Nice-to-Have Supplies

Okay, so you’ve got your stamps, your paper and your ink pad. Once you get the basics of stamping, you’ll want to branch out into new and different paper crafting techniques.

If you scrapbook, you probably already have a lot of supplies you can use for stamping, like punches, ribbons, brads and other embellishments. That’s great!

Must have supplies:

• Embossing supplies
• Punches
• Brads
• Silk flowers
• Templates
• Ribbons
• Magic Mesh
• Tools for coloring

Embossing supplies

Heat embossing provides a slightly dimensional, raised effect and gives an elegant look to just about any paper project. You’ll need embossing powder, a pigment or embossing pad and an embossing gun. Learn all about these supplies and how to use them in our Heat Embossing section.

Punches

Punches are a paper crafting basic. You simply slide your paper into the punch, press down and you’ve got a perfect shape—whether that’s a flower, snowflake, slide mount or a border design. Punch pieces from patterned, plain or specialty paper, then stamp on them or incorporate them into your stamped image. Or just use them as they are!

Brads

Also known as “paper fasteners”, these little metal embellishments can hold paper together (I love them for holding vellum or transparencies onto paper) or simply act as an accent. They come in big, small, round, square, shaped and in a rainbow of colors.

Silk flowers

I love silk flowers! You can stamp on them, chalk them or simply attach them to the front of a card or on an album page with a brad. They come in all colors and sizes.

Templates

Templates are ideal for creating unique accents on cards and scrapbook pages, and they’re easy to incorporate into your stamped designs.

Ribbons

Silk, satin, grosgrain…patterned and plain, simple or luxe, ribbons are great for accenting a stamped card or album page. Add one to the top of a tag, tie one in a bow and affix with a Zot™. I love the look of a ribbon wrapped around the fold of a stamped card, tied in a knot at the top of the card.

Magic Mesh

This is self-adhesive, repositionable mesh in dot or weave, perfect for adding to a card or layout. You can simply cut a piece and press it onto your paper, or apply it to paper, then stipple ink on top. Lift the mesh and you’ll have the pattern inked onto your paper.

Tools for coloring

Sure, you can leave the stamp inked in black—or you can experiment with chalks, markers and other methods of coloring your images. Check out some of my favorite options in the Coloring Your Stamped Image section.