The above picture shows a few different (messy) examples of basically what this tutorial is for.  I didn’t take the time to line the layers up perfectly when I was putting the tutorial together, but you could, if you prefer tidier edges.  (Something like the Stamp-A-Ma-Jig can help with that.)

This tutorial, though, isn’t about layering; it’s about stamping a print in a particular shape — which is super-easy.

What You’ll Need:

• a stamp with a print
• a solid stamp
• ink
• whatever you’re stamping on

How big a print you can get away with using will depend on the overall size of the solid stamp you use.  With a larger stamp, you can use a larger print.  If your stamp is very small, you might need a small print in order to have it turn out well.  Experiment!

When I say “solid” stamp, I’m referring to one that’s designed to stamp a solid color in a given shape.  Here I’ve used a small “flag” or “banner” stamp.  It’s very cheap, and it’s imperfect, as you may notice from the patchy place it leaves.  But I discovered when I went to create this tutorial that I apparently don’t have many solid stamps!

So here you can see the ink I’m using, and the two stamps at the top.  At the bottom are the sets of stamps I’d ordered for my planner, from which I pulled the clear flag stamp I’m using.  (The planner stamps are here and here, for anyone looking to get them.  The leaves I got so long ago I don’t know where it’s from.  Sorry!)

What to Do:

This is really so easy.  There are only three steps.  Are you ready?

STEP 1: Ink the patterned stamp (then set it down, inked side up).

STEP 2: Ink the solid stamp on the inked patterned stamp.  (This is the key to the whole effect.)

STEP 3: Stamp the result onto your paper.

That’s it; you’re done!  What you’ll end up with looks something like this:

(The resultant image would be crisper if my solid stamp were better quality.  It isn’t picking up ink well.)

You can really get some fun effects when you layer the solid stamp itself (inked normally) with this printed version, as seen at the top of the page.  Use contrasting colors.  Or use neutrals with metallics (which I tried but isn’t showing up well in the picture).  Add embossing if you like.

You could even combine this technique with an embossed resist.  Imagine, for instance, using an “I love you” script stamp with a solid heart stamp to add images to a page with clear ink and clear embossing powder, then coating the page with a watercolor wash.