Paper Goods Showcase | Vintage Florals + Powerful Women with Angy

Paper goods can give you a beautiful place to start, whether you're building a layered card around a vintage image or creating a mixed-media design from an ATC and a sheet of collage paper. STAMPgirl Angy shows both approaches with these two projects, using different STAMPlorations paper goods as the foundation for each card.

Add Texture to a Vintage Card Front

For her first card, Angy started with a Vintage Flowers card front, letting the vintage floral artwork provide the main focal point. She added the Tapestry stencil over the background to bring in another layer of pattern and texture, then finished the card with a sentiment from the Faith Expressions stamp set.

The vintage artwork and stenciled texture work especially well together. The card front gives you an instant focal image, while the stencil lets you add your own creative touch without having to build the entire background from scratch.

Turn an ATC into the Focal Point

Angy's second card takes a different approach, starting with a Powerful Women ATC. She layered a Mixed Media Background clear sticker directly over the ATC, adding another visual element while still allowing the artwork underneath to remain part of the design. For the card base, she used a sheet from the Botanical Beats collage paper pack, which gives the ATC a soft, botanical setting and ties the different elements together.

I love this kind of layering because the ATC doesn't have to be used by itself. Adding a clear sticker over the artwork and pairing it with collage paper creates a finished composition with very little fuss.

Start with Paper Goods, Then Make It Your Own

Both of Angy's cards show why paper goods make such useful creative starting points. A card front can provide the artwork for an entire card, while an ATC can become the focal point of a layered collage. Add a stencil, stamp, clear sticker, or another sheet of paper goods, and you've got plenty of room to put your own spin on the design.

You don't always need to start with a blank piece of cardstock and figure everything out from there. Sometimes the right piece of paper is already waiting for you. From there, it's simply a matter of deciding what you want to add.

Until next time, keep creating and discovering what's possible with STAMPlorations Paper Goods.

Paper Goods Showcase | Pop Art Coffee ATCs with Angy

Sometimes a great focal piece is all you need to get a mixed-media card started. STAMPgirl Angy shows us how with two cards featuring the Pop Art Coffee ATC, building layered backgrounds with stencils, stamped sentiments, and plenty of texture.

Make the Coffee the Star

For her first card, Angy placed a colorful Pop Art Coffee ATC front and center, then built a warm, coffee-themed background around it. She used the Dots 'n Beans stencil along with the Chevron Crazy stencil to add pattern and movement, and finished the card with the Grab a Cup stamp. The bright colors in the ATC stand out against the more muted background, while the stenciled layers keep the rest of the card interesting without competing with the focal piece.

Build Layers Around Your Focal Point

Angy's second card takes the same Pop Art Coffee ATC and creates a different mixed-media setting for it. This time, she used the Dots 'n Beans stencil to build texture into the rich brown background and added the Coffee Always stamp for another coffee-themed detail. The result has that wonderfully layered mixed-media feel, with the ATC providing the colorful focal point while the stenciling creates depth and visual interest around it.

A Simple Formula for Mixed-Media Cards

These cards are a great reminder that you don't need to start with a complicated composition. Choose one piece you really like, make it your focal point, and build the rest of the card around it. 

A colorful ATC, a coordinating stencil, and a few stamped details can be enough to create a card with plenty of personality. The key is letting the focal piece guide your color choices and keeping the supporting layers connected to its theme.

Keep Creating with Paper Goods

The Pop Art Coffee ATC is just one of the many paper goods you can use as a starting point for your next project. With card fronts, ATCs, collage paper, pocket backdrops, and ephemera cut-out sheets to choose from, there are plenty of ways to mix, match, layer, and create.

With our Paper Goods VIP Subscription, you choose any four paper goods products every four weeks for $21, with free U.S. shipping. It's an easy way to keep a variety of creative starting points on hand and choose the ones that fit your projects.

Check out the Paper Goods VIP Subscription and see what catches your eye for your next project.

Until next time, keep creating and discovering what's possible with STAMPlorations Paper Goods.

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.

Mix, Match, and Layer: Paper Goods with Angy Hughes

Paper goods give you a beautiful starting point, and when you start mixing, matching, and layering them, the possibilities really open up.

