Direct To Paper Technique

I will posting tutorials here about once a week or so featuring a different technique. Some will be newer ones and some will be my favorite techniques I have used for awhile.

Probably my favorite stamping technique is the Direct To Paper Technique. I just featured this in my latest newsletter (have you signed up to receive my monthly stamping newsletter? If not, click here!)....

It's quite simple and can produce quite stunning results based on the types of inks you use and color combinations.

Direct to Paper refers directly applying your ink to your cardstock to create your own background. You can use this for your stamped cards or to make your own patterned paper for your scrapbooks.

Here I'm using VersaMagic which is more of a chalk based ink which is a more subtle ink to use. I recommend using your "juicy" ink pads, any type of pigment ink. The more juicy the ink pad, the more vibrant the look. But if you want a softer look, which is what I was trying to achieve here don't use a really juicy ink pad. You simply drag the ink pad right on the cardstock. Before I even start I generally pick out 3 colors that I want to use. Generally 2 lighter colors with 1 bolder color.

Swirl and drag around the ink pad. You will get different looks based on the type of ink you use,the size of the ink pad and the type of cardstock. Note: Don't use glossy cardstock because the ink will smear and not set, unless you emboss it. Then I will take a stamp design, generally an open type of design, like a swirl works great. I usually stamp the image in one of the colors I usedfor the background and I stamp it many times without reinking as you can seein the above picture.

Then I used my favorite punch, the Mega Scalloped Square Punch, to cut out some squares of my background paper. And remember to keep the paper you punched from, you can use that in your scrapbook or future card creation.