Technique Boutique: Make Your own B&T

Everyone has a different style in scrapbooking, which is what makes our artwork so unique.  I love to use my solid cardstock, but when I finish the page, I feel like I have to fill the "blank" spots.  If I don't, I feel like there is a lot of empty space.  I'm starting to get past it, but not quite there yet.  I've got a goal this year to start using stamp sets in my drawer that I've never used.  Today I chose our Universal Background stamp set.  

If you've never stamped before, follow my tutorial to learn How To Stamp Artwork-Part 4 of 4. I used our La Belle Vie paper pack and started with Smokey Pum as my base page.  With my Universal Backround stamp pictured above, I stamped the entire page.  With our clear stamps, it makes it so easy to line up and see where you need to stamp next.  What's nice about making your own B&T (background & texture) papers, even if something doesn't stamp perfect...it's a background, not your main focus to your page.  Leave any imperfections there...that's what makes it unique, not manufactured!

I love the difference it made to my page!

I hope this gives you some ideas of how you can make your own B&T paper to give the extra touch you're looking for.  

Thanks for stopping by...AND Happy Stamping!

Jane

Technique Boutique: Random Stamping

What is random stamping?  It's a great technique for making your own B&T (Background and Texture) paper.  Below is a great instructional video by CTMH demonstrating random stamping.  

I wanted snowflakes on my winter layout and didn't have paper to match my color scheme.  So using this technique, I created my own.  I will be teaching this technique for my January club and we will be making this layout.

TECHNIQUE BOUTIQUE: MAKE YOUR OWN EMBELLISHMENT

Today I'm going to show you how to ink on chipboard to make your own embellishment.  

Supplies needed:

• DIMENSIONAL ELEMENTS CHIPBOARD  I chose our heart shapes.
• INK PAD(S).  I chose Chocolate and Pacifica. 
• Stamp of your choice.  I chose DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS.
• Coordinating CARDSTOCK.  I chose Chocolate and Pacifica.
• Coordinating B&T paper from our MY REFLECTIONS collections.  
• ACRYLIC BLOCK

Refer to my 4 part lesson for priming, inking, using, and cleaning your stamps.  You will need to follow those steps when making this embellishment.

Step 1

Place your chip board on your paper with the foam insert placed under the paper.  I placed a blue piece of cardstock under the chipboard just to give contrast so you could see the chipboard on the paper.

Step 2

After you've primed your stamp, ink it with your choice of color

Step 3 

Stamp your chipboard.  I used a stamp that is going to have a lot coverage so I recommend holding the stamp firmly against the chipboard and count to 10.  The chipboard is porous and will soak up the ink.  Counting to 10 allows the chipboard time to soak in the ink and to have good even coverage.  If you are using a stamp with a less solid coverage, I recommend holding the stamp with medium pressure counting to 5.

With this project I also used the Faux Leathering technique on the Chocolate and Pacifica.  Refer to my post on August 7th, 2012 for this technique.

Below is the card I made making my own embellishment.  It adds just the right touch and gives dimension to the card.

Have fun embellishing!

TECHNIQUE BOUTIQUE: FAUX LEATHERING

Time for Technique Boutique

Now that you are comfortable using your stamps and you know which ink to use based on the project you are completing, it's time to learn some fun techniques.

The first technique I'm going to show you is how to make your own B&T paper; Background and Texture paper.  

This technique is called Faux Leathering:

Supplies Needed:

• CARDSTOCK
• INK that is the same color as your cardstock or a shade lighter/darker
• Deskpad or paper large enough to fit under the paper you are going to ink to allow you to go over the edge...and not get on your table.

Take your ink pad and "smear" the ink all over your card stock.  Not all the paper will get covered and that's good.  I prefer to go in a circular motion when covering the paper.  There is no wrong way of doing this.

Continue until the entire piece of paper is covered.

Now your ready to cut it into smaller pieces for your scrapbook page/card or use it as your base page.  Below is a sample of my artwork using this technique.

Have fun creating!  The possibilities are endless;-)