Hey everyone! Do you find yourself shopping faster than you can craft and then things just start piling up and piling up and piling up and you just get so overwhelmed you don’t know where to start? Yep, that’s me too. In this blog I will be sharing five creative ways to use your stamp stash in mixed media projects. So let’s get started.
1. Create Delicate Vellum Ephemera
I will explain how to create your own delicate ephemera. I use this technique often and I have been doing it for many years.
Supplies needed:
- Stamps
- Vellum
- Versamark ink
- Embossing powder
- Heat embossing tool
- Scissors
I love making my own ephemera this way because it adds beautiful accents to your projects. You’re going to start by inking up your stamp, then you’re going to press the stamp firmly onto the vellum. The Versamark ink is going to leave a clear impression of the stamped image.
Then you’re going to sprinkle on white embossing powder and then you’re going to use a heat tool and you will see how the heat tool will melt that embossing powder. You’re going to then take some small scissors and fussy cut out the stamped image.
You can also use black embossing powder or any other color you want as well. You can also do this technique with your scraps. This way you’re getting rid of all of those scraps around your craft room and using your stamps at the same time.
2. Stamp on Fabric for Textured Collage Layers
Supplies needed:
- Thin cotton fabric
- Stamps (Tim Holtz stamps work great!)
- Permanent ink (very important!)
Adding fabric to your mixed media projects brings so much interest to them and I thought I would step it up and add stamping to the fabric. I like to use Tim Holtz stamps because they already have a grungy mixed media feel to them and they have a lot of versatility and you will see how amazing they just work well together to create a collage type background. But this blog is all about breaking out your stash and using it because, let’s face it, we definitely do not use all of our supplies as much as we should.
Simply press your stamps randomly onto fabric using permanent ink. These stamped fabrics can be used in art journals, junk journals, or even sewn into projects.
Tip: Permanent ink is crucial because fabric might get layered with sprays or paints later, and you don’t want the ink to bleed!
3. Impress Stamps into Clay
Supplies needed:
- Craft clay
- Stamps
Warm up the clay in your hands, then flatten it slightly for a natural, uneven texture. Press your stamp into the clay to create a detailed impression. This technique gives your projects a three-dimensional look.
If you’re not using the clay right away, cover it with a flat item to prevent curling as it dries. Mix and match stamps to add variety and interest to your piece.
4. Make Custom Washi Tape
Supplies needed:
- Masking tape
- Stamps
- Permanent ink
- Embossing dauber
- Embossing glaze (e.g., Speckled Egg, Hickory Smoke by Tim Holtz)
Stick masking tape onto a surface and stamp over it with permanent ink. To take it up a notch, apply embossing dauber ink, sprinkle on embossing glaze, and heat set it. This creates transparent, colored washi tape that matches your project perfectly.
This technique works great with small, detailed stamps and is a fun way to create customized borders or layering pieces.
5. Use Stamps for Emboss Resist Techniques
Supplies needed:
- Mixed media paper or journal page
- Stamps
- Versamark ink
- Embossing powder
- Distress spray stains
- Water spray bottle
- Heat tool
This classic technique involves stamping with Versamark ink, heat embossing, and then spraying over with distress stains. The embossed areas resist the ink and stay visible, adding subtle designs behind your focal points.
Pro tips:
- Avoid stamping too uniformly—random placement looks more natural.
- Start with minimal stamping and build up as needed.
- Use coordinating ink sprays like Pumice Stone and Speckled Egg for beautiful blending.
Combine All 5 Techniques in One Project
Why not bring everything together? Try making an art journal page using all five stamping techniques. From vellum ephemera and fabric layers to clay textures, custom washi tape, and emboss resist backgrounds, the results are truly stunning.
Conclusion
Your stamp stash doesn’t have to sit unused! I hope one of these techniques in the blog inspired you to get out your stamps and start creating. If you liked the techniques mentioned in this blog, be sure to give this blog a thumbs up and don’t forget to comment.
