words that matter | DREAM + Memphis Cool with Stephanie Severin

Some words invite us to imagine what's possible. They encourage us to look beyond where we are today and take that first step toward something bigger. That's exactly the feeling I hoped to capture when I designed DREAM for the Simple Expressions collection.

When I paired the DREAM stamp with our Memphis Cool Pocket Backdrops, I was thinking about how well the bold, graphic styles complemented each other. But when Stephanie's projects landed in my inbox, I noticed something I hadn't fully appreciated before.

The geometric shapes suddenly reminded me of planets, orbits, and the vastness of space. Paired with the word DREAM, the pocket backdrops seemed to take on a whole new meaning -- as if they were encouraging us to dream beyond the horizon and imagine what it could be.

That's one of my favorite parts of the creative process. Sometimes our products come together in ways we didn't intentionally plan, revealing new possibilities along the way.

Today, STAMPgirl Stephanie is sharing three wonderful examples of that unexpected pairing. It's hard to not notice how perfectly these two products complement each other. The bold geometric shapes remind me of planets, orbits, and the endless possibilities that exist beyond what we can see. It's a fitting backdrop for a sentiment that encourages us to dream big.

Stephanie kept each design wonderfully clean and simple, allowing the DREAM sentiment to remain the focal point. By changing the card orientation, mat colors, and embellishments, she created three distinct designs while proving that you don't need a complicated layout to make a meaningful impact.

One of my favorite things about these cards is how naturally the Memphis Cool Pocket Backdrops frame the sentiment. Originally designed as pocket-sized backgrounds, they become much more than that here. Their playful geometric patterns and bold colors create movement and energy without competing with the focal sentiment. The result feels modern, optimistic, and full of possibility.

Stephanie's trio is also a wonderful reminder that sometimes the simplest designs leave the biggest impression: A meaningful word. A thoughtfully chosen background. A few coordinating embellishments. Sometimes that's all it takes.

Discover What's Possible

One of the things I love most about designing products is discovering unexpected pairings like this one. On their own, the DREAM stamp set and the Memphis Cool Pocket Backdrops are two completely different products. Together, they create something neither one could achieve alone. 

That's exactly what the Simple Expressions collection is all about. Pair a meaningful word with Card Fronts, Artist Trading Cards (ATCs), Collage Sheets, Pocket Backdrops, or Ephemera Cut-Out Sheets, and you'll often discover combinations that surprise you in the best possible way.

During our Simple Expressions release, purchase any Simple Expressions stamp set and add one qualifying paper goods pack to your order for 40% off. It's the perfect opportunity to discover just how effortlessly these collections work together -- and perhaps even find your own unexpected pairing.

Until next time, keep creating with words that matter.

Paper Goods Spotlight | Christmas Cheer & Cozy Campers with Stephanie

One of the things I enjoy most about our Paper Goods collections is seeing how a few thoughtfully chosen pieces can come together to tell a story. Today's projects from STAMPgirl Stephanie capture the fun and whimsy of the holiday season, proving that Christmas crafting doesn't have to wait until December!

For her first card, Stephanie created a cheerful holiday scene using one of the Campers of Cheer Ephemera Cuts as the focal point. She layered it over a festive forest created with our Simply Christmas Card Fronts, finishing the card with one of our Simple Christmas Clear Stickers. I love how the camper, presents, and colorful trees work together to create a playful little Christmas adventure.

Her second card takes a clean-and-simple approach with plenty of holiday sparkle. Stephanie created the festive red background using our Onion in Raws Stencil, then paired another Campers of Cheer Ephemera Cut with a sentiment from our Simple Christmas Clear Stickers. A few metallic embellishments finish the card beautifully, letting the camper remain the star of the design.

Creative Takeaway

One thing that caught my eye is how Stephanie used two very different backgrounds to create completely different holiday scenes. One feels playful and storybook-inspired with the collage Christmas trees, while the other has a clean, graphic look that lets the festive camper take center stage.

It's a great reminder that changing the background can completely transform the feel of a project, even when you're working with products from the same collection.

