As you may know, I love a fun and unique background so today I created a custom die cut background which resembles dry embossing! To achieve this look, just make your die cuts the same color as the background paper.
For this card, I used some adorable images from Paper Smooches Best Buds stamp set and Birthday Words Wise Dies:
Here are all the details:
First, I stamped the Best Buds flower vase with Memento Tuxedo Black ink onto X-Press It Blending Card using my Misti, just in case I didn't get a good impression the first time. I spaced out the vase and also stamped the sentiment together on one panel because I initially thought I would try to make this a one-layer card, but decided against that a little later. (So for this step, you really only need the vase/flowers):
Next, I started coloring with Copic Markers -- First, the leaves with YG03 and YG17:
Next, the flowers with (left to right): B01/B04 (later I added dots to the center with Sky Blue Copic Atyou Spica Glitter Pen), Y08/Y38, V15/YG00, RV63/RV55 (sorry it's upside down!). The vase was colored with B0000 and B000:
For the background, first I die cut the Birthday Words sentiments four times from Neenah 80 Lb. Solar White cardstock (the lighter weight paper will die cut easier and more cleanly). Don't you love Paper Smooches fun and quirky lettering and sentiments?!
I tried to gently remove the die from the paper, leaving the die cuts still nestled in the cardstock, to make them a little easier to give a wash of shimmer with Clear Zig Wink of Stella marker:
Next, I just started laying out the die cut words in a pleasing order onto a 4" x 5-1/2" Neenah 110 Lb. Solar White panel, taking into consideration where the vase/flowers would be and which full words I wanted to have the most visibility. I used my T-Square Ruler to help keep the words straight, and glued them down using Matte Multi Medium (and my trusty Craft Tweezers, which are a HUGE help when working with die cuts!):
Once the word background was complete, I adhered it with X-Press It 1/2" Foam Mounting Tape to a top-folding 110 Lb. Solar White card base on which I placed a strip of black striped Shape 'N Tape.
To finish the card, I stamped the sentiment with Memento Tuxedo Black ink and hand trimmed the vase/flowers and mounted it with X-Press It 1/2" Foam Mounting Tape to the background.
This faux embossed technique can be made with any types of die images, not just words! Or try gathering all of your different birthday, thank you, get well, or holiday etc. sentiments from different sets and putting them all together, to create a one-of-a-kind unique background! Just remember to keep the die cuts and the background on which you are placing them the same color, for a faux embossed look. Or change it up and try different colors or an ombre effect, for a stunning colorful backdrop!
