Got Leftover Stamped Images? | Here's How to Craft Smarter and Save Time! Video Tutorial

Hey crafty friends! Today, I’m excited to share a project that is not only fun, but also a total time-saver — something we can all appreciate, right? If you’re like me, you probably have a little stash (or maybe a big one) of leftover stamped, colored, and die-cut images tucked away somewhere. Maybe they were extras from a previous project or maybe you just got caught up in the joy of stamping and coloring. Either way, they’re there... waiting for their moment to shine.

I thought it would be helpful to sit down, film the process, and walk you through how I use these forgotten treasures to create brand new, clean and simple cards. So grab a cup of coffee and settle in because today is all about crafting smarter, saving time, and still ending up with beautiful, heartfelt cards.

Got Leftover Stamped Images? | Here's How to Craft Smarter and Save Time!

The Leftover Image Dilemma

Let’s be honest, we've all had those creative days where we stamp, color, and die cut a mountain of images, full of inspiration and excitement... only to finish a project and realize we didn’t need them all. I used to just toss those extras into a bin and forget about them, thinking maybe I’d circle back someday.

Spoiler alert: I almost never did. That is, until I realized those “leftovers” could actually be the start of a whole new batch of cards.

Over time, I developed a system that made it easy to use what I had, stay creative, and avoid that guilty feeling of wasted supplies or effort.

Crafting Smarter with Leftovers

For today’s cards, I used leftover images from three fabulous sets by The Rabbit Hole Designs:

• Fin-tastic Stamp Set and Fin-tastic Dies

• High Tide Stamp Set and High Tide Dies

• Salty Air Stamp Set and Salty Air Dies

I had all these adorable ocean-themed images—brightly colored, cut out, and ready to go. Instead of letting them sit in storage, I challenged myself to turn them into quick, clean and simple cards.

One thing I always recommend when working with extras like these is to keep the designs simple. Clean and simple card layouts allow your beautiful images to really shine without needing hours of extra work. Plus, they make the process much faster, which is perfect if you need a card in a pinch.

Pro Tip: Always think in terms of clean lines and minimal layers when pulling together quick designs with leftovers. Let the images you already worked so hard on be the star.

Batch Processing: A Time-Saving Game Changer

When making a group of cards from leftover images, I like to think in terms of batch processing. It’s something I picked up after a particularly crazy holiday card season when I was making 50 cards at once and realized there had to be a better way.

Here’s how I approach it:

• Cut and score all card bases at the same time.

• Sort the pile of leftovers into different groups. I usually will sort into different categories. (Critters, florals, sentiments etc.)

• Arrange all the leftover images onto card fronts before adhering anything down.

• Stamp sentiments across all cards in one sitting.

• Glue everything down once you're happy with your layouts.

• Finish with embellishments and gel pen highlights at the very end.

Batching keeps the creative energy flowing and speeds up the whole process dramatically. It’s like having a mini assembly line at your craft table—and it honestly makes it feel a lot less overwhelming.

Prepping Ahead: The Secret to Fast Cards

Another huge timesaver? Having basic card fronts ready to go.

I usually keep a stash of embossed, ink-blended, or patterned paper card fronts in a little bin by my desk. I’ll spend an afternoon every few months just making backgrounds without any particular card in mind. That way, when I sit down with leftover images, I’m halfway to finished before I even start.

Pro Tip: Use neutral colors for your pre-made card fronts—soft blues, grays, and whites are super versatile and will match a ton of different stamp sets.

Storing Leftover Goodies

I get a lot of questions about how I organize leftover stamped pieces, so here’s a peek behind the curtain: I store them in the same stamp pocket where I keep the coordinating stamp set and dies. Just a simple clear pocket with a little section for extras.

That way, when I go to grab a set, I immediately see if I have any pieces already colored and ready to use.This method has saved me more than once—especially for last-minute Design Team projects. Knowing I can pull together a quick card without starting from scratch has definitely reduced a lot of creative stress over the years.

Final Thoughts

Using your leftover stamped and colored images isn’t just about saving time—it's about making the most of your creative energy. Every time you stamp and color, you're investing time, love, and imagination. There’s no reason to let any of that go to waste.

I hope today’s video inspires you to dive into your stash and see what cards you can create with pieces you already have. Whether you batch process a set of clean and simple cards, or just pull together one or two quick designs, you’ll be amazed at how much faster (and more satisfying) cardmaking can be when you craft a little smarter.

Be sure to check out the video tutorial to see exactly how I arranged, stamped, and embellished today’s cards!

Thank you for stopping by and spending a little crafty time with me today.Until next time, happy creating!

Got Leftover Stamped Images? | Here's How to Craft Smarter and Save Time! Video Tutorial:

If you have problems watching the video here on my blog you can always watch it on my YouTube Channel by Clicking here!

(Wondering what I used in this video? Everything is linked to multiple sources in the thumbnails at the end of this post, or in the text below. Compensated affiliate links used when possible). As always I appreciate your support of my videos!

Materials Used:

Here you will find the list of supplies that I used to create today's card. All supplies are linked to supply sources below. Compensated affiliate links may be used at no cost to you.

Happy Stampin'

Rick Adkins

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