As we enter the anticipation of Advent, creating your own stamps offers a simple, meaningful way to add a personal touch to the season. It’s a quiet, creative pause that helps you slow down and reflect as you prepare your home and heart for Christ’s coming.
Supplies
- Template downloaded from lifeway.com/beholdthesavior
- Light colored craft foam (2 mm thick)
- Scissors
- Stamp ink pad
- Pencil
- Ballpoint pen
- Cardboard
- Double-sided tape or glue
- Blank cards/paper
Instructions
- Prepare the drawing. Choose an illustration from the template and cut it out along the dotted line. Trace directly over all the lines of the illustration using a pencil. If you see any gray areas, shade them in.
- Transfer the drawing to the foam. Flip the drawing over, so the image is facing down. Place it onto the foam sheet. If your tracing is too light, you might need to trace over it again so the drawing transfers clearly. Shade the entire backside of the paper with your pencil to ensure the drawing transfers onto the foam. Press down firmly while shading to help the image transfer better.
- Carve the image into the foam. Once the image has transferred, use a ballpoint pen to trace deeply over the lines and shaded areas on the foam. The goal of this step is to make an impression in the foam. You may need to go over the lines several times for a more engraved effect. These areas will become the negative space of your stamp.
- Cut out the stamp. Cut out the foam stamp, following the outline of the illustration.
- Mount and use your stamp. Cut a piece of cardboard slightly larger than your foam stamp. Use double-sided tape or glue to attach the foam stamp to the cardboard for easier handling. Ink your stamp by pressing it onto an inkpad, applying even pressure to ensure full coverage. Use it on Christmas cards, notebooks, gift tags, etc.!
CONSIDER ONE OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING ACTIVITIES TO DO FOR YOUR COMMUNITY
- Use the stamps you made to create cards with a note about thegood news of great joy for all people—that Jesus was born for us tohave life!
- Place the cards with quarters in a laundry mat to help pay forsomeone’s laundry.
- Hand a card with payment for the person behind you in line at the drive-through.
- Add the card to a “blessing bag” to give to those who are without a house this Advent season. Other items to add to a blessing bag: socks; toothbrush and toothpaste; snacks like peanut butter crackers, granola and protein bars, trail mix, applesauce, jerky, mints, gum; lip balm; first-aid kit; hand sanitizer; bottled water; comb/brush; soap; deodorant; shampoo; sunscreen; lotion; hat and gloves; hand warmers; nail clippers; face/body wipes; tissues. You can also include gift cards to restaurants.
- Turn your Christmas lights viewing into a prayer drive for yourself or your family. As you drive around looking at Christmas lights and decorations, pray for the houses you pass. Ask God to make His light known to those who live there.
Check out the gallery below for visual instructions on how to create the stamps!
For more Advent crafts, check out the Advent Bible study for women, Behold the Savior.
