SHARON'S INKIE FINGERS: Make Your Own Patterned Paper!

It's fun to make your own patterned paper! You can customize it to match your project. When looking through your stamp set collection, look for sets that have small images. I like to choose stamps in a variety of different sizes. This makes it much easier to ensure that you don't end up with a lot of odd "white spaces" scattered throughout the pattern you create. Technically, you could use medium or large stamps. However, the larger the stamp, the harder it is to create any kind of pattern. That is because each stamp takes up so much space, you can't fit many images onto your paper.

When I have stamped my own patterned paper in the past, I selected one image and randomly stamped it all over the paper and then came in with the next one, and the next one .... you get the picture. But I have found that the best way to make your own paper is to use one stamp at a time and see where the next image (in a different color) fits best. It's kind of like putting a puzzle together.

It's easy if you will open all your ink pads and line them up on your desk with each image you will be stamping in front of the ink pad. That way you don't get confused and put your stamp into the wrong color of ink! Start near the center of your card with your largest image and then fit the other images puzzle like around the first one. I like to start off with the larger image and then stamp each of the other images around the first one. If you notice on my paper below, I stamped the Melon Mambo image first and then stamped the other images around it making sure you leave some white space and don't stamp on top of your images. While you have everything out, go ahead and make 3-4 pieces of patterned paper or stamp one whole sheet of cardstock and cut them apart. Be creative!!