Building backgrounds

Altenew class on beyond basic backgrounds

So it begins...moving onto level 2 of the Altenew Educator Certification Program. I’m really enjoying how these classes are providing such interesting challenges that are pushing me to rethink how I use my current supplies. The class, Beyond Basic Backgrounds, had a lot of different ideas in building backgrounds using stamps, foil, inks, bleaching and dies that I was inspired to try a few ideas. In this card, I built a background using the Altenew warped speed stencil and gold transfer foil. Read along for the process of making this card.

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Building a background

Most of the examples from the class had an ombré look. I wanted to mimic this. I used Distress Inks in candied Apple, abandoned coral, ripe persimmon and wild honey to get a warm ombré effect. I made two backgrounds to try different techniques on them.

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After blending Inks all over the paper, I used the warped speed stencil and a spatula to apply Deco Foil transfer gel. This gel takes an hour to change from opaque white to clear. Once the gel is clear, I placed a piece of gold transfer foil onto the paper and ran it through my Minc machine. The transfer worked wonderfully and there is just great shine on my background.

Blended background with DecoFoil transfer gel and gold foil.

Blended background with warped speed stencil, texture paste and Hero Arts gold glitter embossing powder.

I wanted to do the same thing but with texture paste and embossing powder. On this panel I originally tried bleaching the paper with water where I laid down the stencil and then used a water brush to paint. I felt the effect was too subtle. I then laid down texture paste and immediately put Hero Arts gold sparkle embossing powder on top. For this technique you need to let the embossing paste dry before embossing. This drying process takes about 20-30 minutes. If you don’t wait, the texture paste will bubble. The result is shine but with some texture versus the smooth look with the foil. Texture paste also adds some heaviness to the card which is not present with the foil.

Card assembly

For the card sentiment, I cut out a piece of vellum using Hero Arts infinity circle dies. I then used a ring stamp I made by cutting out fun foam to stamp Versamark all over the outside of each circle. I then heat embossed using Hero Arts gold embossing powder. The sentiment is from Honey Bee stamps Congrats Grad set. I stamped the sentiment in VersaMark and then heat embossed with the same gold powder. I then added StickIt adhesive to the back of the vellum circle to add an even layer of adhesive. I then adhered the circle to the card so the circle was offset. I then added the sentiment, "so happy for you" from Altenew Under the Cherry Blossom Tree which was gold heat embossed on scrap blue cardstock. I added a layer of double sided tape to the strip and then adhered it to the vellum circle. To put this card together, I added the panel to a white piece of cardstock. For the texture piece, I then added both of these to an A2 pink/coral cardbase and added a strip of washi for extra shine. For the foiled piece, I added it to a white A2 top folding cardbase and also added a strip of washi tape.

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Texture paste and gold embossed background

Foiled background

Thank you for joining me today and I hope this inspired you to build a background using foil or texture paste. Let me know in the comments which card background you like better, foil or texture paste. I hope you have a crafty day!