Creative Tip of the Day: Three Ways to Use Cover Plates

Cover plates are incredibly versatile. You can use them to create texture, highlight just part of their design, or turn the entire die-cut panel into a bold background. These three projects from the STAMPlorations archives show just how different the results can be depending on how you use the same type of die.

Create Texture Instead of a Die-Cut Background

Deepti started with watercolor cardstock and used the Zen Doodled Birthday Cake Cover Plate Die to emboss the cardstock, creating a subtle textured pattern rather than cutting the panel apart. She then watercolored the embossed panel in bright, vibrant colors. To finish the card, she heat embossed a sentiment from the Birthday Bash stamp set and added white pigment splatters.

It's a great reminder that a cover plate doesn't always have to be used to create a separate die-cut layer. Try embossing with the die instead to add texture to your background while keeping the cardstock intact.

Use Only Part of the Design

This card uses the Bloomtangled #1 Cover Plate in a different way. Rather than using the entire die-cut panel, I kept the top portion of the design and left the bottom of the card base clean. That open space gave me a perfect place to stamp the sentiment from the Bold Sentiments: Fearless stamp set. Keeping the cover plate design confined to one area of the card gives the intricate die-cut plenty of room to shine without overwhelming the sentiment.

Don't be afraid to trim, cut, or use only part of a cover plate. You don't have to use the entire design just because that's the size of the die.

Make the Entire Die-Cut the Star

Chris took the opposite approach and let the entire Zen Doodled Birthday Gifts Cover Plate create a bold, colorful background. She die cut it from festive patterned paper and adhered it to a black card base, allowing the bright colors and intricate design to really pop. For the sentiment, she cut the Celebrate Big phrase die three times from purple cardstock, stacked the layers together for dimension, and added Stardust Stickles for sparkle. She then cut it again from white cardstock and adhered it offset underneath the stacked sentiment to create a contrasting shadow.

Here, the cover plate does become the full background, but the strong contrast and dimensional sentiment keep the card from feeling visually flat.

Think Beyond the Obvious

The next time you reach for a cover plate, think beyond simply running it through your die-cutting machine and adhering the resulting panel to your card. Try embossing with it for subtle texture. Use only a portion of the design to create an interesting border or focal area. Or embrace the entire die-cut and let it become the star of your background.

There isn't one “right” way to use a cover plate. The fun is in deciding how much of the design you want to see -- and how you want it to work with the rest of your card.

And if you've had your eye on a CUTplorations cover plate -- or another die you've been meaning to try -- all CUTplorations dies are 15% off during our August sale. It's a good time to experiment with a few new ways to use the dies already in your stash, too.

Until next time, keep creating and looking at your supplies in new ways.

Perfect Pairs | When the Vibe Sets the Palette

There’s something about rustic winter designs that call for a softer, more natural color palette. Instead of reaching for the traditional reds and greens of holiday cards, I let the warm, weathered feel of the Serene Winter collection guide the direction of these three cards.

The Serene Winter Perfect Pair combines a sentiment stamp, a winter-themed background stamp, and coordinating ephemera pieces, making it easy to create cards with a cohesive look. For these three cards, I started with the ephemera and let its colors and overall vibe determine the direction of each card.

Winter Wishes with Pinecones

For the first card, I went with the rustic colors of the pinecone ephemera and built the card around those warm brown tones. I stamped the Winter definition background at the top and bottom of the card, leaving some white space in the center for the pinecones and sentiment. I chose a butterscotch-colored ink to complement the pinecones and also inked their edges with the same color. It ties the ephemera into the rest of the card while adding to that warm, slightly weathered look.

A Rustic Winter Birdhouse

For my second card, the rustic birdhouse ephemera immediately suggested a chocolate brown color palette. I stamped the Winter definition vertically down the center of the card, then stamped the Winter Wishes sentiment directly onto the ephemera. I adhered the birdhouse with foam adhesive for dimension and also inked the edges of the card base. The result is simple but has that cozy, slightly aged feeling that fits the birdhouse perfectly.

