ThePowerOfACard: Background Technique

Showing posts with label Background Technique. Show all posts

Thursday, June 18, 2026

Wax Paper "Textured" Backgrounds

This technique is another old one that I haven't done in a while! I saw a video from Gina K Designs and it reminded me about it. When you do this, you won't actually be adding texture to your paper like you would with an embossing folder. You get the textured look when you do ink blending after doing the technique. I show you how to do this in the video (it's simple!), but you will need a few non-card making supplies. I also show a card that uses a variation of the technique using an embossing folder.

Special note - if you read this blog before I release my video on June 24th, you won't get to see it yet - please come back and watch!

Let's start with just the process. In addition to the cardstock for your project, you will need wax paper, a dry iron, an ironing board (or other surface that can take the heat) and a couple sheets of copy paper. It is important to note that parchment paper will not work - you need the wax coating to make the textured appearance. I like to start with pieces that are larger than I need for my card. Let's go with two 4-1/4" x 5-1/2" (quarter size sheets) of Basic White and the same size piece of wax paper.

Crumple the wax paper into a ball, then flatten it back out and sandwich it between the two pieces of white cardstock. Place this sandwich between layers of copy paper and press with the iron which is set on the highest setting. Do not use steam! In fact, I recommend emptying the iron before using it. After a few minutes, remove the copy paper and open the sandwich. It is important to remember which side of the cardstock touched the wax paper. I like to flip the sandwich open so the sides facing up are the ones that touched and need ink blending. Keep the wax paper - I show you how you can use it for another purpose!

Don't forget to check out my card samples - I think after seeing them, you will have plenty of ideas of how to use this technique in your craft room. I even have one where I embossed the wax paper instead of crumpling it up and the result is quite beautiful!

Gather your supplies:

Cardstock: Azure Afternoon 8-1/2" x 5-1/2"; Basic White (2) 4/1/4" x 5-1/2", 4" x 5-1/4", 2-1/4" x 3-3/4", 1/2" x 1-1/2"
Stamp: Wild Bunch (June 2026 Product of the Month)
Die: Stylish Shapes
Inks: Balmy Blue, Azure Afternoon, Blueberry Bushel, Memento Black
Blends: Basic Black, Golden Glow
Adhesive and Tools including blending brushes, wax paper and an iron

For our card, we will need some scrap cardstock with circles in a variety of sizes cut out of them - I have 2", 1-3-4", 1-1/2" and 1" punches that I used to cut out the circles. Start with Balmy Blue and the largest circle and ink blend color onto the surface of the cardstock (remembering to use the side that touched the wax paper). Add several circles scattered around the piece. Switch to the next smallest circle and Azure Afternoon. Add more circles with light pressure - some of these will overlap the previous circles. Switch to the next smaller circle and apply the same color, but more intense. Finally, add Blueberry Bushel with the smallest circle to complete the bokeh look. If you need to go back and add more of any of the circle sizes or colors, that's fine. Trim this piece to be 4" x 5-1/4".

Since the blending brushes are out and inky, it's a good idea to add a few circles to the inside panel of white and the envelope at this time. These circles won't have the textured look, but they will carry over the bokeh theme.

On the small rectangle of white, stamp the bird in black ink on the right side. Color with blends and fussy cut him out. From the other side of this rectangle, cut out the third largest circle from the Stylish Shapes dies. Before adding the penguin to the circle, take one of the circle templates and cut a wavy edge. Use the blending brushes to add some color to the bottom third of the circle - sort of like an iceberg. Add the penguin with Dimensionals.

Stamp the sentiment on the strip of white with Azure Afternoon ink and flag the ends. Stamp the sentiment on the inside panel. Assemble the card by placing the trimmed bokeh piece on the card base, which was folded in half and creased with a bone folder. Add the sentiment and circle with Dimensionals and glue the inside panel. Isn't this simply adorable??

My next card features the Wooly Friends bundle. The textured background was inked with Gray Granite. Two of the sheep were stamped on white and then filled in with stamped off Gray Granite. The last sheep was stamped on Gray Granite cardstock (which was also used to make a paper ribbon behind the sentiment circle). Pairing this with Daffodil Delight makes this a perfect gender neutral baby card!

Fragrant Layers has been a favorite of mine since it was released. I paired Crisp Cantaloupe (a new In Color) with Lemon Lime Twist for a fresh look. I blended my panel with Lemon Lime Twist before cutting it into strips. These were then placed diagonally over a panel of white, trimmed and matted with Lemon Lime Twist cardstock. The flowers were stamped in black and filled in with the Crisp Cantaloupe, Lemon Lime Twist and Daffodil Delight. Unfortunately, you do have to fussy cut this cluster of flowers, but I think it's worth it! Pop this up with Dimensionals and add a few 2026-2028 In Color Butterflies.