Today, STAMPgirl Angy shows us two wonderfully colorful ways to combine different paper goods to create cards with lots of personality. From bold Alpha-Chroma Collage Sheets to delicate Lavender Pocket Backdrops, stenciling, and clear stickers, these projects are a great reminder that you don't have to stick to just one type of paper good on a card.

Sometimes the magic happens when you put several different pieces together and let them play off one another.

Start with a Bold Collage

For her first card, Angy creates a vibrant, graphic background using our Alpha-Chroma Collage Sheets. The colorful letterforms and hand-painted details fill the card with energy, while a large circular focal area gives the eye a place to rest.

She added sentiments from the Hey, Sunshine Clear Stickers pack to reinforce the cheerful feel of the design. The stickers become part of the collage rather than simply sitting on top of it, making them an easy way to add words without interrupting the artwork.

Creative lesson: When your background is already full of color and pattern, think of your sentiments as another design element. Clear stickers are especially useful because you can place them directly onto your composition without adding another bulky layer.

Layer Different Paper Goods

Angy's second card takes a completely different approach, combining several Paper Goods to create a softer, more layered composition. She started with a Lavender Pocket Backdrop as the base, then added texture and pattern with the Tapestry stencil and incorporated pieces from the Botanical Beats Paper Goods Pack. The result is a beautifully layered background with subtle patterns, botanical details, and plenty of visual interest. A sentiment from the Inspirational #2 Clear Stickers pack finishes the card without adding another heavy layer to the already detailed design.

I love how the different elements work together here. The Pocket Backdrop establishes the overall color and atmosphere, the stencil adds another layer of pattern, and the Botanical Beats pieces bring in the smaller details that make you want to look closer.

Creative lesson: Don't be afraid to combine different paper goods on the same project. Start with one piece that establishes your color palette or mood, then add smaller elements from other packs until you have the amount of layering and detail you want.

Mix and Match Your Paper Goods

Angy's two cards couldn't look more different, but they share the same basic idea: start with paper goods you love, then build from there.

A collage sheet can become an entire background. A pocket backdrop can establish the foundation for a layered design. A collage sheet can provide the little pieces that fill in the gaps. And clear stickers can add the perfect finishing words without requiring another stamping step.

That's what makes paper goods so much fun to work with. You can use one piece on its own, or combine several different products to create something that feels completely your own.

And if you like having a variety of designs to choose from, check out our Paper Goods VIP Subscription. You choose the paper goods you want each month, so you can mix and match from different collections and build your stash around your own style and projects.

Until next time, keep creating and discovering what's possible with STAMPlorations Paper Goods.

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.

Tuesday Inspiration: Beautiful Coffee ATC Cards by Angy

Happy Tuesday, STAMPfriends! We're thrilled to bring you another Paper Goods VIP Showcase from the talented Angy Hughes! Angy combined beautiful floral patterns with cozy coffee details to design two breathtaking cards that feel just like a warm morning cup of inspiration. She used our Botanical Beats Collage Papers and the Chevron Crazy Stencil to form the rich, textured backgrounds for both projects.

Joy in a Cup

Angy's first project brings together two gorgeous focal elements from our Springtime Coffee ATC pack. On the left, a vintage-style coffee pot is nestled among bright pink blooms; on the right, a charming stack of multi-colored, illustrated coffee cups stands tall. They look incredible layered over a background given extra depth with our Chevron Crazy Stencil. She added the perfect finishing touches using our Just Caffeinate Clear Stickers to display the phrases "it's coffee day", "rise and grind", and "joy in a cup".

Hello Gorgeous

For her second project, she centered a spectacular focal piece featuring a take-away coffee cup adorned with lovely pink and yellow floral sprays, cut from the Springtime Coffee ATC collection. It sits beautifully atop a warm, golden, and script-filled background sheet that features subtle chevron pattern details. To complete this elegant layout, she stamped the fluid script greeting "Hello Gorgeous" using our Sparkly stamp set.

Love the gorgeous, botanical-infused coffee styles Angy shared today? Check out our Paper Goods Subscriptions to discover how easy it is to get our monthly collections of collage papers, card fronts, and ATC layouts delivered straight to your door!

 

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!