Ceramic ornaments decorated with rubber stamped designs make quick and easy, yet very beautiful gifts and ornaments that can be enjoyed through the holidays or for the entire year. This craft idea uses glazed ceramics, clear rubber stamps and permanent ink to make a lovely ornament in minutes. If you choose to stamp on plates or cups, keep in mind that permanent ink is not food grade and the dish should not be used for eating off of.

HOW TO STAMP ON CERAMICS

Materiels you will need:

• Choose a ceramic piece that is glazed and flat where you want to stamp
• Staz-on ink and stamp cleaner
• Water to rinse you stamps after cleaning them
• Clear rubber stamps
• Clear acrylic stamping blocks

Be sure your ceramic is clean and dust free. Peel your clear stamp off the carrier sheet and place it on your clear acrylic stamping block. Ink the stamp design with the staz-on ink and stamp it onto the ceramic ornament. If you are unhappy with the results, you can simply clean the ornament with the staz-on cleaning solution and try again. As soon as you are done stamping your design clean your clear rubber stamp with the cleaning solution. Blot with a rag or paper towel and then spray with water. If there is any ink left be sure to get it off before you put the clear stamp away. You may wish to heat set the stamped image but it is not necessary. Be sure to allow sufficient drying time.

COLORING ON CERAMICS

Once you have stamped a design on your ceramic ornament, you may wish to dress it up with a little color. You will need permanent ink markers to do this. Simply color in the spaces much like you would a coloring book, but be careful to keep the marker away from the lines - particullarly if they are black as it can cause discoloration or streaks through the colored area.  Further embellishments can easily be added with rhinestones or beads to complete the ornament.

(The examples pictured use the Nativity Cast Clear Rubber Stamps)