Gelatin Glue for Homemade Lick-and-Stick Stamps
Make your own lick-and-stick stamps with this concentrated gelatin glue! You can also use leftover gelatin from homemade gummies. Brush it onto the backs of your stamp sheets, let it dry, and cut the stamps apart.
Ingredients
- 1 Tbsp. unflavored gelatin
- 2 tsp. cold water or fruit juice
- 2 tsp. boiling water
- Sweetener optional, to taste
- Food-safe flavoring optional
Instructions
Make the gelatin glue
- Mix the gelatin with the cold water or fruit juice in a small bowl. Let it sit for a few minutes to bloom.
- Add the boiling water and stir until the gelatin dissolves. If necessary, gently warm the mixture over a double boiler or briefly in the microwave to dissolve any remaining gelatin.
- If you'd like, add a little sweetener or food-safe flavoring.
- If you're using leftover gelatin from homemade gummies, gently warm it until it's liquid enough to brush onto the paper. Add a few drops of water if needed, but keep the mixture as concentrated as possible.
Make the stamps
- Print one of the stamp sheets or make your own designs. Arrange them in rows and columns to make cutting easier.
- Use a clean, food-safe paintbrush or pastry brush to coat the back of the entire sheet with a thin, even layer of gelatin glue.
- Lay the sheet flat and let it dry completely. I left ours overnight.
- Once dry, cut the stamps apart using scissors or a paper cutter.
- Your stamps are ready to use! Lick the back or moisten it with a damp sponge, then press it onto an envelope or card.
Video
Notes
You can find free printable stamp designs for Halloween, Christmas, Valentine's Day, Easter, and Mother's Day, along with a blank template, in the printable section above.
The preparation time doesn't include drying time. I left my stamps to dry overnight.
If you have a paper perforator, you can also use it to make the stamps look more like traditional postage stamps. My son especially loved being able to tear the perforated stamps apart himself!
Store the finished stamps somewhere dry until you're ready to use them.