Background Stamps

If you were to view my stamp collection, you might be surprised. With the exception of botanical stamps, background stamps are the ones I buy most often. I absolutely cannot get enough background stamps. Background stamps are images that are a pattern, texture or writing whose intended primary use is to create a background for other images or embellishments. They are extremely versatile and allow paper crafters to customize papers and create fantastic embellishments.

Small background stamps are as easy to use as image stamps. For smaller stamps, simply ink the stamp and apply even pressure as you stamp down on the paper.

Larger background stamps may require some practice. Try using a stamp pad with a removable lid to apply ink to the stamp (as opposed to pressing the stamp into the ink pad). You may find it easier to use a brayer to ink larger stamps. To stamp the image, lay the inked stamp face up and place paper face down on the image. Rub the paper, being sure to press all areas evenly and firmly. A clean brayer also works well to rub evenly, but be sure the paper does not slide as you roll the brayer. If you do not have a brayer, try pressing a larger stamp block (wood or acrylic side down) over the paper, much like a sandwich.

Try a few of these ideas with your background stamps.

1. Add the background stamp image over patterned paper.
2. Stamp background in VersaMark ink or the same ink color as your cardstock for a subtle background.
   
   
   
3. Stamp background in an ink that is a high contrast to your background for a bold look.
   
4. Use a background stamp on a premade sticker or embellishment to customize it.
5. Stamp paper with a background stamp and then use a die-cut machine or punch.
   
   
   
6. Kiss a background stamp against another stamp to combine images. A word of caution: background stamps with lettering will not work with this technique, as lettering will appear backwards.
   
   
   
7. Use more than one ink color on the background stamp.
   
   
   
8. Use a masking technique to combine a background image with an outline image.
9. Create your own background stamp by using many unmounted stamps on a single large acrylic block.
10. Temporarily adhere foam shapes (diamonds, squares, circles, etc.) to an acrylic mount to create more fun background stamps. If you love the look, adhere foam permanently to inexpensive wood blocks.
    
    
    

Samples:

Thank you card (Idea number 2)

Use a background stamp on cardstock with ink in the same color. Stamps by Stampin' Up and Judikins.

England Tag (idea number 5)

The QuicKutz Church die is stamped with a stone background stamp by Judikins. The border stamp is by Inkadinkado.

Happy Happy Joy Joy Card (Idea numbers 3 and 6)

The Paisley background stamp (Stampin' Up) is used two ways on this card. First, it is used simply as a background with pink ink. The flower stamp was kissed against the red inked background stamp to pull the background image onto the flower. The flower was then stamped onto pink cardstock. The polka dots are a foam background stamp from Junkitz, stamped in black for high contrast.

Totally Cool Uncle Mike (Idea numbers 7 and 10)

For this background, I used extra QuicKutz foam randomly cut into squares and rectangles, then adhered to an acrylic block. Blue and yellow pigment ink was used for the colorful tiled look. Stickers are from American Crafts and Doodlebug Designs. Font: CK Buddies.

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