Inked Background Tips

Hello! I am slowly coming back to work after some time off with family. I also have been moving into my craft room, so I haven’t been crafting at all. (You can follow the room progress HERE.) Trying to get back into it! Have some fun things to share with you.

Today’s videos share a trick I have been using for when creating inked backgrounds of any kind. Hoping it works for you, too.

Inked Backgrounds Video by Jennifer McGuire Ink

[All supplies are linked to multiple sources in the thumbnails at the end of this post. Compensated affiliate links used at no cost to you. To watch the video in HD on YouTube, click HERE.]

Sometimes it is just fun to sit down and play with your supplies while creating inked backgrounds. Inked backgrounds can be used on a variety of cards.

I have found that it is helpful to hold my background paper down with Press N Seal while I do painting, inking, etc. This allows me to cover the entire card with inking… and being able to control it from moving and warping. No need for taped edges! There are other ways to do this, but this one is super effective.

Inked Backgrounds Video by Jennifer McGuire Ink

Press N Seal is a food wrap product meant for the kitchen. However, it works great in the craft room! (Fun fact – my hubby holds the patents on this product – he invented it a few years back. He works for P&G and they licensed the product to Glad.) In the video, I use Press N Seal to make several background pieces.

I ended up trimming my backgrounds down after being inspired by a sketch. (More on that below.) For the first card, I used a watercolor background along with a gorgeous dimension heart made with the Birch Press Caprice Heart Layered Dies. I also added a small heart with a bit of Tonic Ice White Nuvo Glitter… along with a Altenew Oriental Orchid Stamp sentiment.

Inked Backgrounds Video by Jennifer McGuire Ink

Isn’t that layered heart gorgeous?!

Inked Backgrounds Video by Jennifer McGuire Ink

My next example shows a stenciled background with the same design. (By the way – all the exact cardstock and ink colors I used are linked in the thumbnails below. I am going to try to do that in all of my posts from now on. Try!)

Inked Backgrounds Video by Jennifer McGuire Ink

I also went ahead and added a Right At Home Happy Mail Year 2 Stamp message onto matching envelopes for all of my cards…

Inked Backgrounds Video by Jennifer McGuire Ink

While I had my supplies out, I created a couple more cards. The first uses a background I created with Distress Inks and Claritystamp Brushes… and the Birch Press Amour Layered Die Set. Those layered backgrounds are my weakness! I only added a stitched heart and sentiment to keep it simple…

Inked Backgrounds Video by Jennifer McGuire Ink

And I couldn’t resist one more with those layered background dies. Swoon…

Inked Backgrounds Video by Jennifer McGuire Ink

FUSION CARD CHALLENGE BLOG

My first two cards today were inspired by a sketch from the Fusion Card Challenge Blog. This challenge blog is celebrating their third year! My dear friend, Michelle Lupton, asked me to play along and I enjoyed following the sketch. Be sure to check out both of their blogs.

Here is the sketch I followed for my first cards:

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SUPPLIES

Interested in the products I used? To make them easy for you to find, I have listed them below. (Compensated affiliate links used at NO cost to you. Affiliate and product disclosure can be found here. All products were personally purchased except those with an asterisk. As always, this post was NOT sponsored.) Click on the letters below each picture to go to a favorite store: Simon Says Stamp (SSS), Ellen Hutson (EH), etc.

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71 thoughts on “Inked Background Tips”

  1. Awesome cards! I really love your backgrounds! Brilliant colors! I am dying to get my hands on some of the Birch Press Layering dies! They look like they are so much fun to play with!
    Love the fun fact about your hubby and Press n’ seal wrap! I have had a love affair with it since it first came out and not sure that will ever change because it is great for so many other uses! I use it when I have my beads out so they don’t roll away from me and love using it for die cuts. Especially when I am piecing different colors of the same die together!
    Glad to hear you are getting things done in your new craft room! I am always a little lost when I do a big reorganize in my room and can’t create. Here’s hoping it gets done soon and you can get back to full on crafting! 🙂

  2. Thank you so much , I just make cards for family and friends. I get so excited when you post a video, you have a great voice , list everything you use etc.

    Thank you for being you
    Terese

  3. Oh, my goodness, how delicious these cards are. And using the Press & Seal is pure genius. I am running down to try it now. Thank you so much. And it’s great to have you back creating for us.

  4. As always, beautifully done and so informative! I love your videos and appreciate you sharing your experience with us. TFS!

  5. Loved the cards and the techniques. You mentioned these layered dies are Memory Box dies but it looks like they are Birchpress. Thought you might want to update. You are an amazing crafter— live what you share with us.

  6. I started using Press n’ Seal last year because of your tips and am thrilled to add this latest one! I hate getting fingerprints on my watercolor backgrounds and now, thanks to you, I don’t have to! Thanks for the inspiration, and happy new year!

  7. Thanks for sharing your beautiful cards and the fun pictures of your evolving craft room. Love the tips in your video about using the Press n’ Seal to hold the paper for watercolor, etc. Happy New Year and have fun!

  8. Love the Press-n-Seal tip! I hate having to use excess paper in order to have enough to tape down the edges, I like being able to use a whole sheet of 11 x 8 1/2 to get four full card fronts from. Curious why you folded the Press-n-Seal over on itself? Will it not hold to both your work surface and the paper if pressed in the same areas (on top of each other)? Thanks!

  9. I am swooning… These cards are wonderful. I love these dies!!! So glad to know about another use for press n’ seal. Happy New Year to you and your family.

