Computer generated sentiments and digital stamps

Recently I've been doing a LOT of computer generated sentiments and background papers.  Finding appropriate stamps when you live so far away from a craft store is a problem.   Shipping costs on a stamp set are sometimes as much as the cost of the set, and I'm basically a bargain hunter!

When I began making cards, I found Hallmark Card Maker software at Staples.  This program is super simple to use and it shows you the actual card as you're working on it so you know if your design is going to work.

You can use any font that you have on your PC to do your words and resizing the letters is a snap.

The only thing Cricut on this one is the little bracket, cut from Tags, Bags Boxes and More.

See how you can just do a simple sentiment on your PC and then punch it out?   In the past I'd buy single sentiment stamps but now that my craft room has reached its capacity, I use the PC a LOT more.  Besides, I can change the font and size so easy and not be tied to just one image on a stamp.

This card has a lot of detail on it, for me.  It took a few tries to get the little envelope folded just right.  The sentiment was printed on white cardstock, inked the edges and attached it to the envelope with some brads.

The flower is from the wedding section at Michael's.  They're bridal confetti and come in a lot of different colors depending on the season.

Tuck in a nice tea bag and you have a good get well card.

Sigh***  I sacrificed some of my polka dot paper on this one! And of course-----------DOODLEDOTS!

The dragon on this one is a Dustin Pike image.  Digital stamps are great!  I have some that you can print already colored or you can just do a black and white one and color it yourself.  I've had people ask me if my printer ink runs when I color.  To date, I haven't had a problem.  But I suppose if you really scrubbed on the image it might bleed some.

I use SU markers, BIC markers as well as Prismacolor pencils with Gamsol to color images and my ink holds up pretty well.

The leaf and pumpkin are examples of the colored clip art images.  The sentiment was just printed and cut out with shaped scissors.

 Okieladybug made some cards like this last fall and I totally lifted her idea!  (imagine that!)

The pumpkin was printed in B&W and I shaded it with my Prismacolor pencils.  Two different Cuttlebug folders were used and then I just cut the scallop circle on the Cricut.

Just find some appropriate words and type them in MS Word. Vary your fonts and spacing then print and cut to size.  I spent some time online finding some Irish/St. Patrick's Day words to use on this example.  The center sentiment is a stamped image mounted on a circle punch shape.  The shamrock was cut with my Cricut.

If your storage space is limited in your craft area and you're like me, want to stretch your crafting budget as far as you can,  try using some of the digital stamps and clip art available online.  There are a ton of sites full of free clip art so you can play with some images.  You don't have to have card maker software either.  The images can be resized using MS Word.