Stamping on a mailbox!!

[mommyoftwo88]

I would like to stamp on my mailbox, but I am not sure how! Do I use SU ink or special paint?? If I use paint, will it ruin my stamps?? How do I keep it from fading away?? Please help!! My husband wants to stick it out there, I cant hold him off much longer! : )

[basketwilma]

I'm curious too... if anyone's attempted it, please let us know!!!

[Stefanie]

I helped my girlfriend stamp her mail box. She wanted cat paw prints on it and asked me to help her out. We decided to use rustoleum paint made for out door use and for painting on metal. Because of that I would never use my SU stamps. It is difficult to remove completely from the stamps. Here is what we did.

First she has a metal rural mailbox - not a plastic one. We painted it white with outdoor paint. Then I bought a foam stamp which was a large paw print and I also bought a couple of solid foam flower stamps. We used a sponge brush to put the paint on the stamp - tapping it on. If you brush the paint on it will get between the grooves of the stamp and when you add the slightest pressure you will distort the image. I had a shallow pan with warm water next to us and a pan of paint thinner. We cleaned the stamps after every impression first in the paint thinner and then in the water. We didn't submerse them we just used an old rag to wipe off the paint with the thinner and then neutralized it by wiping it with water. We discovered that if we didn't do the water thing then the next application of paint was not as solid.

It took us about three hours - doing it together so figure that in because you don't want to rush it. Also we practiced alot on a piece of wax coated cardboard. You need to get the feel for the pressure you should apply so that you don't get a blob of paint. You have to remember that you are working on a non-porous surface.

If you use the outdoor paint, be sure and wear clothing that you don't care about. It doesn't come off - speaking from experience :(

Both of us decided that it was worth the effort. It really turned out cute and was fun to do. Now I'm contemplating doing my own mailbox. One of these days when I have nothing else to do !!

Have fun.

[Suzanne]

I just used regular enamal acrylic paints to do mine. After I finished stamping I just sprayed an sealer (made for outdoors) over it. It has been outside 2 yrs and still looks good.

[LV2TCH]

I once painted my mailbox. I used foam stamps to help me. Once you have paint on your stamp you really have a hard time cleaning it. The mailbox became dirty and the paint faded away. Now we have a plastic mailbox that is not painted!!

Alison

[FourAliments]

Last Fall I stamped our mailbox using Roses in Winter and SU! craft inks. After stamping and letting the images dry (which took forever!), I sprayed the box with an acrylic sealer. It's faded a lot in the last few months, so much so that the Rose Red ink looks nearly pastel. The picture of it when I first stamped it is in my album if you want to take a peek.

[jlangley]

I Did mine the same way as Suzanne, It has not faded and has been painted for over a year, I just bought a white metal mailbox from walmart for about 6 bucks. The paint did not ruin my stamps, but I did get a little paint on the wood part that wont come out. (It took me about 3 hours too) we also painted the square post that holds the mailbox white and stamped on it as well. turned out really nice

[connieht]

Exactly what are enamel acrylic paints? I know what enamel
paints are (oil based), and acrylic paints (polymer based and
until dry, water soluable). Did you use gloss or semigloss,
exterior latex house paint? Whatever you used, did you roll
it on a roller and then roll the stamp, or did you use a sponge
and sponge it on the stamp?

[lakegrandma]

I spray painted my old mailbox with Rustoleum white, then I used Dreamcoat craft acrylic paints to stamp. After the stamping dried I sprayed with an acrylic sealer. The mailbox has been in the hot Texas sun for 3 years and has not faded. I collect turtles and someone had given me a foam turtle stamp so I used that on the front, I used flowers and leaves on the sides.

[karendellovo]

I just did our mailbox with the retired Choo Choo set (my husband is into trains!), and I used Stazon, then darkened the color with Sharpies. After it was dry, I sprayed with the Krylon UV sealer. So far so good!

[scrappinkar]

Thanks for all of the great suggestions, everyone!! I really need a new mailbox and never thought to stamp it, lol!!!!! I'm heading to wallmart!!

[stampingnut]

We have one of the plastic Rubbermaid boxes. Has anyone had any luck stamping on that kind? I've been wanting to try it, but was afraid that plastic won't work like metal for stamping on.