Wood background with Stampin' Blends markers

 Have you tried to make any backgrounds with your Stampin' Blends markers?

I tried a new technique with my Stampin' Blends markers. I saw Annette Elias's video on creating a wood background using Stampin' blends and I just had to give it a try. The technique is to layer colors and create dark lines to give the appearance of planks or wood pieces. You add in some highlights. Then you sponge around the edge to finish it off.

I used the colors Annette did on her card. Then I decided to come up with some more color combos. 

Here's some of the combos I tried:

• Dark wood background: (Annette's) Natural Tones 100, 200, 300 and light/dark Smoky Slate, light/dark Basic Black and the color lifter. White watercolor pencil for highlights and sponged around edge with Early Espresso classic ink.
• Lighter wood background: Natural Tones 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600 and light/dark Gray Granite and the color lifter. White watercolor pencil for highlights and sponged around the edge with Gray Granite classic ink. 
• Gray wood background: light/dark Gray Granite, light/dark Smoky Slate, light/dark Basic Black and the color lifter. White watercolor pencil for highlights and sponged around the edge with Basic Gray classic ink. (*I tried Gray Granite on the edge first but felt it was too light)
• Blue wood background: light/dark Balmy Blue, light/dark Night of Navy, dark Gray Granite and the color lifter. White watercolor pencil for highlights and sponged around the edge with Night of Navy classic ink.
• Bermuda Bay wood background: light/dark Bermuda Bay, light/dark Pretty Peacock (*retired), light/dark Smoky Slate, light Basic Black and the color lifter. White watercolor pencil for highlights and sponged around the edge with Bermuda Bay classic ink.
• Mint Macaron wood background: dark Mint Macaron, light/dark Bermuda Bay, light/dark Smoky Slate and the color lifter. White watercolor pencil for highlights and sponged around the edge with Mint Macaron classic ink.
• Pool Party wood background: light/dark Pool Party, light/dark Mint Macaron, light/dark Bermuda Bay, light Smoky slate and the color lifter. White watercolor pencil for highlights and sponged around the edge with Mint Macaron classic ink.

Can you image more color combos? I'd love to hear in the comments what you'd think would make a great wood color. 

Here's my first card with this technique. I love how this background makes my yellow fall flowers pop. To make a layer that matched my wood background, I used a piece of Basic White cardstock cut to the size I wanted my layer. Then I used the Natural Tones 300 to color the edge. This is a great way to get layers that match your blends colors. We do not have cardstock in the Natural Tones Blends color like the other colors in our product lines. So no worries, now you know how to make it match. 

Flowers and leaves from Cottage Rose stamp set. Colored with watercolor pencils in Daffodil Delight, Crushed Curry, Pumpkin Pie, Cajun Craze, Early Espresso, Garden Green, Granny Apple Green and Old Olive. Die cut with coordinating dies and a few flowers were fussy cut with scissors. The edge was colored with Natural Tones 100 blend marker.

I adhered my wood background layer to a piece of Basic White cardstock 1/8" bigger. Then I colored the edge of another piece of Basic White cardstock that was 1/8" bigger with the Natural Tones 300 blends marker. This gave me 3 layers and then I adhered my colorful flowers and leaves on top. The card base is Early Espresso.

Card and layer dimensions:

• Base: 5 1/2" x 8 1/2" folded in half
• Layer 1: 5 1/4" x 3 1/4"
• Layer 2: 5 1/8" x 3 1/8"
• Layer 3: 5" x 3"
• scrap strip of Basic White for greeting

Here's a card I did on my Saturday morning Facebook live video. I went over the technique and then the participants helped me make a card. This is one of my favorite classes I do online. I love to see the creative process and choices of all the participants.  I made the darker wood background. We used items that were handing out on my desk and left over from other cards. 

Check out my YouTube How-to video on this technique:

Unfortunately I do not speak Annette's language so I just watched what she did and interpreted what I saw. You can view her original blog post and video here. Her card was absolutely gorgeous. I'll definitely be using my blends to create backgrounds like this in the future. I hope you give it a try too! 

Do you need to restock your Stampin' Blends or explore the colors offered in this medium? I'd be happy to help or you can browse Stampin' Up!'s alcohol markers (Stampin' Blends) in my online store. 

Thanks for stopping by my blog and checking out this technique. Please leave a comment and let me know if you tried it. 

~ Beth

P.S. Don't forget to stock up on adhesives for your holiday cards! Shop adhesives in my online store.