Do you love repetitive stamping?

There’s something quite satisfying about taking a stamped image, repeating it across a piece of cardstock and gradually watching a complete background appear. For this card, I took that idea a little further and used all of the leaf stamps from the Simply Leaves stamp set to create my own patterned background.

I really like how the different leaf designs work together. By changing the colours and alternating the direction of the leaves, each vertical row looks a little different while still forming one cohesive background.

Creating the Repetitive Stamped Background

I started with a piece of Early Espresso cardstock, then added a smaller piece of Basic White for my stamped layer.

For the background, I worked across the Basic White cardstock in vertical lines, repeating the different images from the Simply Leaves stamp set.

I began with the buffalo check leaf, stamping it facing downwards in Basic Beige. Next came the large leaf with veins, stamped facing upwards in Peaceful Pine.

I then stamped the leaf with the thinner veins facing downwards in Early Espresso, followed by the stippled leaf facing upwards in Peeking Pie.

Continuing across the cardstock, I stamped the buffalo check leaf facing downwards in Secret Sea, then the smaller stippled vein leaf facing upwards in Peaceful Pine.

The larger veined leaf was stamped facing upwards in Cajun Craze. I followed that with the stippled vein leaf facing downwards in Grey Granite, and finished with the smaller stippled vein leaf facing downwards in Early Espresso.

A Simple Way to Vary Repetitive Stamping

One of the things I like about this technique is that repetition doesn’t mean every image has to look exactly the same.

Here I alternated the direction of the leaves and changed the ink colour as I moved across the cardstock. Those small changes give the background plenty of variety while the repeated vertical arrangement holds the whole design together.

It’s also a useful technique when you want the stamped images to be the main feature of your card. Instead of adding lots of separate elements, you can create the interest directly on the cardstock with stamps and ink.

Finishing the Simply Leaves Card

With so much pattern in the background, I kept the sentiment nice and simple.

I stamped “I’m grateful for your kindness” in Secret Sea ink onto Basic White cardstock. I cut an angled edge on the left side of the sentiment piece and adhered it to the card with Dimensionals.

The raised sentiment gives the card a little extra dimension while still allowing plenty of the repetitive stamped background to show.

Try Repetitive Stamping with Your Own Stamp Sets

You don’t necessarily need a background stamp to create an interesting patterned card front. Look through the smaller images in the stamp sets you already have and see what happens when you repeat them.

Try turning some images in different directions, changing colours as you work across the cardstock, or combining several coordinating stamps as I’ve done here. It’s a simple way to get another look from the stamps in your collection.

If you’re looking for more ways to use your stamps and inks, you’ll find more Stampin’ Up! Australia inspiration and card making ideas here on my blog.