Subtle Resist Techniques

Hello! Today I am sharing a simple way to create subtle resist backgrounds. You can do this with any stamps… and inks that you likely have already!

Subtle Resist 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 may be used at no cost to you.]

I enjoy making backgrounds with my inks. And using VersaMark Ink for a subtle resist with dye inks always gives great, soft results. In my video, I show the technique with a variety of stamps and types of inks. Be sure to watch it!

I started my first card by stamping the Hero Arts Starry Night Stamp (SSS | HA) with VersaMark Ink on white cardstock. After heat setting it, I applied a heavy amount of blue Distress Inks with a Mini Ink Blending Tool. The VersaMark Ink slightly resists the color added on top. So dreamy! I find Distress Ink works very well for this resist technique.

Subtle Resist Video by Jennifer McGuire Ink

I added black stamped images using my new favorite black ink – Altenew Obsidian Black Ink (SSS | ALT) – along with the Sweet ‘N Sassy Landscape Silhouette and Sweet ‘N Sassy Be Encouraged 2 Stamp Sets. That black ink stamps SO VERY crisp and dark!

Subtle Resist Video by Jennifer McGuire Ink

Here is another card using all of the same products… just with different colors of inks and stamped image.

Subtle Resist Video by Jennifer McGuire Ink

I kept these cards very simple, but did add a few tiny sequin stars for sparkle.

Subtle Resist Video by Jennifer McGuire Ink

After making my last card, I had a small piece of subtle resist background left over that I didn’t want to let go to waste! I white heat embossed a flower from the Sweet ‘N Sassy Long Stem Silhouettes Stamp Set on top. For a bit of interest on the white notecard, I added a Sweet ‘N Sassy Be Encouraged 2 Stamp Set sentiment and stripes from the Simon Says Stamp Hello Darling Stamp Set.

Subtle Resist Video by Jennifer McGuire Ink

And I have one last example showing this technique with Distress Inks. It also features the Sweet ‘N Sassy Hymn Blocks, Sweet ‘N Sassy Life in Jesus, and Simon Says Stamp Tiny Words Faith stamp sets…. along with the Altenew Dotted Scales Debossing Die for the background.

Subtle Resist Video by Jennifer McGuire Ink

Many types of dye inks work for this technique. Here, I applied Altenew Ink with Picket Fence Life Changing Brushes over Sweet ‘N Sassy Birds and Blooms images stamped with VersaMark Ink. I also used a sentiment from the Sweet ‘N Sassy Be Encouraged Stamp Set.

Subtle Resist Video by Jennifer McGuire Ink

By the way, I used the The Stamp Market Made With Love Stamp Set to add messages to my matching envelopes.

Subtle Resist Video by Jennifer McGuire Ink

Some dye inks give a softer resist result. Here I used Gina K Designs Ink over VersaMark Ink and it looks magical! This features the Sweet ‘N Sassy Wetland Grass and Timeless Hymns Stamp Sets.

Subtle Resist Video by Jennifer McGuire Ink

My last example is bold in real life! This uses the Poppy Stamps Butterfly Wings, Sweet ‘N Sassy Long Stem Silhouettes and Timeless Hymns Stamp Sets.

Subtle Resist Video by Jennifer McGuire Ink

Those soft butterflies in the background add a lot to this simple card…

 Subtle Resist Video by Jennifer McGuire Ink

I hope you will give this fun technique a try! See you soon.

SUPPLIES

Want to find the products I used? I have listed them below. (Compensated affiliate links used at no cost to you. Thank you for your support! Affiliate and product disclosure can be found here. All products were personally purchased except the products with asterisks which were received from the company with no expectation. As always, this post was NOT paid for or sponsored.) Click on the icons below each product picture to go to a favorite store.

Sweet ‘N Sassy Hymn Blocks Stamp Set
[ SSS | SWT ]
Sweet ‘N Sassy Birds and Blooms Stamp…
[ SSS | SWT ]
Sweet ‘N Sassy Long Stem Silhouettes…
[ SSS | SWT ]
Sweet ‘N Sassy Timeless Hymns Stamp Set
[ SSS | SWT ]
Sweet ‘N Sassy Wetland Grass Stamp Set
[ SSS | SWT ]
Sweet ‘N Sassy Be Encouraged 2 Stamp Set
[ SSS | SWT ]
Sweet ‘N Sassy Be Encouraged Stamp Set
[ SSS | SWT ]
Sweet ‘N Sassy Landscape Silhouettes…
[ SSS | SWT ]
Sweet ‘N Sassy Life in Jesus Stamp Set
[ SSS | SWT ]
*Simon Says Stamp Hello Darling Stamp…
[ SSS ]
*Simon Says Stamp Tiny Words Faith…
[ SSS ]
The Stamp Market Made With Love Stamp…
[ SSS | THS ]
*Poppy Stamps Butterfly Wings Stamp Set
[ SSS ]
*Hero Arts Starry Night Stamp
[ SSS | HA ]
*Altenew Dotted Scales Debossing…
[ SSS | ALTN ]
VersaMark Ink
[ SSS ]
Altenew Obsidian Black Ink
[ SSS | ALTN ]
Distress Ink
[ SSS ]
Gina K Designs Ink
[ SSS | GNK ]
Altenew Ink
[ SSS | ALTN ]
Picket Fence Life Changing Brushes
[ SSS | PFS ]
Mini Ink Blending Tool
[ SSS ]
*Waffle Flower Water Media Mat
[ SSS ]
MISTI Stamping Tool
[ SSS ]
MISTI Bar Magnet
[ SSS ]
Anti Static Powder Bag
[ SSS ]
Hero Arts White Embossing Powder
[ SSS ]
Bead Magical Tray
[ SSS ]
Hero Arts Heat Gun
[ SSS ]
Tim Holtz Tonic Glass Media Mat
[ SSS ]
Gina K Connect Glue
[ SSS ]
Neenah Classic Crest Solar White 80lb…
[ SSS ]
White Craft Foam
[ SSS ]
Lucy’s Cards Iridescent Jewels
[ SSS ]
5×5 White Envelopes
[ AMZUS ]
Magic Stencil Video
[ YTB ]
Distress Resist Video
[ YTB ]


