Retro Femme ATCs Take Center Stage with Craftyfield

One of the things I love most about our paper goods is that they're designed to work beautifully together. An ATC can become the focal point of a card. Ephemera can add storytelling. A stencil can build atmosphere. Add a die cut or a clear sticker, and suddenly you've created something that's uniquely your own. STAMPgirl Craftyfield's two cards are wonderful examples of how a single Retro Femme ATC can inspire completely different designs.

For her first card, Craftyfield paired one of the Retro Femme ATCs with elements from the Nostalgia #1 Ephemera Cut-Outs collection, creating a nostalgic, vintage-inspired composition. I love how she layered the pieces over warm yellow and red cardstock, allowing the portrait to remain the star while the soda bottle and patterned strip add charm and personality. The tiny "moments in time" clear sticker is the perfect finishing touch - subtle, yet it beautifully reinforces the overall theme.

Her second card takes a more artsy mixed-media approach. Using the Strung Lights stencil to create an energetic background, she framed another Retro Femme ATC and added layered butterflies from the Flutter Zen and Bloomdala Bliss Felicity dies. What I especially love is how the butterfly echoes the bow in the portrait, creating a visual connection that ties the entire design together. The bold "you rock!" clear sticker finishes the card perfectly without distracting from the beautiful focal image.

These two cards show just how versatile our Retro Femme ATC can be. Whether your style leans toward clean layering or colorful mixed media, they're an easy way to create a strong focal point while leaving plenty of room to make each card your own.

Creative Takeaway

When building a card around a focal image, think beyond simply adding embellishments. Instead, choose supporting elements that reinforce your story or repeat shapes and colors already found in the focal point. On the first card, the layered ephemera builds a nostalgic scene. On the second, the butterfly repeats the curves and movement found in the portrait, creating a design that feels cohesive from top to bottom.

Love Creating with Paper Goods?

Our paper goods are designed to mix, match, and inspire. With our Artist Trading Cards (ATC) Subscription, you choose your favorite ATC pack each month and enjoy free worldwide shipping.

Or join our Paper Goods VIP Subscription, where you can mix and match any four paper goods packs -- including Card Fronts, ATCs, Collage Paper, Pocket Backdrops, and Ephemera Cut-Out Sheets -- with free US shipping.

It's a fun and flexible way to grow your collection with the designs you love.

Happy crafting!

words that matter | COLLECT + Blue Blooms ATCs with Vicki Dutcher

Some words invite us to slow down and appreciate the little things, and collect is one of them. We often think of collections as things we own, but some of life's most valuable collections can't be displayed on a shelf. Moments, memories, friendships, experiences -- these are the things that truly enrich our lives. That's exactly what I had in mind when I designed COLLECT beautiful moments for the Simple Expressions collection.

Vicki's clean and elegant card pairs the COLLECT stamps with our Blue Blooms ATCs in a beautiful way. She arranged three ATCs with postage-style edges into a simple layered focal point, allowing the gorgeous florals and bird imagery to peek out from behind the sentiment without overwhelming the design.

I especially love her decision to stamp only the outline sentiment on vellum and heat-emboss it in gold. The vellum softens the transition between the layers while still allowing the artwork beneath to remain visible, and the gold embossing adds just the right touch of warmth and elegance. The gold sentiment also complements the soft blush pinks and deep navy florals in the ATCs beautifully.

This card is a wonderful reminder that you don't need a complicated design to make an impact. Thoughtful layering, a meaningful sentiment, and beautiful paper goods are sometimes all it takes.

COLLECT is one of 18 stamps in our Simple Expressions collection -- designed to pair beautifully with your favorite paper goods while giving your projects words that matter.

Special Offer: Purchase any Simple Expressions stamp set and get 40% off one qualifying paper goods pack of your choice:

• A2 Card Fronts
• Artist Trading Cards (ATCs)
• Collage Sheets
• Pocket Backdrops
• Ephemera Cut-Out Sheets

Create boldly. Create meaningfully. Create with words that matter.

Beautiful Blooms & Butterflies with Stephanie L.

One of my favorite things about our paper goods is how they can become either the supporting element or the star of a card. Sometimes all they need is a simple sentiment. Other times, they're the perfect backdrop for layers, die cuts, and embellishments. That's exactly what STAMPgirl Stephanie has done with our Blooms & Flutters Card Fronts, creating two cards that each have their own personality while letting the beautiful floral artwork shine.

For her birthday card, Stephanie used one of the card fronts as a colorful frame, adding a torn strip of pale yellow cardstock down the center to create a soft resting place for the sentiment. The layered butterfly is the perfect focal point. I especially love how she combined a smooshed and splattered die cut with vellum and colored cardstock for extra dimension and softness. It's a great reminder that a patterned background doesn't have to compete with the focal image when the layout is thoughtfully designed.