Discover What's Possible

If these projects have you thinking about holiday crafting, now is the perfect time to start building your Christmas stash while our Christmas in July Sale is happening! Through July 31, you'll save 30% instantly on select Christmas-themed stamps, dies, stencils, Paper Goods, and clear stickers -- no coupon code needed.

And if you enjoy having fresh creative supplies ready whenever inspiration strikes, don't forget about our Paper Goods Subscriptions. Unlike traditional mystery subscriptions, you choose exactly which Paper Goods you'd like to receive each month. Select the Card Front Packs, ATC Packs, or mix and match your favorites with our Paper Goods VIP Subscription -- whatever best fits your creative style and the projects you're excited to make next.

Because creativity isn't one-size-fits-all, and your monthly Paper Goods shouldn't be either.

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

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!

Bold Pop Art and Floral Vibes from Stephanie Severin

Hello, STAMPfriends! Today we're thrilled to share two striking, high-contrast cards created by the incredibly talented Stephanie Severin. If you want to see how to effortlessly combine edgy pop art textures with classic floral elements, Stephanie’s latest designs are a must-see.

She used a mix of our curated paper goods, featuring both the Pop Art Faces card fronts and the Flowers + Coffee Focal Fronts, pairing them perfectly with sentiments from the Floral Magic clear stickers.

Let’s dive into how she brought these stunning, layered masterpieces together:

High-Contrast Red Pop Art Card

For her first project, Stephanie created a dramatic look with a bright red card base. At the center, she featured an expressive collage face card front. She layered a beautiful coffee cup surrounded by vibrant red and yellow roses right onto the corner. To finish the design, she added a clear sentiment sticker at the bottom right that reads, "Bloom your own way. Every flower has its own magic." and accented the corners with sharp black chevron details.

Vibrant Blue Sunglasses Card

Stephanie’s second card brings a completely different pop of color with a bright blue card base. This time, she chose a cool, sunglass-wearing collage face from the Pop Art Faces card fronts as her main backdrop. On the right side, she layered a cheerful yellow vase bursting with colorful blue, orange, pink, and red flowers from the Flowers & Coffee Focal Fronts. She added a sweet, scripty sentiment at the bottom left using the clear stickers that say, "Sending you a garden of happiness to brighten up your world today," and completed the look with white chevron accents in opposite corners.

Keep Your Craft Room Stocked with Premium Designs!

Want to skip the hassle of matching complex patterns and coloring detailed images from scratch? Our subscription services deliver expertly curated paper goods straight to your mailbox every month so you can jump right into the fun part -- assembling beautiful art! The best part? YOU pick what you want to receive each month! You're in control.

Check out our monthly subscription options to find the perfect creative fit for you:

• Join the Paper Goods Subscription

• Explore the ATC Subscription

• Discover the Card Fronts Subscription

We hope Stephanie's bold designs have inspired you to mix and match your paper elements this week. Happy crafting!

Artsy Masculine Cards for Father's Day with Stephanie

Happy Father's Day, STAMPfriends! If you're looking for the ultimate inspiration for high-impact, artistic masculine cards, you're in the right place. Today, Stephanie shows easy it is to mix bold artistic prints to create projects that any coffee-loving dad would cherish.

Instead of spending hours painting intricate backgrounds, Stephanie let our heavy-lifting Paper Goods products do all the hard work for her. By pairing vibrant, energetic coffee focal pieces with detailed background textures, she put together two gorgeous cards that are perfect for celebrating today!

Let's dive into Stephanie's beautiful creations:

Pop Art Coffee with Industrial Patchwork Accent Card

Stephanie focused on a beautifully detailed coffee cup focal piece from the Pop Art Coffee ATC pack. She matted the vibrant green and yellow coffee artwork on a bright yellow stitched frame. For the background, she showcased a dynamic, colorful sheet from the Industrial Patchwork Collage Papers collection, featuring striking panels of red, teal, black, and orange. She anchored the layout with clean vertical cardstock strips in teal and red running right behind the main image. To finish the card, she stamped the "Happy Father's Day" sentiment from the Sweet and Sassy Dad stamp set in red ink onto a crisp white strip and added three glossy black embellishments in the upper left corner.

