So, I got this itch, you know? Been getting more into tarot lately, but all the decks started to look kinda… samey. And I’m a hands-on guy, always tinkering with something. That’s when the idea hit me: why not make my own tarot card stamps? Something really personal, something I could use in my journal or for little notes.
Getting the Ball Rolling
First thing, I poked around online. Saw some amazing hand-carved stamps and thought, “Yeah, I could give that a shot.” Didn’t want to break the bank, though. What if I was terrible at it? So, I ordered one of those cheap rubber carving kits – you know, the ones with a couple of basic tools and a few pink rubber blocks. Grabbed a black ink pad too. Figured that was enough to start messing around.
When the stuff arrived, I was actually pretty excited. Spread it all out on my desk, which, by the way, is usually covered in other half-finished projects. Typical.
The First Cut is the Deepest (or, well, Clumsiest)
I decided to start with something iconic, something I could recognize even if I botched it. The Sun card. Seemed simple enough – big circle, rays, a kid on a horse. Or, well, my simplified version of it anyway. I wasn’t aiming for a masterpiece first try.
Here’s what I did, or tried to do:
- Sketched a super basic Sun design on a piece of paper.
- Tried to transfer it onto the rubber block using the old pencil-rubbing trick. Sorta worked, left a faint outline.
- Then, I picked up that carving tool. Let me tell you, that first cut felt weird. The rubber was softer than I expected in some spots, tougher in others.
- I remember thinking, “Okay, carve away what you don’t want to print.” Sounds easy, but my brain kept wanting to do it backwards.
Took me a good hour, maybe more, just for that one simple design. My hand was cramping up, and I nearly nicked my thumb a couple of times. Concentration face was on full blast. My tongue was probably sticking out, the whole deal.
The Moment of Truth: Inking and Stamping
Finally, I thought it was ready. Or, more like, I was just impatient to see if it worked at all. I grabbed the ink pad, dabbed the freshly carved stamp onto it. Got a decent amount of ink on there. Then, heart thumping a bit, I pressed it onto a scrap piece of paper.
And… it was okay! Not great, but not a total disaster either. Some lines were thicker than I wanted, some bits were a bit blurry where I hadn’t carved deep enough. The sun looked a bit wobbly. But you could tell it was The Sun! That was a win in my book.
I spent a bit more time cleaning up the edges with the carving tool, trying to get sharper lines. Made a few more test prints. Each one got a tiny bit better. It’s funny how you learn by just doing, messing up, and then fixing it.
Moving on to More Cards
After The Sun, I felt a bit more confident. So, I tried The Moon. That was a bit trickier with the two towers and the sort of atmospheric feel. My version ended up looking more like a cartoon, but hey, it was my cartoon moon.
Then I tackled The Star. Lots of little dots and a flowing figure. That one really tested my patience with the tiny details. Some parts just… didn’t make it. They became abstract blobs. But from a distance, it kinda worked.
I didn’t aim to make a whole deck, not yet anyway. Just a few of my favorite cards, or ones that I felt drawn to. The process was slow. Each stamp took time. It wasn’t like a quick craft you finish in an afternoon. This was more of a “chip away at it” kind of thing.
What I Actually Do With Them
So, what am I using these stamps for? Mostly for my own stuff. I’ll stamp a card in my journal when I’m reflecting on something. Sometimes I’ll make little gift tags with them – adds a personal touch, you know? I even stamped a few plain notebooks to make them look a bit cooler.
They’re definitely not professional quality. If you look closely, you can see all the imperfections. But that’s kind of what I like about them. They’re handmade, flaws and all. They have character. And every time I use one, I remember the feeling of carving it out, that little bit of struggle and then the satisfaction.
Final Thoughts on This Stamping Adventure
Would I recommend trying to make tarot card stamps? Yeah, if you’ve got a bit of patience and you like working with your hands. It’s pretty calming, actually, once you get into the rhythm of carving. Don’t expect to become a master stamp maker overnight. It takes practice. Lots of it.
For me, it’s just another little hobby that lets me create something tangible. And it connects me to my tarot practice in a new way. Plus, it’s just plain cool to say, “Yeah, I made that.” Even if “that” is a slightly lopsided stamp of The Fool I’m planning to carve next.
