Moneysaver Monday - One Stamp Set

The shopping trips that really get me into trouble are the ones that start out with the best intentions. I set out with a coupon and a few dollars in hopes of picking up a really cute stamp set or something that I have had my eye on. Before I know it, I have that cute stamp set in hand, but then I am also eyeballing some paper that matches... And hee-ey... Look at that ribbon! And those brads! Oh, and I also need some matching cardstock... Etc. etc. Inevitably, I end up at the check out counter with more than what I came in for, an empty wallet, and one eye-rolling husband or son in tow. :(

I have worked out an exercise (don't worry, it's not sit-ups! whew!) to keep my spending in cheque and work on creativity and maximizing the use of said, really cute stamp set. Are you ready for an exercise? All you need is one stamp set, and one piece of white cardstock, and a few ink colors of your choice. That's it. We are going to make a card!




Today I am using the cute stamp set that came in my ETM April kit. It's by Jillibean Soup.. Very cute indeed! I picked out some pink, purple and black inks. (Black, Cotton Candy and Gypsy by Close To My Heart.)



Next, cut several mats ... According to whatever kind of card you are going to make, and make a card base. I am going to follow yesterday's sketch from Stars & Stamps.



Since I am not using any colored paper, I distressed the edges of this mat using black ink. I will do this with some of the other mats too. This is an especially useful shortcut for when you need just a scrap of paper in a color that you do not have at hand.


Next, I used that cute stamp set to make some of my own coordinating patterned paper. Here is an old Close To My Heart trick... Stamp your image in a set of three, in a triangular pattern. Next, use a smaller stamp to fill in the white spaces in between. Stamp on top of a piece of scrap paper so that you can stamp off the edges. This makes the mat look more like a piece of designer paper and not just a paper that was randomly stamped on.


Here is my home-made, coordinating patterned paper! All done.


The pink mat was made by daubing the whole piece with pink ink (or, you could use a brayer.) I finished with one of the smaller flower stamps for a focal point and the sentiment. I love how this turned out!


Here is another quick example, using a cute set borrowed from my stamp buddy Kirsten. I did use some scraps of orange paper that I had left over from another card. But the rest of the card is the same idea... Using those little stamps I made my own patterned paper for a background.


How many old stamp sets do you have in your collection that you could try this idea with? I know that I have several. So many, in fact, that I might just skip this weeks' shopping trip all together... Now THAT is a money saver!

Thanks for stopping by!