Paper Piecing with stamps, it’s easy!

People are often intimidated by the thought of paper piecing… finding a pattern you like, cutting out and assembling all those little pieces…. it look nice, but it’s so time consuming.  Instead I like to paper piece with  “open” stamps.. and the Falling Leaves Set from myStampBox caught my eye (yes, I know it’s summer!)….

You only need a few supplies, and some basic instructions.  I took some pictures of the process as I created this particular card.  I can assure you that taking the photo’s was WAY more difficult that actually making the card!

Supplies:

Stamps: open or outline stamps are needed for this type of work

Ink of your choice

Scraps of patterned paper

Fine Tip Scissors

Adhesive

Embellishments as desired

1.  First you need to select a stamp.

You will need to use an “open” or “outline” stamp that has enough space for the patterned paper you are using to show through.

2.  Select co-ordinating patterned paper and stamp your selected images onto the paper.

This is a great time to dig into your supply of scraps, or use leftover pieces from your last card or layout.  Selecting paper from the same paper line makes the whole design process very easy!  I really like to use the small 6×6 pads of papers that many companies now make when paper piecing.  These papers have been reduced in scale so that you get the whole pattern in smaller scale on each piece of  paper….

3.  Using fine tipped scissors cut out your images.

Remember that it’s best to turn the paper,  not the scissors for the cleanest lines, and that micro tipped, SHARP scissors really help.  You don’t have to cut out every little detail if it’s just too impossible, leave an even border around the image and it still looks great.

You can also choose to use a punch (circles are nice), to punch out the whole image leaving a shaped border around it.  My favourite scisscors are from Tim Holtz and they are to die for!

4. Layer images onto your card as desired.

Add any embellishments such as ribbon now.  Using pop-dots gives some depth and dimension that is  especially  nice  with this technique.  Voila, a beautiful card is born!

My finished card is really quite simple, and didn’t take that long to put together.  You could make a whole set of cards great for gift giving… by stamping and cutting out lots of your chosen images at one time, and then assemble them all at once.  Hey, you could get a head start on your Holiday Gift making… if you’re really organized (which I am so totally NOT).

Happy stamping and scrapping…. hope you give this technique a try!