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.