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  • Potato Stamp 101: How to Make Art with a Spud

    by

    Lindsey Bugbee

    ,

    Today, we’ll talk about how to use the humble potato to make rustic-looking thank you cards.

    Potato Stamp Greeting Card | The Postman's Knock by Lindsey Bugbee

    I do not profess to be a potato stamp expert. However, it has been snowing like you wouldn’t believe since I woke up, and, well, confined minds come up with interesting projects. When I walked in the kitchen to make my customary morning cup of tea, I spotted our last little spud sitting on top of the fridge, growths abounding from its skin. I chose my victim right then and there.

    Make a Potato Stamp | The Postman's Knock by Lindsey Bugbee


    {He’s seen better days.}

    I think we made potato stamps when I was a little girl. This activity consisted of cutting a potato in half, dousing it in paint, and pressing down. Well, gone are those days. I wanted to make a sophisticated, useful potato stamp.

    The first thing I did was put an old business card against my cut potato as a template. Then I cut around it using a kitchen knife.

    Make a Potato Stamp | The Postman's Knock by Lindsey Bugbee

    {I roasted all the potato bits that weren’t destined to be part of the potato stamp. I know it had growths … but waste not, right? The breakfast burrito I added the potato bits to was delicious, by the way.}

    So once you have your business-card cut, you’ll want to dig in with a hobby knife. I’m sure my hobby knife will extract rusty revenge on me since I used it to cut a veggie, but oh well. You could probably use a small, sharp kitchen knife as well.

    As you can see, before I started cutting, I inverted “THANKS” so I could visualize how exactly I needed to carve the potato. You could also lay a stencil directly over the potato and cut around that. I wouldn’t attempt tracing with a Sharpie or pen; the potato is too moist and will not absorb any ink.

    Make a Potato Stamp | The Postman's Knock by Lindsey Bugbee

    In the end, I decided to freehand it. After all, the sort of juvenile, non-exact style is a hallmark of the potato stamp.

    Make a Potato Stamp | The Postman's Knock by Lindsey Bugbee

    So, remember I told you the potato stamp won’t absorb any ink? This is firsthand knowledge because frankly I tried pressing the potato against an ink pad. The potato came off clean as ever. I’m afraid this is a job for some cheap acrylic paint. Either create your own “pad” by smearing paint on a flat surface then pressing the potato against it, or do what I did and haphazardly brush paint onto the raised part of your potato stamp.

    Make a Potato Stamp | The Postman's Knock by Lindsey Bugbee

    Once you’ve brushed the paint on, choose your surface! I stamped directly onto pages from an old Reader’s Digest compilation. I love the contrast of crisp Times New Roman font with the thick “THANKS” of the potato stamp.

    Make a Potato Stamp | The Postman's Knock by Lindsey Bugbee

    {Be sure and put even pressure on the potato to get the most out of your paint. But don’t over-do it.}

    Make a Potato Stamp | The Postman's Knock by Lindsey Bugbee

    The possibilities, of course, are limitless as far as what you can do with your potato stamp. Stamp a design directly onto DIY business cards, make some abstract (or quotation) art for your home, or do as I did and create a greeting card.

    Make a Potato Stamp | The Postman's Knock by Lindsey Bugbee

    {Made out of the hardy front cover page of a vintage book}

    The potato stamp took me a total of ten minutes to throw together, and that’s including the time required to compose pictures. Granted, it’s not a long-lasting stamp (I’ll get back to you on precisely what its lifespan is), but it’s environmentally friendly and fun to make. I really like the look of it contrasted with vintage paper and elegant cursive.

    What will your potato stamp say?