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:
A soft argyle that will make a great background for a baby boy card
A brighter argyle for a masculine card
A brick texture with very warm tones
more brick with redder coloring
brocade with extremely pastel inks
reds and pinks on a circle/diamond pattern
clockworks on which I tried to color individual elements differently to define them
daisies in a blend of oranges
small diamonds in a rainbow
hearts in pink and orange
interlocking circles in a pastel blue/green
the same pattern with some brights in intentional placement
ornamental iron folder in greys and blues
stars in stripes
star background with flag coloring
stars with spot coloring
herringbone in muted masculine stripes
vines in blues and greens. notice how the vines appear as outlines on this one
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.
vines with yellow and green plus a few red 'berries'
woodgrain with light brown ink
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