We'll use Speedy-Carve (a.k.a. "the pink stuff") in this tutorial, but there are other types of carving blocks available. Different brands have different characteristics, so try several and figure out what you like. Speedy Cut, also manufactured by Speedball, is cheaper and you'll be tempted to buy it instead, but it has a very crumbly consistency so stamps carved from it tend to break easily. As a general rule, most carvers prefer their carving blocks to be somewhat firm (it helps with carving details) and not crumbly.

Speedball makes a great linoleum cutter set. This set contains five different tips that can be switched on the handle, and when the tips aren't in use, they can be stored in the handle itself. The #1 tip is for detailed carving. The #5 tip is great for taking out large chunks quickly. The #6 tip is a knife rather than a gouge and is useful to cut large carving blocks into precisely the size you need. The other tips... (#2 and #3) I don't really use much, but they come with the set so you may as well take them. The #4 tip is not included with this set, but you really don't need it either.

The cheapest and easiest method of transferring an image to your carving block requires a bit of paper (tracing paper, if you want to copy something) and a sharp No. 2 pencil.

For learning how to carve, pencil transfers are a quick and easy thing to practice on, but eventually, you'll want to use the parchment paper transfer. It'll give you much sharper and cleaner transfers! Just make sure there's a computer, an ink jet printer and parchment paper nearby to use this method.

When you're done carving, you'll need to test your stamp. Have some ink pads nearby!