Creative Tip of the Day: Make Your Words Part of the Design

A word or phrase die can do more than add a greeting to your card. Try treating it as an important part of the design itself. Give it dimension, coordinate it with your background, or build your card around the message.

All three of today's projects were created by STAMPgirl Maria several years ago. Maria has been part of the STAMPlorations design team since 2014, and I've always loved her style and the creative ways she uses STAMPlorations products. Her word and phrase die projects are a perfect example of how a simple sentiment can become an integral part of the card design.

Here are three of Maria's projects from the STAMPlorations archives that show how a die-cut phrase can become much more than an afterthought.

Let Your Sentiment Take Center Stage

Maria created three cards featuring the Make a Wish phrase die, pairing the sentiment with the Doodled Birthday Cake Cover Plate in three different ways. 

On the first card, she dry embossed the cover plate onto white cardstock and added a stacked, rainbow-inked Make a Wish sentiment. 

On her second card, she created a soft pastel rainbow background over a heat-embossed cover plate design and placed the phrase prominently over it. 

For the third card, she used a craft-foam version of the cover plate as a stamp and created a colorful stamped background with Distress Oxides.

The backgrounds change, but the Make a Wish phrase remains an important focal point in each design. It's a good reminder that a strong sentiment can be the star of the card, rather than something you squeeze in at the end.

Coordinate Your Die Cut With Your Colors

For this card, Maria used the Grateful Heart phrase die with the Art Flowers 1 stencil. She chose warm, autumnal tones for the ink-blended background and carried that same palette into the stacked Grateful Heart die cut.

The result is a sentiment that feels like it belongs with the rest of the card instead of looking like a separate element added afterward. When you repeat colors between your background and your die-cut phrase, you can make the whole design feel more cohesive.

Build a Design Around the Words

For this card, Maria started by playing with phrase dies and a palette of colors created with alcohol markers. She colored strips of paper and arranged them into a bold striped design, then combined the stripes with a stenciled background and the Thankful Every Day phrase die. Here, the phrase isn't simply sitting at the bottom of the card as a greeting. It becomes part of the graphic composition and works together with the colorful strips to create the focal point.

Make Your Words Work Harder

Maria's projects are a great reminder that word and phrase dies don't have to be an afterthought. They can be the focal point, help establish the color palette, or become part of the overall graphic design.

The next time you reach for a word or phrase die, think about how you can make the sentiment influence your card from the very beginning. Make it the focal point. Pull colors from your background into the die cut. Build a pattern or composition that helps emphasize the words.

Your sentiment can say something meaningful and look good doing it.

And if you're ready to add some new words and phrases to your die collection, now is a great time to shop. All CUTplorations dies are currently 15% off, including our word and phrase dies.

Check out the CUTplorations dies in the STAMPlorations store and save 15% while the promotion lasts.

words that matter | CREATE + Comic Pop with Shirley

Sometimes one sheet of paper goods is all you need to make more than one card.

That's exactly what STAMPgirl Shirley shows us with these two vibrant cards featuring Simple Expressions: CREATE paired with Comic Pop Pocket Backgrounds. She used the same sheet of background paper for both cards, but approached the design differently each time.

And both cards put CREATE front and center.

Let the Background Do the Work

For her first card, Shirley cut along the zigzag lines in the Comic Pop background so the yellow section could streak across the card. She then stamped and colored the CREATE sentiment to coordinate with the colors in the background and added a few red pearl gems to finish the design. 

It's bold, colorful, and surprisingly quick to put together. The dramatic zigzag background does most of the work, while the coordinated sentiment ties everything together.

Use Every Bit of the Paper

For her second card, Shirley used the remainder of the background paper and took a completely different approach. Instead of adding another focal element, she stamped CREATE right into the open gap in the design and added a few arrow stickies.

Same sheet. Same stamp. Completely different card.

And that's one of the things that makes the Simple Expressions stamps so fun to work with. You can pair them with different Paper Goods options, or simply change how you use the background and get an entirely different look.

