Paper Goods Showcase | Artsy Abstract #2 + Color Me Spring with Stephanie

I love when a paper goods piece gives you a starting point rather than dictating exactly where a card has to go. STAMPgirl Stephanie's two projects are a great example of that. She used two very different paper goods packs, Artsy Abstract #2 Card Fronts and Color Me Spring ATC, and combined them with Found Fragments and other STAMPlorations products to create two colorful, mixed-media-inspired cards.

What really caught my eye is how the same Found Fragments collection works with both designs. The result is two cards that feel like they belong together while still having completely different personalities.

Build a Birthday Card Around a Colorful Focal Point

For her first card, Stephanie used an Artsy Abstract #2 Card Front as the foundation for a bright birthday design. She layered a colorful floral piece over the abstract background and added the Found Fragments 1, 2, and 3 to bring even more of that mixed-media feel to the design. The HAPPY BIRTHDAY stamping in the upper right adds another layer of pattern, while the sentiment from A Snarky Birthday to You brings in the perfect bit of attitude: “at least you're not as OLD as you will be next year.”

I also love that Stephanie carried the STAMPlorations branding into the back of the card with Makers Mark #1. It's a small detail, but it gives the finished card that extra handmade touch.

Let the Background Become Part of the Artwork

Stephanie took a different direction with her second card, using a Color Me Spring ATC as the focal point. The butterfly artwork brings plenty of color and detail on its own, but she surrounded it with more layers of pattern and texture using Found Fragments 1, 2, and 3. She added the star stamp from A Snarky Birthday to You and numbers from the retired Mixed Media Elements stamp set, letting those little stamped details become part of the background rather than simply adding a separate embellishment. The Inspirational #1 clear stickers sentiment completes the card with a message about learning to dance in the rain. I especially like how the large butterfly remains the focal point even with all the other visual elements happening around it.

Two Paper Goods Packs, Endless Possibilities

These two cards show just how differently paper goods can be used when you treat them as part of the design rather than the entire design. The Artsy Abstract #2 Card Front creates a colorful foundation for a playful birthday card, while the Color Me Spring ATC becomes the centerpiece of a more inspirational design.

And because Stephanie used Found Fragments on both cards, you can really see how a consistent supporting element can tie very different paper goods pieces together. Add a few stamps, a sentiment, and whatever else catches your eye, and suddenly you have a card that feels completely your own.

Creative Takeaway

Don't be afraid to layer different kinds of paper goods and stamped elements together. A card doesn't have to have one obvious background and one obvious focal point. Pattern, texture, artwork, numbers, and little stamped marks can all become part of the same visual story. Start with the paper goods piece that catches your eye, then look through your stash for elements that repeat its colors, shapes, or overall feel. You may be surprised by how well seemingly unrelated pieces work together.

Keep Creating with Paper Goods

Stephanie's projects are a wonderful reminder of why I love having different types of paper goods in the STAMPlorations lineup. Card fronts, ATCs, ephemera, and other paper goods can all become starting points for something much more personal when you mix them with stamps, stencils, dies, and pieces from your existing stash.

If you want more paper goods to play with, check out our Paper Goods VIP Subscription. You choose the paper goods you want every four weeks, so you can pick the designs that fit your creative style and keep discovering new combinations.

Until next time, keep creating with paper goods!

Paper Goods Showcase | Newsprint Blooms with Stephanie

The many collections in our paper goods line easily work together. Give two crafters the same paper goods pack, and there's a good chance they'll come up with two completely different cards.

That's exactly what STAMPgirl Stephanie shows with these two projects featuring Newsprint Blooms Ephemera Tiles. She paired the floral tiles with different card fronts, clear stickers, and dies, creating two colorful designs that have completely different personalities.

Make the Ephemera the Star

For her first card, Stephanie combined the Newsprint Blooms Ephemera Tiles with an Artsy Abstract #2 card front. The colorful abstract background provides plenty of energy, while the flower tiles create a strong focal point across the center of the card. She added Bits of Washi #1 clear stickers for even more graphic detail and used Skinny Sentiments Dies to bring in the sentiment.

