Monday, July 14, 2014

Crochet a postage stamp!



Hello! How are you going?  
I have been busy, want to see what I have been hooking up over the weekend? 

I have been making some little crochet stamps.  You know, like postage stamps but woolly!
I know that this is a totally impractical and whimsical thing to make, not really useful, but I think they are really cute and would be a lovely thing to receive stuck on a bit of snail mail. (Maybe somewhere inside the envelope not actually on the outside of the mail!) 

And that is why I decided to have a go at making a crochet postage stamp, I like to add a postcard with a thank you message to all yarn orders that go out of my shop, and I like to stick a little decorative bit of crochet, like a flower or heart or whatever I have been making.  
One of the ladies who did the Blog with Pip course, Yvette of Bear Loves Dove, has started a little linky thing called 'Smile Inducers', and that is what I was trying to create when people open up there postcard, a little smile inducing moment.  I was thinking it would be nice to make an actual stamp out of yarn to go on the postcard. So this is what I came up with!

I thought I'd make a little tutorial so you can make your own crochet stamps too, to pretty up your mail or gifts.  So get out your small hooks and fine thread and lets make a stamp !


Ok, firstly crochet up some little squares, mine where 12 stitches by 12 rows, I used a 4ply cotton and a 2mm hook.  Make 2 of each colour, 1 for the front and 1 for the back.


Next, get your embroidery cottons out and have a bit of a play embroidering on patterns of your own choice to personalise your stamps, you can do anything you like!  Some suggestions - words, flowers, hearts, geometric patterns, smiley faces, etc. Embroider onto one piece of your crochet that will become the front of your stamp.
I have embroidered some flowers on mine.



Next, get your back and front and crochet them together using a slip stitch through both layers, with picots every second stitch to create a kind of 'stampy' edge all the way around your stamp. This means that all the messy back bits of the embroidery are hidden inside the two layers.
 I used a 1.5mm hook for the edge.


Sew in your ends and there you have it, a crochet stamp!


What do you think?  I am really happy how this little project turned out.  I know these are purely decorative, but sometimes it is nice to make something just for the fun of it, to create something to put a smile on your face. 


I might hook up some more of these for a wooly stamp collection, or just to add something whimsical to my thank you postcards.  It was nice to do some embroidery for a change too.


......this is what the backs look like, quite neat and tidy........


......so that is what I have been up to, have you been making anything fun?
Are you someone who makes practical things, or are you more into the cute little useless fun make?
I think I do a bit of both.  Or course it is great if you can make something practical that is cute and fun as well!

I just had a thought that they would make nice brooches if you sewed a pin to the back,
 so quite multi functional after all!

Have a great happy day.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

61 comments:

  1. Those little stamps are adorable. Clever, clever lady!!! :) Thank you for the tutorial and have a fab week ahead.
    Anne xx

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  2. They are gorgeous. I want one!! Perhaps I better crochet one.

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  3. So cute and such a fun project! I would love to receive one and I'm sure everyone would!! Thanks for sharing, xoRobin

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  4. These are so cute! I think smile inducers are REALLY important.

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  5. Your little stamps are so lovely. Thank you for sharing.

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  6. C'est tellement joli! So cute!
    Lucie

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  7. Soooooo Cute!

    Thanks for sharing, do drop by and share your thoughts on Ishraq (Sunrise) Prayer

    Take Care

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  8. So cute Jules and yes, it would be lovely to get some snail mail with one of these attached..........:)
    Nice and sunny in the North East today, but I here the rain will be back tomorrow.....
    Have a creative week,

    Claire xx

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  9. So, so very cute... I think they are just adorable as stamps :) lovely.

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  10. OH so cute ! I love them ! great idea ! Thanks to share ! Have a nice day !

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  11. Wonderful - that's my plans for today sorted.

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  12. Thanks for all the lovely comments my crafty friends, you are all so supportive and encouraging I do appreciate it! It is so nice to share some crafty love around this place. Janet, I hope you have fun making a stamp or two! Thanks for stopping by and for leaving a comment, you are all ace!! Julie xxxxxx

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  13. These are so sweet! I'm usually a practical kind of person, but I think I'll make some of these. I like the idea of sending them out in a card or a parcel as an extra. I think making them into a brooch is a great idea.

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  14. I love them!! They are so beautiful.

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  15. Absolutely adorable! I do think though, that making someone smile is far from useless,,.

    Ilse

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  16. They would indeed make great brooches! Very pretty indeed!! xx

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  17. Adorable, adorable, adorable! and I'm so excited to see you on Craft Schooling Sunday! Thanks so much for joining us!