Two Cards, One Sheet

Shirley's projects are a great reminder to look at your Paper Goods with a little more creativity. A bold background doesn't have to be used exactly as it comes. Cut it, rearrange it, find the open spaces, and see what happens when you make the sentiment part of the design.

Simple Expressions gives you a solid word, an outline version, and a coordinating script phrase in each mini set, making it easy to create a focal sentiment that works with your favorite Paper Goods.

There are 18 words and quotes in the collection, so you can mix and match your favorite messages with Card Fronts, ATCs, Collage Sheets, Pocket Backdrops, and Ephemera Cut-Outs. And when you purchase a Simple Expressions stamp set with a qualifying Paper Goods Pack, the Paper Goods Pack is automatically 40% off.

Words That Matter

Whether you want to make a quick card or spend more time building a layered design, Simple Expressions gives you a meaningful word to build around.

Pick a word. Pick some Paper Goods. Then see where your creativity takes you.

Until next time, keep creating with words that matter.

Perfect Pairs, Expanded | Blooms & Sunshine with Vicki

A coordinated collection can make cardmaking easier, but that doesn't mean you have to stop with the products in the pair.

STAMPgirl Vicki is taking Perfect Pairs: Blooms & Sunshine into extended style, combining the coordinating stamps and ephemera cuts with other supplies from her stash. The result is two very different cards that show how easily a Perfect Pairs collection can become the starting point for a more layered, personalized design.

Build a Background Around Your Ephemera

For her first card, Vicki started with a panel from the Junk Journal Collage card fronts and added texture with the Delicate Links stencil. She then layered one of the floral ephemera pieces from Blooms & Sunshine over the background and finished the card with a sentiment from the Floral Magic clear stickers collection.

The combination of the vintage-inspired collage background, stenciled texture, and floral focal point creates a beautifully layered look without overwhelming the design. The ephemera gives the card its focal image, while the additional paper goods and stencil bring in more texture and visual interest.

Let One Element Inspire the Design

For her second card, Vicki took a completely different approach. She used the digital Sketched Blooms for the background and added the splatter from Perfect Pairs: Blooms & Sunshine to the centers of the flowers. She liked the way this simple addition gave the coloring an artsy look.

Vicki then added texture with the Circles All Over Texture Cover Plate and created a dimensional focal point using several pieces of ephemera from the kit. She adhered the small tags together before adding them to the background with dimension tape. A sentiment stamped onto vellum completes the design.

The result is a wonderfully eclectic floral card that combines stamped imagery, texture, ephemera, and dimension while still keeping the coordinating Blooms & Sunshine elements at the heart of the design.

One Perfect Pair, More Possibilities

Vicki's two cards are a great example of what happens when you take a Perfect Pairs collection beyond its basic formula. The coordinating stamps and ephemera cuts give you a natural place to begin, but adding other products from your stash can completely change the direction of the finished card.

Start with a beautiful piece of ephemera. Build a background around it. Add texture with a stencil or cover plate. Or take one of the stamps and use it in a way that brings your own style into the design.

That's the beauty of the extended style: the pair gives you the foundation, and your stash gives you room to make it your own.

Discover What's Possible

Perfect Pairs: Blooms & Sunshine combines coordinating stamps and ephemera cuts designed to work together, giving you an easy starting point for creating cohesive cards. But as Vicki's projects show, you don't have to stop there. Add a stencil. Bring in a card front. Layer in a cover plate. Mix in clear stickers or digital stamps. Take the coordinating pieces and see where your own supplies lead you.

Explore Blooms & Sunshine and the other Perfect Pairs collections in the STAMPlorations store.

Until next time, keep creating, experimenting, and finding new ways to make your supplies work together.

Perfect Pairs: Blooms & Sunshine with Walter

Today we're showcasing Perfect Pairs: Blooms & Sunshine with two beautiful cards by STAMPfella Walter.

The coordinating ephemera cuts in this bundle do a lot of the work for you. With their vibrant florals and variety of styles, you can keep things simple or add a few extra details to create something more layered and dimensional.

Check out what Walter did!

