Stenciled Background with Distress Oxides

My very good friend Pam Nelson send me a photo of a background she did using a Magenta stencil and Distress Oxide inks. I was so inspired by it that I asked her if I could use her design.  Here is the photo that she sent me.

by Pam Nelson

One of the cool things about this gorgeous background that I didn't know at first, is that Pam actually dry embossed the stencil into the paper. You can see Pam's post here, and she has lots of photos and descriptions of what she did, including clear instructions for dry embossing a stencil. While you are there, check out her other posts. I guarantee she will inspire you also.

I didn't dry emboss my backgrounds, but I will definitely do that next time. It helps create a beautiful, crisp image. I just taped a cardstock panel to the back of the stencil, turned it over, and blended the colors through the stencil sing a blending tool. Oxide inks blend very well anyway, and this time is no exception.

Here are my backgrounds and the inks I used:

Following Jennifer Mcguire's very good advice, I made more than one background while I had the paper and inks out. I used a Neat and Tangled stencil, but I think there are a lot of great stencils that would work with this technique. Pam used brushes to lay down color and I used blending tools. As you can see, both work very well. Going in rainbow order makes very pretty blends.

The first card I made was for my son-in-law's birthday

This is such a colorful, busy background that I liked the idea of keeping it simple and just putting a circular message in the center. I matted the panel in black to match the sentiment. This was a super easy card with lots of impact.

I also needed a graduation card for our oldest grandson who graduated from High School this year

I love how these cards turned out, and they were so simple to make! I hope you try it.

And be sure to check out Pam's post on her blog. Her card is amazing!

Products Used:

Birthday Card

Papertrey Ink Phraseplay 5: Happy Stamp Set & Die

Hero Arts DI 199 Infinity Nesting Circles

Neat & Tangled Rice Paddies Stencil NAT275

Distress Oxide Inks: Festive Berries, 

Spiced Marmalade, Mustard Seed, Twisted Citron,

Peacock Feathers, Wilted Violet

Neenah Solar White cardstock 80# & 110#

Papertrey Ink True Black cardstock

Versafine Onyx Black ink

Lawn Fawn LF768 Small Stitched Rectangle Stackables

Graduation Card

Papertrey Ink For The Graduate stamp set

Wordsworth S212-H Well Done You

Impression Obsession C15014 Congratulations

Hero Arts DI 199 Infinity Nesting Circles

Neat & Tangled Rice Paddies Stencil NAT275

Distress Oxide Inks: Festive Berries, 

Spiced Marmalade, Mustard Seed, Twisted Citron,

Peacock Feathers, Wilted Violet

Neenah Solar White cardstock 80# & 110#

So Silk Glamor Green cardstock

Versafine Onyx Black ink

Lawn Fawn LF768 Small Stitched Rectangle Stackables