You don't have to be a professional crafter or have a million extra hours to spend attempting to draw elaborate snowflakes and extraordinary details. Simply follow these fun hacks to put together some holiday cards that your friends and family members will love!

Snowman Surprise – A card with a snowman silhouette is sure to have everyone dreaming of white Christmas. Whether you have a rubber stamp or you draw three snowballs, this design is easy to do on your own. Make the cards pop by adding a jaunty green scarf. The contrast of a colorful scarf against black and white will make a singular impression!

Ornament Array – Brighten a classic black and white outline of a Christmas tree with hand drown ornaments. You can use a Christmas tree rubber stamp or draw a triangle Christmas tree free hand. Then grab your colorful markers and add big polka dots that will look like ornaments. Diagonal lines can be made to look like a red garland, which will add more contrast. For the real artist who wants to do more than dots and stripes, you can always skip the ornaments and draw colorful presents in different sizes.

Stick to Santa Sayings – Drawing fine details is not everyone’s favorite talent. Are you better with a joke or a happy greeting? You can skip the stress of sketching and use a rubber Santa stamp. Add a thought bubble then write a personalized greeting to the card’s recipient. With a jolly stamp, you can convey the heartfelt mirth of good ol’ St. Nick on a festive card. If you’re feeling creative, write a different Santa salutation for everyone on your list.

Simple. Ornate. Classic. – If you have quality paper at home, your card won’t need a lot of extra details. You can layer two colors or a patterned base and a solid to create a clean crisp look. Use a stamp or your favorite microns for the finishing touch. All you’ll need to finish this style off is a centered “Merry Christmas” greeting.

Cardstock & Ribbon Ornaments - Cards that double as homemade ornaments are a keepsake your truest friends will hold onto. Follow the same simple method as above to create a layered look. If you don’t have heavy cardstock or textured paper to give a unique look, you can substitute fun wrapping paper and tissue paper. Cut the layers into circles then use a hole punch to get a crisp hole for hanging ribbon.

Emboss with a Shimmer – Give your cards a professional look with raised text by gathering embossing supplies. With basic rubber stamps, embossing pigment ink, embossing powder and a heating tool (a blow dryer works!), you can make eye-catching designs. The glitter of metallic ink can create a moody glow that will brighten hearts all winter season.

Send A Spiritual Message – Are you creating a card for a family member that celebrates the holiday with a Menorah or Advent Calendar? Sending an uplifting spiritual message is a great way to show you care. Make a card with a religious method, when you use a stamp with Happy Hanukkah, Star of David or a Peace Dove.

A Greetings Tree – Do you have a collection of stamps that is just words and no fun designs? You can get crafty with a one-line “Merry Christmas” stamp. Consider simple horizontal or diagonal strips. Get funky and make abstract shapes with various colors of ink. Or make a greetings tree by making a triangle with your holiday message.

Get with the Frozen Theme – Is dressing like Elsa or Anna your daughter’s favorite pastime? She might enjoy helping you make Frozen-themed cards. Use teal, blue and white colored cardstock. Add snowflakes, snowmen, tiaras, mittens and any other princess stamps you owned to really create an imagination wonderland.

Peppermint Play – Never underestimate the power of red and white stripes and candy cane craziness. The kids will love to help make a giant round peppermint or a striped candy cane card. All it takes is some red and white paper, scissors and glue. No stamps, markers or extra artistry needed. The red and white contrast will create cool peppermint vibes all season long.

Address Stamp Cheats – Do you have an address stamp that you only planned on using for the outside of your envelope? You can create a set with an envelope and matching card with this little trick. It works especially well if you have an ornate design featuring your last name at the top. Using tape or a sheet of paper, cover up the bottom two address lines of your stamp, and leave an impression of just your last name. You will have your very own personalized stationery!

Our collection of holiday rubber stamps makes crafting easy and affordable while still maintaining a high-end look. We offer a variety of different designs so you can customize your own ornament to your liking! Follow our simple instructions below and create a Christmas ornament that is reusable for many years to come:

Stamped Salt Dough Ornaments

Salt Dough Ingredients:

• 1 Cup All Purpose Flour
• 1/2 Cup Salt
• 1/2 Cup Warm Water

Makes about 12 ornaments - for decoration, please don't eat them!

Materials:

• Christmas Stamps and Ink
• Baking Tray
• Rolling Pin
• Cookie Cutters (cups work too!)
• Straw
• Decorative String

Step 1-

Measure out your flour, salt, and water - warm the water in the microwave for 1 minute.

Step 2-

Combine the flour and salt. Then, pour in the warm water and mix until everything is incorporated and a wet dough has formed.

Step 3-

Clean and flour your countertop, flour your rolling pin, then roll out the dough to be about a 1/2 centimeter.