Her second card takes a different direction. Here, Stephanie stamped and heat-embossed butterflies before die cutting them with the Flutter Zen dies. By placing the butterflies vertically angled at different directions on the left side of the floral card front, she created movement that draws your eye to the stacked Hello word die sentiment. Even with several bold elements layered together, the design still feels light, fresh, and balanced.

These two cards beautifully demonstrate the versatility of Blooms & Flutters Card Fronts. Whether you prefer a clean focal design or love adding layers and texture, these ready-to-use backgrounds make it easy to create cards with plenty of visual impact.

Creative Takeaway

Don't be afraid to let patterned paper do the heavy lifting. A beautiful background doesn't need to be covered up. Instead, use it to support your focal point. Stephanie's birthday card frames the florals with a simple torn panel and a single butterfly, while her hello card embraces the busy background by repeating butterfly shapes to create movement and unity. Two different approaches, both equally effective.

Love Creating with Card Fronts?

If you find yourself reaching for ready-to-use backgrounds like our Blooms & Flutters Card Fronts, consider joining one of our paper goods subscriptions!

With our Card Fronts Subscription, you choose your favorite card fronts each month, and we'll ship them to you with free worldwide shipping.

Want even more flexibility? Our Paper Goods VIP Subscription lets you mix and match any four paper goods packs every month -- including Card Fronts, ATCs, Collage Paper, Pocket Backdrops, and Ephemera Cut-Out Sheets -- with free US shipping.

It's an easy way to build your stash with exactly the designs you love while saving on shipping.

Creative Inspiration | Clean & Playful with Monika

One of my favorite things about our Never-Ending Anything Goes Challenge is exactly what the name suggests: anything goes. Every month we see so many different styles, techniques, and creative interpretations in our community, and today's projects from STAMPgirl Monika are a wonderful reminder that there's no single "right" way to create.

Although these two cards are completely different in style, both beautifully showcase how a simple idea can come to life in its own unique way.

Monika's first card features the Layered Stars stamp set. I love the elegant simplicity of this slimline design. The delicate border of stars frames the card beautifully, while the softly colored layered star naturally draws the eye. Paired with the graceful "Wish upon a Star" sentiment, the finished design feels peaceful, timeless, and beautifully balanced.

Her second card takes a much more playful approach. Using the Artsy Tribal Doodles stamp set, Monika created a whimsical flower from repeated stamped images, resulting in a bright, cheerful focal point full of movement and personality. She finished the design with the inspiring sentiment from the True and Free stamp set: "Happiness held is the seed; happiness shared is the flower." I love how perfectly the sentiment complements the hand-stamped bloom.

Creative Takeaway

Monika's cards remind us there isn't just one creative style to aspire to. One card embraces clean lines and generous white space, while the other celebrates playful repetition and bold color. Both are equally successful because each design stays true to its own style.

That's the beauty of creativity -- and exactly why our Never-Ending Anything Goes Challenge welcomes every maker, every technique, and every creative voice.

Join the Fun!

Feeling inspired? We'd love to see what you're creating! Our Never-Ending Anything Goes Challenge is open year-round, so whenever creativity strikes, you can share your latest handmade project with us.

Whether your style is clean and simple, layered and artsy, or somewhere in between, we'd love for you to join us. Every project is another opportunity to inspire fellow makers and celebrate the joy of creating together.

If either of Monika's cards has sparked an idea, we'd love to see where your creativity takes you.

Happy creating, and we can't wait to see what you make!

words that matter | SHINE + Spring Florals Card Fronts with Helen Gullett

There are some words that quietly remind us of who we are and who we're meant to be, and shine is one of them. It isn't just about standing out or being noticed. Sometimes, shining simply means sharing our gifts, encouraging someone else, or bringing a little light into an ordinary day. That's exactly what I love about our Simple Expressions collection. These stamps aren't just sentiments to finish a card; they're designed to become part of the artwork itself, helping tell a story through both words and creativity.

Today's featured word is SHINE, and STAMPgirl Helen has created two beautiful cards that show just how versatile the SHINE Simple Expressions stamp can be when paired with our Spring Florals A2 Card Fronts.

For her first card, Helen combined the solid SHINE with a Retro Femme ATC, creating a striking focal point against the floral card front. I especially love how she distressed the edges of the ATC, giving it a soft vintage feel that complements the portrait perfectly. The radiant image, bold sentiment, white paint splatters, and floral background all work together beautifully, with the card front framing the design without competing for attention.

