Weeks of Wonder: Stamping Clusters Made Simple!

One of the great things about working with My Acrylix stamps and clear blocks is that you can cluster multiple images on a single block. Not only can this save time, but it's also a fabulous way to create designs that are uniquely you. This straightforward technique can be a quick way to add a "wow" design to just about any project—for example, check out the background of this birthday card.

For the striped Background and Texture paper made with a cluster of border stamps, just repeat stamp until you fill the open space. Gorgeous and fast! For this cluster, I used the Background and Borders stamp set (D1463). This same technique could be used to create your own B&T look on a project using borders, text, images...or a combination of the three. When stamping in one color of ink, simply ink the entire cluster and stamp.

To create a multicolored focal image, first decide the size of your cluster and choose a block close to the same size as the paper you will be stamping on. This makes it easy to construct the correct size of cluster. Arrange multiple stamps on the block. (You might want to "test stamp" your cluster in a single color first on scratch paper just to ensure it looks as balanced and proportioned as you envision it. This will also give you a "template" to refer to as you add stamp images to your project with each different color you add.)

Now, remove the images you wish to be in the second color from the cluster and place them on a separate block.

Ink and stamp your "first color" images.

Next, stamp the images that were removed from the cluster in a second color of ink. If necessary, you can refer to your "stamp template" to guide your placement. You can stamp directly on the space in the cluster as shown on the Thank You card or stamp them on a separate piece of paper and cut out (as shown on the bread band). To highlight the “HI” in the alphabet cluster, just stamp the images, trim, sponge and pop them up with foam tape.

This easy, adorable technique is one you'll love playing with again and again—and possible only through the magic of clear stamps, thanks to My Acrylix!