Clean and Simple Winter Wishes

For my third card, I went in a cleaner direction while still keeping the rustic feel. I stamped the Winter definition in arctic blue ink along the right side of the card base, creating a subtle border. I angled the rustic present ephemera and adhered it with foam adhesive, then stamped the Winter Wishes sentiment beneath it. With just one focal element, a little stamping, and plenty of white space, this card came together quickly while still feeling connected to the other two.

Let the Vibe Lead

One of my favorite things about working with a collection like Serene Winter is letting the products themselves influence the design. Rather than deciding on a color palette first, I started with each ephemera piece and asked what colors and overall feel it suggested.

The warm pinecones led me to butterscotch. The wooden birdhouse called for chocolate brown. The rustic present paired beautifully with a soft arctic blue. Three different palettes, but all three still feel like they belong together because they were inspired by the same rustic winter aesthetic.

And yes, I was still able to create all three cards within my 15-minute challenge. But for me, the more useful takeaway was that having a strong visual direction makes cardmaking faster and easier. When you let the vibe of your supplies guide your choices, you don't have to overthink every element.

Create Your Own Winter Pairings

The Serene Winter Perfect Pair gives you the pieces you need to create your own winter cards without having to start completely from scratch. Choose an ephemera piece, let its colors inspire your palette, add a little stamping, and finish with the coordinating sentiment.

Sometimes the easiest way to make a card is simply to let the products tell you what they want to become.

Until next time, keep creating!

words that matter | COLLECT + Retro Femme ATC with Vicki Dutcher

Some moments are worth holding onto: A beautiful view. A quiet afternoon. A handmade card from someone you love. COLLECT beautiful moments is a lovely reminder that sometimes the things most worth collecting aren't things at all.

Today, STAMPgirl Vicki brings that sentiment to life with a beautifully layered card pairing the Simple Expressions: COLLECT stamps with one of the vintage-inspired images from our Retro Femme ATC pack.

And this card is also a great example of something every card maker knows: sometimes a design doesn't come together immediately. You keep playing, adding, changing -- and suddenly it starts "talking" to you.

Building the Layers

Vicki started with the beautiful woman from the Retro Femme ATC pack and built the rest of her card around her. For the background, she pulled patterned paper from her stash, stamped it with Blossom Sprays #2, then ran it through the Circles All Over Texture Cover Plate for added texture.

But something was still missing. Vicki reached for the Bloomtangled #2 Cover Plate and cut two panels. She sponged ink onto the top layer, stacked the two together for dimension, and placed them over the patterned background. That's when the design started "talking."

The intricate lavender die-cut creates a beautiful frame around the Retro Femme image while allowing glimpses of the stamped and textured background to show through. Vicki finished the card with COLLECT beautiful moments, creating a wide banner-style sentiment that anchors the focal image and ties the entire design together.

Creative Takeaway

Sometimes more is exactly what a card needs. It's easy to think that if a design isn't working, we need to start over or take something away. Vicki's card shows another possibility: add the layer that's missing.

Her original stamped and textured background wasn't quite giving her the look she wanted. Adding the dimensional Bloomtangled cover plate didn't hide all that earlier work -- it became another layer of it. The stamping, texture, intricate die cutting, and Retro Femme image now work together to create depth without competing for attention.

So when a card isn't quite "talking" to you yet, don't give up on it. Try another layer, introduce a different texture, or simply move things around. Sometimes the card just hasn't told you what it needs yet.

Discover What's Possible

Our Simple Expressions stamps were designed to pair words that matter with the paper goods already in your stash. COLLECT beautiful moments feels especially at home with the nostalgic artwork of the Retro Femme ATCs, but a different image could give those same words an entirely different story.

And when you pair any Simple Expressions stamp with a qualifying Paper Goods Pack, the paper goods are 40% off, making it easy to create your own combinations.

Until next time, keep creating with words that matter.

words that matter | FOCUS + Retro People ATCs with Monika Skinner

Color can completely change the personality of a design.

Today, STAMPgirl Monika is back with three colorful, retro-inspired cards featuring the Simple Expressions: FOCUS stamps paired with Retro People ATCs.

