Stamping with Vegetables

My kids and I had so much fun over winter break making our own stamped note cards. And we didn’t pull out a single rubber stamp. Instead we used vegetables!

The process of stamping abstract shapes like celery stalk crescents and star-like broccoli stems is a very right-brained activity. Sometimes when I’m crafting with intricate rubbers stamps I find myself getting a little uptight about getting things just right. Not with vegetables!

Just have fun with color and shapes and see what pops up on your card stock. I was pleasantly surprised to watch a pattern of carrots form across one card and sweet little flowers on another.

This is a project you can enjoy alone on a quiet afternoon or do with kids. It’s pretty much foolproof.

Start with blank cards or make your own by folding a piece of 8 1/2 x 11 inch card stock in half crosswise and then folding each half again to make two cards. Size A2 kraft envelopes, like the ones I used, can be bought online or at craft stores.

Cut the ends off some stalks. I used celery and broccoli, but you could experiment with potatoes, carrots, Swiss chard, or anything you can think of. Cutting celery stalks just above the root will make a pretty rose shape. You’ll probably want to test stamp on a scrap piece of paper before you get to work on your cards. Before you know it, you’ll have a set of very unique note cards that would make perfect gifts. We used ours to write thank you cards.

Have fun crafting!

Vanessa Tsumura lives in Wisconsin with her family. She blogs about crafts and DIY projects atwww.bluetandclover.com.