Her second card takes a completely different approach. This time, Helen used only the outline sentiment, allowing the delicate script and bold outline to stand out against the watercolor florals. The black stamping provides just the right amount of contrast, while the simple twine bow adds a lovely finishing touch. It's clean, elegant, and a wonderful reminder that sometimes less really is more.

These two cards are great examples of how the same stamp set can create very different looks depending on how you use it.

SHINE is one of 18 stamps in our Simple Expressions collection -- designed to pair beautifully with your favorite paper goods while giving your projects words that matter.

Special Offer: Purchase any Simple Expressions stamp and get 40% off one qualifying paper goods pack of your choice:

• A2 Card Fronts
• Artist Trading Cards (ATCs)
• Collage Sheets
• Pocket Backdrops
• Ephemera Cut-Out Sheets

Create boldly. Create meaningfully. Create with words that matter.

Creative Tip of the Day | Layer Your Stamping Over a Printed Background

Some cards look like they took hours to create, but they're really built from a handful of thoughtful layers.

Today's beautiful card by STAMPgirl Jane is a perfect example. She started with our Spring Florals A2 Card Front, then added a few stamped flowers around the edges, die cut a bold "Thanks" sentiment, and finished it with a beautifully colored butterfly.

The result feels rich and detailed, but each layer has a purpose -- and none of them compete for attention.

How to Get the Look

Start with a patterned or printed background that already does some of the design work for you.

Instead of covering it up, stamp a few coordinating images so they extend beyond the edges of the printed design. Jane stamped several flowers from It's A Girl Thing: Sunshine, colored them, cut them out, and layered them around the floral background to make the design feel larger than the original print.

Finish with one bold focal element -- in this case, the glittery "Thanks" die cut -- and a butterfly to anchor the lower corner.

Why We Love It

• It adds depth without adding bulk.
• Layered stamped images make a printed background feel custom.
• Repeating similar floral shapes ties everything together while keeping the eye moving around the card.

Creative Takeaway

The next time you reach for a patterned paper or card front, don't think of it as the finished background. Think of it as the first layer.

A few coordinating stamped images placed around the edges can make it feel like you created the entire scene yourself.

Discover what's possible by combining your favorite stamped images with our Paper Goods to create layered designs that look intricate but come together with surprisingly little effort.

Creative Inspiration | Layering with Purpose with Vicki

One of the things I enjoy most about cardmaking is discovering how different products can work together to create something that feels completely cohesive. A beautiful background, a meaningful sentiment, and a well-chosen focal image each play a different role, and when they're thoughtfully combined, the result often looks far more intricate than it actually is.

Today, STAMPgirl Vicki is sharing a lovely card that beautifully illustrates this idea. She paired our Botanical Backgrounds Clear Stickers with the bold typography from our Coffee Feel Good Clear Stickers, then added hand-colored images from our Doodled Coffee & Tea Colorables to complete the design.

I especially like how the soft floral background provides just enough texture without competing with the sentiment or focal images. The coffee mug and French press become the stars of the card, while the bold sentiment ties everything together and gives the design its personality. Each element has its own purpose, yet they work together so naturally that the finished card feels balanced and inviting.

Creative Takeaway

One of the easiest ways to create a polished card is to think in layers rather than techniques. Start with a background that quietly supports your design, add a sentiment that immediately catches the eye, then finish with a focal image that tells the story. Each layer contributes something different, creating depth and interest without making the design feel busy.

Discover What's Possible

Our Clear Stickers are designed to make layering simple and fun. Whether you're combining backgrounds, sentiments, or decorative elements, they work beautifully together while giving you plenty of creative flexibility. Pair them with our Colorables, Paper Goods, stamps, or your favorite coloring medium to create projects that are uniquely your own.

Today's card is a wonderful reminder that beautiful designs don't have to be complicated—sometimes it's simply a matter of choosing elements that work well together.

Happy creating!

Words That Matter | HAPPINESS + Retro Femme with Sanna Lippert

There are some words that immediately make us pause and reflect, and happiness is certainly one of them. It's a word we all understand, yet it means something a little different to each of us. That's exactly what I love about our Simple Expressions collection. These stamps aren't just sentiments to add at the end of a project; they're designed to become part of the artwork itself, inviting us to tell a story through both words and creativity.

Today, STAMPgirl Sanna is sharing four beautiful cards featuring our HAPPINESS Simple Expressions stamps paired with the Retro Femme ATC Pack. I couldn't have imagined a more perfect pairing. The expressive portraits and softly vintage feel of the ATCs complement the sentiment so naturally that each card feels thoughtful, artistic, and full of personality.