In a previous post, Monika kept this same pairing stylish and sophisticated in black and white. This time, she brings in warm oranges, vibrant pinks, and fresh greens -- along with stamping, stenciling, and layered backgrounds -- to show just how different the same supplies can look with a change in color and approach.

Bold Color + Layers

For her first card, Monika went with a different card shape and a more regular frame around her Retro People ATC. The image itself is colored more boldly, allowing it to hold its own against the additional background stamping. She layered the ATC over orange cardstock and added botanical stamping that extends beyond the focal image. The FOCUS on the good sentiment overlaps the layers near the bottom, tying everything together. The combination of the bold image, orange background, and delicate line-art stamping creates a striking design with plenty of interest while keeping the retro image firmly in focus.

Let Your Scraps Lead the Way

Monika's second card started with a much softer, pencil-colored ATC. She wanted a background that wouldn't overwhelm the subtle coloring and, while searching through her orange cardstock for just the right shade, came across an almost-square scrap. Rather than trimming everything into a perfectly even frame, she worked with the piece as it was. That slightly irregular frame became part of the design and gave her the layered look she was after. It's a great reminder to play around with what you already have before reaching for something new. Sometimes an unexpected scrap, shape, or size can lead to a layout you might never have planned.

FOCUS on the Good Life

For her third card, Monika found inspiration right in the Retro People ATC image. The jars reminded her of making jams, chutneys, and preserving food -- and the renewed interest in growing and preserving your own food led to the sentiment FOCUS on the good LIFE.

There's also a bit of British humor tucked into the design. The sentiment is a nod to the sitcom The Good Life and its humorous take on the challenges of self-sufficiency in suburbia. To create her custom sentiment, Monika combined Simple Expressions: FOCUS with the word LIFE from the Bold Sentiments: Journey stamp set.

She created the layered background by partially stamping and ink blending with the solid FOCUS stamp, then stenciling another section with the Square Lots Square Stencil. The pattern is a subtle nod to garden trellis and homegrown food. Low-tack masking tape allowed her to isolate each area as she worked and build the different sections cleanly.

Creative Takeaway

Monika's two FOCUS features are a great example of how dramatically color can change the personality of the exact same supplies. Her earlier black-and-white cards were clean, graphic, and sophisticated. These colorful versions feel warmer, more playful, and unmistakably retro -- yet they all begin with the same Simple Expressions: FOCUS stamps and Retro People ATCs.

There's another useful idea here, too: let your supplies lead the design. A scrap of cardstock can inspire an unexpected layout. An image can suggest a completely new sentiment. A stencil pattern can reinforce the story behind a card.

You don't always need to have the entire design figured out before you start. Sometimes the most interesting ideas come from simply playing with what's already in front of you.

Discover What's Possible

Our Simple Expressions stamps were designed to make it easy to pair words that matter with the paper goods already in your stash. The solid and outline versions of each word give you even more ways to change the look and personality of your designs.

Pair any Simple Expressions stamp with a qualifying Paper Goods Pack and the paper goods are 40% off, making it a great time to experiment with your own combinations.

Until next time, keep creating with words that matter.

words that matter | DREAM & SPEAK + Pop Art Faces Card Fronts with Stephanie Severin

Happy Wednesday, STAMPfriends! We're back with another installment of our Words That Matter series, where our STAMPgirls pair Simple Expressions stamps with STAMPlorations paper goods to show just how easy it is to create cards that are quick, stylish, and meaningful.

Today, STAMPgirl Stephanie S. pairs two Simple Expressions -- DREAM and SPEAK -- with our bold and colorful Pop Art Faces Card Fronts. And these pairings couldn't be more perfect: DREAM big dreams and SPEAK beautiful things give each expressive face its own message and personality.

Stephanie is always showing us fresh ways to let paper goods take center stage. Here, the artwork does most of the visual heavy lifting, while those Simple Expressions provide exactly the right finishing words.

