Basic Leather Stamps - Part 2

If you are following my posts on this blog you may be at the point where you are thinking, “Enough already!” I apologize if I am taking things a little too slow but I think that it will pay off for everyone in the end. So, please bear with me as I make my introductory explanations.

In the last post I described the background stamp and the pear shader and their uses. I will do my best to finish up the descriptions of the other stamps in this post. I am also including the same photo of the stamps from the previous post so you don’t have to go back and forth to see what I am talking about.

Basic leather stamps

The third type or class of stamp is the Veiner, the third on the right. There are two veiner designs shown here to give you an idea of what they look like. Both stamps can be used in pretty much the same places but with the different visual effects offered by each. In other words, it doesn’t matter which one you get initially because they will look equally good on almost any pattern. Veiners are used to add detail inside some flowers or to add a little more character to leaves in a pattern.

The Beveler, second on the top left in the photo, is used to give distinction to the levels of your pattern. This is done by placing the edge of the beveler in the carved line next to the item that you want to appear raised above the other. For example, if you have carved a flower with a stem and you want a leaf to appear to be behind the stem. Place the straight edge of the beveler in the carved line with the back of the stamp to the leaf and the front side to the stem. That way when you tap the stamp you will get the desired effect. Please notice that the beveler that I used as a sample is the same one that I pretty much use on all of my projects. It is a matter of personal preference and workability. I have found that the smooth face bevelers have a tendency to slide forward on the leather when struck with a mallet, causing the opposite edge of the cut to develop a ridge on it.

The Camouflage stamp is almost as versatile as the veiner. Many patterns will use both a veiner and a camouflage stamp on the same leaf, just across from each other, on the center line of a leaf. Larger camouflage stamps are sometimes used around the centers of flowers as well. Remember, it isn’t mandatory that you follow a pattern exactly as it is shown, but it will look a lot better if you make sure that you do it the same all way through the pattern.

The Seeder is used to add “dots” which more or less resemble the seeds or pollen balls in the center of a flower. A lot of the flowers that I have tooled have a little “V” in the center where I have placed the first seed. I will then go the one side or the other of the first seed and place the first seed of what would basically be my second row. When that is finished if there is room I would place another row next to that.

To help you understand the concept here, grab a dozen or so pennies and place one on the table. If you put pennies around the outside that first one you should be able to put six around it. Take away three of the outer ones and leave the first and the other three on the table. Place more pennies next to these three and you will hopefully get an idea of what I am doing here. This will help you to get a little more symmetry in the design and a little more like, “That was the plan!”

The Mulefoot stamp is one of my favorite “dress-it-up” stamps that I have. I use it on leaves, flowers, stems, the bases of acorns, and a whole bunch more. Rather than try to explain what it is used for by most “normal” craftsmen, I will show you examples of how I use it myself. Hopefully, you will think that it isn’t so bad after you see it.

There’s more to come.

Have fun!