Backgrounds

Bleach Backgrounds Using cotton buds dab into some bleach and draw patterns onto your cardstock such as spirals, criss crosses, dots etc and allow to dry. The amount of bleach on the cotton bud will show different effects the wetter the bud the more dramatic the effect. Different colour cardstock will show different effects as they all react differently to the bleach. Make sure you work in a well ventilated area. You can also use a toothbrush for a softer look by rubbing a skewer backwards and forwards across the toothbrush dipped in bleach over the top of your cardstock. A light hand is needed here as the toothbrush becomes wetter than you image.

Crayon Backgrounds On an ironing board place a plain piece of paper and then some cardstock. Using a knife or pencil sharpener shave tiny bits of crayon over your cardstock, you may use one colour or several different colours depending on the outcome you wish to achieve. Once your shavings are in place cover the cardstock with wax paper and place another sheet of plain paper over the top. Now with a medium heat iron slowly iron the card melting the crayons below. Left the edge of the paper to see the effect and keep ironing if the crayons are not fully melted. Your background once cooled can be stamped on or used simply as a background.

Metallic Backgrounds Using black gloss cardstock spritz with water and dab metallic markers onto the now wet cardstock, you will notice the markers run with the water droplets. Now using cling wrap crumple up a piece larger than your card and then smooth out leaving the wrinkles in the cling wrap and lay over your cardstock. Place aside for several hours once dry, this depends on the amount of spritz used, peel off the cling wrap to reveal a mottle background effect. Another method of using metallic markers is to release some ink onto a pallet by pressing the nib into the same position several times, this may be done with one or several colour inks. Once a small puddle is available using a sponge that is slightly damp dab into the ink and sponge onto black cardstock for the best effect.

Pearl Ex or Perfect Pearl Backgrounds If you use Pearl Ex mix 1 part gum arabic to 4 parts pearl ex, this will act as a binder and allow the powder to adhere to the cardstock. If using Perfect Pearls there is no need to do this as the powder has a built in binder. Add water and use instead of ink with any background technique you wish to experiment with. You may also colour images with this mixture to give a shine to your image. Using dry powder brush over embossing fluid, versamark or perfect medium ink pads on dark cardstock for a beautiful sheen effect. Gently brush or rub off excess with a soft cloth or brush. If using Pearl Ex you will need to seal the work to ensure the powder adheres to the cardstock. Again with dry powder rub over cardstock with a soft tissue etc to give your card a sparkling quality. If using Pearl Ex you will need to seal the work to ensure the powder adheres to the cardstock. While your watercolouring is still wet apply dabs of powder to highlight certain areas of your image giving them a magically twinkle. If using Pearl Ex you will need to seal the work to ensure the powder adheres to the cardstock.

Resist Technique Using wax paper crumple it up quite tightly then open it out if it is not sufficiently crumpled repeat this process. Place a layer of plain paper on the ironing board then some gloss card (with the gloss side up), now lay your crumpled piece of wax paper on top of the gloss card after smoothing it out however leave the wrinkles in it. Now place another piece of plain paper over this and iron with a dry hot iron. Once this process is complete take your gloss card and brayer with any colour over the top, you will see the ink resist where the wax wrinkles have been ironed in place. Use different kinds or inks and different coloured card and achieve different effects.

Rubber Band Backgrounds Take a small block of wood and place rubber bands around it in different directions and using different thicknesses of rubber band. Once you have an effect that you are happy with use the same as a stamp and ink up and stamp onto cardstock. Keep changing and adding to your block for different effects. Another rubber band technique is to tie several rubber bands together at one end and cut the other end off close to the edge creating a tassel effect. While holding the tied together end ink up and then dab onto cardstock for another very different effect. The shorter you have the lengths of rubber band the easier this method is to achieve.

Salt Backgrounds Spray matte cardstock liberally with water and then brayer over the top with dye ink. Place sea salt randomly over the card and allow to dry. When dry remove the salt to reveal your background. For a more dramatic effect when the salt is placed on the cardstock spray once again with water and allow to dry. This technique can also be used with gloss card and the metallic background technique. Once you have spritz the card and dabbed your metallic marker at random over the card sprinkle sea salt over the card and allow to dry.

Soot Backgrounds Using gloss cardstock hold the card gloss side very close to the wick of a candle, the flame actually needs to touch the card, this will turn the card black. Hold the card at an angle for better coverage. Once the card is covered in soot stamp with an uninked stamp an image firmly onto the cardstock and the soot will come away revealing the colour of the cardstock below. Seal your work to ensure the soot is not rubbed off. Spray away from the card and once there is a fine even mist move across the card ensuring an even coverage.

Spiral Backgrounds Using a thick cardstock strip about 4cm wide coil into a spiral shape and place an elastic band around it to hold in shape. You may use any length of strip depending on the size of spiral you wish to achieve. Now dab into ink and stamp onto cardstock. If a thicker spiral is desired use paper towel folded over repeatedly until approximately 4cm wide and then coil into a spiral as above and stamp for an alternate spiral effect.

Sprinkle Effect Backgrounds Using a toothbrush and some embossing fluid dab your toothbrush into the fluid and using a skewer etc run backwards and forwards over the toothbrush with your cardstock underneath. Practice makes perfect with this technique as you need to be very light handed. Once you have given an even coverage over the cardstock sprinkle embossing powder of your choice over the card and pat off any excess returning this to the vial for future use and heat your cardstock to reveal a sprinkle effect background. Try using different colour cardstocks and embossing powders for different effects.

Tie Dye Backgrounds Take a tissue and crumple together finding a firm clump at the top to hold. Dab onto Kaleidacolor ink pad covering several colours and stamp onto pale cardstock. Repeat until the card is completely covered. Use just one or several different ink pads for alternate effects. Remember to use different tissues on different pads to ensure there is no ink contamination.

Watercolour Backgrounds Once you have inked and stamped your image spritz the stamp with a light spray of water and stamp again onto your cardstock, repeat for a faded watercolour effect. Reink the stamp and repeat until your desired effect is achieved. You will get more images than you image from this technique before reinking is necessary.