It was with great interest that I learned the story of Cornish Heritage Farms (CHF) and the details regarding their backgrounders. My little discovery in backgrounder history started about a year ago. It has been an absolute privilege and delight to be able to work with and get to know Richard and Liz Pomeroy, the owners of this family owned business, over this past year. I am VERY much looking forward to meeting them at CHA in a couple of days! I hope that you enjoy the tale of the road to backgrounder discovery that I have followed.
I fell in love with background stamps as a Stampin' Up! demonstrator. It was one of my passions to "collect" background stamps and use them to create distinctive papers and looks. I do believe that I owned almost every Stampin' Up! background available - LOL! One of the details that intrigued me greatly was the discovery that SonLight Impressions was the manufacturer of the first background stamps that Stampin' Up! carried. When Stampin' Up! grew they decided to open their own plant and manufacture their own backgrounds. DId you already know this? It was one of those "duh" moments for me - no wonder I loved the CHF backgrounders! Backgrounders were actually "the" first backgrounds created - LOL!
CHF purchased SonLight Impressions in 2005 and they have strived to provide their customers with well-made, high quality products at fantastic prices and with great service. There are little details that we as consumers don't really pay much attention to, but it is this attention to detail that makes a deep-etched red rubber stamp completely distinct from acrylic stamps or lesser quality rubber stamps.
So what makes this difference? It all begins with a metal master plate which is usually made by an engraving company. This is typically done with a chemical etching process - the deeper the etching the higher the rubber image will stand up away from it's background. This is where the "deep etched" part comes in to play. It costs more to make a deep etched master plate, but the difference truly shows in the detail. Cornish Heritage Farms uses this deep etch process to create their stamps.
Then the metal plate is used to make a matrix board. This is a negative plate of your images. There are different materials used to make these matrix boards - some withstand a little pressure and others withstand a lot. Well, CHF wants their images to stamp with precise detail and therefore they use the materials that will withstand a lot of pressure.
The rubber comes on big rolls. Guess what - there are different types of rubber. The denser the rubber, the better your stamped image detail will be. This of course costs more as well, but CHF continues with their pride in quality by selecting the densest rubber available. This rubber is cut to fit the plate size and put into a vulcanizer with the matrix board which has the stamp images impressed into it. Heat and pressure are applied. The greater the pressure, the greater the certainty that the rubber will get squeezed into each and every crevice of the matrix plate.
Therein lies the beauty of a red, rubber stamp - detail. Detail that will not be lost or damaged when the stamp is inked repeatedly or heat is applied for special background techniques.
I believe that Cornish Heritage Farms has achieved their mission and so it has been with great delight that I accepted their invitation to be a part of educating, selling and using backgrounders on a daily basis. Their new designs continue to be innovative and current - I am thrilled to be able to work with CHF!
Yesterday I shared the first of my new Lockhart image designs - today I wanted to share another new design and a different way to use your background stamps.
I began by coloring the image of the Leaves Backgrounder with Lyra Watercolor Crayons. Stampin' Up!s Watercolor Wonder Crayons are the exact same and I believe that Lyra probably makes them for Stampin' Up!
I then use a Mini Mister filled with water to lightly spritz the surface. The fine mist from this spritzer seems to be perfect for use in creating special effects when stamping. Next I placed my cardstock face down on to the colored stamp and rubbed my hand evenly over the entire surface. The look that results reminds me a little of those tie-dyed/marbled Easter eggs that Katrina likes Ü
This is where I decided to try something a little different - I wasn't certain if it would turn out, but I thought I will never know if I don't just try it. The jury was definitely still out once I had stamped the image, but after watercoloring in the cute little carrots and composing my card - I think I like it!
It is difficult to see in this photo, but the image from the background stamp is ever so light in behind the colored in pattern of the carrots. It really is ubber-cool in person!
Once again I selected an idea from Dave's book when composing this card - this one is from page 43. So many of you have purchased this wonderful book and I really want to help you put it to good use - thus the page references for you to be able to see his original idea and the twist I have used with his design. I am hoping to encourage you to begin looking at ideas you see in a new way.
Below is another sketch for you to try. Each of the little circles represents an embellishment, with the focal point layer separated by a small "gap".