Step 4-

Using your cookie cutters (or cup!), press into the dough - wiggle the cookie cutter in the dough to fully separate. You can also flour the top of the cookies before pressing into them so the cookie cutter doesn't get stuck.

Step 5-

Place your cookie on a floured baking tray and poke out holes using a straw at the top of each cookie. You can either leave your cookies uncovered for three days to dry out, this is what we did, flipping them once a day. You can also bake them at 250°F for 90 minutes to 2 hours. Check on them every 30 minutes - they should be dry on the outside but still slightly bendy.

Step 6-

Once they're dry, use your favorite Christmas stamps to decorate each ornament. We also used food dye to paint the smaller cookies.

Once your salt dough ornaments are decorated and looking ready for the Christmas tree, cut out 8 inch pieces of string to lace through the cookies. Hang them up and enjoy seeing your beautiful Christmas crafts on your tree!

Christmas Rubber Stamps

Have fun with your loved ones this holiday by DIY crafting your very own Christmas cookie ornaments! Find all sorts of Christmas and Holiday themed stamps to use and plenty more crafting stamps at Simply Stamps!

Happy Holidays from the Simply Stamps team! Make sure to check back for more unique DIY crafts that will spark your creativity.

For artists and small business owners, maintaining a consistent brand identity is crucial. Custom logo stamps allow you to imprint your unique identity on various materials such as packaging, business cards, and other promotional materials. This will also allow you to become recognizable by customers, and leave a positive impression on potential clients.

Saving Time

Owning a small business can be stressful and time-consuming. Instead of spending valuable time signing each and every product, signature stamps help artists efficiently sign their work so they can focus more on completing projects.

Shipping orders on time is an important part of owning a business. Custom address stamps can be a great way to speed up the mailing process. You can use address stamps to quickly label envelopes and packages, which both saves time and ensures a professional appearance.

Marketing and Promotion

Rubber stamps offer a versatile and creative way to enhance your marketing and promotion efforts, all while maintaining a personal and authentic connection with your audience. They allow you to add your unique mark to various materials and create a cohesive and memorable experience for your target audience.

How to Support Green Artist

At Green Artist Designs, you can purchase one-of-a-kind handmade art and paper goods. For ideas, inspiration, tutorials, and more, make sure to check out the Green Artist Blog and follow her on social media platforms!

The loss of a loved one is never easy. Whether it was sudden or not, it takes time and grief to help heal one's wounds. While there is no one thing to take someone's grief away, there are actions you can take to help during this difficult time. Letting your close friend or family member know that you wish them the best is a great place to start.

It can be hard to find the right words to say or find the right time to say it. We have compiled a list of sympathy card sentiments and message examples to help send your well wishes. Our meaningful messages should assist you in writing and closing your card!

Sympathy Statements

Sympathy can be defined as the feeling of sorrow for one's hardship. Sharing heartfelt sympathy is a common way to share your genuine feelings for one's loss. These words of sympathy can start, add to, or close off your card. Messages like these are a sweet and straightforward way of letting your friend or family member know you are sorry.

Turn your blank condolence card into one they will cherish. Leave quality impressions and messages that help take away some of the heartbreak. Our 'with sympathy' stamp is perfect for imprinting on the front of your card or back of your envelope.

Phrases to Express Your Sympathy -

• With Sympathy
• My Deepest Sympathy

Kind Thoughts

It is common for those who are grieving to feel alone and isolated. Losing someone important to you can mimic an empty feeling in your heart and life. Let them know they are not alone. These kind words tell them you are always there to offer support, especially during this challenging time.

Whether you wish to send it in a card or with a gift, include a 'thinking of you' stamp impression. Adorn this kind impression on your envelope or gift tag. This small detail is sure to be appreciated.

Statements That Share Compassion -

• Thinking of You
• You Are in My Thoughts

I'm Sorry Sentiments

Sometimes the easiest and most effective way to share your feelings is to say you are sorry for their time of loss. It shows you are sympathetic towards their current situation and state of feeling. Everyone is affected by grief differently. Not everyone can genuinely say I know what you are going through, and others may not know the best ways to be there for that person. But, you can never go wrong with this universal message for expressing sadness for their loss.

Take the time to show you mean it. Make the sympathy card from scratch and include personal touches that you could not buy from a store-bought greeting card. Use an I'm sorry craft stamp to start your words of sentiment. Your thoughtful sympathy note is something they will hold close to their heart.

Sayings That Show Support -

• I Am Sorry For Your Loss
• I Am So Sorry You Are Going Through This

Sending Well Wishes

Offer a kind sentiment with sincere sympathy quotes. A lot of people can find comfort in God and worship during hard times. For religious family or friends, offer condolences in the form of prayers. Seal your sympathy card with a lily cross address stamp, this symbolizes your shared beliefs in a lovely display.

