I must admit when I got up this morning I had no idea what I was going to make. In fact I started one project and didn’t like the way it was going so started something completely different instead. I still have no idea why I decided to do a block stamped background, but I’m glad I did. I’ll be honest and say although it’s a simple enough technique I’ve sometimes been less than impressed with my efforts. Today I persevered and think I’ve finally cracked it!

THE BLOCK STAMPED BACKGROUND

So the basic idea with the block stamped background technique is to ink up an acrylic block, spritz it with water and stamp. Many of the examples I’ve seen create lovely soft, blended backgrounds but mine never seem to turn out that way. Today was no different.

I chose the large E size acrylic block as it was just the right size for a card front leaving space for some layering. First I pressed the top 2/3rds of the block onto the surface of a Balmy Blue ink pad. Looking through the block I was able to check that the acrylic was covered with ink. Next I turned the block around and pressed the rest of the block onto a Pear Pizzazz ink pad. With that done I flipped the block over and sprayed a fine mist of clean water into the inky surface using a Stampin’ Spritzer.

Now all I had to do was press the acrylic block onto some Whisper White Card. This is the point when I usually abandon the card and move onto something else. The effect was kind of spotty and not at all the soft blended look I was trying to get.

Today though, I picked up the acrylic block and without reinking it I spritzed on some more clean water. Then I pressed the block onto a new piece of Whisper White Card. Eureka! Finally I had the block stamped background I wanted. All I had to do was let it dry for a few minutes.

POSITIVE THOUGHTS

While I was waiting for the background to dry I got on with the rest of the project.

First I used my Paper Trimmer to cut and score some Thick Whisper White Card. I folded it along the scored line and sharpened the crease with a Bone Folder to create a card base.

Then I took the leafy image from the Positive Thoughts Stamp Set and inked it up with Pear Pizzazz ink. I ‘stamped-off’ onto scrap paper to remove a little of the ink and then stamped across the corner of a Whisper White Medium Envelope.

I reinked the stamp, stamped-off again and stamped across the corner of a Whisper White Card layer. Then using Multipurpose Liquid Glue (Tombow) I fixed this layer inside the card card base.

Now the background was dry I inked up the leafy image once again. This time I didn’t ‘stamp-off’ but instead stamped it straight onto the background.

Finally turning to the “Hugs Prayers Love” sentiment I stamped that onto the background using Balmy Blue ink.

All I had left to do was use liquid glue to mount the stamped piece onto some Balmy Blue Card, then add it to the card base. My project was complete.

Finally I feel I’ve mastered the block stamped background technique. It just goes to show how important it is not to give up. I’m so glad I decided to try the technique again.

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