How to Make 3 EASY Card Making Backgrounds | Perfect Pairings with Jaycee + Video!

Card Making Backgrounds that Really Work!

Hi there, Altenew friends! In this video tutorial, I wanted to cover some card making basics. One of the first topics I started looking for as a new card maker was ‘how to make backgrounds.' Many times we focus on card making foreground elements like flowers or sentiments. In this video tutorial, I wanted to share my secrets to beautiful card making backgrounds with balanced focal points.

Card Making Background Video Tutorial

Double Exposure Rainbow Striped Background

Aside from patterned paper, stencils are a great way to cover an entire card front with a unique background. You can make a high-impact background by adding a variety of colors as shown above with the rainbow. Layer stencils for a double exposure effect that marries the theme of the Splatter Constellations Stamp and Die Bundle.

To achieve this look, start with a base layer stencil with a large open space. I used the Watercolor Stripes Stencil. Without removing the base stencil, use a stencil with smaller images and layer these images on top. I used the Milky Way Stencil to add starry details to the stripes.

Then, I added my supporting focal die-cut on top of this background. I made this a simple birthday card by adding a coordinating sentiment from Splatter Constellation.

Textured Watercolor Rainbow Background

To continue the rainbow theme of the previous card, I made another card with a rainbow palette. In this card making background example, I used the Woodless Watercolor Pencils. To achieve this textural gradient, I shaved the pigment from the woodless watercolor pencils. Then, I hydrated the solid pigment with Iridescent Shimmer Ink Spray.

Next, I balanced this busy background with a very simple sentiment banner. This Mini Delight: Birthday Banner perfectly anchors the background. As an added card making bonus, I added Satin Gold Sequins to throw off the symmetry of the card and give the composition more interest.

Terrazzo Tile & Suminagashi Background

This final card was a joy to make. Like all the previous examples, there is a carefree element to all the card making backgrounds. This card requires specialty alcohol ink paper such as Yupo or photo paper. This card making technique with alcohol inks is loosely based on Japanese paper marbling.

Suminagashi uses ink that floats on water. This ink is ‘painted' on the surface of the water, then transferred to a canvas-like washi paper like a woodblock print. Each print is unique.

The Altenew Artist Marker Refills behave differently than Suminagashi. Instead of flowing, acrylic-poured layers, I got fragments of pigment like Terrazzo tiles. I used the fragmented card background to my advantage to complement the soft and flowing floral arrangement. The stamp and die bundle I used was from Beauty Within Stamp and Die Bundle. I finished this card with Essential Black & White Enamel Dots.

Materials and Supplies