Trend Watch – Inked Backgrounds

In today’s trend watch I would like to welcome you all in the world of inked backgrounds. You’ve probably made a couple of those backgrounds yourself and there are a lot of ways to use them for your paper crafts. It’s a fun and (most of the time) easy way to make the perfect matching background. You can blend, watercolor, stamp or just use a plain ink pad to create beautiful effects and colors. My stash of patterned papers is huge, but sometimes I just need something that isn’t in there. And then these inked backgrounds are a great way to make your own ‘patterned paper’.

Let’s have a look at some beautiful cards with inked backgrounds! I just had to start with this great flower-shaped card Amy Sheffer made. For the yellow background she sponged some ink on her paper and created a great soft look. And even the top layer with the sentiment is colored with inks.

Smile card by Amy Sheffer, image source Pickled Paper Designs

Another great card is this one from Lydia Evans. She used distress inks to create the background. I really love how bright the colors are in contrast to the black text and butterflies.

You’re pretty darn awesome by Lydia Evans, image source Lydia Evans design.com

Kara used some lovely bright pinks for her card too. The little white elephant looks amazing in his ombre sky.

p.s. I love you by Kara, image source K and R designs

There are some great background stamps to create your own custom colored backgrounds. Kate stamped the ink splash image on her card a couple of times to create the background on her card, and when you use a neutral color it’s a great way to make masculine cards.

masculine valentine by Kate, image source Make the day special cards

You could use your graphic stamps and some bold colors for this technique too – and the look of your card can change completely by just adding another color!

Happy birthday by Kristie Larsen, image source The Kristie Sessions

There are a lot of great cards to share with you that use inked backgrounds but I want to finish this trend watch with one other technique that involves lots of ink on your background. Julie just used her ink pads straight onto the paper to create this great galaxy feeling. This is also a great way to add the perfect color to your background when you’ve done a lot of stamping in one color and don’t have a paper that matches that color. Just grab a white piece of cardstock and color you paper with ink!

Love you to the moon and back by Julie Ebersole, image source Ellen Hutson Classroom

For my supplies list this week I wanted to show you some great inks and background stamps.

So 80’s by Wplus9 design at Make The Day Special stamp store

Ranger Distress mini ink pads at Ellen Hutson

Ranger mini ink blending tool at Simon Says Stamp

Wplus9 Pure Color ink pads storybook collection at Wplus9

Bright days stamp at Avery Elle

Have fun creating! – Lucinde