How to Mix Stamps with Different Line Thicknesses

Welcome to the Heffy Doodle and Newton’s Nook Designs Collaboration Blog Hop. Today, we’re sharing inspiration using products from both companies! If you came here from Samantha Mann’s blog, you’re in the right place.

I’ve got a fun card for you today, but while the stamps I chose have a similar whimsical feel, they have different line weights, or thicknesses. That’s a common issue when you mix and match stamps. Don’t worry, I’ll show you three tricks I use to help even them out. Let’s take a look…

1. STAMP MULTIPLE TIMES

The first trick is to stamp the thinner lined images multiple times. You’ll want to use a stamp positioner, like the Misti, so you can keep everything lined up. You can also adjust how much pressure you apply when stamping. Add more pressure when you stamp the finer images, to help spread the lines out, and use a lighter touch when stamping bold images. In the photos below, you can see that after one impression, the fairies from Heffy Doodle’s Absotoothly Awesome stamp set have slightly thicker lines than the truffles from Newton’s Nook Love and Chocolate stamp set. I just kissed the paper with the fairies, applying almost no pressure. After stamping the truffles two more times, with more pressure, the lines are heavier, and look similar to the fairies.

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2. USE NO-LINE COLORING

Another trick to help disguise different line weights is to stamp the images in a softer ink, and use no-line coloring. I stamped the images with Warm Glow ink, and colored them with Copic Markers. You can see the colors I used below. After the images are colored, it’s hard to tell they didn’t come from the same stamp set, right?

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Truffles – R39, R29, R35, R14, R43
Frosting – E00, E000, RV000
Cake Stand – RV02, RV21, R000
Red Hair – R39, E19, E08, R14
Skin – E00, E000, R20, Sepia Multiliner 0.3
Wings – R20, RV000
Dress/Shoes – RV04, RV02, RV21
Highlights – White Gel Pen, Shimmer Pen

3. HEAT EMBOSS

The third way to thicken up stamped lines is to heat emboss them. Even fine detail embossing powder can double the thickness of thin lines. (Be careful if your stamps have small words; the letters can merge together when embossed.) You can see in the photo below, how thick the white swirl on the truffle is after heat embossing with white powder. (Whenever you emboss, be sure to use a good powder tool first. It keeps stray powder from sticking.)

I hope these tips help you mix and match the stamps in your collection. If you have other tips, please share them in the comments; I’d love to hear! If you’d like to recreate this card, here are the supplies you’ll need…

SUPPLY LIST

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Love and Chocolate Stamps
Love and Chocolate Dies
Absotoothly Awesome Stamps
Absotoothly Awesome Dies
Whatch Saying Now? Stamps
Slimline Trio Dies
Slimline Pull Tab Dies

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Misti
Warm Glow Ink
Copic Markers
Essential Gel Pens
Shimmer Pen
White Embossing Powder
Cottontail Embossing Powder Tool

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Here’s a look at the completed card; perfect for a valentine, or to send sweet birthday wishes…

By the way, my card is a mini-slimline. I used partial die cutting techniques to shorten the scalloped and stitched rectangle dies. The finished card fits into a #7 coin envelope.

GIVEAWAY

Don’t forget, today’s post is part of a blog hop, and every great hop has prizes, right? To be entered to win the giveaway, all you need to do is comment at each stop along the Blog Hop! Newton’s Nook Designs will be giving away $35 and Heffy Doodle will be giving away £25 to their respective stores!  Be sure to comment before 11:59 PM EST on Dec 28, 2021 to be entered to win! Visit the Heffy Doodle Blog for complete details. 

Each company will post their random winner on Dec 29th at 10AM EST!  Make sure to check the Heffy Doodle Blog and Newton’s Nook Designs Blog to see if you’re a winner!

Ready for more inspiration? Hop along with us!

BLOG HOP LINEUP

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Heffy Doodle Blog

Tatiana Trafimovich

Tina Herbeck

Amanda Fitterer

Maria Russell

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Cassie Trask

Samantha Mann

Amanda Stevens – you are here

Zsofia Molnar – next stop

Newton’s Nook Designs Blog

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Thanks so much for stopping by today. If we don’t connect again before the end of the year, I want to wish you and your family a happy holiday, and I hope you have a wonderful new year! I’ll be back soon with another fun card to share, and more tips for better results. See you soon!

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