Food stamps: Create unique art with garden produce

July 17, 2015

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There is no shortage of natural beauty in the garden to inspire arts and craft projects. Creating unique stamps with fruit and veges is a fun, easy and inexpensive summertime project. Food stamps add a farm-inspired print to paper cards, stationery and wrapping paper. Stamping with fruits and vegetables is a great way for gardeners to showcase their homegrown produce. It also offers adults an opportunity to teach children about healthy food and basic botany.

Supplies

Vegetables: potatoes, celery, carrots, beets, turnips, sweet potatoes, artichokes, celery, peppers, okra, onions
Fruits: apples, pears
Paper: poster paper, cardstock, envelopes, brown paper bags, packaging paper, construction paper
Colorful acrylic paints and stamp pads
Paintbrush
Paring knife
Cutting board
Cookie cutters

How to make stamps from firm vegetables

I’ll describe the process using a potato, but sweet potatoes, turnips, beets and carrots also work well.

Cut potato in half.
Press cookie cutter into exposed surface or draw desired design freestyle.
Whittle away excess potato with paring knife so that the design stands out ¼ to ½ inch.
Remove cookie cutter.
Use a paint brush to paint acrylic directly on the stamp.
Spread craft paper on a hard surface.
Apply even pressure on stamp when stamping.
Dry completely.

Ideas for readymade fruit and vege stamps

Cut apples and pears in half. Use acrylic paint directly on the stamp.
Cut tops off celery and artichokes, leave base intact, stamp looks like a bloom! Use acrylic paint directly on the stamp.
Cut tips off peppers and okra for perfect postage sized stamps. Stamp with inkpad.
Cut onions for a circular design. Use acrylic paint directly on the stamp.