Modern Abstract Coffee Card

Stephanie embraced a bold, modern abstract layout. She used another eye-catching coffee cup focal piece from the Pop Art Coffee ATC pack, featuring a striking teal, black, and orange design with swirls of steaming coffee. She layered this piece over a dramatic black label die-cut silhouette. The entire assembly is beautifully mounted over a full-panel background using the rich, multi-colored textures of the Industrial Patchwork Collage Papers. To keep the theme perfectly cohesive, she applied the clean "Happy Father's Day" sentiment from the Sweet and Sassy Dad stamp set right across tthe coffee mug artwork.

Aren't these cards just the perfect mix of artsy texture and masculine style for Father's Day?

Ready to build your own artistic paper stash?

Join our monthly subscription clubs to get these gorgeous heavy-lifting bases delivered straight to your door:

• Paper Goods VIP Subscription: Pick any 4 premium paper goods products of your choice every month with free US shipping!

• ATC VIP Subscription: Perfect for mini-masterpiece creators and trading card enthusiasts.

• Card Fronts VIP Subscription: Your ultimate shortcut to quick, beautiful card bases.

Don't forget to head over to Stephanie's blog to leave her some love on her post! What are you creating for the dads in your life today? Let us know in the comments below!

Graphic Impact: Bold Typography with Stephanie

Hello crafting friends! Stephanie Severin is back here on the blog and this time, she shares how how easy it is to create eye-catching projects with minimal supplies.

In both cards, Stephanie relied on a powerful combination: a graphic, bold background paired (Thank You A2 card fronts) with a strong sentiment die-cut. By letting the designs on the card fronts do the heavy lifting, she shows how you can make an incredible, high-impact project in just a few quick steps.

Here is a look at her two gorgeous cards:

Thank You in Masculine Colors

In her first card, Stephanie added a beautiful texture to the typography background by spraying the panel with distress oxide sprays, layered on a playful splatter of paint, and finished it off with a bit of distress spritz for a subtle shimmer. She topped the bold panel with a crisp, neutral die-cut using the Thanks word die, creating a clean point of focus that perfectly balances the busy, graphic pattern behind it.

Bold and Bright Thanks

For her second card, Stephanie chose a vibrant color palette to bring the same typography design to life. She applied a fresh layer of distress oxide sprays and added splatters of matching paint and distress spritz across the design. To complete the look, she die-cut the Thanks word die out of a deep green cardstock, providing a rich, high-contrast focal point that immediately draws the eye.

Join the Club!

Love getting your hands on beautiful, heavy-duty card bases and printed papers before anyone else? Check out our monthly club options to keep your stash fully stocked and ready for quick crafting sessions:

• Paper Goods VIP Subscription -- Each month, YOU pick what you want from current paper goods in the store: premium thick card fronts, colorables, ephemera, focal fronts, pocket backdrops, cut-out sheets, and collage paper packs.

• Card Fronts VIP Subscription -- The ultimate time-saver! Get a fresh batch of ready-to-customize, artsy A2 card fronts delivered to your door every single month.

Mixed Media Magic: Inky Blooms with Stephanie

We're delighted to share a couple of stunning slimline inspiration today from Stephanie Severin. Stephanie has a way of blending vibrant pops of color with artistic textures that really stand out. This time, she's diving into the world of mixed media using some of our favorite colorables to create cards that are pure eye candy.

 

Instant Art: Crafting High-Impact 5x7s with Stephanie Severin

We're excited to share these stunning 5x7 cards created by the talented Stephanie Severin! Using elements from our Paper Goods collections, Stephanie has crafted two distinct looks that highlight the versatility of these pre-printed designs.

Whether you love bold, modern pop art or soft, vintage florals, these projects show how you can build a beautiful card base in minutes.

 

Blooming with Inspiration: Quick & Easy Florals with Stephanie 🌸✨

Hello, STAMPfriends! We're happy to share more spring inspiration from our guest designer, Stephanie Severin. Today, Stephanie is showcasing how you can create professional-looking, art-focused cards in no time using our Quick Cards #3: Spring Florals A2 Card Fronts.