DREAM Big Dreams

For her first card, Stephanie chose one of the dramatic faces from the Pop Art Faces Card Fronts and layered it onto black cardstock before mounting it on a bright turquoise card base. She stamped the outline version of DREAM then stamped the solid version in red, pairing it with the scripty big dreams sub-sentiment. The strong black mat helps both the artwork and sentiment pop, while the turquoise card base picks up the vibrant color running through the face. The result is bold, graphic, and wonderfully encouraging -- exactly the kind of card that doesn't need a lot of extras to make an impact.

SPEAK Beautiful Things

Stephanie's second card turns up the color with another Pop Art Faces Card Front, this time featuring a fabulous sunglass-wearing face against a vibrant collage-style background. She paired it with the outline SPEAK and beautiful things sub-sentiment, stamping the solid version in purple to coordinate with the artwork and card base. A black mat around the sentiment gives it just enough definition against all that glorious color. It's a simple combination -- Card Front + sentiment -- but the personality of the artwork makes the finished card anything but ordinary.

Creative Takeaway

When you're working with a bold patterned card front, you don't have to compete with it. Let the artwork establish the color, style, and focal point, then use your sentiment to reinforce the mood.

Stephanie's cards are a great example of how Simple Expressions stamps and paper goods can become their own little cardmaking system. Start with a card front you love, pull a color from the artwork for your sentiment or card base, and let those few coordinated choices do the work.

And because Simple Expressions gives you both solid and outline versions of the main word, you can easily change the personality of your sentiment simply by changing how you stamp or color it.

Discover What's Possible

Our Simple Expressions stamps were designed to make it easy to pair words that matter with the paper goods already in your stash. Pair any Simple Expressions stamp with a qualifying Paper Goods Pack and the paper goods are 40% off, making it a great time to create your own combinations.

Stephanie's projects are another peek at just how versatile our paper goods can be. If you love having fresh designs to create with, check out our Paper Goods VIP Subscription -- you choose your favorites, so there are no mystery products showing up at your door.

Until next time, keep creating with words that matter.

beyond the card | a lavender folio with Angy Hughes

Happy Tuesday, STAMPfriends! Today we're back with another Paper Goods VIP Showcase from STAMPgirl Angy Hughes -- and this time, she's taking our paper goods beyond cardmaking.

Angy used the Lavender Pocket Backdrops along with sentiment stickers from Hey Sunshine and New Day to create a beautiful interactive folio filled with pockets, tuck spots, tags, and uplifting messages.

What Is a Papercrafting Folio?

If you're unfamiliar with folios, think of one as a cross between a mini scrapbook, a memory keeper, and an interactive paper project -- all folded into one compact package. 

A papercrafting folio is typically constructed from folded panels that create places to add pockets, flaps, and tuck spots. Those spaces can hold photos, journaling cards, tags, notes, ephemera, keepsakes, or whatever else you'd like to collect inside.

Part of the fun is that a folio doesn't reveal everything at once. You open it, unfold it, pull pieces from pockets, and discover what's tucked inside. And unlike a full scrapbook album, a folio can be relatively quick to assemble while still giving you lots of room to play with paper, texture, and layers.

Angy's project is a wonderful example.

A Look at the Cover

Closed, the folio already gives us a peek at what's waiting inside. Angy used one of the sheets in the Lavender Pocket Backdrops pack that features soft vintage imagery and lavender tones, which include a collage of florals, documents, handwriting, and butterflies. A pocket on the front holds another butterfly piece, while ribbon and lace add texture. The "soar high" sticker gives the cover its finishing message and hints at the encouraging words tucked throughout the project.

Open It Up...

...and there's a lot more to discover! Once the folio is completely opened, the different panels become a patchwork of lavender, cream, vintage papers, florals, and butterflies. Pockets and tuck spots hold removable tags and pieces while still allowing the patterned papers underneath to become part of the design. Angy scattered sentiments from the Hey Sunshine and New Day clear stickers throughout: yes, you can; be amazing; embrace life; you are a gift; be fearless; choose to shine. Rather than adding one main sentiment as we might on a card, the little messages become discoveries within the folio.

And Look What's Tucked Inside

Remove everything from the pockets and you can really see how much a small folio can hold. Angy created an assortment of coordinating tags using sheets in the pack -- all featuring the same lavender, butterfly, floral, and vintage imagery found throughout the project. Each becomes a little project in its own right, finished with messages including choose kindness, change the world, you are a gift, be fearless, and be amazing. They can be pulled out, handled, read, written on, or simply enjoyed as part of the interactive experience.

