Robin’s Favorite Things #2 (Birthday Edition 2025) – Papercrafting Playdate 164

To celebrate my birthday this week, I am indulging in my favorite stamping methods/techniques/colors/card templates! One year ago, I started this tradition of “stamping what I love” for my birthday. Check out Robin’s Favorite Things Part 1 here.

If I had to choose only one way to create cards (for the rest of my life) I would choose basic stamped backgrounds and collage using just stamp sets, cardstock, and ink. This year’s birthday projects are going to be a combination of creating backgrounds and using them with favorite card templates!

Here’s Your Homework 😉

1. Watch the video tutorial for creating backgrounds to use in card templates – Papercrafting Playdate 164
2. Grab the card template pdfs if you don’t already have them. (see links below)
3. Play with just your inks, paper, and stamp images to create your own backgrounds.

Card Template 8 – Simple Stamped Background

Papercrafters often shy away from making stamped backgrounds because of all the “artistic” decisions that have to be made like colors and images to use. I promise you that this process becomes easier the more you practice it. Here are my tips for easy stamped backgrounds:

• Use three coordinating ink colors.
• Find images that work together and are also different sizes (small, medium, and large).
• Start with the largest image you want to use and stamp it 3-5 times to start the pattern thinking in triangles and making sure small parts of the image go off the edge of the card stock.
• Use the second largest image next to help reinforce the pattern – still thinking in triangles.
• Use the smallest images last to fill in the empty spaces.
• Use Blending Brushes to burnish ink into the cardstock over stamped images.
• Use word images and background/splatter images to fill in.

Card Template 8, Simply Awesome Angles, is perfect to use with a piece of your own stamped background paper. It is a 3-in-1 card template. Just pair your 4″ x 5-1/4″ piece of background paper with two coordinating colors, then angle cut all three pieces at the same time. The cards will get one each of the three papers. Jump to the original tutorial for Card Template 8 to see more designs and grab the PDF directions.

Card Template 22 – Burnished Color Background

The Mini Blinds Card Template 22 is also great for when you want to create a small stamped background. The Burnished Color Background is so easy. Start by adding ink to a piece of 3″x5″ Basic White cardstock using a Blending Brush. I like to use three coordinating colors of ink. Space the inked areas randomly in loose triangles. Keep adding color with the blending brush until you reach desired intensity. Spritz or splatter water droplets over the background and blot off with a paper towel. Let dry. Use one line-art stamped image in a dark colored ink over and over to cover the entire piece. Cut into 5 – 1″ x 3″ strips. Jump to the original tutorial for Card Template 22 to see more designs and grab the PDF directions. Jump to another tutorial for 4 Basic Background stamping techniques and PDF directions.

Card Template 33 – Watercolor Collage Background

Use the simple stamped background method on 4″ x 4″ watercolor paper to start your collaged background. Add water and let the colors run together. Once the watercolor paper is dry you can stamp more images over the top in a collage fashion. Cut your finished collage into 2″ squares (4) and use with the Layered 4 Square Card Template 33. I added pops of cardstock color behind my collaged squares measuring 2-1/8″ x 2-1/8″. Jump to the original tutorial for Card Template 33 to see more designs and grab the PDF directions.

More samples of using stamped backgrounds with Card Templates 8, 22 & 33!!

I challenge you to carve out some time to create your own background papers using just stamps, ink, and cardstock! The more you practice, the easier the process becomes AND you will have so much fun! – Robin

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