I love how all those different elements work together without making the card feel overly busy. The ephemera tiles are clearly the stars, while the abstract background, washi details, and sentiment support the overall design. It's a great example of how a few carefully chosen supporting elements can turn a simple collection of ephemera into a finished card with lots of personality.

Repeat a Shape, Build a Design

Stephanie took a completely different approach with her second card. This time, she paired the Newsprint Blooms Ephemera Tiles with a Color Me Blooms Spring Florals Colorables card front. The large floral line art creates an interesting contrast with the colorful flower tiles, which she arranged vertically along one side of the card. She finished the card with a sentiment from the Inspirational #1 clear stickers.

The repeated flower shape gives the design a strong visual rhythm, while the black-and-white newsprint of the tiles provides contrast against the colorful card base. The result is bold and graphic, even though the individual elements are quite simple.

One Collection, Two Very Different Looks

What I love about Stephanie's cards is that they show just how much you can change the look of a paper goods collection by changing what you pair with it. The Newsprint Blooms Ephemera Tiles bring the same floral imagery and vintage newsprint character to both cards, but the Artsy Abstract #2 card front creates a bright, energetic first design, while the Color Me Blooms Spring Florals Colorables card front gives the second a more graphic, floral feel.

You don't have to use a paper goods collection exactly as it comes. Try pairing it with a completely different collection, repeat one element several times, or add a few stickers or die cuts from your stash. Sometimes the most interesting combinations happen when you mix products that weren't originally designed to be used together.

Keep Creating with Paper Goods

If Stephanie's projects have you thinking about what you could mix and match, our Paper Goods VIP Subscription makes it easy to build a stash that fits your creative style.

The subscription is not a mystery box. You get to choose any four Paper Goods products from the available selection every four weeks, so you can pick the Card Fronts, ATCs, Collage Paper, Ephemera, or other Paper Goods you're actually excited to use. The current subscription price is just $21 for four $7 Paper Goods products, with free U.S. shipping.

And that's exactly what makes it so much fun. You can choose products that coordinate beautifully, or deliberately pick different styles and see what happens when you start mixing and matching.

Take a look at the Newsprint Blooms Ephemera Tiles and the rest of our paper goods collection, then choose your favorites for your next creative session.

Keep creating, keep experimenting, and keep discovering what's possible with STAMPlorations Paper Goods.

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.

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.

Perfect Pairs + Paper Goods | Classic Christmas with Stephanie

When you have a coordinated collection and a few beautiful paper goods on hand, creating a card can become a matter of choosing the combination that feels right.

STAMPgirl Stephanie shows how easily Perfect Pairs: Classic Christmas can be combined with different Paper Goods to create two completely different holiday cards. One uses a Christmas Slimline Card Front as the foundation for a tall, elegant design, while the other takes a more layered, vintage approach with Analog Grunge Collage Sheets and a stamped background.

Let the Card Front Set the Scene

For her first card, Stephanie used a Christmas Slimline Card Front as the base, allowing the beautifully illustrated holiday scene to do most of the work. The tall format gives the card a different feel from a traditional A2 design, while the Christmas imagery creates an instant seasonal focal point. She layered the coordinating Perfect Pairs: Classic Christmas elements over the card front, including the ornaments and the sentiment. A few carefully placed embellishments add just the right amount of sparkle without competing with the detailed artwork.

Creative takeaway: A card front can do more than simply fill the background. Let it establish the entire mood of your card, then use your Perfect Pairs elements to add dimension and a focal point.

Build a Vintage Background

For her second card, Stephanie took a different approach. This time, she started with an Analog Grunge Collage Sheet as the foundation and randomly stamped the Christmas definition background stamp over it. The combination of vintage collage imagery, typography, and stamped texture creates a rich, layered backdrop with plenty of visual interest. She then built her holiday scene on top with the coordinating Classic Christmas ephemera and sentiment. The bells, lantern, tied bundle, and star anise create a cozy vintage Christmas arrangement, while the layered elements give the card plenty of dimension.

