How to use a Stamp as a Focus and in the Background

/ Card Design, Techniques & Tips / By /

I love having lots of stamp sets. However, when making a card, I prefer to use just one or two. In this post I’ll explore how to use the same stamp as a focus and in the background.

I use the same flowers in the focal images, as well as on the background!I started with the Too Kind stamp set. Don’t you just love the soft lines of these flowers? Combining them with Pool Party, Marina Mist, Whisper White and a tiny bit of Cherry Cobbler continued the soft feel.

Here is a brief set of instructions, explaining how I made the card:

  1. Cut card base, 5-1/2″ x 8-1/2″, from Pool Party card stock and fold in half.
  2. Randomly stamp the flowers (without stems) in Pool Party on the card front.
  3. Cut two rectangles of Whisper White: 1-3/4″ x 4-1/2″ and 1-3/4″ x 2-1/2″.
  4. Stamp the flowers, using Pool Party and Marina Mist. I stamped the stems on the large piece, but drew them on the smaller piece with a Stampin’ Write Marker.
  5. Mount the larger white card stock on 2″ x 4-3/4″ of Marina Mist.
  6. Attach Whisper White 5/8″ Organza Ribbon around the bottom. Attach to card front with SNAIL Adhesive.
  7. Mount the smaller white card stock on 2″ x 2-3/4″ of Cherry Cobble. Attache to the card front with two Stampin’ Dimensionals. Add a Pearl Basic Jewel to the larges flower.
  8. Add some flowers to the inside and your envelope flap. You’re done!

Even though I stamped flowers, the scene looks almost like a winter day. Just like the scene outside my window today!

Here are my Top Tips for this card:

  1. When stamping the background flowers, I inked once for every two stamps. The difference in intensity keeps the background soft, while adding interest. If all the flowers were the same tone, it wouldn’t look nearly as nice. I also used only the “thicker” flower images of each size.
  2. I added the ribbon to cover the bottom of the stems. It keeps the flowers from looking as if they’re floating in space – a particular pet peeve of mine.
  3. The Cherry Cobbler card stock adds POP on this otherwise monochromatic design. Don’t you agree?

So this is a simple example of how to use the same stamp both as the focus and in the background of your card. Try it. You’ll love the results!