Velvet paper with stamped images adds a new dimension to your pages. You can even used the stamped velvet for album covers or altered art.

Supplies you will need:

* Flat surface to work on
* Iron (warmed to a medium setting, too hot will scorch your velvet)
* Stamp or Stamps of your choice. Try to keep the images simple as you may want to add color to them.
* Ink Pads, Dauber Duos, or markers if you wish to add color to the stamped image.
* Paper lunch bag.
* Stamp Cleaner and Cloth if you use color, so you can clean your stamps.
* Sheet of Velvet Paper. This is sold at most craft stores in the art department in big sheets and you can usually get three 8.5x11 sheets as well as a few smaller pieces from one sheet. I have seen individual 8.5x11 and 12x12 sheets in scrapbooking sections of the stores though. The paper comes in an array of color. So choose the color you would like to use. The darker the shade of the velvet paper, the more your stamped images will show up without using ink, etc. When using the light colored sheets, you may want to use color on your stamps.



Step One: Getting Ready to Stamp Your Velvet

Once you have your supplies you want to use for your project, decide whether or not you will want to add color to some of the images. If you want to add color, go ahead and load your stamps with the ink from the ink pad, dauber duos, or marker.



Step Two: Applying your image to the Velvet

Lay the inked stamp face up on your work surface. Then lay the velvet with the paper backing face up so that the velvet side of it is laying on top of the inked stamp



Place the paper bag on top of the velvet paper.



With you iron warmed to a medium setting, gently press down the paper bag where you stamp is underneath. Hold for about 30 seconds. Do not move the iron while pressing.



Remove the iron and the paper bag. Turn the velvet paper over and you will see your reversed stamped image now on the paper. Since I used white velvet paper, I inked my Teddy Bear stamp with brown ink by Ink It Up, so that the image would show.



Now you can continue to do this in random order over the velvet paper and use it as background paper for you layout, as I did in this previous layout.



Or you can cut out the image and use as an accent on a card, altered art, or layout. This little teddy bear could be placed on a pop dot for a child's page or birthday card. Since it is velvet, it has a textured feel to it that would add a little something extra.



See more of Laura's work in our gallery.