Better Backgrounds: A Twist on Bleach

I've always enjoyed working with bleach and never cease to be amazed at how two pieces of identical looking cardstock can produce completely different results. There's magic in the technique!
In these two cards, the magic was enhanced with the new Jenni Bowlin dye inks and Claudine Hellmuth's Studio Extra Time. You'll find all the details here in this April 2011 Crafts 'n things® bonus on-line project.

Better Backgrounds: Illusions of Lace

If you’ve ever scorched your paper or burnt your fingers when using an iron to create wax paper resist, you’ll love this technique. No heat involved to transfer a lace impression or the die cut image of your choice in these cards found on page 57 of the February 2011 issue of Crafts 'n things®.


With Inkssentials™ Gloss Paper and the addition of Tim Holtz™ Distress Ink, no one will guess how you produced these fabulous results. Use your "resist" as is or add a stamped message from Hero Arts® as I did. The possibilities are limitless, and there's no safety hazard involved.

Better Backgrounds: Perfectly Dramatic Black

If you like to create fabulous backgrounds with a simple list of supplies, the technique in the December 2010 issue of Crafts 'n things® is for you! The first card uses little more than black Inkssentials™ Gloss Paper and Perfect Pearls™.

Want more bling? Just add "Glitter Ornaments" Peel-Off Stickers from The Paper Studio.

You'll find complete instructions on page 71.

Better Backgrounds: Alcohol Impressions

Looking for different ways to use your Tim Holtz™ Adirondack® Alcohol Inks? Add these wonderful stamps by Fred B. Mullett, and that's all you'll need to create striking backgrounds on Inkssentials™ Gloss Paper.

The falling leaves card showcases Mullett's Big Oriental Plane leaf.

Solved the technique mystery? More wonderful nature stamps, Magnolia and Lil’ Magnolia with Roann Mathias' "Mystery" stamp (The Stamping Studio.) One Adirondack® Dye Ink pad is all that you will need to complete the card below.

You can find detailed instructions on page 70 of the October 2010 issue of Crafts ‘n Things.

Better Backgrounds: Glazed Watercolors

If you've not tried the Claudine Hellmuth Studio Paints, a close look at pictures of projects from the August 2010Crafts 'n Things may provide another reason to do so. My best description is the paints are yummy. Used with Claudine's issue of Multi Medium Gloss, this technique closely resembles canvas. The missing ingredient is Adirondack® Dye Ink Pads.
First, the Butterfly Collage card. (Stamp by Outlines™ Rubber Stamp Company, Inc) This background needed no further adornment.

Or add to butterflies to the "canvas" background with stickers such as the sparkly Glitter Butterflies Peel Offs by Paper Studio.

You'll find complete instructions on page 64.

Better Backgrounds: Metal Effects

It may not seem romantic to some, but when my husband asks if I would like to accompany him to the home improvement store, I typically jump at the opportunity. It's bigger than any craft store I've ever seen and what an abundance of product. There's just something special about transforming a material that would typically be attached to your house into a lovely piece of art.
Two such examples of one of my latest hardware store projects may be found on page 58 of the June 2010 issue of Crafts 'n Things. As would be expected, metal and Tim Holtz™ Adirondack® Alcohol Inks provide a winning combination. Here is a close-up of the first card. Any ideas as to where you might find this metal?

The second card features an Oxford Impressions image and sentiment from the My Story plate. A change in ink colors and what a different impression.

In contrast to the metals of my imagination, here's a background with a more traditional metal finish. This "gold" has the potential to provide a base for a fine art piece.

Need more metal inspiration? Check out my "Memories of Roses" in the April 2010 issue of Crafts 'n Things.

Better Backgrounds: Paint Scraping

I've always thought of my mother as a "real" artist because she worked in oils, acrylics, and watercolors. Years later, I still remember watching her coach the last bit of color from those precious tubes. She would then use the same technique that I have used below to create rich, vibrate backgrounds.
In my first card, you can see the beauty of the Claudine Hellmuth Studio Paints with no additional adornment. This is a background that can definitely stand on its own.

