Once you’ve mastered the basics of stamping, there are so many ways you can use it. (If you are new to stamping, or are having problems with stamping, sign up for my email list. There’s a great (if I do say so myself) PDF and video on what the most common mistakes are in stamping, and how to avoid them.)

One of the most fun things to do with stamps is to create your own background papers. One of my very first blog posts from way back when shows you the basics. It’s even part of Julie Fei-Fan Balzer’s Dirty Fingers Clean Design True Scrap Class. (affiliate link) It’s definitely one of my go-to techniques when pulling out the stamps.

A quick tip for you: to create a sophisticated look for your background, use a stamp with strong structure that lends itself to a tiling motif, and use an ink pad similar in color to your paper. For a more subtle look, you could even use versamark ink, which creates a lovely watermark effect.

Don’t forget, if you want to get a card in the mail, make sure to sign up for my email list!

Now, I’m off to make more cards. If you’ve got a technique or design question, or a tool or supply that stumps you, comment below, and I’ll add your request to the card-making queue.