Stamping out procrastination

We've had this rubber for stamp making in the shop now for a while, ever since I bought it in a fit of inspiration after seeing the clever uses of it I saw when I went to Japan 2 years ago.  As with many things I buy in a fit of inspiration, the inspiration had worn off by the time I managed to find the time to do something about it.   So this rubber sat on a shelf gathering dust for at least a year (not really, just because I don't use it doesn't mean no one else does), and every now and then I look at it and think: Today? No,  i don't think so.  I have A, B, and C (not to mention D, E, and F) to do first.   And then I don't make eye contact with it for a while, because I am not good at rejecting things (well, not too bad at the rejecting bit, less good with the dealing with it afterwards bit).

But today, on this rainy Saturday afternoon, when I did have a million other things to be doing, not least planning the new ad campaign, I procrastinated in the rubber's favour and decided to make my own stamps.

Lacking the equipment didn't seem to be too much of a problem.  I couldn't find my lino cutting tools (donated to me by my grandma, possibly from the iron age. not worth finding, really) so decided that as most of my ideas were straight lines, I would just use a craft knife.  If you look closely at the picture below you'll see my craft knife and you'll see why Rachael told me off.  It's not a blade with masking tape, honestly.  Don't anyone else tell me off.  I know, but it's my fingers. 

 The first design was the chevron.  It seems like chevrons are everywhere at the moment, and I'm fairly (ok, very) susceptible to their charms.  We have lots of Riley Blake chevrons in soon, and many of those will come home to live with me.  I also really want a chevron necklace, (like this) but I can't decide whether I want a wood finish or metal.  I do promise in some areas of my life I am very decisive.  But not in things like this.  I dither.  I procrastinate.  I wait until I don't want it much anymore.  And only then I get/ do it.

Triangles were the second design, and one I didn't really want to show you, because it's horrible.  I would edit myself but personally I like it when other people show me their wrong steps.  It makes me feel better about mine, so I should share accordingly, no matter how much I really don't want to.

The third design was the pink one on the top picture.  Triangles again, the reverse of design two, and so much nicer.  I am into triangles.  Not as much as chevrons, but almost.  

You may notice I've stamped onto fabric, but I must confess this was just a practice run, and I didn't use proper fabric ink.  I think you can use Versacraft ink, but I'm not sure if this is the best - anyone got any better suggestions?  I really want to make my own chevron fabric. 

Also, I'm not sure exactly of the type of rubber of these stamps.  I don't know if it even matters, but it was really nice to use.  I googled it's code, along with 'rubber' and 'japan' to see if I could find out, and I won't share what I found.  Let me just say my innocent eyes are much less innocent than they were before the googling.

These chutney jar labels are really what prompted me to have a play.  Rachael and I had a play around with lino cutting before her wedding (these chutneys were made by Rachael's mum and were part of the picnic hamper ploughmans that we had on the day - delicious) and after many false starts and food breaks made these.  Can I just say that the rubber is loads easier than the lino, loads.  These three were knocked up in less than half an hour.  If I'd had known that, I wouldn't have procrastinated from using them for so long.  There's a lesson in there somewhere.  I'm not totally sure I have the inclination to look for it though.

Anna x