For his first card, Walter used the tag ephemera cuts to create a fun dimensional border along the bottom of the card panel. He stamped the coordinating paint/ink splatter background stamp with gold metallic pigment ink and added the "Sending You Sunshine" sentiment in brown. A generous amount of grunge gives the card a vintage feel and ties all the elements together. The result is a warm, layered design that lets the colorful floral ephemera take center stage.

For his second card, Walter kept things simple with a pretty focal arrangement. He used one of the floral ephemera cuts with the Curly Labels/Tags die and added a paper doily from his stash for a little extra detail. The soft pink background and gold accents complement the florals beautifully, while the "Sending You Sunshine" sentiment finishes the card without competing with the focal image.

Rounding up today's projects

The Blooms & Sunshine Ephemera Cut-Outs are beautiful enough to stand on their own, but they also give you plenty of room to make them your own. Frame one on a card, layer several together, or add a few extra elements such as a doily or die-cut frame. And because the ephemera cuts coordinate with the Blooms & Sunshine stamps, you can mix and match the pieces to create cards that are as simple or as detailed as you like.

If you're looking for an easy way to build a beautiful card, Perfect Pairs does the coordinating for you.

Perfect Pairs: Party & Wishes | Two Quick and Easy Birthday Cards with Chris

One of the things I love about Perfect Pairs is that the coordinating stamps and ephemera cuts make it really easy to put a card together without having to spend hours figuring out what goes with what.

STAMPgirl Chris put that to the test with two birthday cards using Perfect Pairs: Party & Wishes and the coordinating ephemera cuts. And when I say quick, I mean quick. Her first card took about 10 to 12 minutes, while the second one came together in about 5 to 6 minutes, not counting the time it took for the Stickles to dry.

That's a record for Chris, who says her cards usually take her two to three hours to make. I had to chuckle when I read that :-o)

Keep It Simple With a Pop of Color

For her first card, Chris stamped the Party & Wishes background stamp in a zigzag pattern using three ink colors that coordinate with the party hat ephemera cut. She then tore a strip of white cardstock, stamped the sentiment at the bottom, and added the strip and party hat to the card base.

I really like how the colorful stamped background frames the party hat without competing with it. The torn strip of cardstock gives the eye a place to rest, while the coordinating colors tie everything together. Simple. Colorful. And done in about 10 minutes.

A Little Masking Goes a Long Way

For her second card, Chris kept things just as simple but changed up the design. She masked off an area of the card base and stamped the Party & Wishes background stamp diagonally inside the masked area. For the sentiment, she masked off part of the stamp so she could use just the word "Celebrate" in the bottom right corner. She then added gold Stickles to all the sprinkles on the cupcake ephemera cut. Once the Stickles dried, she popped the cupcake up with foam squares for a little dimension.

I love that she didn't feel the need to use the entire sentiment stamp. Sometimes one word is all you need. And the little bit of sparkle on the cupcake? Just enough.

Let the Pair Do the Work

Chris' two cards are a great example of how much you can do with the Perfect Pairs: Party & Wishes set and its coordinating ephemera cuts without bringing in a whole pile of other supplies. The background stamp gives you an easy way to add color and pattern, while the ephemera cuts give you ready-to-use focal images that already coordinate with the stamps. Then it's just a matter of changing up the arrangement. A little masking here. A torn strip there. Maybe some Stickles if you're in the mood for a little sparkle. That's it.

And if you're looking for cards you can put together without spending hours on each one, Chris's 5-to-12-minute cards are pretty good proof that Perfect Pairs really can make cardmaking easier.

Check out Perfect Pairs: Party & Wishes and the other Perfect Pairs collections in the STAMPlorations store.

paper goods inspiration | Two Ways to Dress Up Vintage Roses Card Fronts with Stephanie

Sometimes you start with a beautiful card front and don't need to do much to it. Other times, you look at it and think, okay, what else can I do with this?

That's what I like about card fronts. They can be the whole starting point for a card,  but you don't have to leave them intact. Cut them up, add some ink, stencil over them, layer them with other products, and see where they take you.

STAMPgirl Stephanie did exactly that with two Vintage Roses card fronts. She cut both card fronts into panels and then used stencils, glitter paste, and a few other SAMPlorations products.