For her first card, Sanna paired one of the Retro Femme ATCs with our Analog Grunge Collage Paper, creating a warm, vintage-inspired backdrop that lets both the portrait and the bold typographic sentiment shine. The layered collage elements echo the nostalgic feel of the image beautifully.

Her second card is my favorite of the four. Using our Old Letter Pocket Backdrops paper as the background, Sanna added a Floral Parade Ephemera Cut-Out in such a creative way that it becomes a beautiful floral headpiece for the portrait. I absolutely love this detail! It gives the image an almost ethereal quality while adding wonderful softness and dimension to the design.

For the remaining two cards, Sanna showed just how versatile this pairing can be. By changing the ink colors and background treatments, she created completely different moods while allowing the Retro Femme portraits and the HAPPINESS sentiment to make the cards, no extra supplies or products needed! It's a wonderful reminder that even with the same featured products, small creative changes can result in beautifully unique projects.

A Thought to Take With You

One of the reasons I chose the phrase "Happiness is an inside job" is because it reminds us that happiness often begins with the way we choose to see the world. Creativity can be part of that journey. Sometimes spending a little time making something with our own hands is exactly the pause we need to reconnect with joy.

Discover What's Possible

One of my favorite things about Simple Expressions is seeing how beautifully they pair with our Paper Goods. Whether it's an ATC Pack, Card Fronts Pack, Pocket Backdrops, Collage Sheets, or Ephemera Cut-Out Sheets, combining them opens up so many creative possibilities while making it easy to create layered, artful projects.

When you purchase any Simple Expressions stamp set, you can add one Paper Goods pack to your order for 40% off. It's a wonderful opportunity to discover just how effortlessly these collections work together -- and perhaps even find your next favorite creative pairing.

Until next time, keep creating with words that matter.

Paper Goods Spotlight | Bold Backgrounds + Beautiful Blooms with Stephanie

One of the things I love most about our Paper Goods collections is seeing how they come to life in the hands of creative makers. Every time one of our STAMPgirls shares a project, I'm reminded that a background, an ATC, or a floral image isn't the finished project; it's the beginning of a creative idea.

Today I'm excited to share two beautiful cards by Stephanie, who combined our Watercolor ATC pack with the Color Me Blooms Spring Florals Colorables to create two completely different designs. I love how she pairs bold, eye-catching backgrounds with soft, colorful florals, proving that contrasting styles can work beautifully together.

For her first card, Stephanie layered one of the floral colorables over a Watercolor ATC, then framed everything with our Industrial Patchwork Collage Paper. The colorful patchwork background brings wonderful energy to the design, while the soft blue flowers remain the clear focal point. A sentiment from our retired Big Greetings stamp set adds a clean, heartfelt finishing touch.

Her second card takes a different approach while using many of the same elements. This time, she chose one of our Thank You Card Fronts as the background, allowing the oversized typography to become part of the design itself. The colorful floral arrangement immediately draws the eye to the center, while impressions from our retired Mixed Media Elements stamp set add subtle texture above and below the bouquet without competing for attention.

Creative Takeaway

One thing I appreciate about Stephanie's cards is how confidently she mixes contrasting styles. Graphic typography, collage-inspired backgrounds, watercolor textures, and delicate florals all have very different personalities, yet they work beautifully together because the colors and layering create a sense of harmony.

It's a wonderful reminder that some of the most interesting projects happen when we're willing to step outside our usual combinations and let unexpected elements work together.

Discover What's Possible

One of the things I wanted to do when I created our Paper Goods Subscriptions was give makers like you more flexibility, not less.

Unlike traditional mystery subscriptions, you choose exactly which Paper Goods you'd like to receive each month. Pick the Card Fronts that catch your eye, the ATC Pack that fits your current projects, or mix and match your favorites through our Paper Goods VIP Subscription.

Your creativity changes from month to month, and I believe your subscription should be just as flexible.

Each monthly delivery is designed to inspire new ideas, encourage experimentation, and help you spend less time wondering where to start, and more time creating. 

Because sometimes the beginning of your next favorite project arrives in a simple envelope.

Until next time, keep exploring, keep experimenting, and enjoy the creative journey. Happy creating!

Words That Matter | SPEAK + Artsy Abstracts with Chris Dring

One of the things I enjoyed most while designing the Simple Expressions collection was thinking about how just a few thoughtfully chosen words can become the heart of a handmade project. Sometimes it's the sentiment that catches our attention first, and sometimes it's the one thing the recipient remembers long after they've put the card away. That's exactly what inspired this collection -- bold, layerable typography that lets the words take center stage.