OK - so what is with the bright red lines on this sketch? I wanted to share with you how it is that I select the positioning of my focal point when designing a new layout. Many times I use the rule of thirds. Divide the project into thirds both vertically and horizontally with "X" marking the spot where you are trying to lead the viewer's eye. This is the approximate position that you should try to place your focal point image.
This will be my last creative post for a few days. I will try and find some time to log on from Anaheim. I have so many thoughts I have wanted to share with you regarding trends, what I think will be new, yada, yada, yada. Why is there just not enough time in the day (or night) to do all of these things? Here's to hoping for a few minutes here and there to bring you some of the fabulous creativity that will be my viewing pleasure over the next few days!
A backgrounder is often provided with press releases or other brief press pieces. The purpose of a backgrounder is to give a brief history of an issue or an event that is above and beyond the information included in press release or press advisory.
Posted by: KRW Wrongful Death Lawyers | June 23, 2017 at 07:19 AM
Help! You have referenced "Create-a Cut" on several of your projects. I can't seem to find any information on this item. Can you fill me in? What is it? Where can I get it?
Thanks.
Posted by: Jan Moran | February 24, 2008 at 04:18 PM
Thanks so much for all this information. I especially appreciated your explanation of the rule of the thirds. I often saw it mentioned but never had it explained to me. Thanks for all that you share. You card is adorable too.
Posted by: Joyce Traub | February 20, 2008 at 07:49 AM
What a great story and a beautiful card! TFS!
Posted by: Danielle | February 12, 2008 at 08:35 AM
I LOVE your card!!! And thanks for the info on the backgrounders, I appreciate the FYI...good to know!
You are so helpful with every aspect of stamping! Have a wonderful time at CHA and come home with MORE fun stuff for us! :D
Posted by: diane mcvey | February 10, 2008 at 07:57 AM
Wow...I love what you did with that backgrounder...and I love your beautiful card!!
Posted by: Rose Ann | February 10, 2008 at 02:41 AM
I love the watercolor technique on the background. Amazingly I would never have thought to do this with a background stamp. A "duh" moment. Love that, thanks for sharing.
Posted by: Alisa | February 09, 2008 at 01:25 PM
I totally agree with you that CHF backgrounders are so incredibly well made- esp. b/c I like the unmounted version- you can really tell how great the quality is...I have a handful and love them!
Posted by: Michaelann | February 09, 2008 at 07:21 AM
I love CHF! I knew some of their history, but I didn't know about the Backgrounders and Stampin' Up. I love your company, too. You compliment each other. Have fun at CHA.
Posted by: Janet Sisk | February 08, 2008 at 03:38 PM
Wonderful card--thanks for all the details!
Oh, you will have so much fun at CHA! I will bet thinking of you--I live so close but they won't let me in without a ticket, LOL!
Posted by: liannallama | February 08, 2008 at 10:42 AM
Thank you so much for the "history lesson" and explaining more about how quality rubber stamps are made. I fully intend to purchase "several" backgrounders! I'm a background junkie-I love them because they're so versatile! Looking forward to hearing about all the new "stuff" at CHA, and especially looking forward to hearing more tips and techniques from you! Thanks a bunch!
Anita Van Hal
[email protected]
http://www.anitastamps.com
Posted by: Anita Van Hal | February 08, 2008 at 10:41 AM
I can't tell you how much I enjoyed this post. I finally "broke down" and purchased some of the CHF backgrounder stamps just a few weeks before you began carrying them in your store (they were having a sale *wink*.) It was love-at-first-stamp! So the history behind these wonderful stamps is neat to know. I've done a similar technique with single image stamps but now it's a must-try with my backgrounders. Your inspiration is appreciated, as always!
Posted by: Beth | February 07, 2008 at 08:01 PM
TFS all the great information, I especially like knowing about the 2/3 rule since I'm very symmetrical. I love asymmetry, odd numbers for groupings etc, but I struggle with the cards. TFS and giving so much. Have a wonderful trip full of fun and learning.
Posted by: Juanita | February 07, 2008 at 07:32 PM
Wonderful card! Who knew carrots could be so fun! I tried your technique on stamping backgrounds. It worked like a charm! Thanks for your tutorials!
Posted by: Linda C. | February 07, 2008 at 06:36 PM