Make Your Mark
save
In China, Japan, and Korea, prints made from carved stamps are used as signatures on important documents and artwork. These name seals, sometimes called chops, are often intricate works of art in their own right. You can make a simple version of a name seal at home.
What you'll need
- Foam tray
- Double-sided tape
- Ballpoint pen
- Stamp pad
How to make it
Cut four (1 1/2-inch) squares from a clean foam tray. Use double-sided tape to join three of the squares into a stack.
With a ballpoint pen, draw your design onto one end. Our design uses the initials of a name; you can also pick an image, such as a baseball or a dragon, to represent you. (Remember that the stamped image will be reversed, so draw letters backward.) Use enough pressure to impress the lines into the foam.
Snip halfway through the fourth square and fold the resulting flaps in opposite directions, as shown. Tape the flaps to the back of the stamp to create a handle.
Chops are traditionally used with a red ink paste, but a regular stamp pad works fine. Use your seal to sign your art and other very important papers that need your approval.