Others may find the sincerest condolences come in ways of sharing stories of happy memories with the amazing person they had the privilege of knowing. When a grieving person looks for fond memories to get through their time of grief, it may be a thoughtful idea to include pictures, notes, and memorabilia in your envelope.

Expressions that Give Consolation -

• Sending Prayers and Warm Wishes
• Sending You My Heartfelt Condolences

Caring Condolences

Let your recipient know that he/she is greatly missed with these words of condolences. Sharing loving memories and fun experiences with someone you have lost makes it much harder to get through. Condolence messages show your recipient that they are not the only ones feeling this heartbreaking loss. Include phrases like my warmest condolences to sign off on your heartfelt note.

Common Expressions of Condolence -

• My Deepest Condolences
• My Sincere Condolences

Other Ways to Show Your Sympathy

In a time of sorrow, there are many ways to show your empathy. Whether it was the loss of a mother, father, or husband, some gifts and gestures are always appreciated. Sharing your condolences can be as simple as making a phone call. Let them know just how much you care for them in their time of need.

Sympathy gifts can also be a kind idea. Send over a bouquet of flowers with an attached notecard expressing your solace. Send white lilies or white roses to signify sympathy. Another gift to consider is a homemade meal or treat. If you live nearby or you can take the trip, making your loved one a meal gives them one less thing to worry about. Make your food with love and pack it up, so they have leftovers to treat themselves to later.

Gifts that Bring Comfort -

• Bouquet of Lilies or White Roses
• Homemade Meal or Treat

Taking the time to create and send a heartfelt card will make an incredible impact on your recipient. Finding the words to match what you are feeling can be difficult. Hopefully, these sympathy messages make it easier to put pen to paper. Leaving personal messages and custom sentiment stamp imprints will make all the difference. In this sad time, we also wish you and your closest friends and family our deepest sympathies.

Other Blogs to Check Out:

The Art of Letter Writing

How to Properly Address an Envelope

Latest Stamp of The Week: Monstera Leaf Craft Stamp

You can start preparing for this annual holiday by gathering all of your very best craft supplies. With the help of some adorable Valentines stamps, scrapbooking paper, and markers, you can create festive gifts and decorations worth remembering! These unique v-day inspired ideas can work for your best group of gal pals to your once-in-a-lifetime valentine. Whether you're a seasoned crafter or just beginning your DIY journey this year, these 8 fun projects are easy to achieve and will be absolutely adored by your valentines this year!

Picture Perfect Heart Impression

A picture says a thousand words, but they can mean a thousand more! Update your framed photos or give your significant other a lovely Valentine themed picture frame. Simply pick your favorite couples’ photo and print it out. Take a white frame mat and decorate it with heart stamps and valentines inspired stickers. Write your names and anniversary date for a personal touch. This easy DIY project will become your new favorite decoration in your home or office!

Love Letter Sealed with a Stamp

It is universally known that a love letter is a swoony worthy way to your partner’s heart. If you’ve scoured Pinterest for a cute valentine’s gift idea, you’ve most likely come across this modern take on a classic love letter. A bundle of 'read this when' letters are a set of sealed love letters in specially labeled envelopes. You read them when the card says. For example, read this after our 5th date or read this when you’re missing me.

You can easily create your very own bundle of letters. Share meaningful messages and romantic affirmations they will hold dearly. Adorn each envelope with thoughtful impressions like our you will forever be my always stamp. The extra thought put onto the outside of your letters will help build anticipation for the moment your partner is finally able to open your thoughtful notes.

Cute 'Be Mine' Craft Stamp Place Cards

On Valentine’s Day, you cannot go wrong with a candle-lit dinner. For a special occasion like this do not hold back on decorating your table to the nines and making (or ordering) the finest of feasts.

Create cute and custom place cards by cutting a heart out of craft paper and marking it with a be mine stamp. Place the card on top of the dinner plate. Line the table with a colorful liner and heart-shaped confetti. Fill a vase full of their favorite flowers and use that for the centerpiece. The small details will make this dinner one to remember!

Friendly Valentines Stamp Design

Think back to being in elementary school when you would hand out your Valentine cards to each of your friends and classmates. While you may not have continued this tradition past your school years, it is the perfect time to bring it back! Instead of going to the store and buying pre-made cards, get creative, and make your own!

Use colored cardstock, markers, ribbons, and stamps to adorn each card. Write thoughtful inscriptions that only your friends will understand. Let them know how much you appreciate having them in your life. Seal the card with a custom heart name stamp for the finishing touch!

