4 Ways: 2-For-1 Backgrounds

Hello! It can be a lot of fun to create stamped backgrounds. But it is even more fun when you can use one background to make two cards. So today I am sharing four ways to use backgrounds for 2-for-1 cards.

Stamped Background Video by Jennifer McGuire Ink

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

Yep – I had so much fun using the new Concord & 9th stamps to create gorgeous backgrounds! I then used each background to create two cards.

Stamped Background Video by Jennifer McGuire Ink

Here are the four ways I show for using one background for two cards….

#1: DIE CUT INLAY

One great way to take one background and create two cards is to use the die cut inlay technique. For my examples, I stamped and heat embossed the Concord & 9th Plaid Background Stamp (SSS | C&9). So pretty! I then used the large Concord & 9th Ornamental (SSS | C&9) die to cut out an ornament. I also die cut the same from kraft cardstock. On one card, I inlaid the kraft die cut ornament into the plaid background. On the other I inlaid the plaid ornament into the kraft background.

Stamped Background Video by Jennifer McGuire Ink

I also added gold-heat-embossed ornament toppers, gold string and sentiments from the Concord & 9th Ornamental Stamp Set ( SSS | C&9).

The Concord & 9th Ornamental Die Set (SSS | C&9) also includes dies for adding detail on the ornament. Look at how pretty it is…

Stamped Background Video by Jennifer McGuire Ink

Using the die cut inlay technique, I created two more cards using one background. I again stamped and heat the Concord & 9th Plaid Background Stamp (SSS | C&9)… but instead cut it with the Concord & 9th Trim the Tree Die (SSS | C&9). On one card I added a die cut “cheer” and on the other I silver heat embossed a sentiment from the Concord & 9th Trim the Tree Stamps Set (SSS | C&9).

Stamped Background Video by Jennifer McGuire Ink

The plaid background stamp is fun to use… especially with heat embossing. Oh – and the Studio Katia Silver Foil Crystals make perfect holiday card accents!

Stamped Background Video by Jennifer McGuire Ink

#2: DIE CUT WINDOWS

Another great way to use one background to create two cards is by creating a window die cut. I started with a colorful floral background made with the Concord & 9th Blooms Fill-In Stamp Set (SSS | C&9). I then used a shape die from the coordinating Concord & 9th Blooms Fill-In Die Set (SSS | C&9) to die cut from the stamping.

Stamped Background Video by Jennifer McGuire Ink

For the first card, I also cut the window in the same spot on the front of a top-folding white notecard. I adhered another notecard inside of it but upside down… so the card flips up and then down to open. (Watch the video for a better explanation.) I also gold heat embossed a sentiment from the Concord & 9th Blooms Fill-In Stamp Set (SSS | C&9) and added details to the flowers with Nuvo Drops.

Stamped Background Video by Jennifer McGuire Ink

I used the extra die cut piece for my second card. I stamped the background with a strip border image from the Concord & 9th Trim the Tree Stamp Set (SSS | C&9) and added the die cut along with a die cut flower cluster. The gems are Studio Katia Silver Foil Crystals and the “thank you” is from the Concord & 9th Blooms Fill-In Stamp Set (SSS | C&9).

Stamped Background Video by Jennifer McGuire Ink

#3: WONKY BACKGROUNDS

A third way to get two cards from one stamped background is to do a bit of wonky die cutting! I started by creating a background using the fun Concord & 9th Christmas Cheer Turnabout Stamp (SSS | C&9) and Distress Oxide Inks. I die cut (crooked!) a portion of it with a Lawn Fawn Rectangle Stitched Die. This creates two pieces for two cards. I used the outside piece on the first card and added wonky-die-cut-white-piece on top with craft foam… and stamped “making spirits bright” from the Concord & 9th Christmas Cheer Turnabout Stamp Set (SSS | C&9). On the other card, I added the wonky-stamped piece on a white notecard and stamped “merry” from the Concord & 9th Ornamental Stamp Set ( SSS | C&9). Fast and easy.

Stamped Background Video by Jennifer McGuire Ink

#4: SPLIT BACKGROUNDS

The final idea for making two cards from one stamped backgrounds is to simply split it! I chose to cut my backgrounds at a diagonal for a bit of added interested. And I made several cards!

This first set of cards features a background made with the Concord & 9th Blooms Fill-In Stamp Set (SSS | C&9). I glued the two pieces to top folding notecards and added a white piece cut with a faux stitched edge. This white piece covers up the area that is missing the floral background. And by using the faux stitching and craft foam for dimension, it has some added interested. I stacked a few “wonderful” Concord & 9th Wonderful Words (SSS | C&9) die cuts and stamped “hello” on each.

Stamped Background Video by Jennifer McGuire Ink

My next pair of cards feature a CZ Design Hellos die cut and a “you matter to me” stamped sentiment. These colors make me happy!

Stamped Background Video by Jennifer McGuire Ink

This next pair of cards makes me swoon! The Concord & 9th Blooms Fill-In Stamp Set (SSS | C&9) with gold embossing powder is so very pretty. This time I skipped the faux stitch die cutting on the edge of the white cardstock and instead added a peach cardstock strip.

Stamped Background Video by Jennifer McGuire Ink

The “hello” die cuts are from the CZ Design Hellos Die Set.

Stamped Background Video by Jennifer McGuire Ink

You may be wondering why I don’t have two cards using the pool floral background. That is because I got an inky thumbprint on part of it, so I just hid it with this technique. Worked great.

