Create Your Own Perfectly Matching Background Paper!

 

In today's tutorial I will show you how to create a background paper that will allow your photo(s) to shine on a scrapbook layout.  Using Memento Inks that match the photo allows the photo to be the center star of the layout.  All the embellishments will also match by coloring with the same inks.  The background itself is super quick and simple, and can be used for cards as well as layouts.

Skill:  Beginner

Time:  1 hours

 Directions:

Step 1:

 

Select ink colors that are in the photo you wish to highlight.  In my case it is one of my favorite photos from our travels to Oahu when we climbed to the top of Koko Head.  The stunning blue, brown, and green directed my choice of ink colors.  In this step Memento in Peanut Brittle is brayered randomly over a sheet of canvas textured white cardstock.  Cover about a third of the cardstock in varying levels of ink layers.  The key to this technique is to not look for perfection, just go for a fun look!

Step 2:

 

Memento Bahama Blue is used to ink the next layer in the background.  A good quality rubber balloon is filled with popcorn and tied off.  This is used to ink with random size dots in varying ink intensities on the background covering about one more third of the paper.

Step 3:

A second balloon filled with rice gives a slightly different ink look for the last layer using Memento Olive Grove.  Fill in the remaining open areas on the cardstock to finish the background.

Step 4:

The embellishments are shown here as one step, as the main focus of this tutorial is the background technique.  Smooth texture cardstock is used for all the embellishments as it die cuts more cleanly.  A frame of white cardstock is trimmed to 7 1/2 " x 5 1/2 " and inked with Memento Luxe in Peanut Brittle.  The Luxe ink blends a little more easily over larger areas.  The title is die cut in triplicate, then adhered together with small dots of OnPoint Glue around the die cuts to add dimension, and finally inked with Memento in Danube Blue.  A die cut of the island of Oahu is inked in Memento Olive Grove.  

Step 5:

 

When the photo was layered over the frame the match between the soil and the Peanut Brittle was so close, they blended together!  The edges of the photo are inked with StazOn in Jet Black to add definition to all edges of the photo, and allow the photo to stand out from the frame.

Step 6:

A journal block is written on the computer and printed out using photo settings and trimmed to size.  A frame is trimmed 1/4" larger than the journal block and inked in Memento Danube Blue.  The two are adhered together with Tear It! Tape.

Step 7:

 

 

The elements of the layout are placed on the background and adhered with Tear It! Tape or OnPoint Glue.  Memento Dual Tip Marker in Tuxedo Black is used to mark a small "X" as to the location of Koko Head on the Island of Oahu.   

Art Supplies

Imagine:

Memento--Peanut Brittle, Danube Blue, Olive Grove

Memento Luxe-- Peanut Brittle

StazOn--Jet Black

Memento Dual Tip Maker--Tuxedo Black

Ink Daubers

Tear It! Tape

On Point Glue

Other:

White canvas textured cardstock

White smooth textured cardstock

2" Rubber Brayer

Rubber balloons with popcorn and rice

Momenta Casual Script Alphabet Dies

Die Cut machine

Brother Scan and Cut 

Silhouette Design Store--Hawaii State die cut modified, Candy Apple Bold Script

Enjoy using a Tic Tac Toe challenge

This is a great Tic Tac Toe Challenge at Retro Rubber!  Please do join us and share your projects with us!  The Design Team have come up with some great cards!

 

The diagonal nature (flowers), green (leaves), and die cut (matching dies for this set) worked perfectly to create this elegant card.  This stamp set is one of the first stamp layering sets I purchased.  It is from Altenew in 2014 named Vintage Flowers with matching dies.  I choose one style of flower from the set even though there are others to choose from.  A stamp platform comes in very handy to stamp multiples of the same image in different colors.