Next, see what happens when you add embossing with Adirondack® Pigment Ink and Christmas Tree Embossing Antiquities™. Definitely an appropriate background for this sophisticated stamp, Abundance by B Line Designs.


For the details of this technique, see page 59 of the April 2010 issue of Crafts ‘n Things.

Better Backgrounds: Never Distressed

Looking for an easy technique that can stand on its own or form the background for a variety of projects? The secret is in the product, Tim Holtz™ Distress Ink Pads. You'll find the details in my Better Backgrounds column at page 92 of the February 2010 issue of Crafts 'n Things.

Simplicity can be seductive as shown below with this image from My Story by Oxford Impressions. Tim Holtz™ Distress™ Embossing Powders provide the alluring texture.

If the flame of love needs no further illustration, you'll enjoy creating this colorful background. The rich full colors need no further embellishment.

I've shown you two great color combinations but half the fun is experimenting to see how these wonderful inks work together. Choose subtle and light as with my "In Love with You" card or rich and warm like my "Shades of Red" card. You are in control.

Better Backgrounds: Faux Handmade Paper

Need a little help to get into the holiday spirit? This background technique lends itself to the glitz and glitter of the season while being perfectly adaptable to simple designs. The key to this technique is to provide a background with the tooth needed to "grab" the synthetic fibers. The thick, creamy Claudine Hellmuth Studio Paints are perfect for this. Look at how the paints and fibers enhance the sparkle of the Christmas Light stamp by Penny Black (3054K).

Below, you see the background with absolutely no embellishment. You must agree. Still gorgeous.

For details on this technique and added holiday inspiration, see the December 2009 issue of Crafts 'n Things.

Better Backgrounds: Swirling Texture

Texture never bores me, and when you add the glimmer of Perfect Pearls™ to Inkssentials™ Glossy Accents™, you can create a background that is unforgettable. You'll find the details of this technique in the October 2009 issue of Crafts 'n Things. The two cards featured on page 112 are below.
First, the Believe card demonstrates the results you can achieve through an underlying layer of stamping. The stamps are two of my favorites: Block of Words (Postmodern Design) and Cracks Grunge Background (I Brake for Stamps).

Next, see the results you can achieve by adding simple embellishments like rick rack and this flower from K&Company.

Here are two additional cards. The first card demonstrates the dramatic results you can achieve with no added embellishments while Queen of the Road is (stickers by EK Success) is just plain fun.



You don't have to jump on your Harley to create these backgrounds.The right products are all you will need to fire up your imagination.`

Better Backgrounds: Irresistible Resist

Techniques have a way of morphing. I remember a demonstration of faux antiquing I saw years ago: white paint applied over a clear image embossed on black cardstock. Definitely shabby chic. Later, I learned a technique called kaleidoscope or Joseph’s Coat: black ink brayered over a clear image embossed on marker-colored cardstock, a similar process.
While experimenting recently, I believe I achieved a completely different look with Adirondack® Dye Inks, Adirondack® Acrylic Paint Dabbers, and Inkssentials™ Gloss Paper. Two cards resulting from my experiment may be found on page 95 of the August issue of Crafts 'n Things. Both feature stamps by Fred B. Mullett.
First, my "Wonderful Peppers" card. I think these pepper stamps are wonderful! I hope that you will click on the card to see the details. The Classic K Bailey Ornamental Rub-On (K & Company) is a perfect complement for this hot number!

Next, "Simply Shrimp." I'd admired the Lori’s Shrimp stamp and think that Lil’ Flying Fish is a nice partner. The rich colors of the inks provide a sharp contrast to the pastel paint. No further embellishment required!

Below, two cards that you won't see in the magazine and more stamps by Fred B. Mullett.
First, "Testing the Water." I wanted to use the rather large sticker (EK Success) and that required large stamps, Blue Bobo and Big Kelp. Big stamps also mean that lots of color shows through the paint. Take a peak!