Add Some Sparkle

For her first card, Stephanie cut a Vintage Roses card front into panels and used them to create the floral background. She then used the Beautiful Mandala Accent #1 slimline stencil to apply glitter paste over the card front. The glitter paste is a little tricky to capture in a photo, but it adds another layer of texture and sparkle to the already detailed floral design. She finished the card with the "Celebrate Big" sentiment from the Perfect Pairs: Party & Wishes set along with a sentiment from the Hey Sunshine clear sticker pack.

I really like how the panels break up the large floral image while still keeping the roses as the star of the card. The stenciling adds something extra without take over. Sometimes that's all you need.

Change the Color and Add More Texture

For her second card, Stephanie again cut a Vintage Roses card front into panels, but this time she used the Bloomdala Bliss #16 mask to add another layer of design. She sponged purple ink over the card front and, once it was dry, added glitter paste through the mask. The result is a softer, more muted version of the floral artwork, with the glitter paste adding just the right amount of sparkle. She finished the card with a sentiment from the Inspirational #1 clear sticker pack.

I like that she didn't try to force her original idea when the purple ink didn't behave the way she wanted it to. She changed things up and ended up with a look that works beautifully with the vintage feel of the card front. That's part of the fun of playing with paper.

One Card Front, Lots of Possibilities

These two cards are a great example of why I love having card fronts in my stash. Stephanie started with two pieces from the same Vintage Roses collection and cut both of them into panels. From there, she took them in two completely different directions. One got a mandala stencil and glitter paste. The other got purple ink, a large mask, and more glitter paste.

Same card front collection. Different ideas. And that's really the point. You don't have to use a card front exactly as it comes. Cut it up. Rearrange the pieces. Add some ink or texture. Use a stencil over it. See what happens.

If you like having a variety of card fronts ready to play with, our Card Fronts VIP Subscription makes it easy to build your stash. You choose the card fronts you want each month, so you can pick the styles and themes you actually like to use.

You can also choose from our other Paper Goods VIP Subscription options, including ATCs, Collage Paper, Pocket Backdrops, and Ephemera Cut-Out Sheets.

Because sometimes you don't need more supplies. You just need a few good pieces of paper to start playing with.

words that matter | GRACE + Floral Parade with Craftyfield

Sometimes the sentiment really is the star of the card.

That's what Craftyfield shows us with these two cards featuring Simple Expressions: GRACE paired with the Floral Parade Ephemera Cut-Outs. She used the same pairing for both cards, but the finished designs feel quite different. One is clean and simple. The other has a little more going on.

And both keep GRACE front and center.

Let GRACE Take Center Stage

For her first card, Craftyfield kept things very simple. She stamped the GRACE outline in black Versafine and the solid word in a pinkish color, then embossed it with red UTEE with gold lustre. She placed a floral bouquet from the Floral Parade ephemera cut-outs underneath the sentiment and matted the panel onto a blue card base.

And then she stopped.

I know that sounds simple, but sometimes that's the hardest part. When you have a whole stash of things you could add, it's pretty easy to keep going. Craftyfield resisted that temptation, and I think the card is better for it. The sentiment already has plenty of impact, and the floral image gives it just enough support without taking over.

Frame the Sentiment

For her second card, Craftyfield used the same GRACE stamp and Floral Parade ephemera cut-outs, but this time she built a little more around the sentiment. She framed the design with torn pieces of an Old Letters Pocket Backdrop, then added two pieces from the Floral Parade ephemera cut-outs. She fussy cut the flowers to remove the white border, which helps them blend right into the vintage-style background. Once again, she stamped the GRACE outline in black and the solid word in pink to coordinate with the flowers.

It's a little more layered than her first card, but GRACE is still the first thing you notice.

Creative Takeaway

These two cards are a good reminder that you don't need to build a complicated design around a strong sentiment. Sometimes the best thing you can do is give the word some breathing room. Other times, you can frame it with patterned paper, add a couple of coordinating images, and create a little more visual interest. The trick is deciding what you want to be the star.

