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How-to: Simple Stamped Pencils

September 9, 2013 13 Comments

How-to: Simple Stamped Pencils | Hands Occupied

These custom pencils take under 5 minutes to make and offer unlimited ways to make them your own. Back in elementary school, it was super hip to order custom pencils with your name on them, and they pretty much looked just like the DIY version I’m sharing today. I have no idea why I didn’t think of this project until the weekend after I rounded up my back to school series, but since I haven’t moved on to the next theme yet, I figured, what the heck. Plus, they’re just so cute!

Supplies

plain pencils
hammer
metal stamping letters
permanent marker
rubbing alcohol
tissue

How-to: Simple Stamped Pencils | Hands Occupied

Directions

Gather your letters/symbols for the phrase you’d like on your pencil. This is probably the hardest part of this project! The first pencil I made was for my husband and totally says twerk, but since the internet has had quite enough of twerking in the past month, I opted to keep it outta this post ;).

How-to: Simple Stamped Pencils | Hands Occupied

Align your stamp, checking to make sure it’s about centered on one of the pencil’s flat sides, and also that it’s right side up. Give the stamp a tap – hard enough to make an impression in the pencil, but not so hard as to dent the wood in weird ways. You’re using metal stamps on wood, so the force needed is a little different than when you’re working with metal.

[Check out my other metal stamping tutorials here, here and here.]

How-to: Simple Stamped Pencils | Hands Occupied

Color in your letters with permanent marker, filling in the stamps all the way so the yellow (or whatever color you’re working with) of the pencil doesn’t show through.

How-to: Simple Stamped Pencils | Hands Occupied

Wipe off excess ink with rubbing alcohol and some tissue, being careful not to use too much alcohol. The pencils are wood, so you don’t want them soaked, and if you use too much, you’ll remove all of the ink, including what you want to show up in the letters. Other than that, you’ll all done! These are super addictive – I grabbed a box of 24 pencils on back-to-school clearance and went nuts. I think my co-workers are going to have to get pencil gifts on a regular basis! Who would you make these for?

How-to: Simple Stamped Pencils | Hands Occupied

The metal stamps and hammer used in this project were provided by Impress Art. 

Filed Under: Back to School, How-to, Metal Stamping Tagged With: custom, easy, impress art, metal stamping, pencil, simple, stamping

About Heidi

Heidi Gustad (she/her) is a craft book author & designer specializing in yarn crafts. Her work combines vintage and modern design elements, prioritizing color and graphic motifs. Her first book, Latch Hook: 12 Projects for the Modern Maker, is out now.

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Comments

  1. Carol

    September 10, 2013 at 8:53 pm

    In days gone by my Grandma gave me pencils with my names on them. I loved them – great stocking stuffer idea.

    Reply
  2. marissa | Rae Gun Ramblings

    September 10, 2013 at 9:48 pm

    another justification for my desire for metal stamping letters!

    Reply
  3. Arie Noel

    September 10, 2013 at 10:44 pm

    I just bought 75 custom pencils last week… spent 40 dollars and won’t have any awesome supplies to show for it. I will save this for future

    Reply
  4. Sharon Harris

    September 13, 2013 at 1:45 am

    What a great idea! I have a niece and nephew that are a challenge to please at Christmas… guess what’s happening this year! Thanks for a great tutorial.

    Reply
  5. Priyanjana

    September 16, 2013 at 8:41 am

    love the idea!
    I wish I had the stamping letters!

    Reply
  6. Ana

    September 25, 2013 at 2:02 pm

    I know what I’ll do with them… Wedding giveaways! This actually came at a really great time because I am racking my brain for economical yet cute wedding giveaways, and this is perfect, especially since my hubby to be is an artist. So tying this with a cute ribbon, and a small bag of meringues (since I love cooking) and we got our custom giveaway!
    Thank you!