  10. Great cards as usual and they look like they took hours to make…that’s one of the many things I love about your videos, easy techniques that look complicated and spectacular.. Thanks for the video and for showcasing those dies, they look like a lot of fun. Good job I didn’t make a new year’s resolution to cut back on craft stuff 🙂

  11. Absolutely fabulous set of cards using amazing backgrounds! The tip about the Press n Seal is genius and I’m so glad that my local supermarket in New Zealand stocks it 🙂 Thanks so much for taking the time to guest with us at Fusion Card Challenge – it is so appreciated.

  12. These turned out so beautifully, Jennifer! Yup, the price kinda scares me but I’m sure most crafters can afford those full plate, triple die sets!!! I can think of so many ideas how one can possibly use them ♥ Thank you for all you do!

  13. Just lovely cards. I got a layering die this week. So easy and stunning. I bought one for my sister for Christmas, too. I thought you had used one of them to cut out the heart…but it’s a separate die. Love them. I have to go and get some more Press and Seal. I gave mine to my sister this summer as she can’t find it in the UK. She took it back.

  14. Such great cards and techniques Jennifer! You never cease to amaze me with your awesome talent and your creative mind. Thanks for all that you do!
    Again, Happy New Year!

  15. I just love when I open my email and there is a new video from Jennifer McGuire! I also know I need to get my credit card out because there is something I am going to want. I bought the birch press dies and love them. I made a set of “Thank You” cards for a friend and she loved them, now I have others wanting them too. You are such an inspiration to me and others. Thank You for sharing. Until the next video!!

  16. Brilliant way to use Press and Seal! Why didn’t we think of this before?!! Really like those cards you made and the dies are to die for!

  17. You are seriously so clever with your tips!! I will try the Press n Seal tomorrow. I spent the last 2 days attempting your split card design, and I got results I liked! Thanks for the fan ideas 🙂

  18. I think I have some Press and Seal in the pantry – if not I will be picking some up very soon.
    I love all things hearts, so the heart die, and the background die are awesome.!!

  19. Absolutely beautiful cards. Love the new dies from Birch Press. They are at the top of my wishlist this year along with the Zigs. I also love the background with stencil. Definitely gonna try that one!

  20. THANK YOU for this FABULOUS video Jennifer!
    EVERYTHING is SO PRETTY and CREATIVE with the bonus of being FILLED with handy tips too!
    PS – until recently my only option to get Press N Seal was online from overseas, now I thrilled to update that Costco has it here in Australia => AWESOME!

  21. Fabulous cards, Jennifer! I love your tip on using Press ‘n’ Seal (and I love that Ken invented it, that is very cool!). Thank-you also for posting the link to this product at SSS. I’m hoping postage isn’t too high, because Glad don’t sell Press ‘n’ Seal in Australia due to licensing restrictions, and I really want to try it out. 🙂

  22. Great tips and techniques. I have a question though regarding your Clarity brushes. Do you clean them after each use or do you have a brush for each of the different colors? I received the brushes for Christmas and am looking forward to using them.

  23. Heartfelt thanks, Jennifer (and Ken!)! ♥ Your videos are always so carefully planned and filled with so many valuable tips. Truly!! The Press N Seal sits within arm’s reach of my studio desk, but I would never have thought to use it to hold the paper for so many great techniques. Thank you so much for all that you so thoughtfully share, Jennifer! ♡

  24. OMGoodness! Another fabulous way to use Press N Seal. Love that stuff. Tell your hubby thanks!
    Love the way you used it here and the cards you made. I was doing some Christmas gifts and was using acrylic paint, we laid down some Press N Seal and had an easy to clean up palette. Did the same thing when I was using Mod Podge and glitter, clean up was a dream. Thanks for sharing more of your fabulous ideas and talent with us.

  25. Happy New Year Jennifer. Lovely cards as usual…lovin’ the look of the Birch Press Dies, they look really impressive. You have inspired me to try and create some backgrounds for my cards….mmmm off to see what I can come up with! Have a fabulous day. Cheers Donna Z 🙂

  26. Love these cards and give your hubby a big hug for me and thank him for making Press N’ Seal!!! I LOVE THIS STUFF and it’s awesome that you’ve shown us YET ANOTHER awesome time-saving tip for using it!!!!!! Thanks so much Jennifer!!!!!!

  27. Hi Jennifer, Hope you had a wonderful holiday. The Valentine’s card with triple hearts is so beautiful! Thank you for showing us these techniques.

  28. Thanks Jennifer for all the beautiful cards you make and send, for all the tips that you so patiently share with others, and for being who you are. Hope you had a wonderful holiday. Love the valentines!!!

  29. I ABSOLUTELY LOVE these Birch Press Dies. When I saw you use them the first time I ordered two of them but I’m having trouble using them and wondered if you could give me a tip or two. The “dazzle” is my favorite and have opted to use it on a card for our church card ministry. It means I have to make 60 of these! I’m having trouble with the paper size. Since they are backgrounds for A2 size I am starting with a 4.35 x 5.5″ size piece of paper (and unfortunately had the paper cut to that size). When I do that I am often left with a partial border on the die cut piece. What size paper are you starting with? (I have even tried taping the paper in the die before I run it through the machine.)
    Thanks in advance for your help and thanks for your amazing inspirations. I look forward to every post!

  30. OMG! What a wonderful way to use press and seal! I had been using a sticky Cricut mat for inking stencils but I have a feeling your trick might work better. I can’t wait to try it! Your cards look awesome too! Love that sketch!
    Thanks for sharing!

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