Art Journaling Tips | Borders, Overlays and Stamps, Oh My! | A MSA Post

I thought I'd share a fun little tip with you about how to add a little finesse to borders, overlays and stamps in your digital art journal pages.  Stamps, overlays and borders are great when used alone, or paired with color over the top, but if you use them as a clipping mask and add a textured and patterned paper, it can really make a difference.

Here is example #1 - Borders

Step 1. Open up a 12x12 paper like this from the Woodland Whisper mini kit from Sissy Sparrows

Step 2.  Open up a border like this from Paint Can Borders V5 by Sissy Sparrows

Step 3.  Combine the two.

Now the easiest thing is just to color the overlay (and or vary the layer style).

Now this is fine and dandy, and I do things like this all of the time on my pages.  But if you want to spice it up and add a little sumpin' sumpin'...

Step 4. Open another patterned paper like this from the Anything Goes V3 paper set by Sissy Sparrows

Step 5. Place this paper as the top layer (above the border layer) and clip it down to the border.

Voila!  A fun little addition to your previously plain border.  It makes it look a little less obvious, a little more intentional, and/or not such a stark contrast.

Example #2 - Overlays

Step 2.1. Open up a 12x12 paper like this from the Woodland Whisper mini kit from Sissy Sparrows

Step 2.2. Open an overlay like this from Page Play Overlays V2 by Sissy Sparrows

Step 2.3.  Combine the two.

Step 2.3. Open another patterned paper like this from the Anything Goes V3 paper set by Sissy Sparrows

Step 2.4. Place this paper as the top layer (above the overlay layer) and clip it down to the overlay.

Much more subtle and textured than the plain black overlay.

Example #3 - Stamps

Step 3.1. Open up a stamp like this one from Printersmark Stamps by Sissy Sparrows

Step 3.2.

Open a patterned paper like this from the Anything Goes V3 paper set by Sissy Sparrows

Step 3.3 Place this paper as the top layer (above the stamp) and clip it down to the stamp.  Resize paper if desired/necessary.

Step 3.4 Merge layers together and save separately.

Step 3.5 Add to a paper/background

And that is that.

I hope that was helpful or gave you another idea of how to use some of the tools in your digital stash to add a bit more variety and/or get more use out of the kits and elements you buy. If you have any questions, let me know.