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  18. Totally totaly gorgeous!!! They could also be made into fridge magnets perhaps!
    I agree with KERVEL's comment here too :-)

    keep well

    Amanda x

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  19. Ich finde die Idee total super! Wunderschöne Blüten!
    Lg. Lilli

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  20. Too cute ! Brilliant Jules - do you think one of your stamps on a letter would make it across to the Uk ? Maybe a special airmail one, tee-hee.
    Have a great week,
    Kate x

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  21. Julie, they are adorable...I am dead jealous of your embroidery skills, mine are none existing x

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  22. These are the cutest! And you're SO good at embroidery!

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  23. Oh they are so cute! I wish I could crochet!

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  24. These are really lovely, and so cute!
    For anyone who prefers practical crafting, you could make giant ones and use as cushions :-)

    Rachel j.

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  25. Very creative and pretty,. Love them hugs Judy

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  26. I agree, very creative and pretty! I like the idea of wearing it (or even stuffing a tiny bit of lavender inside.). I'm 50/50 on practical and whimsical makes. Who cannot use a smile? I'm still working on a diamond pattern visor, in bold blue and deep pink cotton, for these intense summer sunny days here in the Southern US. Thanks for the inspiration! Have a great week. :))

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  27. GREAT i have linked you on public FB site with free pattern
    https://www.facebook.com/jennekevm?ref=hl

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  28. What a quaint and wonderful idea!!!! It really did make me smile!!! It's ultra cute!!! Thanks for the tutorial!!! Have a fab week!!!
    Love
    AMarie xxx

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  29. I adore these. the youngones and i have just learnt to crochet. I would love to try n make a stamp. :-)

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  30. These are wonderful, I like your idea of using them as thank you cards.

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  31. Just gorgeous and yes they would make lovely brooches too - thanks for sharing pattern

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  32. they are totally adorable and very smile worthy indeedy!!! Such cuteness :-)
    and yes, they'd make the most sweetest little brooches!

    So lovely to pop by here and see that you are the clever lady that started the amazing colourful mixed stitch blanket. I found you after discovering the as we go striped blanket. I used both blankets as a guide for my kiwi coast blanket. It was the biggest blanket I've ever made and I did it all in blues and greens inspired by my recent holiday in NZ... what a small bloggy world it is! Just love that a link up and the fab Blog with Pip course can bring people together...

    Gorgeous crochet work Julie! Thanks for today's smiles and linking up :-) x

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  33. Absolutely love the idea and your execution. This is so delicate and full of colours! Definitely giving me ideas... :) Thank you for sharing!

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  34. These are so darling! Wonderful and inspiring, now my mind is racing...Santa's letters might have a Christmassy crochet stamp this year! ;-) Chrissie x

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  35. I love the stamps - they are so pretty and would definitely make me smile if I received one. They would make nice little keyrings as well to hang on a bag etc. xxx

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  36. Those are really sweet. :)

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  37. They are so pretty. I think they would look wonderful in a garland.

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  38. ooooh so cute :) I pinned it straight away on my bord mini gifts ^^ thx for sharing this lovely little tutorial so we can make them too.
    greetingz
    Miss Mustache
    (fruitwithamustache.blogspot.be)

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  39. I think they would be perfect as brooches, or even decorations on a bag, pencil case etc. They are lovely! Pam

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  40. They are so sweet Jules and definitely brooch-worthy! Clever you. Have a good week.
    Jane x

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  41. Hi Julie, I found your site a few days ago and have been reading with glee; I love colour and your photos excite me. I'm a quilter, and left-handed, but am so inspired I have just ordered myself some crochet hook...

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  42. cute idea! I really like them! :)

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  43. Love those stamps!! I think I like to do both - I make (ususally crochet) things that are useful but also, sometimes, something nice (but 'useless') just because I want to.

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  44. Brilliant!!!! What a lovely idea!!

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  45. These are wonderful!! Slip a pin back onto the back of these and you can wear them on the lapel of your jacket, on scarfs, etc! So cute!

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  46. Just adorable!!! Came over from Creative Jewish Mom. I don't crochet, but have Pinned for future reference. One of your stamps would look great incorporated into the design of a sewn handbag.

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  47. fill with lavender or wormwood and place in the drawer or shawl pins great idea have made about 6 do far tried a few different techniques as great small trail pieces. love them

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  48. Hey, greetings from Finland! If you want your stamps to be something "praktical" why not put some wad into them and use as a tiny little nailcushion!?

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  49. Beautiful Stamps! I once had a three-quarter soft summer denim. On the right leg was sewn a small applique stamp with the words: "Postage Paid". It was sewn upside down! And I loved it! This could look good on some garments! Louisa. Cape Town

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