I have a few DIY resources that make my scrapbook and card projects easier to design. You can grab all the tutorials for free below so you can make these handy stamping tools as well!
Tool 1: Layering Guide
This tool is so helpful when you are trying to decide what size your card layers need to be for the design you have in mind. You can pull out different labeled layers and try them out before you actually cut the card stock to make your card!!
Grab your old card stock and any scraps that you have that are at least 2 x 3-1/4″ and used the tutorial below to create your own layering guide!
Stamping Imperfection Layering Guide Tutorial: Stamping Imperfection Layering Guide Tutorial
Stamping Imperfection Layering Guide Stamp Case Cover: StampingImperfection_LayeringGuideCaseCover
I store mine in a stamp case, which I decorated with some pretty Designer Series Paper and the label from the Printable Layering Guide Case Cover.
Video:
Tool 2: Stamp Shammy Case Cover
I also have a case cover for my Stamp Shammy. I also use a stamp case to store my shammy.
Stamping Imperfection Stamp Shammy Cover: Stamping Imperfection_StampShammyCaseCover
Video:
Tool 3: Color Coach Cards
Color Coach cards help you to select up to 3 colors that coordinate together when you are designing your cards. It’s really helpful on those days you aren’t quite sure if two colors work together or not!
Stamping Imperfection Color Coach Tutorial: StampingImperfection_ColorCoach_InstructionsAndDownloadLink
Stamping Imperfection Color Coach: Color-Coach
I created a little envelope out of DSP to hold all of my cards. I have one for each color. You can see that the Balmy Blue card is on a piece of Balmy Blue card stock.
Each color is on its own coordinating piece of card stock. I find it useful to have the card stock reference tool as much as I do the color coordinating tool.
Tool 4: Ink Swatching
It is useful to swatch all of your inks, markers, and colored pencils. It’s so helpful to have the swatch cards when you are trying to figure out just what colors you want to color in a flower or cute critter. 
To swatch my inks, I use a 1-3/4″ Circle Punch and an old circle stamp that I keep on a clear block in a bowl in my tool drawer. Every time I get a new ink pad, I stamp the circle in that color on a piece of scrap white card stock and punch it out, add a hole, and add it to my swatch ring. Love this tool!
I made 3 x 4″ cards out of white card stock and then just scribbled each marker and pencil on the cards. I labeled the colors for reference. I have done this for my Stampin’ Write Markers, my Stampin’ Blends Markers, and my Watercolor Pencils. For the watercolor pencils, I color it twice for each color. Then I use a water pen to go over one of each of the color swatches. This allows me to see what each color looks like when blended with water and when it is colored and no water is added.
I create the swatches as I get new color tools so I always have a current set of swatches to work with.
Video:
Tool 5: Color Wheel
Stampin’ Up! has created a color wheel that you can actually purchase online. I will have the link below!
This is the version that Stampin’ Up! has in the 2024-2025 Annual Catalog. The one you can purchase does not include the In Colors and it has a wheel for the center that spins so you can use it to select complementary, triadic, monochromatic, and analogous colors from their ink and card stock lines. This is one of my favorite tools!!
Product List
