2019 Aug Card Challenge-1 Background Stamp 3 Ways 3 Samples

[paddlegal]

Please Note: I really goofed with the card I posted below. Though I used the 3 mentioned techniques below this is not the stamp I selected for this challenge, LOL. This card is intended for my monthly Stamp Nation Pen Pal group. But keep reading and scroll down to find my actual 1st sample of this challenge.



Happy August!!!

I have a collection of background stamps that I love but don’t use enough...anyone else in that boat? So pull out one background stamp (and if you don’t have one then use the largest stamp you have) and create backgrounds using it 3 different ways.

Here are a few suggestions to help you get started:

For my sample I did a combo loosely of #1, 3 and 6. I’ll be posting at least 2 more samples soon.


1. Solid background with a large word sentiment for focal point.
2. Gradient/ombré colored stamp
3. Gradient/ombré painted/inked background with a more open background stamp over it...like my sample.
4. Background chopped into panels.
5. Rainbow colored background stamp.
6. Heat embossed background stamp.
7. Water colored effect on stamp. More solid stamps work...ink up and then spritz with water.
8. Use only a part of the background stamp for a collage effect.
9. Die cut a design or work out of colored background stamp.
10. Combine several of the above suggestions for one card.

[nchoney]

Great idea.... and I'm in "card front" mode these days.... starting to get a pile of bases started for cards for the craft fair this Fall... so... this is another technique I need to do!

[pamcook]

Oooohhhhh! I love it!

[jmp1022]

Love that design and the colors

[paddlegal]

I GOOFED!

So THIS is my first card for this challenge, LOL. I won’t even try to explain other than I used the wrong card shown above even though the technique described fits this challenge.

The gold embossed lines is a MFT stamp called Balloon Strings. I blended 3 blue Distressed Oxides for the background and then stamped and gold embossed the “strings” for an ocean look. This is a Birthday card for my now 20 year old niece. She has recently discovered ocean fishing...she (when not in college) and my brother and sister-in-law live in San Diego.

[pamcook]

Goodness I love those colors! The card reminds me of Laurel Burch’s designs.

[nchoney]

LOVE the fish card!! Where are those stamps from?

[paddlegal]

LOVE the fish card!! Where are those stamps from?

Pam, thanks, this does look Laurel Burch-ish! That didn’t occur to me. I loved her designs.


Debi, thank you...those fish are from an MFT stamp set called “Adorned Ocean Friends”. But this was one of the sets I got a few months ago when MFT was retiring a bunch. This is the first time I’ve used it and want to make more. There are also shadow stamps for each fish. These were made by just stamping the design part directly onto the die cuts and embossing in gold. Then I colored with more Oxides.

[Monica]

Both are great samples but I love those fish!

[katymjo]

I love you the fish too and the Balloon Strings background stamp is perfect for the waves of the sea.

[pugmom]

Beautiful cards, Farley. Other than a few Club Scrap background stamps that I kept, I don't think I have any others. Will have to see what I can find.

[mpizzazz]

Beautiful cards, Farley!
Makes me wonder why I don't heat emboss more, it is such a great look.

[paddlegal]

Beautiful cards, Farley!
Makes me wonder why I don't heat emboss more, it is such a great look.

Thank you everyone. I’m planning on making my 2nd and 3rd card this weekend.


Marianne, I didn’t heat emboss for the longest time mostly because it was such a chore with the surface I was working on...one of those self-healing cutting mattes. But since I’ve had the TH glass media matte I love embossing since I can do it right on that work surface.


Hope to see what you all can come up with.

[pamcook]

7. Watercolor effect on steam?

[paddlegal]

7. Watercolor effect on steam?

I started to ask you what that means and then realized I wrote that,

What I meant (I think) is if your background stamp is a more solid design, ink it up and then spritz with water for that watercolored effect. Spray the inked stamp or spray the paper first. Hope that makes sense.