words that matter | SHINE + Spring Florals Card Fronts with STAMPgirl 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!

Coffee & Creativity: Parisian Café Collage Cards by Stephanie L.

Happy Monday, STAMPfriends! Today we're thrilled to share two fabulous coffee-inspired cards created by the amazing Stephanie L. She used The Parisian Cafe Collage Sheets to anchor both designs, proving just how versatile these background papers can be!

Love Language Card

Stephanie layered imagery of warm coffee cups, citrus accents, and florals from the collage sheets over a background mixed with our Henna Pattern Stencil. She completed the clean layout with a brown sentiment strip featuring the phrase "coffee is a love language," taken from the Coffee Backgrounds ATC set.

Java Great Day Card

For her second card, she took a completely different approach by layering the intricate cuts of our Zen Coffee #1 Cover Plate Die right over the collage paper background. She anchored the design with a focal tag made using our Stitched Tag Die, topping it with a coral pink ribbon and the bold sentiment from the Java Great Day Phrase Die.

Love the mixed-media collage look Stephanie created today? Check out our Paper Goods Subscriptions to get gorgeous collage papers, ATC sheets, and card fronts delivered straight to your door every month!

Sunday Inspiration: Vintage Mini Masterpieces by Vicki

Happy Sunday, STAMPfriends! Today we are thrilled to share two fabulous vintage-inspired ATCs created by the amazing Vicki. She used our Junk Journal Collage Card Fronts to create the bases for these mini masterpieces, and the results are stunning!

Lights, Camera, Action ATC

Vicki built this piece featuring a retro movie clapperboard from our Nostalgia #1 Ephemera Cut-Outs over a textured orange, red, and black background. She added the perfect finishing touch with the sentiment "lights, camera, action!" using the Nostalgic #1 clear sticker pack.

Vintage Radio ATC

For her second project, she featured a classic radio cut-out over a cool blue and teal background. She added wonderful layered texture at the bottom using our Patches stencil, and finished it off with the fun sentiment "you're not old, you're vintage" from the Nostalgic #1 clear sticker pack. Both ATCs are topped with cute black and white polka dot and solid white ribbons!

Love the supplies Vicki used today? Check out our Paper Goods Subscriptions to get fresh Card Fronts, ATCs, Ephemera, and Collage Papers delivered right to your door!

Fun Vintage Inspiration with Walter’s July Paper Goods Picks!

Hello, friends! We are so excited to share a gorgeous project from the talented Walter Zemrock today. He has put together a stunning, vintage-inspired creation using elements from his July Paper Goods VIP subscription package, and it is full of beautiful texture and story-telling details.

Walter designed a fun vintage Triple Tag Card Fun Fold Card that stands up beautifully to display its dimensional layers. The project perfectly blends a variety of textures and illustrations to tell the sweet story of a woman, a man, and good times spent together.

For this design, Walter combined several items from his July Paper Goods picks:

• Analog Grunge Paper and Junk Journal Collage A2 Card Fronts provide the perfect layered, text-filled vintage backgrounds.

• Retro People ATC feature the striking vintage portraits of the man on the left and the woman on the right.

• Color Me Spring Blooms Colorables adds a beautiful pop of soft pink floral color right down the center panel.

To finish off the construction and sentiment, he used the Curly Labels/Tags Nesting Dies to frame the panels and the gold-toned Good Times Die split across the left and right tags. The finished card measures 5.25” wide by 5.25” high when collapsed, designed to fit perfectly into a 5x7 envelope.

Watch the Process Video

Want to see exactly how Walter brought all of these elements together? He created a full process video over on his YouTube channel showing how he crafted this fun fold card step by step!

➡️ Click Here to Watch Walter's Process Video on YouTube

Love what you see?

Get curated vintage elements, artistic panels, ATC cards, and colorables delivered directly to you every month! Join our crafting community and sign up for the Paper Goods VIP Subscription today to stock up on inspiration for your next fun fold or journal project.

Christmas in July Sale is Live! 🎄✨

It’s time to jump-start your holiday crafting! From July 9 to 31, enjoy an instant 30% off select Christmas-themed stamps, dies, stencils, paper goods, and clear stickers. No coupon code is required -- your discount is applied automatically at checkout!

Plus look at these amazing stackable perks:

• Orders $25+: Get the freebie of the month + an entry to a $50 prize code!

• Orders $35+: Free US shipping!

• Orders $45+: Free STAMPlorations product sampler bag!

• Orders $75+: All the above perks + 2 free products of your choice!

👉 Click here to shop the Christmas in July Sale now!