with the added small stamp in a constrasting color scheme in the middle and the whole thing made me exclaim a “ouhouh…” with joy. Beautiful, Julie.

    Reply
  • Such a cool design! Amazing how doodles can come together with scraps of rubber and your creative genius to make something so beautiful!

    Reply
  • Such a cool design! Amazing how doodles can come together with scraps of rubber and your creative genius to make something so beautiful!

    Reply
  • Such a cool design! Amazing how doodles can come together with scraps of rubber and your creative genius to make something so beautiful!

    Reply
  • Such a cool design! Amazing how doodles can come together with scraps of rubber and your creative genius to make something so beautiful!

    Reply
  • Such a cool design! Amazing how doodles can come together with scraps of rubber and your creative genius to make something so beautiful!

    Reply
  • Such a cool design! Amazing how doodles can come together with scraps of rubber and your creative genius to make something so beautiful!

    Reply
  • Wow, those are great !! Creative, beautiful design – gives a great pattern, both in black/white and in colour !

    Reply
  • Wow, those are great !! Creative, beautiful design – gives a great pattern, both in black/white and in colour !

    Reply
  • Wow, those are great !! Creative, beautiful design – gives a great pattern, both in black/white and in colour !

    Reply
  • Wow, those are great !! Creative, beautiful design – gives a great pattern, both in black/white and in colour !

    Reply
  • Wow, those are great !! Creative, beautiful design – gives a great pattern, both in black/white and in colour !

    Reply
  • Wow, those are great !! Creative, beautiful design – gives a great pattern, both in black/white and in colour !

    Reply
  • Scraps are very useful! A sliver can touch up a spot where the ink didn’t quite make it; you can repair a word stamp by carving that nicked letter from a scrap, and after trimming the broken one from the word and stamping it, you can stamp the new letter; you can make dots of all sizes; and you have kept something out of the landfill! Thanks, Julie!

    Reply
  • Scraps are very useful! A sliver can touch up a spot where the ink didn’t quite make it; you can repair a word stamp by carving that nicked letter from a scrap, and after trimming the broken one from the word and stamping it, you can stamp the new letter; you can make dots of all sizes; and you have kept something out of the landfill! Thanks, Julie!

    Reply
  • Scraps are very useful! A sliver can touch up a spot where the ink didn’t quite make it; you can repair a word stamp by carving that nicked letter from a scrap, and after trimming the broken one from the word and stamping it, you can stamp the new letter; you can make dots of all sizes; and you have kept something out of the landfill! Thanks, Julie!

    Reply
  • Scraps are very useful! A sliver can touch up a spot where the ink didn’t quite make it; you can repair a word stamp by carving that nicked letter from a scrap, and after trimming the broken one from the word and stamping it, you can stamp the new letter; you can make dots of all sizes; and you have kept something out of the landfill! Thanks, Julie!

    Reply
  • Scraps are very useful! A sliver can touch up a spot where the ink didn’t quite make it; you can repair a word stamp by carving that nicked letter from a scrap, and after trimming the broken one from the word and stamping it, you can stamp the new letter; you can make dots of all sizes; and you have kept something out of the landfill! Thanks, Julie!

    Reply
  • Scraps are very useful! A sliver can touch up a spot where the ink didn’t quite make it; you can repair a word stamp by carving that nicked letter from a scrap, and after trimming the broken one from the word and stamping it, you can stamp the new letter; you can make dots of all sizes; and you have kept something out of the landfill! Thanks, Julie!

    Reply
  • This is so cute Julie! I love rubber stamping, tried it on paper and wall in my post as well. These happy colors are just beautiful. It’s so good to see new ideas.:) Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
  • This is so cute Julie! I love rubber stamping, tried it on paper and wall in my post as well. These happy colors are just beautiful. It’s so good to see new ideas.:) Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
  • This is so cute Julie! I love rubber stamping, tried it on paper and wall in my post as well. These happy colors are just beautiful. It’s so good to see new ideas.:) Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
  • This is so cute Julie! I love rubber stamping, tried it on paper and wall in my post as well. These happy colors are just beautiful. It’s so good to see new ideas.:) Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
  • This is so cute Julie! I love rubber stamping, tried it on paper and wall in my post as well. These happy colors are just beautiful. It’s so good to see new ideas.:) Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
  • This is so cute Julie! I love rubber stamping, tried it on paper and wall in my post as well. These happy colors are just beautiful. It’s so good to see new ideas.:) Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
  • Awesome idea!!!LOVED the idea! The end pattern looks so cool! Will try it from my scrap pieces of lino…

    Reply
  • Awesome idea!!!LOVED the idea! The end pattern looks so cool! Will try it from my scrap pieces of lino…

    Reply
  • Awesome idea!!!LOVED the idea! The end pattern looks so cool! Will try it from my scrap pieces of lino…

    Reply
  • Awesome idea!!!LOVED the idea! The end pattern looks so cool! Will try it from my scrap pieces of lino…

    Reply
  • Awesome idea!!!LOVED the idea! The end pattern looks so cool! Will try it from my scrap pieces of lino…

    Reply
  • Awesome idea!!!LOVED the idea! The end pattern looks so cool! Will try it from my scrap pieces of lino…

    Reply
  • You are so incredibly clever.

    Reply
  • You are so incredibly clever.

    Reply
  • You are so incredibly clever.

    Reply
  • You are so incredibly clever.

    Reply
  • You are so incredibly clever.

    Reply
  • You are so incredibly clever.

    Reply
  • You are so clever and lovely for sharing! Love watching your videos and photo process. Thanks for letting us drop by;)

    Reply
  • You are so clever and lovely for sharing! Love watching your videos and photo process. Thanks for letting us drop by;)

    Reply
  • You are so clever and lovely for sharing! Love watching your videos and photo process. Thanks for letting us drop by;)

    Reply
  • You are so clever and lovely for sharing! Love watching your videos and photo process. Thanks for letting us drop by;)

    Reply
  • You are so clever and lovely for sharing! Love watching your videos and photo process. Thanks for letting us drop by;)

    Reply
  • You are so clever and lovely for sharing! Love watching your videos and photo process. Thanks for letting us drop by;)

    Reply
  • Wonderful. I love how your brain works. Thanks for sharing.

    Reply
  • Wonderful. I love how your brain works. Thanks for sharing.

    Reply
  • Wonderful. I love how your brain works. Thanks for sharing.

    Reply
  • Wonderful. I love how your brain works. Thanks for sharing.

    Reply
  • Wonderful. I love how your brain works. Thanks for sharing.

    Reply
  • Wonderful. I love how your brain works. Thanks for sharing.

    Reply
  • Wonderful, You are the best….

    Reply
  • Wonderful, You are the best….

    Reply
  • Wonderful, You are the best….

    Reply
  • Wonderful, You are the best….

    Reply
  • Wonderful, You are the best….

    Reply
  • Wonderful, You are the best….

    Reply
  • Some of the best-looking “garbage” I have seen in a long time. You are amazing.

    Reply
  • Some of the best-looking “garbage” I have seen in a long time. You are amazing.

    Reply
  • Some of the best-looking “garbage” I have seen in a long time. You are amazing.

    Reply
  • Some of the best-looking “garbage” I have seen in a long time. You are amazing.

    Reply
  • Some of the best-looking “garbage” I have seen in a long time. You are amazing.

    Reply
  • Some of the best-looking “garbage” I have seen in a long time. You are amazing.

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *