So Glad We're Friends - Backgrounds using Simple Stamps + Repetition

Hey y'all! 

Today I'm sharing a card with you that just makes me so very happy, and not for the reasons you might think. Yup, I love the colors. And I was inspired to create it after recently spending the most wonderful morning with my gal pals, so I love that it reminds me of my dear friendships.

But what I love the most is that this card was created with very little in the way of fancy papers, or the latest + greatest products. 

I'll be honest, I'm feeling a bit of a lul looking trough my stash...Which hasn't been updated in ages! I've been away from papercrafting for some time and my style has changed quite a bit in that time. 

So I spent a little while going through all the get-rid-of's to host another little sale - more on that another day - but what I really wanted to do, was find a way to reinvent some of my old stamp sets. 

So I played with my stamps. For a whole hour, completely losing track of time...
I forgot how wonderful that felt. 

One thing I often overlook about stamps is that they can be used for backgrounds. Especially those little obscure stamps that are a detail addition to your sets. They are usually much too small to create a focal point, but absolutely perfect for repetitive backgrounds. 

Case in point, the dotted background here was created using an old Stampin' Up set, and the stamp is just a few little layering dots for a flower image. 

I absolutely love the effect and I love that it has a super cute + modern dotted look.
What a great feeling using something that might have otherwise been destined for the "toss" pile. 

The rest of the items used on this card are also very simple + easy to come by. 

Ribbon, string, and a few buttons from my little jar of misfits.

It's sort of catch-all for all of those extras that accompany new clothes, or little buttons that have been left behind from other crafting projects.   

I used a pretty watercolored wreath as a focal point, stamped with PTI's Rustic Wreath. 

For the sentiment, I stamped both using PTI's Wonderful Words: Friends stamp set.

At the bottom, I added a strip of washi tape and topped off everything with a few sequins.

I feel so happy when I reinvent goodies from my stash. It's sort of a testament to the power of thinking outside the box, and it gets me super excited to try the same technique with other 

products that have been sitting at the back of my shelves. 

so.much.fun!

Hope you all find something to reinvent today! 

Ivana