I admit that they are kind of pricey, but I love the idea behind these Paper Neighborhood stamps. The set contains 21 different rubber stamps, each depicting a single characteristic of Italianate-style architecture. When you combine the stamps, you can create your replicas of buildings found in historic neighborhoods throughout the United States.
I think these stamps would be a wonderful way to encourage a budding architect. You could try to replicate buildings in your neighborhood or those you’ve seen on a family vacation.
In addition to making buildings stamped on paper, you could use the stamps to add features to cardboard boxes and make your own city. My son loves to decorate boxes to use as a backdrop for playing with his Hot Wheels or action figures, so I think this would be a craft project he’d really enjoy.
If you decide to purchase the Paper Neighborhood stamps, making sure you care for them properly will help you and your child get the most from your investment. If you don’t want to buy a special rubber stamp cleaner from a craft store, you can use baby wipes to clean the stamps. A drop of mild dishwashing soap and a bit of scrubbing with an old toothbrush will remove stubborn ink residue.
Store the stamps in a cool, dark place away from direct sunlight. Make sure you don’t have anything heavy on top of them, because this can warp the cushion a bit and result in a blurry impression.
What do you think of the Paper Neighborhood stamps set?
Photo credit: Paper Neighborhood
