How I Got Started Stamping

I wasn’t always into card making. In fact, I only started stamping last year. After my wedding, I had no creative ventures left, and I was itching for something to expend my energies on. I was a terrible artist when it came to drawing or painting, so those were both out of the question. I had also been known to abandon lengthy projects mid-way before completion. I needed a hobby that would keep my short attention span. What was a girl to do?

Rubber stamping was the ideal outlet. I didn’t have to draw, and projects could be completed in as little as fifteen minutes. Perfect! As I started stamping, I realized how much I enjoyed playing with different colors, textures, and materials. I found myself building up a craft stash that could rival any Michael’s store.

When I tell people that stamping is super easy and anyone can do it, I often receive skeptical looks. I promise you, anyone can stamp. And, with practice, making card layouts and creating color combinations become easier and more natural.

Be forewarned, paper crafting can be an addictive, expensive hobby. This is mostly because everything is so darn cute, it’s easy to buy it all. I feel the need to post this disclaimer since I my brother scolded me for getting his fiancee addicted to stamping.

If you’re new to paper crafting, I’ll share with you a few of my tips on easy card making and where to find inspiration. I definitely don’t pull my card ideas out of my butt.There are so many creative people and pretty things on the internet, it’s hard not to be inspired.

Quick and dirty tips for card making:

• Pick complementary color combinations. Great color combos automatically attract the eye, so this is one of the easiest ways to make a card look good. Color inspiration is everywhere. I find my color combos in wedding magazines, home furnishing websites (like West Elm or Pottery Barn), and basically, any printed material, from Target ads to business cards. Some of my favorite combos are:

• Red * baby blue * olive green
• Olive green * pale pink * brown
• Orange * sky blue * celery green
  
• Purple * celery green * turquoise
• Black * white * any bold color

• Buy matching supplies. I always buy cardstock, patterned paper, ink, and ribbon that match in color. For example, if I buy red cardstock, I’ll buy a spool of red ribbon, a red ink pad, and a sheet of patterned paper that has some splashes of red in it. I’ll also have a collection of these items in complementary colors, like olive green or blue. This makes it very easy to coordinate materials for cards.
• Use multiple varying textures on a single project. Texture adds a ton of interest to paper projects. I try to use at least two or three different textures in each card. Some examples of materials with varying textures are: glitter, twine, ribbon, yarn, embossing powder, ripped cardstock, acetate (a.k.a. transparency sheets), plastic buttons, fabric flowers, staples, brads, eyelets, rhinestones, and metal tags. Mix and match as you please!
• Use foam adhesive to add dimension to your projects. I love my foam adhesive stickers. They make any image stand out. If I want a piece to really pop, I’ll layer two dimensional stickers together for added height and oomph.
• Buy nested punches or dies. Along with dimensional stickers, matting images also helps them pop. I have four circle punches in varying sizes (1″, 1.25″, 1.375″, 1.5″). I also have a bazillion nested dies that I’m sure you’ve seen in my projects. These are all utilized on a daily basis.
• Stop by the card aisle during grocery store trips. There is a wealth of inspiration in the wedding and baby card section, and often in the female birthday section too. I like to find cards that grab my attention, and take note of the elements that attracted me. Then, I’ll try to recreate a similar effect at home with my own supplies.
• Read stamping blogs and join stamping communities. Start with Splitcoast Stampers. You’ll find a ton of inspiration and links to various stamping blogs.

I know I still owe you a tour around my messy craft room, along with some tips on where to spend your money if you’re just getting started stamping. I promise to try my darndest to photograph my craft space this weekend. But, be warned: It’s not a pretty site. Most of the time, my room looks like a tornado passed through and spewed paper scraps everywhere.