How to Use Small Stamps to Get a BIG Impact! | Take 2 With Therese (With Video Tutorial)

Hi, it's Therese, and I am back with another edition of Take 2 with Therese! And, I'm sharing two fun and cheerful designs using the small stamps from the new Bloom & Evolve Bundle – a collaboration between Mommy Lhey Designs and Altenew!

5 TIPS to Make Those Small Stamps Shine!

Small stamps are often included, as filler stamps in many stamp sets.  They offer wonderful opportunities to build on a design, but, I also know that it can sometimes be difficult to know exactly where to start when using them.  Today's fun set, Bloom & Evolve is choc full of small stamps and I have a ton of tips and a video sharing how you can use these and still make a big impact.

TIP #1 – Bold Background

Using small stamps does not mean that you have to create a ‘white space' clean and simple card (don't get me wrong, these are one of my faves to make). But, nothing adds impact like a fabulous bold bright background.  I decided to create my own blended bright stripes, but you could just as easily use design paper a background stamp or a cover die.  This gives your small stamps a ‘place to be' and  it's a great way to bring the colours and the elements together.

For example, these small images are cute and fun, so I chose a color combination that suited the style of these stamps. 

I also think that the stripes give the background a modern vibe.  By simply changing up the feel of a background to suit the small stamps, it will help the flow of the design.

TIP #2 – Create Patterns

But you can build on this idea.  Why not use the small stamps in a repeat pattern to create the background!  Repeat patterns are fun to build and a small stamp can have a big impact whether it be in a background or stamped in a circle such as I did here.  The Stampwheel made this technique very easy to do.

TIP #3 – Pardon the Pun

I love a play on words, and this little ‘Bee' became part of the sentiment today.  Another way to stretch a small stamp is to use it ‘instead of a letter'.  For example, you could use a small image stamp, such as a christmas bauble, instead of an ‘O' in the word JOY.

TIP #4 – Add Details

Small stamps are great to add details to a design.  I will typically stamp them the same as I would add other embellishments, such as Gem Sparkles or sequins.  I usually use a visual triangle and an odd number of stamped images, such as 3 or 5 as I did here on this card. 

TIP #5 – Focal Point

So you have your background, you may even have a repeat pattern, now what?  Why not stamp and color multiples of these small images and put them together to create a scene.  Small flower stamps can be joined to create a bouquet, a garden or even a floral border on a card.  It's easy to build on this if you have some leaves, a vase, a butterfly or maybe even a bee?

But for me, mostly I will create a focal point with less rather than more images. It's almost like creating a small scene with just a few images, something for your eye to focus and rest on, it's the highlight of the design!

Both of today's designs have a bright bold background, except this one is a blended rainbow instead of stripes.  It's still fun and cute and works well with the small stamps from the Bloom & Evolve Bundle.  

Why not take a closer look at your stamp sets, many of them have small images and filler stamps, and with a little imagination these can certainly make a big impact on your next card design. These small stamps may be more versatile than you think! 

Watch the video tutorial below to see how I made these cards. Click here to watch it in HD on YouTube.

I hope you are inspired to use some small stamps on your next handmade card project!

Have you tried these techniques using small stamps before? Do you have other tips? Let me know in the comment section below!

Have fun crafting!