Earlier this month, I asked my Facebook followers which they preferred - cats or dogs - after showing them two strips of critters from the Cutest Crew bundle. Dogs were the winners and I make a card featuring them. Here is the runner up with the cats and I don't think the cat people will feel slighted at all! I colored the cats in a variety of blends and popped them up on a panel colored with Golden Glow (another new In Color). Before I added it to my card base, I tied a bow with the Golden Glow Bordered Ribbon. Lastly, I added my sentiment and some 2026-2028 In Color Dots.

This next card features Piglet and Eeyore and a label that was masked to have a white border. I used the Sweet Words & Labels bundle and selected the label size I wanted. Then I cut the next smaller label out of scrap cardstock and used that as a mask to ink blend Hydrangea Hue (another new In Color) on the piece of textured background. Then I cut it out with the larger die, which made this beautiful layered look label. I stamped and colored the two friends (Sweet Old Friends bundle) with Blends and cut them out with dies before popping them up with Dimensionals. The background panel is embossed with the Hundred Acre Woods folder. After adding the label, the bow was tied from the Hydrangea Hue Bordered ribbon and the panel was added to the card base.

This card shows another way you can use the wax paper to get a different textured look. Instead of crumpling it, run it through an embossing folder. I used the Fern & Flora folder to get this beautiful panel. Depending on the design on your folder, one side may look better than the other. For example, I showed the second piece in the video and while it looked OK after inking, the pattern wasn't quite as distinct as this one, which I colored with Secret Sea and Peaceful Pine (yet another new In Color). I used the Fern & Flora bundle to make the cluster of greenery. The stamped leaves were colored with the Peaceful Pine Shimmer Brush and have that little sparkle that adds a special touch. The ribbon is the Secret Sea Bordered Open Weave ribbon and the embellishments are the Natural Matte Dots.

My last card utilizes the spent wax paper. After you iron the piece, the wax paper doesn't have to be thrown away and you can use it anywhere you would use vellum. I cut out the wax paper with the Sweet Words & Labels dies (the same one I used on the Piglet/Eeyore card) and used it behind my cluster of flowers and leaves. These were made by using sponge daubers and the Paradise Garden bundle. For the flowers, I chose Daffodil Delight and Pumpkin Pie and for the leaves, I used Lemon Lime Twist and Granny Apple Green. The background paper is from the Brights Painted Patterns DSP and the label was heat embossed and embellished with Shimmering Dots.

This is such fun and easy technique and the results are just so interesting! Have fun with it and share what you make on my Facebook group.

Karen

ThePowerOfACard@gmail.com

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Product List

Wild Bunch Photopolymer Stamp Set (English)

[167987]

$5.00

Azure Afternoon 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[161719]

$14.00

Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[166780]

$14.00

Balmy Blue Classic Stampin' Pad

[147105]

$9.00

Azure Afternoon Classic Stampin' Pad

[161663]

$11.00

Blueberry Bushel Classic Stampin' Pad

[147138]

$9.00

Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad

[132708]

$8.00

Stylish Shapes Dies

[159183]

$30.00

Basic Black Stampin' Blends Combo Pack

[154843]

$12.00

Golden Glow Stampin’ Blends Combo Pack

[167682]

$12.00

Blending Brushes

[153611]

$17.00

Multipurpose Liquid Glue

[110755]

$6.00

Stampin' Dimensionals

[104430]

$4.25

Basic White Medium Envelopes

[159236]

$15.00

Paper Trimmer

[152392]

$28.00

Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine

[149653]

$140.00

Tuesday, March 18, 2025

Meant to Bee Bundle and Friends

The Meant to Bee bundle is part of our scrapbooking line and it is a large set of stamps and dies (18 and 24, respectively)! I love that it coordinates with the Bee my Valentine stamp set from the annual catalog. The two bees in this set have dies rather than the punch from the valentine set and they are both larger and smaller - this means you can have small, medium and large bees! Cute as Can Bee is a 12" pack of Designer Series Paper - I show that to you in the video, as well as use it in some of my card samples. There are five sizes of hexagons - but they are a little different than you might expect - each die cuts out a frame and a smaller hexagon at the same time. You can see all of the stamps and dies in this handy chart:

I am also showing a fun technique for making a colorful background - I use blending brushes and three shades of ink to make a graphic backdrop for my cute as can bee card! And as always, I have cards to show a variety of ways to use the bundle (and friends). You won't want to miss the last card - it's a super cute bendy card (thank you Connie Stewart for the idea!).

