A tombstone rubbing is a great way to preserve history.It's easy to get started if you're interested in genealogy or art in the cemetery.
Step 1: It is okay to take gravestones or tombstone rubbings in your local cemetery.
Some headstones may be too fragile to take rubbings, but most people won't mind you taking a rubbing.If there is a funeral nearby, be careful.Don't enter!If the cemetery asks you to stay out, it's probably for your safety or the preservation of the graves.
Step 2: The items need to be assembled.
You will need a soft brush, scissors, masking tape, large sheet of paper or rice paper, rubbing wax, spray bottle with distilled water, a clean rag, rubber band and a poster tube.
Step 3: Choose a gravestone.
When choosing a gravestone, look for well defined text and patterns that interest you.If you like how it looks, you should rub that gravestone.You might want to take a rubbing of a family member's gravestone because you're researching the family tree.Maybe you want to rub the gravestone.If you can't find a gravestone that you know should be in the cemetery, ask the caretakers for help.
Step 4: The gravestone should be cleaned.
It's okay to touch a gravestone if you're respectful.Cleaning off moss, dirt, bird droppings, and other insects is one of the things that some look better with the signs of age on them.Is okay.If you need to wipe over dirt, start by using the soft brush and then use the water sprayer.You can show the features of the gravestone by cleaning it.Some gravestones are very fragile.If you notice decay in the cemetery, it's a good idea to alert the caretakers rather than trying to clean it.Water is not strong enough to clean the gravestone.A few spritzes and a wipe with the rag should suffice.Leave the dirt alone if it isn't coming off with this method.
Step 5: There is a sheet of plain paper over the gravestone.
Having a little tuck around the back of the gravestone makes it easier to tape it in place and gives the paper the most stability.
Step 6: Take the paper and tape it in place.
You could also use poster tack.Make sure the tape is easy to remove after, and that the gravestone isn't likely to be harmed.To avoid taping over eroded parts of the stone, be careful as the sticky side will lift out crumbling stone when you remove it.
Step 7: Rub.
From the outer edges of the headstone, use the rubbing wax or crayon to get in.You can gradually rub in the remaining design outlines by identifying the border or edging.You need to get both the text and the patterns on the gravestone.Rub until you like the design depth and wax or crayon shading.It's what suits your needs that counts.
Step 8: Carefully remove the tape or tack from the back of the gravestone.
Place a rubber band around the rubbing.It's a good idea to put the rubbing inside the poster tube for protection on the way home.If you want to make more rubbings, you have to repeat the steps above until you've made enough.
Step 9: Return home.
Once back at home, trim the rubbing into a neat shape along the sides and decide what to do with it.If you want to display it, you can either frame it on a wider backing of card stock in a nice color or just tack it to the wall as it is.You may need to take a photo of it to use for genealogy purposes.