These card fronts are the perfect solution for when you want to send a handmade hug but are short on time. They are also the star of the show for our subscription services! Whether you're looking for a little monthly treat with our Card Fronts VIP Subscription (you pick 1 set every month) or you want the full creative buffet with the Paper Goods VIP Subscription (you pick any 4 paper goods like card fronts, ATCs, ephemera, collage papers, or colorables), we’ve got a plan to keep your stash stocked and your creativity flowing. 💌🎨

🌼 Wild and Free Florals

Retro Vibes & Bold Abstracts: Creating High-Impact Cards with Paper Goods 🌸🎨

Hello, STAMPfriends! Today we’re shining a spotlight on some vibrant, mixed-media inspiration from the talented Stephanie Severin. If you love the look of bold abstracts and vintage vibes but want to save time on the "messy" parts, you are going to love how Stephanie combined our pre-printed paper goods with classic stamps. These projects perfectly showcase how our Paper Goods Subscription can jumpstart your layout and let you get straight to the fun part -- assembling and embellishing! 🌸🎨

1. Be Creative Retro Camera Card

✨ Holiday Magic: Quick and Festive Cards with Stephanie 🎨🎄

Happy Wednesday! Today, we're thrilled to feature Stephanie Severin's awesome work of Stephanie Severin. 🌟 Stephanie is here to show us how to create stunning, high-impact holiday cards using STAMPlorations paper goods. Her projects are a perfect showcase for our three subscription clubs: Paper Goods, ATC, and Card Fronts. 📦✨

🌸 Layered Textures & Bold Blooms: Stephanie’s Paper Goods Showcase! 🌸

We're thrilled to welcome Stephanie back to the blog today for a stunning showcase of our versatile Paper Goods collections! Stephanie is a master of creating depth and texture, and she’s here to show us how our collage papers, card fronts, and ephemera can be the foundation for incredible card designs.

Let’s check out Stephanie’s gorgeous creations:

🌷 Springtime Strength: Stephanie’s Stunning Color Me Spring ATC Duo ✨🦋

Spring is in the air, and Stephanie is here to show us how our latest paper goods can transform into powerful, heart-felt projects! featuring the brand new Color Me Spring ATC pack, these two cards combine delicate seasonal imagery with the bold, empowering sentiments of the Strong Women set. 🎨💪

Here is a closer look at how Stephanie brought these spring ATCs to life:

🌸 [Paper Goods Showcase] Springing into Creativity with Stephanie! 🌸

Hello, STAMPfriends! We're excited to have the incredibly talented Stephanie Severin back for our Paper Goods Showcase! If you’ve been looking for ways to stretch your stash and create stunning, layered cards without the stress, you are in for a treat.

Today, Stephanie shows us how to perfectly pair our Newsprint Blooms Ephemera Tiles with the Mixed Media Spring ATCs. Her cards are a masterclass in "collage chic," proving that with the right paper goods, a high-end look is just a few snips away! ✨

🏗️ Grit and Grace: Unveiling Industrial Patchwork with Stephanie Severin ✨

Happy Wednesday, STAMPfriends! We're bursting with excitement to introduce you to the last pack in The Artistic Crafter's Collage Paper Anthology, vol. 1. This stunning collection, available for pre-order until tonight, March 4, is a true mixed-media artist's dream, featuring 9 unique and incredibly textured paper packs.

Today, we're putting the spotlight on Industrial Patchwork—a pack that beautifully blends grit and grace. To show you just how versatile and inspiring these papers are, guest designer Stephanie Severin, has created two gorgeous projects to share with you. Get ready to be inspired. ✨

Industrial Patchwork: Unveiling the Grit and Grace

{Paper Goods Showcase} Framed Flowers Colorables with Stephanie Severin! 🌸✨

Our guest designer Stephanie Severin is back, and this time she’s putting the spotlight on one of our absolute favorite "mix-and-match" staples: the Framed Flowers Colorables. 🎨🖌️

If you love the look of vintage textures paired with crisp botanical illustrations, these are about to become your new best friend. Stephanie has perfectly captured how these small-but-mighty elements can transform a card from "nice" to "wow!" 🤩

{Paper Goods Showcase} Springing into Creativity with Stephanie Severin

Let's be honest: we've all had those days where the "creative itch" is real, but the clock is ticking. You want to send a handmade hug, but you don't necessarily have three hours to hand-paint a watercolor masterpiece.

