One Stamp, Five Ways: Basket of Blooms
Hi friend! Please join me in welcoming back special monthly guest Suzy Plantamura with another fun rendition of “One Stamp, Five Ways” featuring our newly released Basket of Blooms set! Read on and learn more! Enjoy!
Oh how I love Spring. It has always been my favorite season. I get so excited when there are new Spring products released. I used a lot of products from the Beautiful Moments release in my projects. The stamp set I am using for my “one card, five ways” post is called Basket of Blooms. It has matching dies and a stencil to use with them as well. Here are my card details:
I stamped the basket and several sets of the stems and leaves in the stamp set with black ink. I used the stencil to apply PSInk over them. I used Coral Ink over the basket and Cabbage and Artichoke Inks over the leaves. I stamped three of the large flowers with PSInks. I used a lighter color in the center and a darker color on the petals by applying the ink to the stamp with a foam applicator. I used a darker color for the centers (all colors are in the supply list). I die-cut all of these out with the matching dies.
I used the new Fanfare Embossing Folder for the background. I attached the basket to the bottom of the card and arranged the flowers and leaves inside it. I stamped Happy Birthday with black ink and attached that to the top of the card. I used some of the Peach Bellini Embellishment Mix around the background.
I made a card using the new Stitched Nested Egg Die. I attached the die over a folded piece of white cardstock keeping the cardstock fold inside one side of the die so it wasn’t cut through. By running it through my die-cut machine twice, it cut through both pieces of cardstock. I rubbed Marine and Seafoam PSink on the top of the egg and Sprout PSInk over the bottom of the ink.
I die-cut the new Double Loop Bow Die and colored it with pink Copics. I embossed the basket in the stamp set with white embossing powder and rubbed Zest PSInk over it. I glued the bow to the top of the basket and attached them to the front of the card. I die-cut a few of the Decorated Eggs Wafer Dies and colored them with Copics. I arranged them in the basket and added one below the basket. I stamped a sentiment from the stamp set with Peony PSInk and attached it to the basket.
I stamped all the leaves, small flowers and basket with Latte PSInk for no-line coloring. I love how these look without black edges! I colored them all in with Copic Markers. I stamped the details for the small flowers with Honey Ink over my Copics. I stamped the xxx flowers with PSInks in pinks, oranges, and yellows (colors are in supply list). I used a small ink applicator for the centers first and then added another darker color around the edges of the stamp. I used the Ranger Foam Applicators to apply the ink to the stamp so it was softer and didn’t have edges between the colors. Then I used the darkest color in the ink Trio’s to stamp the inside of the flowers. I die-cut all these images out with the matching dies.
I embossed another new embossing folder called Leaf Spin for the background. I rubbed Cabbage Ink over it lightly. I attached the basket to the center with foam tape behind it and arranged all the flowers and leaves in it. I used foam tape behind the top of the flowers and then glued the bottoms behind the basket. I stamped the sentiment and butterfly in the stamp set with Honey PSInk and added them to the bottom of the basket.
For this card, I stamped the basket in the Basket of Blooms stamp set with black ink. I was originally going to leave it white, so I added some shading with gray Copics. I then decided to use the stencil and Butter PSInk to color it. The stencil makes it so easy! I like the gray shading showing underneath the ink. I die-cut the basket out. I also used one of the sentiments in the stamp set and die-cut that out.
I stamped the tulips using the CZ Easter Grid stamp set and the daffodils using the Special Friend stamp set. I colored them in with Copic Markers. I embossed the new Fanfare Embossing Folder which is perfect for card backgrounds. I attached the basket using foam tape underneath it and then added all the flowers. I had a couple extra so I cut the leaves off of them and stuck some leaves in the top area. I attached the sentiment to the top of the card and used some sparkling clear sequins around the background.
I used the new Scattered Leaves stencil using Cabbage and Artichoke inks over it for the background. I also used the new Ribbons Loop Frame Dies, coloring the frame portion with Peony PSInk. I glued the larger piece which is the inside of the largest frame on first and then the pink frame that is from the second largest die over it.
I stamped two of each of the flowers in the stamp set with black ink. I stamped the insides oof them with Carnation PSInk and then the detailed portion of the stamps with Peony PSInk. I stamped a sentiment from the set and a butterfly also with Peony ink. I arranged them all over the background and added a bunch of sparkling clear sequins.
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Thanks so much for stopping by, and thanks to Suzy for being our guest!
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How to Get More from Your Small Stamp Sets: Yippee for Yana
Hi friend! Please join me in welcoming back the oh-so-talented and amazing Yana Smakula! (Please note: our dear friend Yana is Ukrainian. To show support to our brothers and sisters in Ukraine, please see Yana’s post HERE.)
