Prepare a design. This can easily be drawn onto the rubber with a pencil, but is not easily erased. For a more exact copy, especially if the design is elaborate, place a piece of newspaper or carbon paper between the rubber and a drawing and trace.
Designate which areas are to be carved out. You can mark these areas with a "B" for black and a "W" for white. The areas marked "B" are the areas you will leave untouched, as these are what will come into contact with the ink pad. The areas marked "W" will be carved away.
Carve out the areas marked "W". The Speedball carving tool comes with multiple carving heads which can make light work of thin lines and larger chunks, depending on the width. Be sure to use the appropriate head or you may carve away too much, or waste time carving only a little at a time. Also, be sure to carve at least 1/8 inch deep or the lines may not be noticeable in print.
Test the stamp. You want to be sure that your carving works perfectly before you commit it to a project, plus, the first time the stamp is inked you can really see the design and find flaws.