Simon Says Stamp | Abstract Backgrounds with Ink Pads. Video

Hello and welcome back for another Yippee For Yana video! In this video, I’m sharing my secret for creating abstract painted-like backgrounds using nothing more but ink pads.

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VIDEO TUTORIAL

Watch the video below or on my Youtube channel.

CARD DETAILS

My trick to creating painted-like abstract backgrounds is using the right type of paper. I’ve found that glossy synthetic papers work best for this technique as they don’t absorb the ink as fast as the regular papers do, giving you lighter color and allowing you time to manipulate the ink on the paper.

I am using Spellbinders Specialty Glimmer paper, it is designed for hot foil stamping, but I’ve found it works amazingly well for this technique. You can try other synthetic or glossy papers you have in your stash to achieve similar results.

I prefer to use Simon’s Positively Saturated inks for this technique. I find this type of ink and this type of ink pad foam to work much better for this technique.

And all I do is direct to paper. I apply the ink onto the paper and next, if I need to, I use my finger to blend it out. I’ve found that the dryer the ink pad, the less ink the ink pad has, the better results I get as I don’t transfer as much ink onto the paper and I don’t have to blend it out as much.

Top tips for building abstract backgrounds:

• Apply ink from the edges in. I don’t add ink in the center of the panel, I just add it to the sides of the panel. I can add the ink onto all 4 sides, or just in sections, but never to the center of the panel.
• Leave a bit of the panel free from ink, keep it white. You want some of that white to show. Although, you can create a completely colored background using this technique if you want. I want mine to have a bit of white.
• Start with the lightest color and layering on the darker colors you build your background. I do prefer to use lighter colors, and I stay away from the dark ones, as I feel these backgrounds look so much nicer when lighter colors are used.
• My rule for adding color is to add 90% of the lightest color, 60% of the medium color, and no more than 30% of the darkest color. This will give you a beautiful layered background.

It’s okay to mess your background up. You can wipe the ink away using a cloth if you don’t like the result. You can use a baby wipe to get a lot of the ink off of the background. That’s what’s great about using synthetic paper and this type of ink. The synthetic paper doesn’t allow the ink to go inside, the ink sits on top and because of the ink formula – if needed, the ink can be wiped off.

You can of course try this with other types of ink you have in your stash. I have tried it with dye ink, Simon’s dye inks, and it works, but I still prefer the softness of the Positively Saturated ink.

These backgrounds create beautiful backgrounds for cards, you can also use them to die cut something, perhaps a large focal element for your project. I used mine to create Clean and Simple cards and all I did was add a simple sentiment on top.

Thanks so much for joining me today, have fun crafting!

SUPPLIES

I’m listing the products I used below. Click on the link to go directly to the product. Where available I use compensated affiliate links which means if you make a purchase I receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you so much for your support!

Simon Says Stamp Pawsitively Saturated Inks Shop at: SSS	Spellbinders Glimmer Specialty Cardstock 25 Sheet Pack Shop at: SSS	Glimmer Specialty Cardstock 10 Sheet Pack Shop at: SSS	Simon Says Stamp White A2 Side Fold Scored Cards Shop at: SSS
Simon Says Stamp Cardstock Matte Gold Mirror Shop at: SSS	Simon Says Stamp Sentiment Strips All the Thanks Shop at: SSS	Geo Foliage Glimmer Hot Foil Plate & Die Set Shop at: SSS	Spellbinders Glimmer Hot Foil System Shop at: SSS
Glimmer Hot Foil – Matte Gold Shop at: SSS	Simon Says Stamp Blending Brush Set Large Shop at: SSS	Spellbinders Best Ever Craft Tape Shop at: SSS	Bearly Art Mini Precision Craft Glue Shop at: SSS
Spellbinders Platinum Die Cutting Machine Shop at: SSS