A Stamped Layout...

I just created this "You are a Blessing" layout for "Scrapping Everyday Miracles" Sketch Challenge. I also had to incorporate a toothpick flag...which I've never done before...cute idea, huh?

I inherited a huge amount of acrylic stamps from Pete's mom, and so decided that I should use some of them on this layout. I myself have a large supply of stamps that I think are adorable but don't use much (especially on my layouts), but I really want to put all of these awesome stamps to good use...so my goal is to start trying to incorporate them more into both my scrapping and my card-making.

Here's the sketch (from PageMaps) that we were to work off of:

For this layout, I decided I really wanted to use the owl stamp, but I don't really have a huge supply of the nice markers (like Copics) that are the "in" thing to color with right now...so I decided to try doing some creative layering with different patterned paper to "color in" my stamped images. With the owl, for example (see 2nd photo)...I stamped the image four times....once on the yellow patterned paper, once on the orange, once on the red, and once on white. Then I cut out the pieces from the paper I wanted to use and glued them all together. I really like the way it turned out...and I did the same thing with the larger flower. I also stamped the tree branch, the separate leaves, the smaller flower, the "Whoo Loves Ya?" saying and used alpha stamps for the title. I truly enjoyed using a variety of stamps on this layout, and am excited to get back to stamping...this was where I started with my love of paper crafting about 13 years ago.

Brown polka dot patterned paper (Imaginisce), Blue polka dot patterned paper (My Mind's Eye), Yellow patterned paper (Bella Blvd), Multi-striped paper (Echo Park), Clouds (fussy cut from Echo Park paper), Orange patterned paper (Crate Paper), Red paper (Unknown), Other patterned paper (October Afternoon), Owl, "Whoo Loves Ya?" and branch stamps (Sandylion), Flower stamps (Sandylion), Leaf stamp (Hampton Art), Alphabet stamps (Autumn Leaves), Border punch (EK Success), Circle punch, Corner rounder, buttons, twine, foam tape