Welcome to the Stampin’ Pretty Pals’ Blog Hop!
This month, the theme is Creating Your Own Background. We really hope that you will be inspired by all the amazing creations the Pals are sharing with you! As you hop from blog to blog, we would love for you to leave a comment. You will find the lineup at the end of my post to help you “hop” along from Pal to Pal.
Creating your own background for a project may seem a little scary but I would like you to take a deep breath and just go for it. If you get stuck or want an opinion, share your picture of what you have created to my Facebook Page (Murray Stamps). My team of creatives will be happy to give you some ideas.
Here is my card using the background I created. I used die-cuts and stamping from the Seasons of Chic Bundle and the Ranunculus dies.
I chose an autumn color palette and some tone-on-tone stamping and layering. The Distressed Gold Specialty Paper is out of this world fantastic. You REALLY NEED this paper.
SUPPLIES
- STAMPS / DIES / BUNDLES
- Seasons of Chic Bundle
- Painted Label Dies
- Ranunculus Dies
- PAPER
- Thick Very Vanilla:
- 4-1/4″ x 11″ scored at 5-1/2″ for card base
- 4″ x 5-1/4″ for message insert
- Early Espresso: 5-1/4″ x 4″ embossed
- Cajun Craze:
- 5″ x 3-3/4″ stamped and die-cut layered
- 6″ x 11″ layered with Adhesive Sheet for die-cutting
- Distressed Gold Specialty Paper: 3″ x 12″ for die-cuts
- Basic Gray: 3/4″ x 3-3/4″ for sentiment
- Smoky Slate: scrap for die-cut foliage
- Thick Very Vanilla:
- INK
- Cajun Craze
- EMBELLISHMENTS
- Fern 3D embossing folder
- Metallic Ribbon (cut in half)
- Baker’s Twine
- Basic Gray Bakers Twine (retired) ALTERNATE: tint white twine with gray ink
- Trinket Adhesive Backed Flowers
- Champagne Rhinestones
- Brushed Brass Butterflies
- Basic White Embossing Powder
- TOOLS
- Paper Trimmer, Snips, Bone Folder
- Heat Tool
- Stampin’ Cut & Emboss Machine
- Embossing Additions Tool Kit (YOU MUST GET THIS!)
PIECES & PARTS
Creating your own background is deceptively simple. Stamp an image with Cajun Craze ink on cardstock for tone-on-tone effect.
Then die-cut the leaves from Cajun Craze cardstock backed with the Adhesive Sheet. Apply the die-cuts to the stamped background. Now you have created your own background and it’s time to add the sentiment.
Emboss the frame layer with the Fern 3D embossing folder. TIP: Stampin’ Cut & Emboss Machine Layer = Platform #1 + embossing folder with cardstock + Specialty Plate #4
Stamp and heat emboss the sentiment in white. Add Black Dimensionals behind the sentiment and layer on the card front as shown. Tuck a leaf die-cut from Smoky Slate cardstock and a larger leaf (Ranunculus dies) die-cut from the Distressed Gold Specialty Paper. Then add some embellishments (Champagne Rhinestones, Adhesive-Backed Flowers, and/or Brushed Brass Butterflies). I tied double bows from the Baker’s twine or the Metallic Ribbon that I cut in half.
Layer the complete card as shown. Don’t forget to add a little customizing on the message insert and the envelope for that truly special touch.
VARIATIONS
Creating your own background can be a little addicting. I have several variations using the combination of stamping and die-cuts and just stamping.
Thank you very much for spending your time with me. I hope you will give this background technique a try and share your creations with me.
More inspiration awaits, so use the lineup below to visit the rest of the Design Team. The Pals are excited to show you what they’ve created! Then, please mark your calendars for our next blog hop on August 10th. Our theme will be Seasons’ Greetings, where we will showcase projects inspired by our favorite seasonal time of the year.
Until then, have fun in your craft space.
Stampin’ Pretty Pals Blog Hop
- Mary Fish at Stampin’ Pretty
- Melissa Seplowitz at The Stamping Ninja
- Sue Jackson at Just Peachy Stamping
- Su Mohr at Aromas And Art
- Beth McCullough at Stamping Mom
- Ann Murray at Murray Stamps INK **YOU ARE HERE**
- Jackie Beers at Blue Line Stamping
- Tricia Chuba at ButterDish Designs
- Deb Walker at Deb Stamps Life
- Pamela Sadler at Stampin Pink Rose
- Lori Pinto at LollyPop Paper and Ink
- Lisa Ann Bernard at Queen B Creations
- Stesha Bloodhart at Stampin’ Hoot!
- Peggy Noe at Pretty Paper Cards
- Mary Hanson at Up North Stampin’
- Rae Harper Burnet at Wild West Paper Arts
Fantastic design! This is an idea I’m excited to try!
That warms my heart. I’d love to see your version. 🙂
Wow Ann! Your cards are so very pretty! I love the look of the stamped background with the die cut leaves over the top. All the details look amazing! 🙂
Thank you. I am glad you like the stamp/die-cut background technique.
Beautiful background technique with both the stamping and the die cuts!
Thanks. I have been on a non-creative streak lately. This was fun to create with lots of texture.
Great backgrounds Ann! Top notch!
Thanks. You can use any open die-cut for similar look.
Beautiful card! I love the background you’ve created. The fern frame is subtle but so impressive.
Thank you.! The fern was a happy addition to texture.
Wonderful cards!! I love your background technique.
Thanks. Inspired by a catalog sample.
Such a stunner Ann! That background looks deceptively hard, but so glad it is not. It is something that I am definitely going to try. So beautiful!!!
Not hard. Use Adhesive sheets for super easy. 😊
Your background is gorgeous, Ann! Love tone on tone!
Thank you, Su. I was inspired by a sample in one of the old catalogs.
Gasp! Such a gorgeous card, Ann! ♥
Thanks, Brian. 😆
Absolutely stunning Ann! The double whammy ink/diecut background is beautiful, your color choices are perfect, and that label in the gold is an idea I’m going to borrow;) Such a pleasure to see how you put your stamp on our hop!
Thanks, Deb. The Distressed Gold Specialty Paper is a show stopper. I think anything using this paper will be fabulous.
Simply spectacular!
Love the autumn colors and the tone on tone background!
Thank you so much. I really enjoyed creating this very tactile background.
I love these! The texture is great and perfect for your other layers. I will definitely give this a try. Thank you for sharing!
Awesome! I am glad that you will give stamp/die-cut background technique a try!