ADIRONDACK DABBER & INK BACKGROUND TECHNIQUE

Here's a great background technique for you to try.  You can, basically, make your own background papers with this one, as you'll only need to use part of the sheet you've made and it's very quick and easy.

     What you'll need

1. Adirondack Dabber in LIGHT  shades - you'll need several colours for this one.  I used Cloudy Blue, Pink Sherbet, Aqua and Juniper.

2. Snowcap dabber

3. Adirondack inkpads in the BRIGHT shade of ONE of the colours you used on the background.  I used Pool here.

4. A5 sheet of white or cream card

5. Stamps

6. Baby wipes and/or spritzer and flannel/towel

Instructions

1. Start by priming the dabbers.  Shake the bottle well.  If the bottles are new, add a touch of water to them before shaking - the Lights are always a little thicker in consistency and can easily stand a little water added to them.  This also helps them to flow better.  Inside the bottles is a valve mechanism which only works when the dabber tip is pressed down, so press down several times until the paint starts flowing easily.  This can take a while the first time you use them, so be patient - next time you use the paint, it will flow much more easily.  TIP:  Store your Dabbers upside down, with top facing the bottom - this helps to prevent clogged dabber tops.

2. Take each dabber in turn and pull across the cardstock you're using, giving a 'dry brush' effect.  Repeat until the card is covered and allow to dry, or heat set.

3. Once the paints are dry - it doesn't take long - take the 'Bright' ink in the shade you've chosen and stamp a word or background stamp randomly all over.  Allow to dry or heat set.

4. Take the same text or background stamp and randomly dab with the Snowcap dabber - only in small uneven areas to create a fragmented effect - stamp once onto scrap paper, then randomly over some of the text or background you've already stamped.

5. Leave to dry, or heat set.

This gives a really nice effect and is a great way of customising your own background papers.  Use as in the example above, as a strip across a card - or use to cover one half of an A6 card for the front - top or bottom or even one side.

Here are a few more examples - please note that these were done VERY quickly, as they were demo pieces, but they'll give you the idea.  It does look better (or perhaps just different?) when the dabber strokes are horizontal.  Click to enlarge:-

The last one uses a Pearl Dabber over the top, rather than the Snowcap Dabber.