Don't Forget the Back

Even the closed backside becomes another opportunity for a pocket and more tucked-in pieces. That's one of the things we love about projects like this: there's no reason to limit the creativity to the "front." Every panel can become useful real estate for another pocket, another image, or another little surprise.

Creative Takeaway: Think Beyond the Card

Paper goods don't have to stay flat on a card front. Pocket Backdrops in particular lend themselves beautifully to projects like folios because they can be cut apart, layered, folded, tucked into pockets, or turned into tags and other interactive elements. And because the designs within a pack already coordinate, you can repeat colors and imagery throughout a larger project without having to hunt through your stash for pieces that work together. Add clear stickers and you have an easy way to scatter words and messages throughout the project without introducing bulky layers.

Cards may be where our paper goods often begin, but Angy's folio is a wonderful reminder that they certainly don't have to end there.

Discover What's Possible

Our Paper Goods VIP Subscription lets you choose the paper goods you want every four weeks -- including Card Fronts, ATCs, Collage Sheets, Pocket Backdrops, and more. No mystery box and no long-term commitment: simply choose the designs that inspire you and see where they take your creativity.

Maybe they'll become cards. Or maybe, like Angy, you'll turn them into an entire little world that unfolds in your hands.

words that matter | INSPIRE + Artsy Abstract #2 with Maria Fischer

Sometimes the best cards really can be that simple: sentiment stamp + card front = handmade card.

Today, STAMPgirl Maria pairs Simple Expressions: INSPIRE with the bold, colorful Artsy Abstract #2 Card Fronts to show just how quickly that formula can turn into finished cards. In fact, one of these should have taken her just 4 minutes -- but a mid-card design change turned it into 8 :o)

But once you know where you're going with your design, these projects are a great example of just how quickly Simple Expressions and our ready-to-use paper goods can turn into finished cards.

Card 1: Four-Minute Simplicity

For her first card, Maria let the card front do nearly all the work. She stamped INSPIRE someone today onto a simple die-cut label, placed it over the colorful design, and called it done. This is exactly what Simple Expressions was designed to do: give you a strong sentiment that works naturally with our paper goods without requiring layers of additional supplies. And yes, Maria says this one really could have been a four-minute card...had she not changed her mind about the card base halfway through!

Card 2: Make the Sentiment Part of the Pattern

For the second card, Maria took a completely different approach. Instead of using INSPIRE once as a focal sentiment, she repeatedly stamped the solid word across the card front, alternating the direction to create another graphic layer within the existing design. An offcut black frame gives the repeated words structure and helps define the composition. It's a simple idea, but it completely changes the role of the sentiment. Instead of sitting on the design, the word becomes part of the design itself.

Card 3: Add Your Own Marks

For the final card, Maria again kept things wonderfully simple. She stamped INSPIRE someone today directly onto the card front and added a few white gel pen marks to some of the existing shapes. A black mat gives all those bright colors a crisp frame. Those tiny additions are enough to personalize the printed card front without covering up the artwork that made it appealing in the first place.

Creative Takeaway

Maria's three cards are a great reminder that quick doesn't have to mean repetitive. Use the sentiment as your focal point. Repeat it to create a pattern. Add a few hand-drawn details. Use a leftover die-cut or frame from another project. Small choices can give the same stamp-and-paper-goods combination completely different personalities.

And Maria did the math for us: at roughly four minutes per card and eight card fronts in a pack, you could theoretically turn an entire pack into eight handmade cards in about 30 minutes. Not too shabby :o)

Discover What's Possible

Simple Expressions stamps were designed to make creating easier: meaningful words, versatile sentiments, and plenty of ways to combine them with the paper goods already in your stash.

Pair INSPIRE -- or any Simple Expressions set -- with Card Fronts, ATCs, Collage Sheets, Pocket Backdrops, or Ephemera Cut-Out Sheets and see how much you can create without making the process complicated.

Until next time, keep creating with words that matter.

