4 Ideas Using Right at Home Background Stamps // Tips & Techniques
Happy Friday!
Do you have an obsession with background stamps like I do? They are an essential in every cardmakers toolbox as they can help bring your card together quickly & easily! However, just like clear stamps, they can be used in a multitude of ways and today I’m sharing four ideas for using your background stamps for more than just simple stamping!
Let’s get started…
Rainbow Stamping using the Watercolor Background Stamp…
Up first, I’m sharing a technique using my Watercolor Background Stamp that also incorporates my love for color: rainbow stamping! This background stamp works perfectly for this as it features thick, bold stripes that allow you to add tons of color to your background. As I show in the video below, I inked up each stripe using one of the colors of the rainbow. Once I made my way to the bottom, I flipped my panel and shifted it slightly upwards so that the stripes would be off-set. Then I filled in the white spots with the remaining colors of the rainbow.
Note: When inking up your strips, if you’re following ROYGBIV, you want to start with red, skip orange and do yellow for the next stripe. When you flip the panel, you will fill in the orange between the red and yellow. Continue this same process all the way down.
I also want to mention that this idea was inspired by Kelly Latevola who created a colorful set of cards for the Simon Says Stamp blog using this same background stamp!
Adding Extra Details using the Gingham Background Stamp…
For my next tip, I’m showing you how to add a few extra details to an otherwise plain, gingham background stamp. I’ve been so inspired by holiday patterns this season and a classic Christmas plaid was high up on my “to create” list. Since I didn’t have a plaid stamp in my collection, I decided to make my own! I grabbed my Gingham Background Stamp and a thin stripe stamp from Banner Alphabet Add-On. Check your stash for stripe stamps that you can use for this purpose or use a ruler and colored marker! I stamped the background in green and accented it with bright, red stripes going in both directions between the squares. I am obsessed.
Just think of all the possibilities! I urge you to look at your backgrounds a little differently and think how you can pull out an otherwise simple stamp like a stripe and use it to create something beautiful!
P.S. Tutorial on this card pictured above coming soon!
Water-Lifting Technique using the Cloud Background Stamp…
Ok, this one’s a fun one and way simpler than it looks! I started with a panel of white cardstock and inked it using Cracked Pistachio and Peacock Feathers Distress Oxide inks. I focused the Cracked Pistachio towards the top and the Peacock Feathers towards the bottom to create an ombre effect. Next, I spritzed my Cloud Background Stamp 3-4 times with a water bottle and placed it on top of my inked panel. I let it sit for about 30 seconds and lifted it off to reveal my oxidized background. The water spritzed on the stamp activates the Distress Oxide ink on the paper and creates an awesome, ghost-like effect! I added a few additional water droplets and my panel was finished!
I’ve done this technique before and created a card project that you can see here. I would recommend trying this with watercolor paper as well as the results may be even better. I think my cardstock may have been a little too thin for all the water I added, but I wasn’t thinking ahead I guess!
Watercolor Emboss Resist Technique using the Grid Background Stamp…
We started with a rainbow color scheme so let’s finish with another one, shall we? This time I’m using my Grid Background Stamp to create a panel perfect for watercoloring! I white heat-embossed the stamp onto a piece of watercolor paper and smooshed a variety of ink colors overtop. Make sure to be careful when placing your colors as to not create a muddy mess of brown ink! The embossing powder resists the inks, revealing the beautiful grid texture.
I’ve also used this technique in the past and shared a card project (& video) here. I love the way this background looks with rainbow colors…so modern!
Watch me create all of these backgrounds in my process video below…
Need to stock up on a few backgrounds to round out your collection? Then today is the perfect time to! This week at Right at Home I’m offering 20% off all background stamps with code 20OFFBG.
Here’s all the details…
Get 20% off all background stamps
Use code: 20OFFBG
Sale runs from today, Monday, December 3rd until next Monday, December 10th at 12:00 am EST
Discount is valid on all in-stock background stamps
Can not be applied to orders placed before 12/03/2018
Can not be combined with other offers
This sale is part of my Countdown to Christmas 4 Week Sale Event and ends Monday so be sure to take part if you’re interested!
Happy (background) stamping!
Nicole