And look at how different the second card feels. Same sentiment. Ephemera from Floral Parade. But add the Old Letters backdrop and fussy-cut the flowers, and you've got a completely different card.

That's one of the things I like about the Simple Expressions stamps. You can keep the design simple, or you can build around the sentiment and make it part of a bigger composition.

Words That Matter

That's really what Simple Expressions is about. A meaningful word can say a lot. Give it some room, pair it with an image that supports the message, and let it become part of the artwork instead of something you simply tuck into a corner.

There are 18 words and quotes in the collection, so there's plenty to choose from depending on what you want your card to say. And because the Simple Expressions stamps work so well with our paper goods, you can mix and match them with Card Fronts, ATCs, Collage Sheets, Pocket Backdrops, and Ephemera Cut-Outs to create your own combinations.

When you purchase a Simple Expressions stamp and a qualifying Paper Goods Pack, the Paper Goods Pack is automatically 40% off.

Until next time, keep creating with words that matter.

beyond the card | another beautiful folio with Angy Hughes

If you've been following STAMPgirl Angy's projects here on the blog, you already know she likes to take our paper goods beyond the card. And she does it really well. For this project, Angy created another folio, this time using the Faded Botanicals Collage Sheets along with stickers from the New Day and Hey Sunshine clear sticker packs. The result is a soft, vintage-inspired folio filled with layers of florals, vintage imagery, and encouraging words. And I love how different this one feels from the lavender folio she shared earlier this month.

A Folio Full of Layers

The closed folio immediately gives you a peek at what is inside. Angy layered pieces from the Faded Botanicals Collage Sheets to create a beautifully textured cover, combining vintage papers, botanical imagery, butterflies, and a large floral element. There are lots of little details to look at, too. A button-like embellishment, snippets of vintage-looking paper, leaves, and a small sentiment sticker all add to the collage without taking away from the overall look. The "be amazing" sticker from the clear sticker packs is a perfect little finishing touch.

Open It Up

Once the folio is opened, you can see how much more there is to discover. Angy filled the inside with coordinating pieces from the Faded Botanicals collection, creating several tags and little elements that can be pulled out and looked at individually. The pieces have that wonderful vintage, slightly weathered look that makes you want to stop and look at all the little details. And this is one of the things I like about making a folio instead of a card. You aren't trying to fit everything into one small focal point. You have room to play.

Look at Those Tags

The close-up gives us a better look at the individual pieces Angy tucked into the folio. She used pieces of the collage sheets to create tags and layered elements, then added sentiments such as "you are enough," "take flight," "trust yourself," and "you are worthy."

A butterfly, a bit of burlap, vintage-style details, and layered paper pieces give each tag its own little personality.

This is also a great example of how clear stickers can become part of a larger mixed-media or collage project. They don't have to be the main focal point. Sometimes a small sentiment is all you need.

And There's More on the Back

Even the back of the folio gets attention. Angy continued the botanical collage treatment with the collage sheet featuring flowers, leaves, butterflies, and vintage-style imagery and adding a tiny, encouraging sentiment sticker. The result feels cohesive with the front while still giving you something different to look at.  really like that she didn't treat the back as an afterthought.

Take Your Paper Goods Beyond the Card

This folio is another great example of why our paper goods don't have to stay on cards. A collage sheet can become a folio cover. A piece of it can become a tag. A clear sticker can add just the right little message. And once you start cutting, layering, and combining pieces, you can create something that's completely your own.

You don't have to use everything exactly as it comes. Sometimes you just need to start with a pretty piece of paper and see where it takes you.

If you want to play along with Angy and take your paper goods beyond the card, check out the Faded Botanicals Collage Sheets, along with the New Day and Hey Sunshine clear sticker packs, in the STAMPlorations store. And if you like having a variety of paper goods to work with, take a look at our Paper Goods VIP Subscription. You choose the paper goods you want each month, so you can build a stash that fits your own style and projects.

Perfect Pairs: Party & Wishes | Take the Pair and Build on It with Monika

Perfect Pairs gives you two things that already work well together: coordinating stamps and ephemera cuts. But you don't have to stop there.