Now, "Through the Window." I wanted to see how a transparency might work with this background and thought the Printables ERA Transparency by Prima fit the bill. It looks to me like the Mushroom and Ground Ivy are peaking through the window.

For detailed information, see page 95 of the August issue of Crafts 'n Things. With or without further adornment or with the embellishment of your choice, this resist technique is irresistible!

Better Backgrounds: Masking with Tape

You may have thought of masking tape as a standard artist supply, but have you considered using it to create your backgrounds? Look at these two cards from my Better Backgrounds column in the June 2009 issue of Crafts ‘n Things.


At first glance, I think you’d be hard pressed to say how these backgrounds were created. Tape and Adirondack® Dye Ink pads are the answer. The details are on pages 92-93.

The two great stamps, Sherrie and Sharon, by B Line Designs were stamped with a Big & Bossy™ Two-tone Embossing Pad and embossed with Super Fine Detail™ Powder. (You could achieve the same result with the newer Adirondack® Pigment Inks.) This is also a perfect background for rub-ons as demonstrated by the addition of “thanks” (Creative Imaginations) to the card stamped with Sharon’s veiled image.
Here’s an example with colors that do not overlap. (Stamps: Time Flies, Stampers Anonymous; Eternity Slab, Postmodern Design. Nick Bantock™ Dye Pads: Chartreuse, Deep Turquoise, Vermillion Lacquer, Damson Plum, Chrome Yellow.)

For a completely different look, tear your tape to create the shape of your choice. After creating the grid background with tape and Clover Adirondack® Dye Ink, I added the flower effect with tape and Wild Plum ink. (Stamp: Printer’s Mark, LaPluma; Big & Bossy™ Two-tone Embossing Pad; Bottle Adirondack® Embossing Powder.)


Want to try something different? Let your tape be your guide!

Better Backgrounds: Masking with Die Cuts

Die cuts are meant to be embellishments, right? That's probably how most people use them, but I enjoy finding possibilities for product beyond the intended purpose. To find out how die cuts do double duty as masks in stamping projects, see my Better Backgrounds column in the April 2009 issue of Crafts 'n Things. Die cuts by Spellbinders are teamed with Ranger® Adirondack® Dye Ink Pads in this fun technique.

One of the things that I enjoyed was using stamps by fellow Tennessee artist Roann Mathias. ("Sing to the Lord" above; "Imagine" below) I've long been intrigued by calligraphy, and her work is beautiful. You can find more of Roann's images at the Stamping Studio. (Other stamps for these two projects: Rhonna Farrer for Autumn Leaves)


Above: Friends (Just for Fun)
Below: Irene (B Line Designs)

With die cuts that are elegant or simple - country or sophisticated, add a little ink and your background is ready for stamping or embellishment.

Better Backgrounds: Texture Plates

It’s a game that I’ve always enjoyed playing, and you may too. When you look at tools, do you brainstorm about ways to use them - other than the intended purpose?
Whether it is a matter of stretching your dollars or simply challenging yourself to think “outside the box,” tools provide inspiration. While texture plates are designed to emboss paper, I’ve found it is even more fun to create backgrounds by stamping with them. Four recent creations are featured in my “Better Backgrounds” column on pages 92 – 93 of the February 2009 issue of Crafts ‘n Things. You may choose to complete your card with stamping, stickers, or transparency or decide to leave it unadorned. Whatever you decide, Tim Holtz™ Adirondack® Color Wash™, Inkssentials™ Gloss Paper, and a texture plate are all you need for striking results!

Color Confusion (above): Texture plate (Sizzix) Wild Dashes

Birds of a Feather (above): Texture plate (Fiskars) Lace; Transparency (Prima) Paintables ERA

It’s a Bug’s Life (above): Texture plate (Cedar Canyon) Op Art; E-Z Rub-On (Royal & Langnickel) Creepy Crawly Bugs Glitter

Optical Illusion (above): Texture plate (Cedar Canyon) Op Art; Stamp (Stampabilities) Thanks
Be sure to check the April issue of Crafts ‘n Things to see my next “Better Backgrounds” column.