One Stamp Set, Two Ways: Art Journaling & Cardmaking

Did you know that you can use a single stamp set for both art journaling and cardmaking? In this blog post, I'll show you some inspiring ideas to kickstart your creativity with the versatile Round the Block stamp collection.

- - - - - 💙 - - - - -

Exploring the Round the Block Collection:

The Shady Designs Round The Block Collection came about because I really wanted crafters to have a multi-layered look without having to do any masking or use multiple stamps.

If you stamp the designs in black, they "pop", stamp in the background colour and you have a wonderful layered background with just one stamp! Now there is an added bonus! The solid square & circle pieces are actually stamps too. This means we can do even more inky techniques to create original backgrounds for our projects. You can see the full collection HERE.

- - - - - 💙 - - - - -

Creating a quick, easy layered background: 

• This background was made using one ink colour: Abandoned Coral oxide ink. Sometimes you do not need a huge amount of supplies to create art journal pages. I began by picking 3 main areas on my page that I wanted to add colour. Using a blending brush, I added the abandoned coral oxide ink. 

• Keeping to the same colour oxide ink, I added another layer using  Shady Designs Square Trio stencil keeping to just those original colour areas.

• With Versafine Clair Nocturne, I then stamped the main image from Be A Square background stamp. This idea would work perfectly with ANY of the large focal images. Stamping in black makes your eyes now see these images and the background, fade into the background.

• I have added additional layers using the accessory stamps and kept to black ink. If I had stamped in the same colour as the background, they would become more "one" with the original background. To finish, I added extra stamped images to the page.

• If you wanted to "upscale" this page, easy colouring of the flowers and leaves would completely change the vibe.

- - - - - 💙 - - - - -

From art journal page to a handmade card:

Using my art journal page as my inspiration, I created 2 different card designs featuring the Blooming Squares stamp set:

7" x 5" card idea

• The background has been completed in the same way as my art journal page but directly to my main card panel.

• This time, I have stamped the main focal image, (from Blooming Squares stamp set), in the centre of the panel using Versafine Clair Nocturne.

• Using Versafine Clair Strawberry, I stamped extra leaves around the frame. Doing this makes the square become the place to draw your eyes to. 

• I then switched back to the Versafine Clair Nocturne and added some butterflies and a bird.

• To add my layers, I stamped extra images, cutting them out.  Some I have coloured with the abandoned coral oxide ink and some I have left uncoloured. These were raised with 3D foam pads. The additional images were from the  Oh So Circular stamp set.

• Finally I added a sentiment and some faux gems.

DL card idea

• For this card, I have still taken inspiration from my art journal page but changed it a little. The inky, stencilled background is only on one side and the stamped image, (from Blooming Squares stamp set), on the other. I have kept to the same colours as before too.

• This time I have stamped the extra imagery with just Versafine Clair Nocturne: butterflies & leaves. To add some colour to the frame, coloured those leaves with abandoned coral oxide.

• Again, to add my additional layers, I stamped extra images, cutting them out.  These images I have not coloured. I also stamped out some extra leaves with Versafine Clair Strtawberry and cut those out. These did not need colouring as it is a solid stamp.  These were raised with 3D foam pads. Some of the additional images were from the  Oh So Circular stamp set.

• As before, my finishing touches were to add a sentiment and faux pearl gems.

- - - - - 💙 - - - - -

I hope this post shows you how to get more versatility out of your stamp sets and inspires you to use them in different ways. Also to be able to see how an art journal can be a fantastic place to try out ideas to then create your handmade cards. 

Until next time, take care,

Lou
xxx