Staying in the Background

 Welcome back to another Funkie Junkie Challenge!  This time it hosted by the wonderful Cec and she is challenging us to Staying in the Background.   This is how she describes the challenge:

"My challenge to you is to create your own background and use it in a shabby chic or vintage project - no pre-printed patterned paper this time. You can create the background in any number of ways and it can be simple or intricate. Using embossing folders. stencils, dies, stamps, washi tape, paints, inks or a gel press are just a few ideas. Make sure you give a brief description of how you created your background in your post."

Well I love a good background either stamped or mixed media. My problem is I never want to cover it up!  

I wanted to try to do something in shades of green and pulled out the gradient square stencil as I have never used it on anything.

I played around with a mix of stamping tiny text as a whole sheet of rubber of different versions of a sprayed/embossing paste mixes of the diamonds. 

For my card I took a remnant of something I was playing with.  I sprayed through the stencil and it was very messy and the squares became indistinct.  I then used another sheet of cardstock to pick up the excess.  

After it dried I then stamped over a piece and cut off a scrap which became a panel in my background. 

I stamped a mix of brown and green ink for the circle and cut it out.  I stamped over that the watch hand in brown.  I then attached my panel and circle together with a bit of design tape and put them onto a white cardstock background. 

Next I stenciled embossing paste over all the layers and waited for it to dry and sponged brown ink over the embossing. 

I added a double flower with some stamping and twine to finish the card. 

Here is an alternative background using the same tools: 

I stamped the circle over the stenciled background and enhanced with some watercolor pencil around the edges.  I layered more design tape over the image. 

I originally started the challenge with the idea to create my own pattern paper.

I stamped a mix of the roses with text on white cardstock.  I colored with watercolor pencils.  I then took the brick stencil and softly sponged brick around the images.  

I added touches of clear embossing on the flower to help with the glossy effects and also added water drops using glossy medium. 

The butterflies were to add depth and make my background a backround. :)  

Come show us your backgrounds!  The winner will earn a chance to be a Guest Designer at a future date at The Funkie Junkie Boutique challenge blog, and everyone who enters and follows the rules will go into the draw for the chance to win a $25 spending spree at The Funkie Junkie Boutique. There are also Top 3 Badges for three additional outstanding entries, chosen by the Design Team.

Thanks for stopping by!

Suzz

Products: 

• Stampers Anonymous Tiny Text 
• Stampers Anonymous Gradient Square Stencil
• Stampers Anonymous The Professor 2 
• Stampers Anonymous Faded Type
• Stampers Anonymous Flower Ship
  
• Stampers Anonymous Bricked Stencil
• Stampers Anonymous Entomology
• Stampers Anonymous Glitch 1 
• Ranger Distress Oxide Ink Walnut Grain, Peeled Paint
• Ranger Distress Oxide Spray - Peeled Paint
• Ranger Distress Stain Spray - Antique Linen, Ground Espresso 
  
• Ranger Archival Ink - Coffee, Watering Can
• Ranger Clear Embossing Powder
• Wendy Vecchi White Embossing Paste 
• Glossy Accents
• Watercolor Pencils
• Idea-Ology Ball Chain
• Idea-Ology Tim Holtz Jute
• Idea-Ology Design Tape