Creative Cupid Stamp Décor

Whether you are throwing a small Galentine’s Day bash, planning a romantic night in, or wanting to celebrate the season of love in style, there are easy decorations you can make at home! DIY your own v-day banner with pink or red paper! Write cute phrases and add adorable stamp designs using a cupid stamp. Take the top of each heart paper, some festive ribbon, and clothespins, and attach each card to the string until you have a completed banner! This home-made banner looks great in your home and makes a wonderful prop for Valentine’s pictures!

Gift Note with a Valentines Quote Stamp

When you think of Valentine's Day, chocolate, roses, and romcoms probably come to mind! While these staple gifts are on the cheesy side, your partner would love to receive them on this special day. Don't just gift an ordinary bouquet of red roses. Make your floral gift stand out. Switch out the plastic wrap that comes with your flowers for some quality brown paper. Wrap a bright ribbon around the middle of the wrap and tie it in a perfect bow! Lastly, take a Happy Valentines Just For You stamp and imprint it on your attached gift note.

Your valentine will be in awe of your picture-worthy v-day bouquet!

Personalized Stamp Wrapping Paper

Picking the perfect valentine’s gift isn’t easy, but giving your partner something they’ll love makes it all worthwhile. Match the excitement of your gift to the wrapping paper that covers it! Store-bought wrapping paper won’t do justice for your sentimental gift. Create delicate details on the packaging to make your present even more special. Use white or brown kraft wrapping paper to cover your gift box. Take a love stamp and create a custom pattern all over the box. Finish it off with a decorative red ribbon to match the classic valentines’ colors.

Address Stamps for Distanced Sentiments

Valentine’s Day should be spent celebrating more than just your romantic relationship. On this special day, you should give recognition to all the people you adore. Remind friends and family that you love and miss them during these crazy times. A great alternative to spending the day together is sending them a heartfelt card! Your kind words and extra effort let them know you are thinking about them!

Take out your stationary and draft a letter! Include a list of all the things you love about that person to brighten their day. After you’ve written your note, adorn your envelopes with a Valentine’s themed address stamp for that extra special touch. Be prepared to receive phone calls filled with happy recipients who love your sweet sentiments.

Creating unique gifts, decorations, and thoughtful cards help make this day special. Show your partner how much you care, not by going out and buying a gift, but by creating something just for them. Don't forget to shower your closest friends and family with affection too. Send them their own Valentine's day card filled with warm wishes. We would love to see your take on our Valentine's Day DIY ideas! Share photos of your creations by tagging us at @SimplyStamps and follow us for more crafting inspiration.

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Valentine's Day Crafts for Kids

It was once a novelty to receive an email, now it’s a pleasant surprise to receive a hand-written letter in the mail, or to open a gift that’s been wrapped in homemade paper. Rubber stamps are contributing to the approachable, handcrafted look people are craving. Letter writers, artists, businesses and others are re-discovering the traditional rubber stamp and all its creative potential!

Here are some of the standout stamp designs we’ve seen lately here at Simply Stamps.

Taking Eco-friendly Branding to the Next Level

Image Credit: @RootsDentalPDX

Roots Dental uses their custom logo stamp to place their brand on each take-home hygiene bag. Using recycled paper bags and water-based ink, this dental practice is using their stamp as a creative way to stick to their roots.

Make your mark! Placing your logo on a custom stamp is a great way to build your brand and add a personalized touch to all of your products. For doctors, dentists and other medical businesses like Roots Dental, a custom logo stamp is a great way to remind patients of the people behind the medical practice.

Adding Personality to Mail and Packages

Image credit: @_emilyelaine

With handmade design and crafting growing in popularity, snail mail is back in style! Adding a custom address stamp to all of your outgoing correspondences is an easy way to bring a touch of personality and creativity to your mail and packages.

Whether you are sending a birthday card, a thank you card or a simple letter to say hello, adding a custom return address stamp is the perfect way to add an extra special and personalized touch. At Simply Stamps, we have tons of customizable return address stamp options with all sorts of designs, so you’re sure to find a stamp that matches your style!

Making Correspondences More Professional

Image credit: @eclipse_brewing

Sending out snail mail isn’t just for personal correspondences, it can also be a great way to promote and elevate your business’s branding. Eclipse Brewing created a custom return address stamp that features their logo to create letters that are both professional and personalized.

Seal the deal with a stamp! Adding your address to a custom logo stamp is a great way to brand your business. Plus, custom logo address stamps can also make addressing large amounts of outgoing mail quick and easy for business of all sizes.

Elevating Product Packaging

Image credit: @FrostLivestockCo

Frost Livestock Co. uses a custom stamp to mark their products with an image and important contact information. The stamped image on each egg carton leaves a rustic impression that corresponds perfectly with the farm-fresh homemade brand.

