Have you ever bought craft supplies because you love them but then can’t think of ways to use them? I know I have. Many times. So over the years I’ve found a way to unclog that creative block. I ignore the products and play with other things that inspire me more. Then when I eventually go back to the original items I see them with fresh eyes and the ideas flood in. That’s what happened with the Happiness Abounds Stamp Set, Blossoming Happiness Dies and coordinating Hues of Happiness Paper.

ANOTHER REJECT

But first I wanted to use up some other pieces that went ‘wrong’ while working on an different project. I’d started by cutting and scoring some Basic Black Card to make my card base. After folding the card along the scored line I sharpened the crease as usual with my Bone Folder.

Then from the Ready to Ride 12″ x 12″ Specialty Designer Series Paper (DSP) I cut a 4-1/4″ x 5-1/2 piece of a diamond star pattern. Using Multipurpose Liquid Glue (Tombow) I attached the DSP to the card front completely covering it.

Next I glued a 1-1/8″ x 5-1/2″ piece of Basic Black Card up against the crease with a 1″ x 5-1/2″ piece of Basic Gray Card on top.

I’d decided to use the DSP as my coordinating feature so I cut a 3/4″ x 5-1/4″ strip. Then I glued it down the right-hand edge of a 4″ x 5-1/4″ piece of Basic White Card, before fixing it inside the card base.

Finally I cut a 2-1/4″ x 6″ piece of the DSP and glued that to the flap of a Basic White Medium Envelope. To trim off the excess DSP I used my Paper Snips with the edge of the flap as my guide.

And that’s when I noticed that the focal point and sentiment layer I’d already completed was all on a Very Vanilla base. Arghhh! So I remade the card base and envelope for that project, while these sat in my ‘unfinished’ box until today.

HAPPINESS ABOUNDS

Having pulled out this card base again I decided to add some bright colour. I immediately thought of the Hues Of Happiness 12″ x 12″ DSP. As I picked up the pack out fell some pieces that I’d cut out using the coordinating Blossoming Happiness Dies. The bright yellow flower and sets of green leavers were perfect for what I had in mind. All I needed now was a sentiment.

Then as I reached for the Happiness Abounds Stamp Set I noticed outline images that looked very similar to the die-cut flowers. I wonder… Of course! If the dies that cut out the images from the DSP also cut out the stamped images, then those stamped images must fit with the DSP!

There was nothing for it, I grabbed a Tuxedo Black ink pad and stamped the corresponding images onto the die-cut DSP flower and leaves. Perfect! From there the rest of the design came together really quickly.

I put Stampin’ Dimensionals over the back of the flower and fixed it to my card front. Then with liquid glue I tucked in the two pairs of leaves.

Now I chose the “best wishes” sentiment and stamped that onto some Basic White Card using Tuxedo Black ink. Then I fussy-cut around the words before attaching the sentiment to the card with Stampin’ Dimensionals.

Finally I added a few Daffodil Delight embellishments from the Glossy Dots Assortment and my project was complete.

So did you realise you could line up the stamp images with parts of the DSP? Now I’m off to check out this technque with my other stamp sets and coordinating DSP packs. Watch this space!

You find a different project using that same (but unstamped) flower in my previous blog post Blossoming Happiness die-cutting.

PRODUCT LIST

BUNDLE BONUS – I bought the Happiness Abounds Stamp Set and coordinating Blossoming Happiness Dies using a single ‘bundle’ item number. This meant I saved 10% off the cost of buying the two items separately. I’ve included links for both options below in case you want to explore these further.