Are Your Stamps Collecting Dust?

Most scrapbookers own stamps. Economical, fun and easy to use, so many different techniques to create with them, we know we will use them all the time when we buy them, how can we pass them up? And yet there they sit on the shelf or in the plastic bin or even (gasp!) still in the package! It is high time to break out those stamps, dust them off and put them to good use.

Stamps truly are an economical supply to invest in if you are a card maker, scrap booker, or altered artist. From one purchase, you receive limitless options when it comes to color, application and texture. All it takes is a little experimenting, a bit of creativity and a desire to try new techniques in your artwork.

Dimension : Anne created dimension by first cutting out the stamped image and adhering with pop dots. Easy and impressive!	To see Anne's layout with product listing click here.
Pattern : Shawna made her own patterned paper by using different inks and similar stamps all over her background. Eye catching and artistic!	To see Shawna's layout with product listing click here.
Flowers: Debbie uses flowers quite a bit in her scrap booking and here she combined them with swirls. Beautiful!	To see Debbie's cards with product listing click here.
Paint: Use paint with your stamps to create great texture and an artsy look. You can even lay down some color first, then use a foam stamp to embed the image in the paint - fun!	To see Kristi's layout with product listing click here.

Check out these special bonus cards from January's 2008 Guest Designer, Linda Beeson.

PINK BABY GIRL card Family Clear Chatty Words/BABY & GIRL - Super T Stamps Bracket from Curlicue Frames Clear stamps - Super T Stamps Fuschia Twist French Twist Die Cut paper - Autumn Leaves Stickles glitter glue - Ranger (The letters for "baby" and "girl" were colored with pink watercolor crayons and then filled in with the Stickles glitter glue. The brackets were stamped in black on a separate piece of paper, they were cut out and traced with the Stickles glitter glue and then glued to the card. It is so easy to make a mistake in stamping so if you can stamp the image on a separate piece of paper and add that to the card or layout, you have the control of a perfect, stamped image)
CHERISH/FLOWER card Curlicue Frames clear stamps - Super T stamps Harlequin Cream/Palazzo patterned paper-Paper Salon Cherish stamp from Tailored Tin - Paper Salon Limeade Sugar Coated Brads - Doodlebug (A frame can be used for more then a frame for a picture or a work. Here this frame is stamped in a coordinating color and then "holds" a flower with a sugar coated brad middle) (Again, I didn't stamp the word directly on the card front. It wouldn't stand out well against the print and I could make a mistake. It is stamped on a scrap of paper and matted in a matching cardstock and then added.) (The frame and flower piece is added to the card with foam tape. I love to add a little dimension to a card for added interest.)
FAMILY/LOTS OF HUGS card Family Clear Chatty Words/Family Bracket from Curlicue Frames Clear stamps - Super T Stamps Fuschia Twist French Twist Die Cut paper - Autumn Leaves Stickles glitter glue - Ranger (Little, leftover pieces of the die cut paper were used as accents on this card. Again, the letters for "family" were filled in with the Stickles glitter glue and some rhinestones finished the BLING)
JOY/FLOWER card Family Clear Chatty Words/JOY - Super T Stamps Flower Child White Pop Culture Lace Cardstock - KI Memories Christmas Red Stickles Glitter Glue - Ranger (The red Stickles was used to accent the white cut out flowers by using it for the middles of the flowers. A fun way to add some BLING) The letters for JOY were filled in with Liquid Embossing so they have an epoxy look (The frame and "joy" word piece is added to the card with foam tape. I love to add a little dimension to a card for added interest.) (The red Stickles glitter glue was used to accent the scallops on the black scallop circle piece)
LOVE/HEART card Family Clear Chatty Words/LOVE - Super T Stamps Christmas Red Stickles Glitter Glue - Ranger - (the Stickles were used to accent the pattern that was already on the paper, red dots of glitter added to the pink circles.) LadyBug Sugar Coated Brad - Doodlebug - (the sugar coated brad was used for the middle of the "o" in LOVE) Lava Lamp Pop Culture Patterned paper - KI Memories (The heart shape is cut using a Coluzzle template) Wing Ding Pop Culture Patterned paper - KI Memories