For these two cards, STAMPgirl Monika took the Perfect Pairs: Party & Wishes collection and added ARTplorations stencils to create backgrounds that complement the ephemera without competing with it. And I really like how she kept the stenciling relatively simple so the party-themed images could take center stage.

Let Your Stencil Set the Party Mood

For her first card, Monika used the Confetti #1 slimline stencil to create a celebratory background for the candles ephemera. The stars and dots are perfect for a party card, but because the stencil pattern is fairly open, it doesn't overwhelm the colorful candles. She stamped the sentiment and a few sequins added the finishing touch.

Creative takeaway: Look at your stencils as background builders, not just the main attraction. A simple pattern can add just enough interest to make your focal image stand out.

Layer the Ephemera for a Big Impact

For her second card, Monika layered three Party & Wishes ephemera to create one big focal point. The gift package, cake, and party hat work together to make the card feel like one big celebration. Behind them, she kept things simple with the Dots All Over stencil, adding a soft pink dotted background that gives the white card base some interest without taking attention away from the ephemera. She finished the card with a white embossed sentiment, using just the "Celebrate" portion of the Celebrate Big sentiment stamp, along with a few sequins. I love how much impact she gets from simply layering three coordinating pieces.

Creative takeaway: Don't be afraid to layer or cluster several ephemera together. When the pieces already coordinate, they can make a really fun focal point without needing a lot of extra embellishment.

Take the Pair and Build on It

Monika's cards are a great example of what I mean when I say take the pair and build on it. Start with the coordinating stamps and ephemera. Then look around your stash and ask yourself what else might work with them. A stencil. A few sequins. Another sentiment stamp. Maybe something completely unexpected.

And you don't have to save those "neutral" background stencils for a particular season or holiday, either. Dots and confetti work for birthdays, celebrations, congratulations, and so many other occasions.

That's the fun of building on a Perfect Pair. The pair gives you a starting point, but what you add to it is where your own style comes in.

Want to try Monika's approach? Check out Perfect Pairs: Party & Wishes in the STAMPlorations store and see what you can build around it.

Paper Goods Showcase | The Parisian Cafe Collage Sheets with Stephanie L.

Sometimes all you need is one good piece of paper to get a card going.

For these two cards, STAMPgirl Stephanie L. put the spotlight on The Parisian Cafe Collage Sheets, showing two different ways to use the same paper. One card came together by using something she already had on hand (the negative from a previous die cut) while the other combines the collage sheet with stenciling and clear stickers for a more layered look.

And I have to say, I love when a piece of paper gets used in a way you might not have thought of at first.

Make the Negative Part of the Design

For her first card, Stephanie used the negative of a die cut from one of her previous cards and glued it to an ivory card base. She then chose a sticker from the All Things Coffee Clear Stickers pack, applied it to ivory cardstock, and trimmed it out with her paper trimmer. She popped the sticker up with foam squares for a little dimension, and that was it.

Sometimes you really don't need to add much more. I love how the intricate die-cut layer lets the collage sheet artwork show through while the coffee sticker and sentiment become the focal point. It's a simple design, but it doesn't feel plain.

Creative takeaway: Before you toss the leftover negative from a die cut, take another look at it. It might be just the piece you need for your next card.

Layer It, Cut It, Mix It

For her second card, Stephanie combined The Parisian Cafe with All Things Coffee Clear Stickers and the Dots 'N Beans Slimline stencil. She started by stenciling the left side of an ivory card base with Distress Oxide inks, then added a piece of red cardstock to the right. She cut the collage sheet above and below the coffee cup and saucer, then fussy cut everything to the left of those cuts before adhering it to the card base. For the sentiment, she placed a sticker on ivory cardstock, die cut it, and popped it up on the upper left of the card.

I really like how the printed artwork, stenciling, cardstock, and dimensional pieces all come together here. There are several different elements, but the coffee image remains the star of the card. And Stephanie mentioned that she went to Paris in March. So I can totally see why The Parisian Cafe was a particularly fun paper collection for her to work with.

