Large Image Stamps

I decided to grab a few stamps that have large images and make them the focal point of the card.  Sometimes I'm a little intimidated by a large image stamp, because I'm not sure how to incorporate it into a card.  Do I add a background or not?  Balancing a large image with other elements on the card is not always easy for me.  Since summer has officially started, I decided to go with some beach themed stamps.  I stamped the large starfish after I pulled out some aqua color ink.  I love the combo of brown & aqua.  After I put the card together, I decided to stamp and emboss the greeting because there was too much empty space on the card.  I really like how the card balanced out so well.

On the next card I used a large fish stamp I've had for years, but had never used.  I first stamped the image with a light orange chalk ink on a orange card stock.  Then I decided to stamp the image with white pigment ink and emboss with white embossing powder.  I think it really pops more.  Because the image is so large, I decided to go with a small sentiment .  I used a large pearl for the eye.  I then added a strip of bright blue paper.

What to do with all Those Scraps

Like most papercrafters, I have a lot of scraps of paper.  After awhile, I seem to accumulate quite a lot of leftover embellishments, stamped items, etc.  So today I pulled out my pile of leftovers, and challenged myself to make some cards.  On the first card I found a piece of kraft paper, 2 yellow die cut flowers, a white piece of punched trim and a strip of brown paper.  All very blah - so I decided to pull out the ink and stamps.  First, I stamped the large kraft piece with an distress stamp with walnut distress ink.  Then I pulled out a stamp that has elegant lettering and I stamped the flowers.  I then used a decorate scroll to stamp the brown strip of card stock.  Finally, I took the white trim and inked it up with frayed burlap and old paper distress inks.  The center of the flowers were leftover from flowers I punched from coffee cup holders!  They fit just perfect.

On the next card I began with the embossed dragonfly.  I sometimes stamp something, and for whatever reason I decide not to use it.  But I hate throwing any stamped piece out!  I trimmed the dragonfly and then found the scrap piece of tiny flowered print paper.  The purples matched nicely.  Lastly, I had another piece of trim.  I sometimes punch a large piece of trim and don't use it all.  Nothing goes to waste.  I added a purple ribbon and tiny purple rhinestones to give the card a little pizazz.

The last card I did was created when I found a stamped Buddha already cut and the Happy Birthday O' Ancient One also stamped and cut.  I just added a piece of Asian themed paper for the background.
I even found a oriental coin embellishment in my scrap box. (Not shown in picture).  I think the key to using up your scraps to create a great card is to find like components and colors.  I can't wait to try this again. 

So check out your scraps and leftovers and see what you can come up with.  There really is great satisfaction in creating a new card from pieces of leftover scraps of paper and stamped images.  I think I'll try to do this one a month, and keep my scrap pile from growing too large!

Old Crafts in New Ways

I decided to pull out some old Plaid stencils I had in the basement.  My challenge to myself today, was to create some new cards using stencils, both plastic and brass.  I like using other craft tools in different ways.  So first I decided to use the sun stencil and create a background.  I mixed yellow and orange inks together using makeup sponges.  I lightly pounced the stencil and came up with a beautiful background.  Next, I thought I'd do a card for a child using the frog stencil.  I used a few different color green inks. On my third card I thought I'd use some southwest color inks.  I inked the lizard and then cut it out.  And finally, on my 4th card I dry embossed the seahorse and then used the brass stencil and inked the seahorse so it would stand out.