Decorative background paper is ideal for layering on your own hand stamped cards or scrapbook pages.

MONOTONE background paper – 

This rubber stamping technique uses one color of ink only, ranging from light to dark shades.

Take a large piece of plain or solid colored paper and your choice of clear rubber stamps. Begin randomly stamping your background image onto the paper. By rubber stamping each image randomly at least 2-3 times before re-inking the stamp you create depth and dimension in your background paper design. Work over a protected area so that you can stamp near and over the edge of your paper, however when you do this be sure that the second stamped image is also over the edge of the paper. If it is not and you try to stamp a complete image elsewhere on your background paper, you will get an impression that is half light and half dark. This doesn’t look very good and should be avoided. 

Variations of this stamping technique include a more planned pattern to your background paper - stamping in rows, borders or zig zag patterns. You may wish to rubber stamp all the images at the same angle or you can rotate the clear stamp design for less uniformity. Lining up stamped elements and keeping them at the same angle can make a stunning "stripe" on your scrapbook pages. Of course each paper craft project and scrapbooking theme require their own unique elements to make the story told the most interesting it can be. Those elements help you to achieve the perfect look customized to perfectly suit your style. Experiment on small scraps of paper if you are unsure what look you wish to create.

MULTICOLOR background paper  

This rubber stamping technique uses 2 or more colors of ink to help you match specific color themes in your scrapbooking and card making projects. For more information on choosing colors that coordinate or contrast refer to the Colorwheel Combinations page.

          Try  using the same clear rubber stamp design repeatedly varying only the colors. Stamp each impression twice (or with darker inks you may even get a third impression) before re-inking your clear acrylic stamp. You may wish to stamp the first impression on one paper and a second impression onto a second paper for a vibrant and pastel version of the same background. Once you are happy with the finished results you can use your custom designed background paper the same as you would use the store-bought scrapbooking pattern paper to create wonderful greeting cards and scrapbook special memories.

VARIATION: Wrapping Paper

            It can be fun to make and design your own wrapping paper using clear rubber stamps. This allows you to match design elements you have used on your holiday and special occasion greeting cards and match them to your custom made gift wrap. Decorating gift wrap is similar to making background paper, only you are using a much larger piece of paper. Once you are done rubber stamping your designs you may wish to add additional embellishments with glitter glue, glitter, or heat embossing. Experiment on a smaller paper if you wish until you reach the desired effect and enjoy your creative time with your clear rubber stamps and ideas! It's amazing how well new ideas give old projects renewed life and vigor!!!