Basic Stamping with Card Idea

Okay, we've started to talk a bit about stamping in your projects, today we are going to go over a few basic techniques so you can start to stamp your own handmade cards and embellishments for your paper crafting projects!  Stamping can save you a ton of money - depending on what it is you do...cards, embellishments, backgrounds for your scrapbook pages!  Here are a few tips to get you started on making something awesome with stamps!! 

• Start small to start out with - don't create a huge project the first thing you do! 
• Grab a scratch piece of paper, your ink pad and stamps - and just get used to inking and stamping your creations before you actually begin. 
• When you stamp images, you want to press the stamp into the ink pad, then press it onto the paper.  Try to do a few images before you add it to your paper! 
• Start out with black in, any image...add chalks or colored pencils to color the images in, while adding background paper to your images, can create a one of a kind card each and every time!    
• Purchase a basic card pack with envelopes included to get started!  If you decide you love making your own cards, you might want to get 8.5 x 11 cardstock, cut it in half, and create your own card bases.  This way you just have to pick up the envelopes to put them in. 
• Use scraps of paper from your scrapbook and other paper crafting projects to create your own one of a kind cards for the background papers.  This way - each of your cards are truly one of a kind for every card made! 
• Check out sketches and other cards for examples to make your own cards! 
• Make a few extra cards each month so you can give them away when you need them the most! 
  

This particular card was made with a card base, basic stamp, chalks to color the image (or images) in, a black ink pad, and scraps of paper from another project!   Make sure to add your basic crafting supplies along with - a paper trimmer for the most part!    
Step  one:  Starting with your card base, add the background paper.  I used two colors for this example.
Step two:  Ink the stamp with the black ink pad, press the image onto the cardstock.  For this example, I used an ivory scrap piece!!!  
Step three:  Add the chalks (or colored pencil) onto the stamped image after you have let it dry!  Turn the card over and make sure to add your signature to the back - or a small accent stamp if you can find one!  
So, grab a few stamps and make a few cards!  If you are a veteran for making cards, then try to learn something new, buy a new stamp to work with if you can, or find an idea you want to recreate!  

Lynda Jeffs

Memories in Tyme