IDEAS FOR USING SMALLER STAMPS

Hi Stampers!

I have a lot of stamp sets, probably too many, but that’s a subject for another day. So, back to those stamp sets, the majority of them include one or two smaller stamps. Those stamps coordinate just great with the main stamps in the sets, but they can also shine all on their own. Today we’ll take a look at a several ways using those smaller stamps lead to great cards. Let’s take a look at the samples:

VIDEO

IDEAS FOR USING SMALLER STAMPS

 

BUILD A SCENE AND DECORATE AN ENVELOPE FLAP

Smaller stamps are great for adding to card scenes. This stamp set contained a branch with two leaf groupings, a single stamp of a leaf grouping, the tiny flower stamp, the bird, and greetings. The smaller stamps added a lot of pizzazz to the scene by filling in space and adding more color. 

I used the two small stamps to decorate the envelope flap for the card. That little something on the envelope flap really steps up your cards. It is like a preview of what’s inside.

SUPPLIES I USED FOR THIS CARD

* Card Base - Crumb Cake cardstock - 8 1/2” x 5 1/2” scored at 4 1/4”

* Mat - Old Olive cardstock - 5 1/4” x 4”

* Focal Panel & Inside Panel - Basic White cardstock (cut 2) 5” x 3 3/4”

* Stamp Set - Bird Banter (retired)

* Inks - Tuxedo Black (Memento) Crumb Cake; Stampin’ Blends - Old Olive, Pretty In Pink, Daffodil Delight, Lemon Lolly, Smoky Slate

* Dies - Deckled Rectangles

* Adhesive, dimensionals

* A- 2 Envelope - white

CREATE PATTERNED PAPER FOR A BACKGROUND PANEL

This approach is very similar to the previous idea. Simply use your smaller stamps to create your own patterned paper. Those tiny stamps (like the flower image) are great for filling in blank areas. I also used the flower stamp to embellish the greeting panel.

Once again I used the two smaller stamps to decorate the envelope flap. Achieving the two tone look on the leaves is supper easy. I used a lighter green alcohol marker on the leaves, then used a darker green marker and just added a dot. A tiny dot makes a big difference!

SUPPLIES I USED

* Card Base - Daffodil Delight cut at 8 1/2” x 4 1/4” scored at 4 1/4”

* Mat - Basic White cardstock cut at 4” x 4”

* Small scraps of Daffodil Delight and Basic White

* Stamps - Bird Banter (retired), Best Day (retired)

* Ink - Crumb Cake, Stampin’ Blends - Daffodil Delight, Old Olive; Stampin’ Write Marker - Basic Black

* Dies - 50 States (Honey Bee Stamps)

* Adhesive and dimensionals

* A-2 size envelope

CREATE A BORDER

I love this strategy for using smaller stamps! Placement does not need to be 100% perfect. Watch the video for tips on how I created this bee border. The tips apply to any image. 

I created a square envelope and stamped a border along the envelope flap. I also stamped a bee on the front lower left corner of the envelope front. (There is a photo below.)

I also stamped a bee on the back of the card. It just added that little something extra to the card.

Here is the bee on the front of the envelope, and a bee stamped on the inside of the card.

SUPPLIES I USED

* Card Base - Basic White (thick) cardstock cut at 8 1/2 x 4 1/4” scored at 4 1/4”

* Inside Panel - Basic White cardstock cut at 4” x 4”

* Cardstock Scraps - Basic Black,  More Mustard (retired)

* Stamps - Honey Bee ( retired). Bee My Valentine

* Inks - Tuxedo Black (Memento), Stampin’ Write Marker - Crushed Curry

* Die - Hello Dog Die (Scrapbook.com)

* Adhesive and dimensionals

* Envelope - square, purchased or homemade - 4 3/4” square

USE AS ACCENT PIECES OR ENHANCED EMBELLISHMENTS

 

On this card I decided to use the bees a a sort of enhanced embellishment, I stamped bees on white cardstock, added some color with a marker, punched out with a circle punch then used dimensionals to attach the bees to punched honey colored cardstock. I strategically placed them on the card as an “enhanced” embellishment.

I stenciled the envelope flap with the honeycomb stencil, then stamped a bee directly onto the flap.

SUPPLIES I USED

* Card Base - Basic Black cardstock cut at 8 1/2” x 5 1/2” scored at 4 1/4”

* Mat - Basic White cardstock cut at 5 1/4” x 4”

* Onside Panel - Basic White cut at 5 1/4” x 4”

* Other Cardstock - scraps of Basic White and More Mustard (retired)

* Stamps, Honey Bee (retired), Dragonfly Dreams (retired), Round We Go

* Punches - 1” circle punch, 1 1/4” circle punch (both retired)

* Stencil - Convo Collection [Honeycomb] (Catherine Pooler)

* Inks - Tuxedo Black (Memento). Crushed Curry; Stampin’ Write Marker - Crushed Curry

* Blending Brush or sponge

* Embellishments - Trick & Treats (Paige Evan)

* Adhesive and dimensionals

* A-2 Envelopes

MAKE IT THE FOCAL IMAGE

It is easy to use a smaller stamp as a focal image. Use a smaller panel (like the oval die cut on this card) as a base for the smaller image, add a greeting, and you have a focal point. I matted the focal panel(white oval) on a red mat to pull it all together.

SUPPLIES I USED

* Card Base - Poppy Parade cardstock - cut at 8 1/2” x 5 1/2”scored and folded at 4 1/4”

* Patterned Paper - (retired) cut at 5 1/4” x 4”

* Inside Panel 5 1/4” x 4”

* Other cardstock - Basic White cardstock, Poppy Parade Cardstock

* Dies - Layering Ovals Dies (retired)

* Stamps - Be Jolly By Golly (retired). Itty Nitty Christmas (retired)

* Inks - Poppy Parade, Lemon Lime Twist, Gray Granite

* Baker’s Twine Red/White; Gel Pen - silver 

* Adhesive and dimensionals

* A-2 sized envelope

SAMPLES OF WAYS TO USE SMALLER STAMPS

Using the smaller stamps in a set on their own opens up new possibilities for all your stamp sets. It helps you to get even more from your stamps! So create a scene, design your own patterned paper, make borders, make enhanced embellishments, use them as a focal point or decorate an envelope! It’s all up to you! Most of all, use what you have on hand! Until next time . . .

Stamp Happy!

Kim

NOTE - I use mostly Stampin’ Up!®️ products unless otherwise stated. I list my supplies as a resource 

only.