Gather your supplies:

Cardstock: Daffodil Delight 8-1/2" x 5-1/2"(scored at 4-1/4"); Basic White (2) 4" x 5-1/4", 1-1/2" x 3"; Peach Pie Two Tone Cardstock 3-1/4" x 6-1/2"
Bundle: Meant to Bee
Stamp: Bee my Valentine
Inks: Memento Black, Daffodil Delight, Peach Pie, Pumpkin Pie
Adhesive and Tools including Blending Brushes

Begin by folding your card base in half, giving it a good crease and setting it aside. Now we can start making our background design on one of the Basic White rectangles. On the sample card I show at the beginning of the video, I used a rectangular piece of scrap cardstock, but for this one, I decided to cut out the largest hexagon and use that as my mask. Using the lightest color (Daffodil Delight), position the hexagon and blend over one corner. Move the mask around and repeat, adding splotches of color at various angles and positions on the panel. Next, switch to another corner of the hexagon mask and do the same thing with Peach Pie and finally with Pumpkin Pie. The colors will overlap and blend with one another, so it's important to select colors that will look good together. When you're all done with the three colors, you may need to go back and add one color if a sections looks a bit empty. Adhere this background piece to the card front.

On the small piece of white, stamp the bee, wings and antenna. I like to stamp the stripes first, then add the yellow body. Use the dies to cut these pieces out and while at the Stampin' Cut & Emboss machine, cut out two hexagons from the two-tone paper. I used the two smallest hexagons - the larger of these cut on the darker side and the smaller one on the lighter side. Add the wings and antenna to the bee, then stamp the face. Stamp the sentiment in black ink in the lower right of the small hexagon. Position both hexagons on the card front to get the spacing like you want it (I centered mine). Keep the inner hexagon there and adhere the hexagon frame, then add Dimensionals to pop up the solid hexagon. Add the bee with a few more Dimensionals.

For the inside panel, I stamped a sentiment from the Bee my Valentine set in black. I added a Daffodil Delight heart (the one from Bee my Valentine) over the words and then adhered this to the inside of my card. In the corner of my envelope, I stamped a large heart in Daffodil Delight and flanked it with two small hearts in Peach Pie and Pumpkin Pie. Which version of this do you prefer? I liked using the hexagon shape as my mask because it has continuity with the dies and I love the yellow tones with the bee. However, for the love theme of the first sample, I think the colors are perfect. Bottom line - I adore them both!

In my next card, I used the smallest hexagon on Pool Party Two Tone cardstock. I layered the lighter solid hexagon on top of the frame, rotating it so the points are opposite each other. I used three strips of the Cute as Can Bee DSP (the bees are 1" wide, while the other two are 3/4" wide) on my white panel. For my bee, I stamped the body in Lemon Lolly for a softer bee and did the wings in Pool Party to match the paper.

I love this next sample because it shows off both sides of the DSP at once. My base is a quarter sheet of Pretty in Pink and the DSP is 4" x 8", scored at 5-1/4". Layering of hexagons, both on the inside and on the front panel makes a beautiful focal point. Adding a few of the die cut flowers is the perfect touch to match the paper.

This next card is a labor of love! I cut out a LOT of little flowers (good thing there are dies enough to cut six at once!). I then popped them up on a panel of Petunia Pop Two Tone Cardstock. I matted this with a panel of Basic White, on which I drew a border with my Stampin' Write Marker. I added my sentiment label and then on all the remaining flowers, added a rhinestone in the center. It took some time, but the result is stunning!

This one is quick and easy! Cut four 1-1/2" squares of DSP and add them to a rectangle of Basic White. Mat this with Petunia Pop and add to a Basic Black card base. After adding a sentiment, add a bee and a heart on two of the squares - bam! You're done.

For my next card, I changed up the color scheme from the DSP pack. Again, it's a simple card using 1-1/2" squares of white (matted with 1-5/8" squares of Basic Black). I stamped the flower center in Daffodil Delight, then added petals in Pumpkin Pie, Melon Manbo and Gorgeous Grape. Popping them on-point leaves just the right space for the sentiment and makes this a clean and simple card.

My last card is so very adorable!! I am very thankful to demonstrator Connie Stewart for teaching this bendy card layout! It features the flowers from Bee my Valentine and both bees from the Meant to Bee set. Before attaching the bendy panel, I stamped the flowers, sentiment and dashed bee flight lines. Then I added the panel to the base before attaching the bees with a single Dimensional. The back side has an additional sentiment, more flowers and space to write a personal message. I simply adore that this card can stand up on a desk for easy display, yet fit perfectly in an envelope!

Now that I've featured a few of the scrapbooking products in my recent videos, I hope you will check them out, even if you're only interested in making cards! There is so much more to Stampin' Up! than just what you see in catalogs. Happy stamping!

Karen

ThePowerOfACard@gmail.com

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