Create a 'Merry Kiss-Mouse' Christmas Art Journal Page

Create a quirky Christmas art journal page with the Pink Ink Designs Merry Kiss-Mouse DL Stamp Set, combining detailed stamping with colourful paper piecing using the Pink Ink Designs Quirky Christmas Designer Papers. In this step-by-step project, Cathie Shuttleworth from Pink Ink Designs shows you how to bring these loved-up Christmas mice to life, using patterned paper to add pops of yellow and blue while allowing the characterful linework of the stamps to take centre stage.

You’ll also discover simple ways to use the smaller accessory stamps to build a festive scene around your main characters. The same techniques can easily be adapted for Christmas card making, paper craft, mixed media and other festive projects, making Merry Kiss-Mouse a wonderfully versatile stamp set to have in your Christmas craft collection.

Step 1 – Choose your colours
Begin by choosing a couple of patterned papers from the Pink Ink Designs Quirky Christmas Designer Papers. Cathie uses contrasting yellow and blue designs, which add plenty of personality without overpowering the stamped artwork. Use these colours as the palette for the rest of your project to help bring the finished page together.

Step 2 – Stamp the Merry Kiss-Mouse characters
Position the main character stamp from the Pink Ink Designs Merry Kiss-Mouse DL Stamp Set on your art journal page and stamp in black ink. A stamping platform is useful for achieving a crisp, detailed impression. Once stamped, thoroughly dry the ink before adding any glue, colour or other wet mediums.

Step 3 – Stamp onto patterned paper
Using the same main character stamp, stamp the image again onto your chosen pieces of Quirky Christmas Designer Paper. You don’t need every part of the design – concentrate on areas that will work particularly well in pattern and colour, such as the scarf, skirt and other pieces of clothing. Stamp onto both colours so you can mix and match the patterns across the finished characters.

Step 4 – Fussy cut your paper pieces
Carefully fussy cut the individual sections you want to add the paper pieces. Follow the stamped outlines as closely as possible so each piece fits neatly over the corresponding area on your original stamped image. Try cutting a few different pieces before deciding exactly where everything will go. This gives you the freedom to experiment with the balance of colours and patterns.

Step 5 – Paper piece the characters
Apply a small amount of Cosmic Shimmer Dries Clear Glue to the back of each fussy-cut piece. Its fine nozzle is particularly useful for applying glue to small areas. Position each piece over the matching section of your original stamped image, using your fingers or tweezers for the smallest details. Continue alternating between your chosen papers to create a colourful, patchwork-style effect.

Step 6 – Build your Christmas scene
Use the smaller accessory stamps from the Merry Kiss-Mouse DL Stamp Set to create a scene around the couple. Cathie uses the lamp stamp to suggest a festive street scene. Before stamping, you can test different compositions by stamping and fussy cutting spare images, then moving them around your page until you find a layout you like. The accessory stamps can also be mixed with other Pink Ink Designs Christmas stamp sets, giving you even more possibilities for creating your own scenes.

Step 7 – Use partial stamping and masking
You don’t always need to use an accessory stamp in its entirety. Ink only the section you need or use a simple masking technique to hide unwanted areas before stamping. This is particularly useful when positioning elements behind the main characters or around the edge of your project. Any small gaps can be completed with a fine black pen to make elements appear as though they continue behind another part of the design.

Step 8 – Add the finishing touches
Add small areas of colour to complement your patterned papers, rather than colouring every part of the stamped image. Cathie keeps the finished project intentionally simple, using touches of yellow and blue alongside the paper-pieced sections. This allows the detailed Pink Ink linework and quirky character artwork to remain the focus. Finish with one of the sentiment stamps from the set, or add further festive accessories if your composition needs them.

Make it your own
Paper piecing is a brilliant way to give the Merry Kiss-Mouse DL Stamp Set a completely different look each time you use it. Change the patterned papers, colour palette and surrounding accessories to create everything from quirky handmade Christmas cards to art journal pages, tags and mixed media projects.

The Merry Kiss-Mouse DL Stamp Set contains 14 stamps, including the main mouse couple, festive accessories and three sentiments. The characters are designed to work together as a couple, but with a little creative alteration they can also be used individually – giving you even more ways to use the set beyond this project.