• The flowers in stamped on glossy cardstock which makes them a bit more vibrant than non-glossy cardstock.  Memento in Elderberry, Sweet Plum, Lilac Posies, Angel Pink, and Lulu Lavender are used to created the multi-hued flowers.
• The leaves and stems are stamped in Memento Pear Tart, Bamboo Leaves, and Pistachio.  
• All the images are die cut with matching dies. 
• Kraft cardstock is die cut with Elizabeth Craft Designs Stitched Rectangles.
• A slightly larger layer was trimmed to 4.75" x 5.75" from white cardstock then inked with an ink dauber and Memento Sweet Plum.  I also inked the center of the cardstock and die cut the sentiment Enjoy using the Echo Park Sentiments die word set.  
• The layers are adhered together on an A7 size card (5" x7") with OnPoint Glue, with a few flowers and leaves popped up for dimension with foam adhesive. 
  

 Thanks so much for stopping by, I hope you enjoy this version of a Tic Tac Toe!  Come enter your project or card at Retro Rubber.

 CHALLENGE GUIDELINES

• We require stamps older than one year.  If we feel you are using newer stamps, you may be disqualified from the challenge without notification.
• New papers/dies are OK – but you must use at least one stamp older than a year and describe the age in your blog post.
• Please note that all challenges require the use of at least one stamp older than a year.
• Post your new creation to your blog or online gallery.   Use keyword RRCB187.  No backlinking. 
• Link back to the blog using the Linky Tools by the due date. 
• Enter as many times as you like. 
• Feel free to combine our challenge with a maximum of 10 challenges.  Entries linked to more than 10 challenges will be disqualified without notification.
• If your project is posted on a private group site such as Split Coast Stampers or a photo sharing site not all DT members may be able to comment.   Thank you for understanding.
• Turn off Word Verification.  We love to comment but word verification can make that difficult.

Sketchy Time at Retro Rubber

Sketches are also a quick way to get a start on a card.  This 2 week challenge uses the following sketch from Retro Rubber.   

This sketch inspired me to use a set I've had for awhile.  One of those from Concord and 9th that I just had to have . . . but this is the first time it's actually seen ink!  Sweet Sprinkles was released in 2017.

• The sprinkles stamp is stamped four times 1.75" x 4.375".  Once each direction in Brilliance Pearlescent Orchid and Brilliance Galaxy Gold.  The edges are inked in Brilliance Pearlescent Orchid.
• The cupcake top is inked in Brilliance Pearlescent Orchid, then touches of Brilliance Moonlight White was added to the stamp of add a bit of color variation to represent the frosting.  Brilliance Pearlescent Sky Blue Sprinkles are added to the top, and the image is die cut with the matching die.
• The cupcake paper was stamped in Brilliance Galaxy Gold, I've always liked gold cupcake papers!  One of the reasons I choose this color scheme.  It is die cut with the matching die cut.
• Two additional layers of each die cut are adhered to the back to create a more dimensional cupcake.
• The placement of the stamped section, cupcake and choice of two coordinating washi tapes was determined.  The washi tapes are both by Paper Studio.  
• The sentiment was stamped in Brilliance Pearlescent Orchid before the cupcake was adhered.
• To finish the inside of the card My Favorite Things Birthday Greetings was stamped in Brilliance Pearlescent Orchid and another bit of washi tape was added.

I am really pleased with the final result, and it was super fun to actually use a stamp in my stash that needed a little inky love!  Please join us at Retro Rubber and play along with this quick and easy sketch!

CHALLENGE GUIDELINEs

• We require stamps older than one year.  If we feel you are using newer stamps, you may be disqualified from the challenge without notification.
• New papers/dies are OK – but you must use at least one stamp older than a year and describe the age in your blog post.
• Please note that all challenges require the use of at least one stamp older than a year.
• Post your new creation to your blog or online gallery.   Use keyword RRCB186.  No backlinking. 
• Link back to the blog using the Linky Tools by the due date. 
• Enter as many times as you like. 
• Feel free to combine our challenge with a maximum of 10 challenges.  Entries linked to more than 10 challenges will be disqualified without notification.
• If your project is posted on a private group site such as Split Coast Stampers or a photo sharing site not all DT members may be able to comment.   Thank you for understanding.
• Turn off Word Verification.  We love to comment but word verification can make that difficult.

Thanks so much for stopping by, your comments are always appreciated!