One of the things I love about stamping is being able to customize everything and today I want to show you how to make your own background paper to use in your card making and scrapbooking projects.
Sometimes we know exactly what we want as a layer on a project and when you can't find it, I say grab your stamps and make it!
Choose what colors or theme you are looking to create and then just grab a piece of Whisper White or Very Vanilla (or any other shade if you are feeling really colorful!). Start with either your outline stamp OR your boldest, largest image and stamp randomly all over the sheet of card stock. I find it helpful to turn the paper as I go because then I don't subconsciously create a predictable pattern. (Unless of course you WANT that look like I showed here.) Now stamp your “fillers” – in the example below that would be the colors of the flowers. Now grab your smallest images and “sprinkle” them into any open spaces like I did with the leaves. When you are done, you will have a custom sheet of your very own designer paper!
Here's a card using a panel of my very own background paper:
Isn't that cute? And it was SO easy! I used the same stamp that I used on this card and since I haven't customized it as I did the previous card I can send it to anyone. And because my very own background paper doesn't include words and uses shades that are more jewel toned, I could emphasize a different color, stamp in a different color, add a trim that has a little more body and even send it to a guy.
Like this card? This very card is one that I used in Stamping Family in our Step It Up section. We start with this card, add a few simple changes and KAPOW – it elevated it to a more advanced card. Not a member of Stamping Family? Click here to check it out!
Below are the products I used, to order any, simply click a pic!
Now that you know the basics on how to create your own background paper, I say go for it!
