Product Review: Build-A-Frame Stamps

by Elizabeth Wickland


When I saw this Build-A-Frame stamp set by Iron Orchid Designs, I had to have it. It's a huge stamp set, and for about $20 it was a good deal! I loved the designs and planned to use the images separately, since I'm not big into frames. I took it home and played with it in a few different ways to create this layout...


1. I stamped the corner and side stamps to create a frame around the patterned paper. IOD advertises that the pieces go together for a seamless look, and I have to say that they were right. The way the corners are designed lends itself well to blending with the side pieces for a seamless frame.

2. I stamped a stripe down one side and across the bottom of my page, then stamped an edge stamp around all four sides. IOD claims their stamps fit together just right for stamping on a 12x12 layout - and they do! I love what they look like as a distressed edge in distress ink!

3. I stamped the butterflies in the corners to see how they stamp on textured cardstock. They stamp beautifully, even over layers!

3. I stamped the butterflies and flowers on patterned paper and cut them out to use as embellishments. I loved the result!



This is a stamp set I will use over and over again. With several corners and edge pieces to choose from, I can create a custom frame for just about any project. The edge stamps will be great for cardmaking, too. I love the coordinating accent stamps, like the butterflies, heart, and flowers. The stamps themselves are high quality. They stamp crisp images, adhere well to a clear block, and resist staining, even when used with Staz-On ink. They clean up nicely and are easily stored back in the original packaging. This is the most versatile stamp set I have seen in a long time and I'm looking forward to using it a lot!

Stamping with Toilet Paper

Isn't this fish just beautiful? Who would have known it was made with a stamp and some toilet paper! This would be a beautiful project for some of the Christine Adolph stamps (if you don't already own some Christine Adolph stamps, check out the wood stamp section of Keepsakes - she has some beautiful images!).

Here is an online tutorial with step by step instructions for how to use stamps and toilet paper to create these beautiful images that can then be used for decoration or as embellishments for your scrapbooks. It's a time consuming technique, but with such beautiful results, it's well worth a try. To create the shimmery coloring, try the new colors of Radiant Rain from LuminArt available from Keepsakes in both daubers and sprays.

If you try the technique and come up with something you like, we'd love to see it! Bring it in to the store to show it off, or post it online and provide a link in the comments section of this post. We'd love to see what you make and we may even share it here on the blog for others to see!