Creative takeaway: Don't feel like you have to use a collage sheet as one complete piece. Cut around the parts you want, combine them with stenciling or other layers, and let the printed artwork become part of your own design.

See What You Can Do with Paper Goods

These two cards are a good example of why I love having paper goods in my stash. They give you something to start with, but you can use them in so many different ways. Use a piece as a background. Cut out one part of the artwork. Layer it over cardstock. Add a stencil. Put a clear sticker on top. Or, like Stephanie, take the negative from an entirely different project and find a way to make it work.

You don't have to start from a blank piece of cardstock every time. 

The The Parisian Cafe Collage Sheets are available in the STAMPlorations store and are also one of the paper goods you can choose through our Paper Goods VIP Subscription.

If you like having ready-to-use artwork and backgrounds on hand but still want to put your own spin on them, the Paper Goods VIP Subscription is worth checking out. You get to choose the paper goods you want rather than receiving a mystery selection.

Until next time, keep looking at those scraps, leftovers, and pretty papers a little differently. You never know what might become the starting point for your next card.

Tag Dies Beyond the Gift Tag | Three Ways to Create with CUTplorations Tag Dies

Tag dies may be designed to create tags, but that doesn't mean they're limited to gift tags. They can become focal points, card elements, layered backgrounds, or the foundation for an entire project.

Today we're revisiting three projects from the STAMPlorations archives by STAMPgirls Stephanie Severin, Sanna Lippert, and Vicki Dutcher to show just how much you can do with tag dies when you look beyond their most obvious use.

Turn a Tag into a Card Focal Point

Stephanie used the Luggage Tags Nesting Dies to create the foundation for this bold and playful project. She die cut the largest tag from a piece of lined designer paper, then used Candied Apple Distress Ink with the Doodled Heart stencil, spritzing the ink with water afterward for a softer, distressed effect. 

Because the designer paper was a little flimsy, Stephanie die cut a second tag from red cardstock and attached it to the back for additional stability. She then added the You & Me Phrase Die, taking advantage of the fact that the single die cuts the three words separately so they can be positioned independently. Paper flowers and heart embellishments completed the design. Stephanie found that the finished tag really popped when she attached it to a black card base.

Creative takeaway: A tag doesn't have to be something you tie onto a package. Treat it as a ready-made focal shape for a card and build your design around it.

Build a Layered Tag Design

Sanna took the tag in a completely different direction with the Stitched Tag Nesting Dies. Rather than keeping the tag design simple, she created a more elaborate layered project using stamped imagery from the Feathery and Bloomtangled ATC #1 stamp sets, along with a sentiment from Fond Expressions. The stitched edges give the tag a finished look while the stamped elements create layers of color and detail within the tag shape.

Creative takeaway: Nesting tag dies give you more than one size to work with, making it easy to layer shapes and create more dimension. Add stamped images, sentiments, or patterned papers to turn a simple tag shape into a complete focal design.

Mix Stamping and Stenciling

Vicki's project shows another way to build a tag by combining several different techniques. She used the Luggage Tags Nesting Dies as the foundation, then layered stamped and stenciled elements using Trendy Leaves, Bloom Sketches, and the Bubbles stencil. The combination of stamping, stenciling, layered paper, and ribbon gives the tag a collage-like look with plenty of texture and visual interest.

Creative takeaway: A tag die can provide the structure while your stamps, stencils, and other supplies determine the personality. Don't be afraid to layer different techniques within one small format.

Think Beyond the Gift Tag

These three projects show just a few ways tag dies can become part of your cardmaking and papercrafting. Use a large tag as a card focal point. Layer different tag sizes together. Fill the shape with stamped and stenciled details. Add ribbon, embellishments, or sentiments. Or simply use the tag shape as a starting point for a design that goes somewhere completely unexpected. That's what makes nesting tag dies so useful: the shape gives you a framework, but what you do with it is entirely up to you.

And if you've been thinking about adding some tag dies to your stash, all CUTplorations dies are 15% off during our August sale. It's a good opportunity to try a tag die and see how many different ways you can put it to work.

Until next time, keep looking at your supplies beyond their obvious purpose and see where they can take your creativity.