Stamped Background Video by Jennifer McGuire Ink

Next I have a few examples using the Concord & 9th Plaid Background Stamp (SSS | C&9) for the background.

Stamped Background Video by Jennifer McGuire Ink

This next pair features gold and silver embossing on red cardstock… and “cheer” die cuts using the Concord & 9th Season of Cheer Die Set (SSS | C&9).

Stamped Background Video by Jennifer McGuire Ink

The plaid background pieces can be used for holiday or non-holiday cards. The floral cluster on the left card is from the Concord & 9th Blooms Fill-In Stamp Set (SSS | C&9).

Stamped Background Video by Jennifer McGuire Ink

I love the detail in that background!

Stamped Background Video by Jennifer McGuire Ink

BONUS CARDS

I also have a few bonus ides for using stamped backgrounds. For this next pair of cards, I stamped two backgrounds – one with the Concord & 9th Plaid Background Stamp (SSS | C&9) and one with the Concord & 9th Blooms Fill-In Stamp Set (SSS | C&9). (Doesn’t that background look great in black?!) I split the two backgrounds and paired them up with each other to create two fun cards…

Stamped Background Video by Jennifer McGuire Ink

And last but not least, I wanted to share an idea for using a stamped background on a card in a simple way. Here I used the Concord & 9th Blooms Fill-In Die Set (SSS | C&9) to die cut a flower cluster from a stamped Blooms Fill-In Stamp Set (SSS | C&9) background. I then adhered it with foam tape back in it’s place. The added dimension makes the card even better!

Stamped Background Video by Jennifer McGuire Ink

I hope these inspire you to create a bunch of stamped backgrounds.

SUPPLIES

Want to find the products I used?I have listed them below! (Compensated affiliate links used at no cost to you. Thank you! Affiliate and product disclosure can be found here. All products were personally purchased except those from Concord & 9th. As always, this post was NOT paid for or sponsored.) Click on the letters below each picture to go to a favorite store: Simon Says Stamp (SSS), Concord & 9th (C&9), etc.


Leave a Comment

288 thoughts on “4 Ways: 2-For-1 Backgrounds”

  1. Great cards and great ideas! I love all of these Concord & 9th stamps and dies you used. I love making backgrounds, so now I’m going to head to my stash and try some of your 2 for 1 ideas. Thanks!

  2. Gorgeous cards!!!! Those Concord & 9th dies and stamp sets are brilliant. I have to give it a try to these cutting techniques. TFS 🙂

  3. AWESOME video! What a great way to get different looks with your stamps, plus it is always great to have two cards to show for all your efforts. Wonderful!

  4. I love the plaid stamp! I especially love the silver and gold embossed plaid which is really elegant!! Plaid stamps are also a no -brainer for masculine cards

  5. You always have so many fabulous ideas and you’re so prolific in putting them into practice too! These cards are all so wonderful.

  6. I just love all of the cards you made!! You are so inspiring!! Thanks for everything you do!! I go to my email each day looking to see if you have added a new video!!

  7. I love that flower background stamp in the black and gold embossed! So classy. Though I can’t imagine it looking back in any color. My favorite plaid was the gray with the silver lines… swoon! I have a gingham background stamp from IO but the print is really tight compared to this one and wouldn’t look right with the additional lines. Doggone, I hate having to buy another plaid stamp but this one is much more… masculine.

  8. This inspiration is great! Just in time for me to attempt mass quantity card making. Which for me means, more than one of a kind. hehe.

  9. Concord and 9th, here I come! I don’t know how you do it Jennifer but you just keep coming up with amazing ideas for these wonderful cards. Can’t wait to put in an order and give these a go. The hardest part will be waiting for them to arrive in Australia. Thank you.

  10. WOW, Clean and simple! I just love following you. What a talent and great inspiration to all of us paper crafters. Thank you!

  11. I love how you make this look so easy. You have inspired me to get more into papercrafts and card making. Looking forward to seeing new videos and techniques on how to do things. Thanks for the inspiration!!!!

  12. These are great ideas! I really like that Concord & 9th plaid background stamp! The cards you made with that are awesome!

  13. Your designs are so beautiful!! I especially like the card with the large gold ornament! (The holidays are a perfect time to use gold and silver, I think, and this card shows just how lovely it can be!) Thanks for all the tips on using our dies to greater advantage. Your ideas are always fantastic!

  14. I LOVE your cards and can’t wait to get the next email telling me you have another video to watch!!!
    Thank you so very much for inspiring me.

  15. Oh my gosh, I just had a chance to sit down and watch your wonderful video and the cards you created are amazing! I love the different ideas and the beautiful examples you shared. Thank you so much for taking the time to share this awesome video with us!!

  16. Had a terrible time with multiple inks (both dye and pigment) on the floral background stamp. It was an abject failure. Please advise what ink and cardstock you used for the black background (I do plan on trying a couple Gina K inks), and let me know if some dye inks are just unsuitable for large, heavy saturation stamping like this. I was so excited to use this stamp set, as well as the plaid stamp, but both had huge gaps in coverage even after 3 or 4 stampings. I used both MISTI and Tonic stamping tools, and neither worked for me. I have arthritis, and my hands are swollen from multiple attempts at inking single cards.

  17. You have such a knack with colors. I much prefer the colors you demonstrate than those that C & 9th use to illustrate the stamp set. Thank you for showing wonderful examples.

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