Creating beautiful backgrounds to show off your dies

No new products today – just some great examples of how you can create beautiful projects where the die-cuts are the stars of the show.

I had fun creating backgrounds to show off the Friendly Silhouettes Dies. Let me walk you through them.

For these first two projects, I masked a circle using a punched/die-cut sticky note, then brayered the background using Crushed Curry and Poppy Parade ink pads. You could sponge, too – but if you do, make sure you sponge away from the centre of the mask or you could dislodge it.

For the top card, I then lightly splashed with water from a fine paintbrush. Allow to dry, then dab it dry with a tissue. This creates this lovely effect which can look like seed heads blowing on the breeze, fireflies, rain or, on a dark blue background, like snow. It’s such a simple effect and so versatile.

For this card, I brayered as before, but instead of splashing, I used that same very fine paintbrush to paint fine lines following the edge of the circle. With ideas clearly way above my station, I call this the Van Gogh technique.

For the third card, I took the leftover template from the bullrushes in the first card and used this as a mask. I sponged with Pumpkin Pie to create a background image, then removed the mask and brayered around the top edge of the card in Melon Mambo. The beauty of brayering is that you can give it a go in any colours and get some lovely effects.

Want to have a go at fun techniques like this? If you’re in the UK, why not talk to me about joining my remote classes?

No new products today – just some great examples of how you can create beautiful projects where the die-cuts are the stars of the show.

I had fun creating backgrounds to show off the Friendly Silhouettes Dies. Let me walk you through them.

For these first two projects, I masked a circle using a punched/die-cut sticky note, then brayered the background using Crushed Curry and Poppy Parade ink pads. You could sponge, too – but if you do, make sure you sponge away from the centre of the mask or you could dislodge it.

For the top card, I then lightly splashed with water from a fine paintbrush. Allow to dry, then dab it dry with a tissue. This creates this lovely effect which can look like seed heads blowing on the breeze, fireflies, rain or, on a dark blue background, like snow. It’s such a simple effect and so versatile.

For this card, I brayered as before, but instead of splashing, I used that same very fine paintbrush to paint fine lines following the edge of the circle. With ideas clearly way above my station, I call this the Van Gogh technique.

For the third card, I took the leftover template from the bullrushes in the first card and used this as a mask. I sponged with Pumpkin Pie to create a background image, then removed the mask and brayered around the top edge of the card in Melon Mambo. The beauty of brayering is that you can give it a go in any colours and get some lovely effects.

Want to have a go at fun techniques like this? If you’re in the UK, why not talk to me about joining my remote classes?