Paper Goods Showcase | Old Letters Pocket Backdrops with Stephanie

Today we're taking another look at how versatile our paper goods can be with two beautiful cards from STAMPgirl Stephanie L., both featuring the Old Letters Pocket Backdrops.

The vintage handwriting and softly distressed details in this pack make it wonderful for backgrounds and layering, but Stephanie shows that you don't have to use a Pocket Backdrop exactly as it comes. Cutting it apart or allowing just portions of the design to peek through can give the same paper an entirely different role on a card.

Cut It Apart

For her first card, Stephanie cut the Old Letters Pocket Backdrop into three long panels and matted each one with berry cardstock. Arranged side by side on kraft, those narrow strips turn the printed paper into a strong graphic background while still allowing us to see the flowers and vintage handwriting running through the design.

She added a butterfly from Trendy Butterflies 2, embossed in rose gold on vellum, along with a die-cut "hello". The vellum band across the card softens the patterned background just enough and gives the butterfly and sentiment their own space.

Creative lesson: Try cutting your paper goods into strips, squares, or other shapes instead of always using them as a complete panel. You can completely change the look of a design while still letting the original artwork show through.

Let It Peek Through

Stephanie took a much simpler approach on her second card, using the Old Letters Pocket Backdrop as a background layer behind a soft blush panel. This time, only the outer portions of the Pocket Backdrop are visible, creating a lovely frame of florals and handwritten script. A delicate vellum butterfly cut with the Flutter Zen 1 Layering Dies becomes the focal point, while a sentiment from the Bloomdala Bliss stamp set finishes the clean, elegant design.

I especially like how the vellum butterfly allows hints of the background underneath to remain visible. It's a beautiful way to add another layer without covering up all that lovely detail.

Creative lesson: You don't have to show an entire patterned paper for it to make an impact. Letting portions peek out around a simpler layer can add color, texture, and interest without making the card feel busy.

Discover What's Possible

These two cards are a great example of how one pack of paper goods can take on completely different looks depending on how you use it. Cut it apart, cover part of it, layer over it, or let just a little of the design show.

That's part of the fun of our Pocket Backdrops -- they give you a ready-made starting point while leaving plenty of room to make the design your own.

The Old Letters Pocket Backdrops are available in the store and are also one of the paper goods you can choose through our Paper Goods VIP Subscription.

Until next time, keep creating and discovering what's possible with STAMPlorations paper goods.

words that matter | FOCUS + Retro People ATCs with Monika Skinner

Sometimes the simplest designs make the strongest statement.

Today, STAMPgirl Monika is back with three striking black-and-white cards featuring the Simple Expressions: FOCUS stamps paired with Retro People ATCs. 

With a limited color palette, minimal supplies, and a few clever techniques, she created three stylish cards that put the word itself right where it belongs -- in focus.

Putting FOCUS in Focus

For her first card, Monika turned the meaning of the word into part of the design. She stamped FOCUS repeatedly down the card, using softer gray impressions for most of the words and one strong black impression to immediately draw the eye. To create the faded effect, she used an older Versafine Onyx Black ink pad -- but you can easily recreate the look by stamping off onto scrap paper before making the second impression on your card. The black-and-white Retro People ATC fits beautifully into the graphic design, while another crisp black FOCUS impression overlaps the ATC. And there's a clever technique behind that seamless stamping.

Creative Tip

When you want a stamped image to cross over multiple layers without an obvious break, use a stamp-positioning tool. Monika first stamped FOCUS onto her card base and kept the stamp in position. After adding the ATC, she stamped again in exactly the same place. This allows FOCUS to visually continue across the different layers and creates a much more seamless result. I especially love how the technique reinforces the message of this card. Among all those softer, slightly "out-of-focus" words, your eye immediately lands on the one crisp black FOCUS.

Simple Lines, Big Impact

For her next two cards, Monika took an even more minimal approach. The first uses just three main elements: a Retro People ATC, the FOCUS on the good sentiment, and three embossed lines. She created the lines with a scoring board and scoring tool, adding subtle texture and structure without competing with the focal image. The lines also help visually anchor the ATC and sentiment. No scoring board? Monika suggests using a ruler and bone folder on the inside of the card front to create a similar effect.