Make your products stand out from the crowd! Custom stamps are a crafty way to add branding and identification to all of your products and packaging. Simply Stamps offers a variety of ink pads and ink refills to make sure your custom stamp impressions are noticeable and on brand!

Customizing Card Making

Image credit: @BySalina

Handcrafted cards are a thoughtful way to reach out to friends and family. Whether you are looking to decorate personalized cards with a logo like Raising Tito, or you want to add a personal creative touch to any DIY card, rubber stamps are the perfect solution!

Use a custom art stamp to add a personalized touch to handmade greeting cards or find the perfect craft stamp to elevate all of your DIY paper crafting projects!

Spreading the Word About Your Small Business

Image credit: @HarmonyCakes562

Harmony Cakes uses a custom logo stamp to personalize each bakery box, bringing delicious desserts and branding together in perfect harmony. Using a traditional wood handle logo stamp is a classic way to create one-of-a-kind impressions that match your business’s unique personality.

Logo stamps aren’t just for looks! Using your business’s logo stamp is a great way to spread the word about your brand and increase brand awareness.

Signing Letters With Love

Custom signature stamps are the perfect way to sign your letters with love. Whether you’ve got a lot of letters to sign quickly or you have handwriting difficulty, a signature stamp will get the job done! Every card, craft, letter, package and document can have your exact signature.

At Simply Stamps, we make turning your signature into a stamp easy. You can upload your unique signature and we’ll turn it into a wood handled, self-inking or pre-inked stamp!

As more aspects of our daily lives become digital and technology-focused, handcrafted designs bring something different to the table. Adding a handmade or crafted element to letters, gifts, packaging or branding brings forth an authentic feel that people appreciate.

Simply Stamps is proud to support the turn towards approachability and simplicity in design. Our selection of rubber stamps include all kinds of custom logo stamps, address stamps and craft stamps so you can add an original touch of personality to all of your projects.

Follow us @SimplyStamps to stay up-to-date with all of our new stamp designs and for more inspiration. Don't forget to share all of the creative ways you're using your custom rubber stamps and tag us, we'd love to see how you are embracing the return to homemade design!

Other Blogs You Might Like:

How to Get the Best Impression from Your Rubber Stamp

How to Create the Perfect Thank You Note

How to Teach the Art of Letter Writing

Before Amazon trucks started filling the streets, Americans relied only on postmen for their mail needs. Before they sat expectantly waiting for blue and white packages at the doorstep, the mailbox was the star of each morning delivery.

Today, people still wait in expectation and suspense for the mail that arrives Monday through Saturday. Mailboxes at homes and apartments are regularly stuffed with a bouquet of letters, small packages, newspapers, grocery advertisements, bills, greeting cards, magazines and more!

Tuesday, February 4th is National Thank Your Postman Day, a special holiday dedicated to the everyday postman, but everyday throughout the year is an opportunity to extend a heartfelt thank you to those who deliver our mail rain or shine.

Here are some easy ways to show your gratitude and say thank you to your neighborhood postman any time of year:

How You Can Thank Your Postman

Thank You Cards

Creating your own thank you cards for your postal workers can be a fun way to show your appreciation. Consider a funny or sweet greeting card that is sure to bring a smile to their daily route. Not only will you get to enjoy some arts and crafts, but your mail carriers will feel the love that comes from a homemade gift.

With the help of our craft rubber stamps, you can easily make a high-quality thank you card that your postmen and women can cherish forever. Browse our selection of 'thank you' stamps and start designing a one-of-a-kind thank you card.

A Sweet Treat

Bake or buy a delicious snack for your postman to munch on! Whether it's a homemade cookie, a bag of candy, or a store-bought treat, your postman is sure to appreciate the gift. Not only does it provide a break from their daily routine, but it will taste delicious.

By gifting your postman a sweet treat, you're not only showing appreciation but also spreading a little bit of joy to someone who plays an important role in your life and community. Remember, a small act of kindness can go a long way, so consider gifting your postman a sweet treat the next time they deliver your mail.

A Gift Card

Getting your postman a gift card is a thoughtful way to show your appreciation for their hard work and dedication in delivering your mail and packages. A gift card to a local coffee shop or restaurant can provide a small token of appreciation and brighten their day.

Gifting a gift card is not only a kind gesture, but it can also help build a positive relationship with your postman, which can lead to better communication and improved mail delivery. Furthermore, it's a great way to spread some kindness in your community and make a small difference in someone's life.

A Conversation

Talking to your postman can be a great opportunity to build a relationship with the person who delivers your mail and packages. You can ask about their day, thank them for their hard work, or simply chat about the weather. Having a friendly interaction with your postman can make a difference in their day and create a sense of community.

