by Elina Stromberg

Whenever you want to create interesting, bit grungy textures on a card background, I suggest you use acrylic paints for stamping! For this technique, you can use any pattern stamp you have in your stash and choose any colors to match to your main images. 

Skill: Intermediate
Time: 1.5 hours + drying time

Directions

Step 1

In this technique your Imagine craft mat will become handy: First, you use it as your palette for mixing the paints. Then you brayer the paint to a thin layer, add a hint of water should the paint be too heavy and then use the mat as your stamping pad. Simple and easy! The only thing to remember is to clean your stamp right after stamping. If the paint dries on your stamp it will be very difficult to remove. However, cleaning your craft mat you can do later; even if the paint is sticking to it, just mist the paint with water and wipe the mat clean with a baby wipe. Should there still be some paint left, just use a drop of hand sanitizer and your mat will look as good as new! Apply acrylic paint of your choice on the craft mat. I mixed white and red to get a beautiful light pink. Brayer the paint to a thin layer. Use the paint as your stamping pad. Keep the stamp in your hand, bend it, and stamp random patterns on the white paper. Let dry.

Step 2

Ink the background with a matching ink color. If you used a light acrylic paint color, use a darker ink. On a darker paint, a lighter ink color will best highlight the stamped pattern.


Step 3

Mist the inked pattern with water. Press the wet paper with a paper towel to pick up the excess ink. Let dry.

Step 4

Use a plastic stencil or a nesting metal die as your stencil and create a punched frame in the middle of your background. Secure the stencil with masking tape before starting. 
For punching, use a paper piercing tool or a darning needle. Place paper on an old mouse pad for easy punching and for protecting your crafting table.

Step 5

Sew a frame on the background using a straight stitch and three strings of embroidery yarn. Secure the end of the yarn on the back with double-sided tape.

Step 6

Stamp, color, and cut out your main image. Glue on the card front. Trim card to size, mat on a white card base. I used the same technique also for an ATC background; I think it looks quite nice, too!

Supplies

Imagine

• Memento Inkpad – Tuxedo Black, Lilac Posies
• Craft Mat

Other

• Acrylic paint – White, Red 
• Brayer
• Water mister
• Ink blending tool
• Honeycomb pattern stamp

• Stamping Bella: Milton (Mouse) Stamp cgr 135

• Carabelle Studio: Simple Elegance
• Promarkers for coloring
• Cardbase – white
• Cardstock – White mixed media 
• Dark purple paper
• Metal nesting dies: Sizzix
• Embroidery yarn, needle, paper piercing tool, old mouse pad