Leave a Comment

46 thoughts on “Subtle Resist Techniques”

  1. I love doing backgrounds and I’m always happy
    to find new ways to do them. Thanks for the
    great ideas.

  2. Thanks for reminding me of this simple, but beautiful, technique!! Wonderful cards, Jennifer.

  3. thank you for sharing these cards! they’re beautiful & i can’t wait to try this technique. and thank you for leading me to “Sweet ‘N Sassy” stamps. i love them! you are so generous & i really appreciate all you do.

  4. Am loving this technique and what gorgeous backgrounds it produces! Holy Moly! The ideas are endless! Thanks, Jennifer, for sharing your inspiration and creativity with us once again! You are so amazing and such a blessing!!

    1. I recently found Sweet & Sassy Stamps.
      Love their sentiments and their generosity via their stamps for a cause set ❤️

  5. Greet backgrounds and great cards! Happy Anniversary to Hero Arts!
    Thanks for a chance to win some greet prizes.

  6. Resist is one of my favorite techniques, so it’s always great to learn new ways to use resist. Love your cards~

  7. They were all so lovely. I think my favorite is the lighthouse card. Have a great holiday weekend!

  8. Have used resist techniques often – one of my favorites! What makes this “subtle” rather than a “traditional” resist?

  9. Jennifer,
    I really like this technique with using Versa Mark and stamping on the paper first and heat setting it. Using Tim Holtz inks to complete the process is incredible. Never thought of just stamping with Versa Mark and heating it. I also loved the colors you used and showing how other name brand inks work with this technique. Thanks for all
    your great tips too. I’m going to order that new black ink too.

  10. Oh my gosh, I love this technique and these cards! The Hymn Block stamps are fantastic. “What a Friend We Have in Jesus” was my grandma’s favorite hymn, so it has special meaning to me. I’m definitely going to check out Sweet and Sassy as I’m loving so many of the stamps you showed. The faith sentiments, the landscape silhouettes – more things to add to my ever-growing wish list!
    Thanks again for inspiring us with your gifts and talents!

  11. Such pretty backgrounds Jennifer. Love the subtle look… those silhouette images are so pretty from SNSS. I love Be Encouraged! One of my all time favorite sentiment sets! I use it pretty much all the time! 🙂

  12. I’ll have to remember this when I play around and make some backgrounds for my stash. These are lovely. Thanks for another fun and informative video. I love that I see you put links to the videos you mentioned with the product links. So helpful.

  13. DELIGHTFUL cards!
    LOVE your heat embossed & blended background!
    EXCITED to see the new blending brushes and the BOLD black ink => THANK YOU for sharing 🙂

  14. Wow!! Fantastic cards, Jennifer! Thanks so much for all you do to educate us about different techniques! I can see some Sweet N Sassy stamps in my future!

  15. This is a wonderful technique and your cards are gorgeous. I’ve been making a lot of backgrounds lately (thanks to your wonderful techniques), and I’ll definitely been trying this one next.

  16. Thank you thank you thank you for your continued inspirational videos jam packed with ideas. There are weekends where I hope it rains, so I don’t feel guilty for staying in my craft room to stamp the day away!

  17. Thank you so much for bringing to light great companies like Sweet ‘N Sassy! We have so many wonderful small businesses in our crafting community and I love seeing you spotlight them for all to see. And, as always your techniques are on-point!! 🙂 THANK YOU!

  18. An oldie but goodie technique. I’m not familiar with Sweet n Sassy, but I love those sentiments.

  19. Another great technique to try! I love all these gorgeous cards & have a whole list of things to I really need! 🙂

  20. You always have such great ideas. I will give this one a try soon. Thank you!!! And … your cards are beautiful, as usual!!!

  21. the technique is great, but a special thanks for introducing me to Sweet N Sassy stamps! They have exactly what I have been looking for, to share my faith in my cards. Thanks!
    \

  22. Another great video! Thanks for sharing and know your time is appreciated. I especially love the faith stamps you shared. Have a great week!

  23. Gorgeous Jennifer, such a easy technique and such great results. I have several kiinds of dye inks and will give this certainly a try. Thank you so much for showing this.

  24. Thank you so much for these! I love the stamps and the technique. I do great for encouragement & sympathy cards for strangers, but I have been staring at a blank piece of cardstock for days trying to do something for someone very dear to me. Thanks for getting me past the hump, and for introducing me to some new faith-based stamps. I was able to order a few to combine with some that I have in my stash, and create some much needed encouragement to send.

  25. Help! I love the process and colors but was not able to get the same results with blending the distress inks. My brushes just didn’t seem to leave the color blended into the others without a clear line of definition. I went ahead and ordered the brushes you used but wondering what I did wrong. Did you go in with a very light hand?

    Suggestions?

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