The main types of crafting stamps are photopolymer (clear) stamps, cling-mount rubber stamps, wood-mounted stamps and foam stamps. Crafting stamps are categorized generally by material and mounting style. Photopolymer stamps are made out of transparent plastic for precise placement when stamping. Cling-mount rubber stamps are made from red or grey rubber for deep, crisp impressions. Wood-mounted stamps are made with red or grey rubber on a wooden block handle. They are sturdy and easy to press evenly. Foam stamps are made of thick foam and are ideal for applying thick paints or creating large backgrounds.

A stencil is a template that is used to reproduce letters, shapes and designs. Stencils are made from a thin sheet of material like plastic, paper or metal with pieces cut out. When ink, paint or spray paint is applied over the stencil, the design is placed on the surface underneath. Stencils can be used for arts and crafts like painting and making signs and home décor like painting patterns on walls and floors.

To make your own stencil, start by finding or creating a design that you want to use. Next, choose the stencil material you want to use. You can use cardstock or cardboard for quick use or plastic for a more durable stencil. Lay out or draw your stencil design on your material. Make sure to include connecting tabs so interior parts of letters or shapes won’t fall out. After the design is laid out, you can cut out your stencil with a utility knife or another tool. Once you’re finished cutting the stencil, you can begin using it for your arts and crafts project.

Arts and crafts punches act like hole punches that can cleanly cut shapes and designs out of paper or cardstock. When a piece of paper is placed in the slot and the punch is pressed, a metal die inside cuts through the paper and produces detailed shapes without using scissors. Punches are a great tool for paper crafts like scrapbooking and card making. They can bring depth and interest to any card or arts and crafts project when used with other stamps and designs.