Stand Back
Topic: Backgrounds
When I ran across this technique for the third time in a week (on separate blogs) I decided to take a run at it myself. I had before made waxed paper backgrounds by crinkling waxed paper, flattening it, sandwiching between two pieces of glossy white cardstock, and ironing it to melt the wax. When this is colored with inks the wax resists the color leaving a lovely pattern.
The twist in this technique is running the waxed paper through the Cuttlebug using an embossing folder. Then, rather than having a random crackled pattern in the finished colored cardstock, you get a coloring with the design of the folder. Awesome!
I cut a huge stack of cardstock, a big stack of waxed paper and got out several of my folders. Working in assembly line I impressed each of the selected folders 2 to 3 times. (Each will make two finished cards) Then I sandqiched them till I ran out of cut cardstock and then ironed the whole stack.
After this I got out the distress inks and started coloring up the backgrounds. I used two to four inks for each panel, applying them with a blending tool. After covering the surface I buffed with a paper towel to reveal the pattern.
I didn't use up all the prepared cards but here is what I have so far:
![](http://www.mystudio3d.com/blog/5-21-Argyle-Baby.jpg)
A soft argyle that will make a great background for a baby boy card
![](http://www.mystudio3d.com/blog/5-21-Argyle-Light.jpg)
A brighter argyle for a masculine card
![](http://www.mystudio3d.com/blog/5-21-Bricks-Light.jpg)
A brick texture with very warm tones
![](http://www.mystudio3d.com/blog/5-21-Bricks-Bright.jpg)
more brick with redder coloring
![](http://www.mystudio3d.com/blog/5-21-Brocade-Pastel.jpg)
brocade with extremely pastel inks
![](http://www.mystudio3d.com/blog/5-21-CircleDiamonds-PinkRed.jpg)
reds and pinks on a circle/diamond pattern
![](http://www.mystudio3d.com/blog/5-21-Clockworks-GreenOrange.jpg)
clockworks on which I tried to color individual elements differently to define them
![](http://www.mystudio3d.com/blog/5-21-Daisies-Orange.jpg)
daisies in a blend of oranges
![](http://www.mystudio3d.com/blog/5-21-Diamond-Rainbow.jpg)
small diamonds in a rainbow
![](http://www.mystudio3d.com/blog/5-21-Hearts-PinkOrange.jpg)
hearts in pink and orange
![](http://www.mystudio3d.com/blog/5-21-Intersections-Pastel.jpg)
interlocking circles in a pastel blue/green
![](http://www.mystudio3d.com/blog/5-21-Intersections-FourBrights.jpg)
the same pattern with some brights in intentional placement
![](http://www.mystudio3d.com/blog/5-21-Ironwork-ThreeBlues.jpg)
ornamental iron folder in greys and blues
![](http://www.mystudio3d.com/blog/5-21-Stars-Diagonal.jpg)
stars in stripes
![](http://www.mystudio3d.com/blog/5-21-Stars-Flag.jpg)
star background with flag coloring
![](http://www.mystudio3d.com/blog/5-21-Stars-RedAndBlue.jpg)
stars with spot coloring
![](http://www.mystudio3d.com/blog/5-21-Twill-Stripes.jpg)
herringbone in muted masculine stripes
![](http://www.mystudio3d.com/blog/5-21-Vines-BlueGreen.jpg)
vines in blues and greens. notice how the vines appear as outlines on this one
![](http://www.mystudio3d.com/blog/5-21-Vines-OrangeGreen.jpg)
vines in browns and greens. notice that this one has the vines a solids. every folder has an indented pattern and a raised pattern. the card will come out of the 'ironing' phase as either the negative or the positive image depending on which side of the waxed paper sandwich it is on.
![](http://www.mystudio3d.com/blog/5-21-Vines-YellowGreen.jpg)
vines with yellow and green plus a few red 'berries'
![](http://www.mystudio3d.com/blog/5-21-Woodgrain-Light.jpg)
woodgrain with light brown ink
![](http://www.mystudio3d.com/blog/5-21-Blanks.jpg)
I still have LOTS of waxed backgrounds I have not colored yet. I might try some other types of coloring agents to see what neat effects I can create.
In the meantime, I have some inspirational backgrounds calling out for me to get busy.
Ddd
Posted by studio3d@ccgmail.net
at 12:01 AM PDT