Creative takeaway: Don't be afraid to combine different types of paper goods with your stamps and ephemera cuts. A collage sheet can become the foundation for an entirely new background when you add stamping, layering, and your own arrangement of elements.

Two Different Takes on Classic Christmas

Stephanie's two cards show just how much room there is to make Perfect Pairs your own. With the first card, Stephanie lets a slimline card front establish the scene and keeps the focus on the large holiday imagery. With the second, she creates her own background by combining a collage sheet with stamped texture before building a layered focal point on top.

The common thread is Perfect Pairs: Classic Christmas -- coordinated stamps and ephemera cuts that give you a ready-made starting point while still leaving plenty of room for your own style.

And that's where our Paper Goods really shine. Card fronts and collage sheets can give you a finished-looking foundation in moments, but they can also become just one layer in a much more elaborate design.

Create More with Paper Goods

If you love having beautiful backgrounds and ready-to-use artwork at your fingertips, our Paper Goods collection gives you plenty of options -- including Card Fronts, Collage Paper, Pocket Backdrops, ATC sheets, and Ephemera Cut-Out Sheets.

And if you'd like the flexibility to choose your Paper Goods each month, check out our Paper Goods VIP Subscription. You choose the paper goods you want rather than receiving a mystery assortment.

Pair them with Perfect Pairs, stamps, dies, or supplies from your own stash and see where your creativity takes you.

Until next time, keep creating, layering, and finding new ways to make your paper goods work for you.

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.

perfect pairs | Party & Wishes – Extended Style with Stephanie

Earlier this week, I introduced Perfect Pairs as complete coordinating cardmaking systems designed to take the guesswork out of creating. Yesterday, I shared projects using only the contents of the Party & Wishes collection to show just how quickly beautiful cards can come together.

Today, STAMPgirl Stephanie takes the collection one step further. 

I like to call this Extended Style -- starting with a Perfect Pairs collection and then incorporating other STAMPlorations products to create even more layered, personalized designs. It's proof that while Perfect Pairs is designed to stand on its own, it also plays beautifully with the rest of your STAMPlorations collection.

For her first card, Stephanie paired the oversized cupcake ephemera with the Celebrate Big sentiment and layered everything over one of our Junk Journal Collage Card Fronts. She added interest on the card front by stamping the coordinating Perfect Pairs background stamp in black. The bold collage background instantly sets a festive tone, while the large cupcake becomes an irresistible focal point. A few scattered black embellishments finish the design without competing with the colorful backdrop.

What I love most is how naturally the collage card front enhances the celebration theme. The bright colors and mixed-media textures add excitement and energy, making the card feel like a party before you even read the sentiment.

Her second card continues the celebration with another oversized focal image -- this time a whimsical slice of cake lifted by a cluster of colorful balloons. Once again, Stephanie lets the Junk Journal Collage Card Front provide the perfect supporting role. The vibrant background echoes the playful colors of the balloons while allowing the dimensional focal image to take center stage.

It's bold, cheerful, and impossible not to smile at.

Creative Takeaway

One of the goals behind Perfect Pairs was to remove the uncertainty of coordinating products. Every collection is intentionally designed to work beautifully right out of the package. But that doesn't mean the creativity stops there.

Once you've created a few cards using the collection on its own, try looking around your craft room for products that reinforce the same mood or theme. In Stephanie's case, the energetic colors and eclectic textures of the Junk Journal Collage Card Fronts were a natural extension of Party & Wishes. Instead of competing with the collection, they amplified its joyful, celebratory spirit.

Think of Perfect Pairs as your creative foundation. Start with a coordinated system, then build outward as inspiration strikes.

Discover What's Possible

Every Perfect Pairs collection is available three ways:

• Coordinating Stamp Set
• Coordinating Ephemera Cuts
• Perfect Pairs Collection -- the complete coordinating cardmaking system

Whether you enjoy creating Core Style cards using only the collection or exploring Extended Style by incorporating other STAMPlorations favorites, Perfect Pairs helps you spend less time coordinating products and more time creating.

Until next time, keep creating with confidence -- and let Perfect Pairs do the coordinating.

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!