As I post, we’re having fun with thermoplastic memory foam here at The Studio. I have some heat mouldable foam blocks that once warmed with a heat tool and then pressed onto a textured surface will retain the texture once cool until they’re reheated. Using water-based inks, you can use the stamps to print a background in your art journal before a quick wipe clean and repeat the process with a new texture. I’ve got out all my pre-printed die-cut ephemera for a bit of decoration and came up with this sample layout to inspire attendees at the monthly art journal session:

Technique notes

Follow the manufacturer’s instructions, but warm the surface of the foam with a heat tool, moving it around to prevent scorching and uneven softening. Immediately press onto a textured surface and hold still for 10 seconds or so. Then use water-based mediums to print the imprinted image onto your page. Clean up with water, reheat, remould and restamp to your heart’s content.

I used the ‘right’ side of embossing folders for my first patterns, experimented with gel plate rubber texture plates, reverse-text rubber stamps, and finally pressed the foam onto stencils. The foam blocks I used don’t seem to be available any more, but the instructions with them suggested all sorts of potential textures: rubber bands, rice, basket weave, dried pasta, fabric, lace, leaves and bark. Alternatives are available from Amazon (link below).

In use, I found the foam block gradually expanded with repeated heat/cool cycles, particularly when I used the thin edges. This might become an issue to get even stamping but might have settled with remoulding. The surface of the foam may not flatten completely on heating for the next texture imprint but will do so when pressed onto the next surface. I wiped it clean with baby wipes/damp cloth with no residues left on the foam.

Used in this heat moulded foam stamped layout

• Heat mouldable foam blocks (such as these)
• Ranger / Tim Holtz Distress Oxides: Weathered Wood / Salvaged Patina / Saltwater Taffy / Milled Lavender
• Ranger / Tim Holtz Distress Ink: Iced Spruce (for vignetting/border shading)
• Embossing folders:
  • Craft Concepts: Venus
  • Provo Craft Cuttlebug: Array of Swirls
  • Sizzix / Tim Holtz Texture Fades: Bingo / Collage / French Script / Retro Circles / Patchwork
  • Generic: Postmarks
• Stamper’s Anonymous / Tim Holtz cling stamps: Reflections [CMS111] / Way with words [CMS165]
• Carabelle Studio Texture Printing Monoprinting Plate: Letters [APCA60006]
• Stencils:
  • DecoArt Americana: Zigzags
  • The Crafter’s Workshop: Microbial [TCW359S]
  • Generic/unknown: Mandala with rays
• Tim Holtz Idea-ology: Paper Dolls – Solos / Ephemera Pack – Expedition