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. This was just what I needed today! Thanks for the great tips and techniques, I hope to get inky later today and I will be sure to use some of these ideas. As always, your creativity and kindness brighten our days!

  2. Thanks for the tip about using Press’nSeal. I often cut little shapes with my Silhouette Cameo from white cardstock and then color them with alcohol markers such as Copic and Spectrum Noir. Sometimes, while holding the little pieces in place, the inks get on my fingers without my realizing it, and then that ink transfers to another piece I’m coloring. I had been trying to stop that from happening by holding down the shape with the marker lid or a pencil eraser. Now, I can just stick the shapes onto Press’n Seal. Voila!

  3. Your cards are so beautiful…you deserve the praise for your creative designs and techniques. I really enjoy your very informative videos also. But, I have to add, we must also thank your husband for his wonderful Press n Seal. I literally use it every day…now I’ll have to get a roll for my craft area. Give him my thanks. And a huge thank you to you for these great design ideas and techniques.

  4. Beautiful cards for Valentine’s Day Jennifer. I love your tip on using the press and seal to keep your paper from moving when you are working on it.

  5. Those dies are beautiful! All of the cards you created are simply stunning. Thanks for sharing your tips.

  6. I love those Memory Box dies, and all the cards are great. I especially appreciate the tips. Sometimes I think, how is it possible that this never occurred to me? But it hadn’t and both the tip about the Press ‘n Seal and the T-ruler are great.

  7. Press and Seal….Jennifer you are simply brilliant. That just might be the best tip EVER! Beautiful cards, by the way.

  8. I was watching Sara Davies who said in England they use much heavier cardstock. I preferred heavier cardstock before I heard her say that. Why do you choose 110 lb. cardstock?

  9. So excited to see this technique Jennifer! I bought the press n seal for my arranged die cut flowers and love using it that way! This is another brilliant idea! LOVE those heart dies too! Thanks for sharing!

  10. These cards are gorgeous! I’m going to try the Press and Seal trick too! Thanks! Now, off to Memory Box!

  11. Thanks for the great ideas and video showing your beautiful cards! I always love to see what you create. Happy New Year!!

  12. What beautiful cards. I love the Birch Tree dies, but find the price way out of my budget. So – I’ ll just admire from a far!! As usual your blogs and videos are exiting and inspiring! Thanks for sharing your creatvity!

  13. So pretty! I really love the heart layering die, the large one and the smaller actual heart. Both are really beautiful. Love your cards Jennifer, thank you so much.

  14. Awesome cards! I especially love the layout of the first card. I think my students might like to do something like that for Mother’s Day. Great video as usual. Definitely going to try using the Press N Seal to hold my watercolor paper down. Might use THAT in my classroom too.

  15. Stunning cards! Love the tip about using press ‘n seal. Will definitely be giving that a try! Thanks for another great video!

  16. Your husband is my hero as well as many of my patient’s hero! We use press and seal to cover IVs and surgical incisions so that people can take showers safely! I recommend it almost every day to people going home with these issues. I also used it when I had surgery on my foot and it works so well! Card making techniques too? YES!!! Another reason to love it! Thanks to you both!

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