We're sorry
There was an error adding this product to your cart. Please close this window and try again.
Inspired? Create and share by tagging @HallmarkStores.
Even as an adult, it’s fun to give your mom a handmade gift to celebrate her on Mother’s Day, her birthday or just because. Block printing—also called rubber stamping and linocut printing—is a simple way to add a colorful personal touch to always-useful tea-towels and bandanas.
Even better: You can use the stamp you make to create multiples, like bandanas in different colors or a monogrammed set of tea towels. Hallmark designers made a batch to show us how it’s done.
Even Easier DIY Towels
We’ve simplified the whole process with Tea Towel Handprint Kits. You’ll get everything you need to add your family’s handprints to cute towels (on purpose and in cute colors instead of dirt for once).
Make some 2” squares on your tracing paper and sketch some simple designs: Try flowers, hearts, rainbows, flowers, stars leaves, geometric shapes or letters.
When you like your sketch, go over it with the pencil again, pressing down harder. Then flip the tracing paper over, sketch side down, on a piece of the linoleum block and rub over the lines with your pencil so the lead on the transfers to the rubber.
Use the cutting tools to carve out the rubber where you don’t want color. Try the larger cutting tools to carve out bigger spaces and smaller ones to get close to the shapes you’re going to leave.
When you’re hollowing out your stamp, don’t worry about being perfect. Block printing looks great when backgrounds have little bits of color where you left some rubber.
Your stamp is ready! Squirt a little fabric paint on to a paper plate and roll the brayer until it’s completely—but thinly—covered. If you’re using a foam brush, don’t overload it.
Before you block print on the towel or bandana, practice stamping on plain paper or scrap fabric to see how much paint coverage you’ll need and how you want to space your design. You can also wipe off the stamp and cut out more rubber if you need to.
To print, carefully press the stamp on to the fabric and lift it off slowly. If you’re stamping more than once, apply more paint each time.
Here are some different ways to make different designs with the same stamp:
Or add another stamp with a new color for lots more options!
Let your design dry while you make more. Why stop at just one? When you finish, follow the instructions on the fabric paint to make sure it sets permanently.
Now they’re ready to give as gifts and use to wrap presents. Ideas on that below!
Ways to give your block print gifts
You can give your linocut bandanas and tea towels in approximately a gazillion ways. Here are a few we love.
Tie together a set of color-coordinated towels, napkins or bandanas
Wrap up a box of chocolates, a book or two, or a homemade treat
Give a bottle of her favorite beverage
From 9-5, our favorite show is The (Home) Office. 💼 📄 Add some fun to WFH with products and decor from The Office, av...
There are so many reasons to try fruit and vegetable stamping: It's surprisingly creative. It's easy. It uses stuff y...
You have the cutest baby in the world. There’s no contest. It’s not even a question. But what you might not have are ...
Get ready for all the sights and sounds of Santa’s Seaside Carnival! Santa and Mrs. Claus are ready to greet visitors...
Whether it’s your friend’s birthday or just any old day, sending a card is a great way to bring a smile and nurture ...
If you’ve got a shoe box full of old cards and letters, you’re definitely not alone. People have been stashing away m...
The best birthdays are the ones filled with lots of little treats and fun activities, from sunup to sundown. If you’r...
Family recipes are a special kind of priceless heirloom—the kind that transport us back to our favorite times with ou...
It can be tough to come up with gift ideas for Mom. Most of us want to give her something meaningful: a gift that sho...
As a dad, I appreciate Father’s Day. Even though my family has never made a really big deal out of it, it’s always so...
In 6th grade, my homeroom teacher made us illustrated, laminated bookmarks—each one a custom collage of our interests...
Fans of Disney Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas, we have a frightfully fun new addition for your tree! Kee...
My little brother starts kindergarten this year, and I’m already bracing myself for the tears—mine, not his. I know t...
Who's ready for a Heartie Party? You know we are! So much so, we created a bingo card to add a whole extra layer of f...
You don’t have to travel to a galaxy far, far away to experience an epic adventure! Each stocking holder performs sce...
Get a special behind-the-scenes look at how Keepsake Artists Gregor Benedetti and Rob Stanphill collaborated on the d...
Do you want the inside scoop on an im-paws-ibly cute new series? We’ll throw you a bone—Keepsake Artist Sharon Visker...
We’re so excited to introduce our new ShowToppers collection. Featuring three unique designs, each tree topper is int...
Keepsake Artist Sharon Visker is here with a special delivery of Christmas magic! Hear how she brought this bustling ...
Ready for a little magic? Featuring light, sound and real dialogue from the movie, Harry, Dobby, Ron, Hermione and th...