Her final card uses the same basic design idea, but this time the lines are inked. Monika inked the edge of a ruler and used a second ruler as a guide to keep everything straight. Those three simple lines add just enough visual interest to connect the focal image and sentiment while preserving all that wonderful white space. Sometimes the simplest things really do make a difference.

Creative Takeaway

These three cards are a great reminder that simple doesn't have to mean plain. Monika used very few supplies, but small design choices -- changing the intensity of an ink impression, adding embossed lines, or introducing three thin inked lines -- give each card its own character.

They're also a wonderful example of letting a word inspire the actual design. On that first card especially, FOCUS isn't merely something you read. The contrast between the faded and crisp impressions makes you experience the idea visually. And paired with the timeless black-and-white Retro People ATCs, the result is graphic, stylish, and wonderfully cohesive.

Words That Matter

FOCUS on the good.

That's the message behind this Simple Expressions set, and it's one that can work especially well for encouragement, support, or those little handmade pep talks we sometimes want to send someone.

Simple Expressions stamps are also designed to pair easily with the paper goods you already love. Try FOCUS with ATCs as Monika has done here, or combine it with Card Fronts, Collage Sheets, Pocket Backdrops, or Ephemera Cut-Out Sheets to create your own coordinating cardmaking combinations.

And remember: when you purchase a Simple Expressions stamp, you can pair it with a qualifying Paper Goods Pack and the paper goods are automatically 40% off.

Until next time, keep creating with words that matter.

Creative Tip of the Day | 3 Ways to Make Your Dies Work Harder

Sometimes the best creative inspiration comes from taking another look at supplies we already have.

For today's Creative Tip of the Day, we're revisiting three projects from the STAMPlorations archives by STAMPgirls Monika, Shirley, and Vicki. Each card uses CUTplorations dies in a completely different way -- and together, they're a great reminder that a die can do much more than simply create an embellishment.

Creative Tip: Look Beyond the Obvious

When you pull out a die, don't feel limited by its most obvious use. A die-cut can add texture to a background, become a repeated design element, or take center stage as the focal point of your card. Here are three ways our STAMPgirls did exactly that.

1. Add Texture + Pattern with a Border Die

On Monika's beautiful floral card, the Art Border #3 Die creates a delicate patterned panel behind the flowers. Rather than competing with the focal image, all those tiny die-cut details add texture and interest while still allowing the flowers to shine.

Creative lesson: Detailed border dies don't have to be the star of the card. Try using them as supporting layers whenever a background needs a little something extra.

2. Turn a Die-Cut into Your Own Pattern

Shirley took a completely different approach with the Dragonfly Layering Dies. Instead of using all the layers, she used the solid dragonfly shape repeatedly across that fabulous orange background. The repetition transforms a single die-cut shape into an all-over pattern  -- almost like creating your own patterned paper.

Creative lesson: Layering dies don't always have to be layered! Try using just one component repeatedly to create a completely different look.

3. Let a Silhouette Take Center Stage

Vicki's card shows just how powerful a simple silhouette can be. The Perched Bird Die becomes the focal point against the large glowing circle and dramatic black background. There aren't a lot of elements competing for attention, so that recognizable silhouette gets to do all the work.

Creative lesson: Sometimes a strong die-cut shape is all you need. Pair a silhouette with a bold background or simple geometric shape and let it become the star.

Why We Love It

These three projects couldn't look more different, but they all demonstrate the versatility of dies. A die can be a background. It can become a pattern. It can be the focal point. So the next time you reach for one of your dies, instead of asking, What is this die supposed to do? try asking: What else could I do with it? You might discover an entirely new way to use something that's been sitting in your stash for years.

Rediscover Your CUTplorations Dies

If these projects have you wanting to play with dies again, August is a great time to do it. All CUTplorations thin metal dies are instantly 15% off throughout August -- no code needed.

Take another look through the CUTplorations collection and see what new possibilities you can discover.

Until next time, keep creating and discovering what's possible with the supplies you already love.