Additionally, it can help ensure that your mail is delivered properly and with care, as your postman will be more likely to remember your face and address. Overall, taking the time to talk to your postman can have a positive impact on both of you and your neighborhood.

How a Simple Thank You Helps

Snail mail is important! Without mail carriers we wouldn’t open our mailboxes to find delightful cards and letters (and bills).

A small gift or card made with a thank you stamp impression is sure to brighten the day of your mail carrier! Making a kind gesture is one way to acknowledge the people you see on a regular basis, and a great way to show your appreciation for reliably getting your mail delivered to your home.

Hardworking postmen and women are responsible for warming the hearts of Americans everywhere with reliable and dependable service. Important letters, mail, care packages, gifts and all types of deliveries make it to the right destination at the right time with the everyday help of mail carriers.

In trying times it’s important to reach out and show gratitude to your loved ones, friends and family, but it's also important not to forget about essential workers! Thank you to all of the postmen and women that have kept our communication system running smoothly!

We’d love to see the creative ways you’re thanking your everyday postman. Share your mail carrier thank you ideas and gifts with us @SimplyStamps, and don’t forget to follow us for more DIY projects and rubber stamp inspiration!

Did you know that there are several unlikely ways that you can put stamps to alternative uses? All you have to do is put on your DIY hat and get to work. Start by taking out the rubber crafts stamps you usually use for cards and envelopes. Then choose one of these fun, creative activities to make a new designs from your favorite stamp dyes.

1. Creating New Soap

Do you have leftover bits of soap bars sitting around your home? Check bathroom sinks, bath tubs, showers and kitchen sinks to find leftover soap. Gather these old bits of soap and melt them in a double boiler or the microwave. Use non-stick cooking spray on a mini-muffin pan or another mold of your choosing. After the soap molds have cooled for 8-12 hours, you can gently press your stamp into each soap to get a unique impression.

Many styles of stamps will give soaps an intriguing look. Make preppy, square soap with the letter return address stamp. Add an earthy design with a tree stamp, or advertise for your business with logo stamps.

Explore tutorials online to find more soap recipes. You can always add ingredients like natural exfoliates such as coffee grounds or oatmeal. You can also enhance the smell of your new soap with household spices or essential oils.

2. Nail Polish Decor

Create gorgeous nail art by using your stamps to create ink impressions or textured indents. Watch this awesome nail stamping video to learn how! For the method in the nail stamping video, you will need to get nail stamping ink. Start with dried, painted nails. You can either purchase materials designed for nails specifically or re-use your crafting goods. While regular rubber stamps and ink are a bit harder to manipulate, most inks are fairly forgiving. This allows you to start over on any nail you mess up.

For textured looks, stamp nails that have not yet dried with a dry, wood block stamp. Make sure to clean the stamps with acetone to remove the excess polish. The acetone can wear away at the rubber, so be sure to use stamps you no longer need.

3. Handmade Candles

Similar to re-purposing soap, you can use old candles to make new, stamped candles. You can purchase a set of 8 or 12 candle wicks directly from your local craft store. To make your new candles, gather old candles stubs and put in a heat safe dish. Heat the wax from old candles over the stove or in the microwave. You can use old glass jars, shot glasses, recycled candle holders or mason jars to mold your new candles.

You can use stamps to decorate your new candles with by making indentations into the wax while it is heated, or you can use tissue paper and quick drying ink to transfer stamp images to each candle surface. See these step by step candle craft directions to using rubber stamp ink on wax surfaces.

If you really enjoy decorating candles, you can get materials to emboss candles with shimmering text.

4. Icing Cookies

Did you know you can use food coloring as stamp ink for cookies? It's pretty exciting to take your crafting hobbies into the kitchen and create a tasty, beautiful snack. To be safest, it is best to use stamps that have not been used with stamp ink before. Gather your favorite holiday rubber stamps to make festive Christmas cookies. Find your favorite snowman or Santa Claus rubber stamps.

You can also use heart stamps to make Valentine's Day treats. The sky's the limit when it comes to decorating cookie icing with stamps. Make designs for different occasions all year long. With simple food coloring gently stamped on white, dried cooking icing, you can make stunning desserts.

5. Foam Art with Cappuccinos

For every amateur barista who has tried to make foam art and failed, welcome to the painless world of stamping foam! Once you've perfect your frothing technique, you will have a beautiful bed of white foam to add a stamp impression into. You are not limited to coffee beverages either. You can stamp foamy beers with cool designs too! To make designs really stand out, use food coloring that will show a sharp contrast on a white background.

To safely create these delicious designs, use stamps that have not been used with ink yet. Making sure you have a food safe ink is an critical part of successfully pulling off this creative endeavor.