    Reply
    • Heidi

      September 25, 2013 at 6:36 pm

      I LOVE that idea! Totally send me pics after you’ve survived the big day :)

      Reply
  7. Deb

    September 26, 2013 at 3:09 pm

    I’d love to make some for my nieces. :) They’ll definitely like these. :)

    Reply
  8. Rebeca

    August 28, 2015 at 3:01 pm

    Such a great and fun idea. Thanks for sharing.

    Reply
  9. Anya

    August 1, 2018 at 2:30 am

    hi!

    I know that this is an old post but may i ask what size of metal stamps you used for this? Im planning to purchase and do the same for my kids’ pencils as they keep on losing it in school.

    Thanks!

    Reply
    • Heidi

      August 2, 2018 at 1:21 pm

      Sure thing! I used the 3mm size. :)

      Reply
  10. Just Someone

    September 4, 2018 at 6:37 pm

    I was just thinking about the kid (now man) who sold a million pixels and made one million dollars. so I read an article about him. He started his venture with “what can I sell one million of” I started thinking. and i thought “PENCILS”. then I started looking at personalized pencils but I had to buy them in bulk so that wouldn’t work. then I thought “hmmm, how can I personalize my own pencils?” That led me to THIS article. then I saw, “Metal stamping letters”. I live in an 80 year old house. My landlord grew up in this house and her father lived here until he was 93 years old. I rented the house (only the third family to live here in it’s 80 year history) in 2016. Well, my basement is like a time machine. Stuff there from the 60’s. I love going down there. So about six months ago I was organizing it (again lol) and I came across about 30 lbs of type. It has to be from the days of old,I guess for a printing press? either way I’m about to make some MULA!!!!

    Reply

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  1. Progetti Back to School | Mamma Felice says:
    September 12, 2013 at 6:42 am

    […] Le matite con le incisioni | 02. Il portapenne da tavolo con le perline | 03. La fascia per capelli con i pompon 04. Il porta […]

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Heidi Gustad from Hands Occupied / Craft Book Author and Knitting, Crochet, Latch Hook and Macrame Designer

Hi! I’m Heidi (she/her/hers), and I’ve been helping yarn crafters untangle various techniques on the internet since 2010. I got my start here, as a blogger, and since then I’ve shared more than a few tutorials here and on YouTube as I’ve grown as a pattern designer. 🧶 

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Heidi Gustad 🧶 knitting & yarn crafts

handsoccupied

Knitting & yarn crafts designer 🧶
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Stay up-to-date 💌 & shop new patterns ⤵️