Small stamped images can sometimes feel tricky to use. Many stamp sets include tiny icons, florals, or seasonal elements that are adorable on their own, but figuring out how to turn them into a full card design can be a challenge. In this Yippee for Yana episode, I’m sharing three creative and practical ways to use small stamped images to create eye-catching handmade cards.
While today’s examples feature Saint Patrick’s Day clovers from the Simon Says Stamp Printmaking Clovers set, these techniques work for any small images in your collection. Think florals, hearts, leaves, snowflakes, critters, or even tiny sentiments. The design concepts stay the same no matter the theme.
Layered Stamping with Heat Embossing for Extra Impact
The Printmaking Clovers set includes layered images, which means each clover is built in multiple steps. I like to start with the stem layer first, as it makes alignment easier for me. Because the images are layered, you can introduce multiple ink colors for added interest.
Instead of stamping all layers in ink, try replacing one layer with heat embossing. For this project, I heat embossed the stem layer using antique gold embossing powder. Swapping ink for embossing powder instantly elevates the look and adds subtle shine and texture.
Using a stamp positioner like a stamp wheel makes aligning three or four layers quick and precise, especially when mass producing multiple images. Once the embossed layer was complete, I stamped additional layers using coordinating ink colors, experimenting with different combinations beyond traditional green. Adding unexpected colors such as pink or yellow gives small images a fresh and modern feel.
After stamping, I used the coordinating dies to cut out the clovers, creating a large assortment of small embellishments ready to build with.
Idea One: Create a Frame with Small Die Cuts
The first card design uses small stamped images to form a decorative frame. Start with a panel trimmed slightly smaller than your card base. Arrange the die cut images around the edges, allowing some to overlap the panel and extend beyond the border.
Once you are happy with the placement, adhere the images in place. Extending a few elements past the edge adds dimension and movement to the design. After mounting the panel onto a card base, simply trim any pieces that interfere with the card standing flat.
Finish the center with a bold sentiment to anchor the composition. This approach works beautifully for seasonal icons, florals, or any repeated small motif.
Idea Two: Build a Clean and Modern Grid
Grids are a classic way to showcase small stamped images. Arrange your die cuts in evenly spaced rows and columns to create structure and balance. Even if the images are similar, slight variations in color or orientation add visual interest.
To keep the grid dynamic, remove one section and replace it with a sentiment. This breaks up the repetition and draws attention to the greeting. You can also introduce additional small elements from other stamp sets to enhance the story of the card.
For example, adding tiny flowers between clovers creates the feeling of a field scene and brings in a complementary color. Mount the finished panel onto a coordinating card base for a polished result.
Idea Three: Form a Shape with Small Images
Small stamped images are perfect for building custom shapes. Use a die cut shape, such as a heart or circle, as a placement guide. Lay the template on your card base and arrange your small images inside the open area, slightly overlapping for a full look.
Once adhered, remove the guide to reveal the shape formed entirely from the stamped elements. You can refine the design by filling small gaps with tiny stamped accents in coordinating ink colors.
This technique is incredibly versatile. Try forming hearts, circles, seasonal shapes, or even letters and words using tiny images. Because the elements are small, they are easy to manipulate into cohesive shapes.
Finishing Touches
Complete your cards with sentiments that complement the overall design. Layered sentiments, heat embossing, or die cut greetings add depth without overpowering the small images. Mount your panels with foam adhesive for dimension and pair them with coordinating cardstock bases to tie everything together.
Why These Techniques Work
Small stamped images become more impactful when used in repetition. Whether forming a frame, building a grid, or creating a larger shape, repetition turns tiny elements into a strong design feature. Adding heat embossing, unexpected color combinations, or layered sentiments further enhances the final result.
If you have small stamped images in your collection that rarely get used, I hope these three ideas inspire you to pull them out and experiment. With a little planning and repetition, those tiny images can become the star of your next handmade card.
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Ways to support Ukraine:
If you are looking for ways to support Ukraine, we encourage you to visit this page on Yana’s blog:
A big thank you to YOU, our reader — and to Yana for being our guest!
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A Heartfelt Thank You on Our Birthday
From the very beginning, our mission has been to bring you something truly special — thoughtfully curated products created with care, passion, and a whole lot of heart. But none of it would be possible without the incredible support of our amazing community.
Whether you’ve been with us since day one or just recently discovered us, your loyalty, encouragement, and creativity mean more than we can say. Every order placed, every kind message shared, every project you create — it all fuels what we do, and we are so very grateful.
To celebrate, we’re giving back in the best way we know how — enjoy 24% off our exclusive collections for a very limited time with code BDAY24 at checkout!
It may be our birthday, but you’re the reason we celebrate.
Here’s to you — and to many more creative years ahead together.
With heartfelt thanks,
Heidi + the entire Simon Says Stamp team