6. Cheese Logo Stamp

Looking for a way to add that extra something to your charcuterie board? Your cheese display will stand out once you put a stamp onto a slice of brie! If you make your own cheese, you can also add stamp designs while waiting for the cheese to set. Whether you are an artisan cheese maker looking to brand your homemade cheddar or goat cheese blend or trying a cheese recipe for your wine club, using stamp designs will make your fine cheeses stand out.

You can even create a unique stamp design with your brand name, website address and logo. Customize a logo stamp to start making cheese creations at Simply Stamps.

If you want to learn how to make your own molded clay stamp for decorating cheese and butter, check out this fun cheese stamp how-to!

7. Food Coloring & Easter Stamping

Get ready for spring by making your plans for Easter early! Put your rubber stamps to one final use by decorating hard boiled eggs with floral stamp patterns. Watch this video tutorial from Martha Stewart Living to see how you can use ColorBox Fluid for making Easter eggs.

Simply Stamps has a whole line of embellishment stamps that include floral patterns as well as house plants and succulents.

Whether they have a food allergy or a restrictive diet, there are a few common foods that should be labeled for safety. These ingredients include –

• Peanuts
• Tree nuts
• Soy
• Gluten
• Dairy
• Wheat
• Egg

Safe Cookie Packaging Ideas -

Depending on the severity of their allergies, certain people cannot eat food that has come in contact with their food allergen. In these cases, it is important to separate different cookies into individual containers. From school bake sales to holiday parties there are a few things to keep in mind when packing up your Christmas cookies. Below we have a few adorable ideas on how to safely store and share your homemade treats.

1. After wrapping up your container, add a gift tag. Depending on the ingredients, imprint a “gluten-free”, “egg-free”, “may contain peanuts” warning on the tag using an allergy stamp.
2. Type out your recipe on your computer and print it out. Use cute washi tape and stick the list of ingredients straight onto the package for all to see.
3. Create your own food notice label with added holiday themes. For example – “Cookies made by Elves who carefully mixed out cookie batter with eggs, dairy, peanuts, and holiday spirit”, or “Mrs. Claus’s Favorite Cookies made with…”.
4. Place your cookies in a box. Wrap the box with brown craft paper. Use this canvas to add festive drawings and sayings using colorful markers. Add adorable holiday craft stamps that display snowflakes, snowmen, and reindeer!

Allergy-Friendly Cookie Recipes -

As for baking delicious allergy-friendly cookies, we have provided two tried and true treats that will ring in the holiday spirit. These classic recipes are tasty and safe for people with food restrictions.

Classic Sugar Cookie – Egg Free

• 2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
• 3/4 cup superfine sugar
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 2 sticks margarine, softened
• 2 Tbsp regular or milk-free cream cheese, softened
• 2 tsp vanilla

1. Knead dough in the bowl by hand a few times until it forms a cohesive mass
2. Shape into two disks and put these in the refrigerator until they are cold - about an hour
3. Heat oven to 375 °F
4. Roll out one disk of dough in between two sheets of parchment
5. Roll out to 1/8 inch thickness and cut with cookie cutters
6. Bake cookies for about 10 minutes on middle rack, or until light golden brown.

Recipe Courtesy of Anna McCarthy

Chocolate Peppermint Crinkle Cookies – Gluten, Dairy Free & Nut Free

• 1 and ¼ cups basic gluten-free flour mix
• ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• ½ teaspoon xanthan gum
• ½ teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon cream of tartar
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• ⅓ cup Earth Balance Original Buttery Spread
• ⅓ cup Vanilla Rice Milk
• ½ teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 and ½ teaspoons peppermint extract
• ⅔ cup granulated sugar
• Powdered sugar for rolling

1. Preheat your oven to 325 and grease a baking sheet.
2. Combine and mix flour, cocoa, xanthan, baking soda, cream of tartar and salt.
3. In a stand mixer, combine the butter and rice milk, mixing on medium speed for until blended. Add the vanilla, peppermint and sugar. Mix well.
4. Add the dry ingredients to the wet and mix on medium speed
5. Scoop out the dough.
6. Once the dough is formed into balls, roll it in a small bowl of powdered sugar until well coated and then place on the cookie sheet.
7. Baker at the center of the oven for 7-9 minutes.

Recipe Courtesy of AllergyAwesome.com

We hope your holidays are full of fantastic food and memories. Ensure your friends and family members are safe at all festive outings by making sure food is properly labeled. Whether you bake for your family Christmas party or a school bake sale, using ingredient stamps can prevent a holiday catastrophe. Hopefully, we’ve provided you with some baking inspiration to help you celebrate the season! We would love to see your decorated packages and delicious holiday cookies. Share your photos with us by tagging @SimplyStamps and be sure to follow us on social media for more of our creative ideas, and new products!