POV: Showing you how my new Bevelled Tank pattern POV: Showing you how my new Bevelled Tank pattern fits with no ease vs. 4” of positive ease. There’s a bit more length to the cotton (brighter color) sample, but both are cropped and feature shoulder seams designed to sit an inch back onto the shoulder instead of on top, giving it a little swing. Length is easily adjustable for folks looking for less of a crop. 
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Pattern: Bevelled Tank by @handsoccupied for @pompommag x @hobbii_yarn summer 2024. Available for free from Hobbii at the 🔗 in my profile.
Yarn pictured: @kelbournewoolens Skipper and Camper. 
Dress form is adjusted to a 36” chest and ~5’3”ish in height. 
Human has a 40” chest and is 5’5”.
Both skirts are vintage.
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#pompomxhobbiisummer2024 #handsoccupied #intarsia #handmade #knitting #colorwork
Let’s talk about fit and ease! . During the Beve Let’s talk about fit and ease!
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During the Bevelled Tank design process for @pompommag, I knit 2 samples using 2 different @KelbourneWoolens yarns. One was in Skipper (100% cotton, second photo) and the other was in Camper (100% 2 ply wool). The Skipper sample was knit for a 36” bust, which measures in at 40” with 4” of positive ease. And I knit the Camper Sample for my 40” bust with a 44” finished measurement. (BTW, I’m 5’5” for folks that find that measurement helpful in visualizing fit.)
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Based on the size chart for the Bevelled Tank, that means I knit one size 3 sample and one size 4. As designed, I conveniently fit a size 4 as intended with 4” of positive ease. When I wear the 3, there is no ease at all because the garment and my body are both 40” in size. Comparing the 2 garments, you can see how the fiber content (cotton vs. wool) and fit (no ease vs. 4” of positive ease) makes a difference in the look and feel of the finished garment. 
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These samples are a great way to compare what ease looks like on different bodies. While I can fit both a size 3 and 4, the garment with no ease feels more like pajamas or a bralette when I wear it. On the other hand, when I wear the one with 4” of positive ease, I feel comfortable enough to wear it to work, even as a crop top. Plus, it leaves me with enough room to layer it with a nice button down if I’m not feeling the cropped look one day. 
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I’m curious - how would you style this tank? Would you modify it with a few stockinette rows for added length? I’m so curious now that this pattern is finally out in the world. :) 
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#pompomxhobbiisummer2024 #bevelledtank #handsoccupied #knitting #intarisa #handmade #kelbournewoolens #croppedsweater #summerknits
After a 6 month hiatus, I am happy to say I’m ba After a 6 month hiatus, I am happy to say I’m back with a brand new pattern in 9 sizes, and it’s FREE as part of @pompommag x @hobbii_yarn’s summer design collection! (Link is in my bio.)
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In my December newsletter, I announced that I was soliciting test knitters for a pattern that had originally been selected for the summer ’24 issue of Pom Pom Quarterly magazine. However, the magazine ceased publication after its spring ’24 issue, leaving in-progress designs unpublished. (It happens.) As a result, I’d begun the long process of editing, testing, and photographing the pattern for independent release through the Hands Occupied pattern shop and Ravelry.
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Before I was done with that process, Pom Pom Quarterly’s former editors reached out with an exciting proposal for the pattern. Post-magazine, they’ve begun to partner with yarn companies to produce high quality pattern collections. They wanted to include designs from the would-be current issue of Pom Pom Quarterly in a new collection for Hobbii yarn, including my Bevelled Tank. I worked with the same technical editors I would have for the magazine on this one, and as you can see from the photos, Pom Pom’s team did an amazing job of styling the garment to the beautiful standards they’re known for.
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You can learn more about the pattern on my blog and get the free pattern from Hobbii yarn - links to both in my profile. I’ll post sizing info in the comments for quick reference too. 🧶
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#pompomxhobbiisummer2024 #knitting #intarsia #sponsored #colorworkknitting 
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Photos: @dianascarrunz 
Model: @angel.jade_
Here’s a nice throwback for you: my take on a vi Here’s a nice throwback for you: my take on a vintage knitting pattern from 1938 called the Fernlace Pullover. A pattern so nice, I knit it twice.
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Yellow version 💛: knit with Despondent Dyes’ Vintage Vixen Sport after attending a @squidneyknits vintage knitting retreat in 2019 & learning *so much*. Paired with a self-drafted circle skirt pattern. 
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Blue version 💙: knit with @eweeweyarns Ewe So Sporty in Sky Blue. Paired with the 1940s Boardwalk Duet sewing pattern from @decades_of_style 
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Head to my stories for 🔗🔗 to the handmade wardrobe blog posts I wrote about each take on the Fernlace Pullover, working with a vintage pattern, where to find vintage patterns (including the one I used), & some thoughts on sizing. 
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Image descriptions available in alt text. 
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#handsoccupied #handmadewardrobe #fernlacepullover #vintageknitting #vintageknittingpatterns #knitting_inspiration
Frogging is a word in the knitting world that mean Frogging is a word in the knitting world that means to rip out your knitting. It’s called frogging because frogs say “ribbit,” and when you’re tearing out your knitting, you will “rip it” out, and that sounds like ribbit. No really. 🐸 Did you know this fun fact? 
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P.S. I did like this design concept, but to make the pattern more knitter friendly as well as more wearable, I am making some tweaks to the construction. Excited to share when it’s ready! 🥰🧶
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Yarn: @blueskyfibers Woolstok North in Morning Frost & Highland Fleece 
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#handsoccupied #knitting #frogging #blueskyfibers #knittersofinstagram #blueskymakers #knittingvocabulary #bsfmakers #knitdesign
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