That is exactly why our Quick Card Fronts exist, and today, I'm thrilled to have the incredibly talented Stephanie Severin guest designing on the blog to show us how it's done. Stephanie took our Quick Card Fronts #3 – Spring Florals and turned them into two distinct, beautiful cards.

Card #1: Faith & Florals

In her first card, Stephanie showcases how beautifully our card fronts play with sentiment stamps. She used the vibrant, warm-toned flowers from the Spring Florals #3 set as her base.

• The Design: By layering a smaller, framed floral element over the main card front, she added incredible depth.

• The Finishing Touch: She paired this with a powerful sentiment from the Faith Expressions stamp set.

• Why it works: The "I can do all things through Christ..." sentiment (Philippians 4:13) perfectly complements the uplifting, sun-drenched colors of the florals. It’s a soulful, encouraging card that looks like it took hours but came together in a snap!

Card #2: Be Bold, Be Fabulous

Stephanie’s second card proves that "Spring Florals" doesn't always have to mean "Pastels." Using the deeper magentas and moody purples from the same Quick Card Fronts #3 set, she went for a bold, modern look.

• The Die-Cut Magic: Stephanie combined the card front with two of our favorite CUTplorations thin metal word dies: the "BE" (from the You Word die set) and the Fabulous word die.

• The Vibe: The contrast between the rich floral background and the crisp die-cut words makes this card pop right off the envelope. It’s the ultimate "just because" card for the fabulous person in your life.

Get Your Crafty Fix Every Month (and Save!)

If you love the look of these cards, you’ll love our subscription services. Whether you’re a "one set a month" crafter or a "give me all the paper" creator, we’ve got a plan that fits your budget and your stash.

Subscription Tier	What You Get	Monthly Price (inclusive of shipping)
Card Front Subscription	Your choice of one Card Front set each month (currently 31 sets to choose from!)	$7 (US); $9 (Canada); $11 (Rest of the world)
Paper Goods Subscription	The ultimate value! Pick any four paper goods (Card Fronts, ATC, Ephemera, or Colorables)	$21/month (US only)

With 31 different card front sets currently in the store, you could go over two and a half years without ever picking the same set twice!

Ready to elevate your card-making game?

Don’t let "crafter’s block" or a busy schedule stop you from making something beautiful. Join the club and get high-quality, designer-look backgrounds delivered to your inbox/doorstep every month. There's no minimum subscription commitment -- you can cancel anytime.

Click here to explore our Subscription Options and start creating beautiful cards in no time!

{Special Post} STAMPlorations 5th Birthday Hop feat. STAMPgirl Stephanie Severin

Happy Monday, STAMPlorations friends! Ready for another round of inspiring and creative projects? It's STAMPgirl Stephanie's turn as she shares 3 favorite past projects and 2 new ones.

And here are her new creations:

Ingredients:

Hashtag Authentic | Bloom Factory

Ingredient: 

Quitting - Typographia Motivate

Inspired by Stephanie's cards? Go ahead and CASE one or some or all of them...then link up to our Birthday Linky Party aka CASE the STAMPgirls Challenge. The linky is found at the end of the post HERE. Five lucky players will win a $50 gift certificate to the store -- one of them could be you! :o)

For a chance to win a $25 gift certificate, leave a comment on this post and on Stephanie's blog.

For a chance to win up to $25 worth of STAMPlorations products, create and link up your wishlist here.

PS: Did you know that every Monday this month, select products in the store are 50% off? The flash sale lasts for 48 hours only! Head over to the store and check it out :o)

PPS: We have $5 Birthday Bash Surprise Bags -- each bag has at least $20 worth of STAMPlorations goodies inside! Check them out here.