Fun Fall Foliage DIY Leaves

The first day of Autumn is in late September. (This year it fell on September 22^nd) If you are back in the classroom kick off the fall season by having your students decorate your school-room with colorful leaves. Our easy fall foliage paper crafts will inspire your students to understand why leaves change color in the fall. Your classroom will look bright and festive too!

All you need to make fall craft leaves is:

• Construction paper (white or in fall colors)
• Markers and/or crayons
• Fall foliage stamps
• String/yarn
• Scissors
• Hole Puncher

Each student can stamp a leaf onto a square sheet of craft or construction paper. Once they color their leaf with crayon or marker, they can cut it to its leaf shape, and punch a hole. Use a long piece of string to attach each student’s leaf. String your new fall foliage craft leaves around your bulletin board, the front of your desk, or across the chalkboard.

You and your students can enjoy the festive colors, and you can help them understand the reason that the leaves change in hue.

“Because of changes in the length of daylight and changes in temperature, the leaves stop their food-making process. The chlorophyll breaks down, the green color disappears, and the yellow to orange colors become visible and give the leaves part of their fall splendor.” ³

Have the students color their leaves a range of hues, from green to yellow, orange and red. Hang them in order of the way they would change color over the fall season. Get even more in depth and have your class try this leaf science experiment! ²

Halloween Show and Tell (Or Show and Treat!)

What would fall be without Halloween? Each year kids look forward to dressing up as their favorite characters and villains and hitting their neighborhood streets in search of candy. You can easily bring some of this fun and tradition into the classroom by hosting a post-Halloween show and tell. For distance learners, have a fun dress up day over your video calls!

First, the week before Halloween, get the students excited to share their story with their classmates. Have them decorate small paper treat bags with fun Halloween stamps.

SimplyStamps.com Mr. Goofy Jack O' Lantern Stamp

Here’s what your kids will need to make Halloween "show and treat" bags:

• Small paper bags (plain white, brown or orange)
• Halloween craft stamps and ink
• Hole puncher
• Orange or green yarn/string

During the school week following Halloween, throw a trick or treat show and tell party! Give each kid a few minutes to share his or her favorite trick or treating or Halloween moment. Once each student completes his or her story, he or she selects the next story-teller to come up and share.

This lesson will help students think about their classmates as they hunt for candy on Halloween, and will help them share their findings in a thoughtful way.

Dia de Los Muertos DIY Marigolds & Sugar Skull Crafts

Your students are most likely familiar with sugar skulls, but do they understand their cultural significance? During the fall season, take the chance to show your kids the meaning of Dia de Los Muertos, or The Day of the Dead. Each year, this Mexican holiday starts on or around November 1^st.

This year it will be celebrated starting on October 31^st and ending on November 2^nd. During Dia de Los Muertos, Mexican people show their respect for loved ones and ancestors who have passed on. It’s a festive and joyful holiday known for bright flowers, candy, treats, sugar skulls and other celebratory gifts that are left as offerings to the deceased. This post-Halloween holiday can spark fun classroom lessons and crafts for elementary school students and help them learn about Mexican and Hispanic heritage.

Source: Tinkerlab.com

Help your class create bold yellow marigold flowers ¹ with three common craft items:

Gift wrap tissue paper

Pipe cleaners

Scissors

Once each student has created a marigold, have him or her make a simple but festive sugar skull card or paper craft to accompany each flower.

For this, you will need:

A sugar skull stamp and ink

Craft paper or construction paper

Scissors

Yard/string

Hole puncher

The sugar skull cards can be cut into simple square or round shapes, or the students can get more festive and cut them into skull shapes.

SimplyStamps.com Sugar Skull Craft Stamp

Once each student has created a marigold and a sugar skull card, they can help decorate the classroom or make shift desk at home. Yarn or string can be used to hang these beautiful Day of the Dead crafts over doorways or across the front of desks and tables. Simply punch a hole in the cards to attach the string. The pipe cleaners can easily be used to tie the marigolds onto the string. Adorn your classroom with bold flowers and skulls!

Share with your students the significance of Dia de Los Muertos and Hispanic Heritage Month with storytelling, fun arts and crafts lessons and ink stamps, all from SimplyStamps.com.

Teachers love our rubber stamps! From Halloween and fall stamps to Spanish teacher stamps, you’ll find thousands of stamps in our selection. Use the code below to save on your order.

Check our blog and How To Resource Center often. You'll find helpful guides on how to use stamps along with fun craft ideas!

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Back to School Organization Tips for Teachers

Classic Teaching Methods that Work

Sources:

1. tinkerlab.com/simple-paper-marigolds-dia-de-los-muertos

2. howweelearn.com/science-experiments-for-kids/Fall

3. www.esf.edu/pubprog/brochure/leaves/leaves.htm