A Confession

Back when clear stamps got good (read: Papertrey came into my life), I was excited for the two-step stamping and pattern-building possibilities. The pattern-building stamps worked well with my gridded acrylic block and made me very happy.

Then, after purchasing several clear sets that were designed for two-step stamping, I realized that even my perfectionist steady hand wasn't quite enough to get two-step stamps lined up to my satisfaction (read: not perfectly and therefore abject failures every one!) Can anyone get the centers of flowers stamped so that they perfectly line up with the petals? It's hit or miss for me, and it. drives. me. nuts.

Nuts.

But pattern building is fun and easy with a gridded acrylic block...as I found when I started playing around with the multiple stamps of Fair Isle Motifs. See?

This border was made with two different stamps: the square-ish flower-shaped stamp, which I alternated in red and green inks, and the small heart, which fills in the corners. It was incredibly easy to design and to line up.

And the color combination makes this highly festive!

But getting centers of flowers right...I'm just not good.

Supplies
stamps: Papertrey Fair Isle Motifs, Keep It Simple: Christmas
ink: Hero Arts green, red royal
paper: Papertrey
accessories: gridded acrylic block