Today I'm delighted to share two wonderful projects that Chris Dring created using our SPEAK Simple Expressions stamps paired with our Artsy Abstracts Card Fronts. I love that she approached the same products in two completely different ways, showing just how versatile they can be.

For her first card, Chris paired on of the colorful Artsy Abstracts Card Fronts with a striking portrait from the Retro Femme ATC Pack. What caught my eye was how the portrait becomes the focal point while the SPEAK beautiful things sentiment naturally grounds the design. The black enamel dots echo the splatters in the background, creating a wonderful sense of balance without taking attention away from the focal image.

Her second card has a completely different feel. This time, the card front takes center stage, with the sentiment stamped directly onto the background. Chris also added subtle faux texture using our retired Mixed Media Grunge stamps, giving the design a little extra character while keeping the overall look clean and artsy. I love how this card proves that a meaningful sentiment and an expressive background can be all you need.

A Thought to Take With You

Today's featured word is SPEAK.

Words have an incredible way of building people up. Whether they're spoken, written inside a card, or quietly read during someone's day, kind words have lasting impact. I hope this little reminder encourages you to speak beautiful things -- not only to the people around you, but to yourself as well.

If you'd like to see the rest of the Simple Expressions collection, I'd love for you to stop by the shop and take a look. There are 18 expressive designs, each created to celebrate the words that matter most.

And don't forget our launch special. When you purchase any Simple Expressions stamp set, you can add one coordinating Paper Goods Pack at 40% off. Mix and match with our Card Fronts, ATC Packs, Collage Sheets, Pocket Backdrops, and Ephemera Cut-Outs Sheets to build a creative toolkit that's ready for cards, journals, tags, mixed media projects, and so much more.

Until next time, keep creating with words that matter.

Tuesday Inspiration: Vintage Travel Collage Cards by Angy

Happy Tuesday, STAMPfriends!

Today we're sharing cards by Angy Hughes! Angy dove into her July subscription picks and created two vintage travel-themed cards that will make you want to pack your bags and create. She used our Wanderlust Wayside Collage Papers as the beautiful foundation for both artistic layouts.

Be Fearless

Angy's first card features a gorgeous vintage illustration of a woman with a travel bag viewing the Eiffel Tower. The background collage paper features map motifs, a hot air balloon, and a detailed butterfly. She added a powerful message using our Hey, Sunshine Clear Stickers with the phrases "yes, you can", "change the world", and "be fearless".

Keep Dreaming

For her second card, she highlighted an incredible vintage gentleman traveler carrying a massive stack of luggage and suitcases on his back. The background features blue-toned collage paper full of map details, butterflies, and travel gear. She finished the design using more sentiments from the Hey, Sunshine Clear Stickers pack: "keep dreaming", "enjoy it all", and "do what you love".

Love the rich, vintage layers Angy achieved with her travel picks today? Check out our Paper Goods Subscriptions to get your hands on our monthly collections of collage papers, card fronts, and ATC layouts delivered right to your crafting space!

Introducing Simple Expressions: Words That Matter

Hello again, STAMPfriends! I'm so excited to finally share my newest Designer Series collection with you—Simple Expressions!

This collection began with a simple idea: words matter. Sometimes all it takes is one word and a short phrase to encourage someone, brighten their day, or remind them of something they needed to hear. As cardmakers and paper crafters, we have the privilege of creating projects that people often keep for years, and I wanted to design a collection that helps those meaningful words take center stage.

Simple Expressions includes 18 artsy typography clear stamp sets, each featuring a bold focal word paired with a coordinating handwritten phrase. Whether you're making cards, art journal pages, ATCs, tags, or mixed media projects, these stamps are designed to create sentiments that are both eye-catching and heartfelt.

One of my favorite things about this collection is the way the stamps work together. Each set includes a solid word stamp and a matching outline version that can be layered to create a bold, artistic look. But here's the best part -- there's no need to line them up perfectly. In fact, I designed them to look their best when they're just a little off. That slightly wonky, offset look celebrates the beauty of handmade art and gives every project its own personality.

The stamps are also incredibly versatile. Layer the outline and solid word together for a striking focal point, or repeat the solid word across your cardstock to create a bold typographic background before adding your main sentiment. Because the focal words are approximately one inch tall, they're the perfect size to anchor an A2 card, ATC, journal page, or tag without overwhelming your design.

More than anything, I hope this collection inspires you to create projects with words that matter: words that encourage, comfort, celebrate, inspire, and remind the people in your life how much they mean to you. Those are often the cards we remember most.

I hope you'll enjoy creating with Simple Expressions as much as I enjoyed designing it.

You can browse all 18 stamp sets in the collection here.

Happy stamping!