Today I’m taking part in the Save the Crafty YouTuber hop run by Justine Hovey. I’ve got a selection of cards today showing you a variety of ways to create abstract backgrounds for modern cards. I’ve recently been creating more abstract backgrounds, but I wanted to show you a variety of ways you can do this with a selection of different media you may have in your stash.
This hop is sponsored by a variety of fabulous companies as you can see, where there are prizes along the hop to win, and you have a chance of winning a craft pack here on my Channel. Make sure you check out the end of the post for more information.
Abstract backgrounds with embossing paste
The first technique is to use embossing paste. I’m using the embossing paste from Altenew, but you can use any you have to hand. This is coloured white and I’m using some dye inks from Catherine Pooler to colour the ink. Now, use a spatula to add some of the paste onto a glass mat and then smoosh Polished Catherine Pooler Designs ink down next to it. To mixed the colour in, just use the spatula to move the paste over the ink and mix in an till it is a consistent colour. If you want it darker, just smoosh more ink down next to it and mix it in. For the second colour, I’m using All that Jazz.
As embossing paste has moisture in it, it is best to use a heavyweight cardstock for you card panel, so I’m using 110lb Neenah Classic Crest Solar white card. Next, use the spatula to smooth the paste down over the card, creating two blocks of colour. This needs to be set to one side until it is dry before you can add elements over the top. To finish this card off, a white die-cut Altenew fantasy floral die was added to the front along with a heat embossed sentiment from Pink Fresh Studio Leafy décor stamp.
Abstract backgrounds with hot foiling
For the second technique, we are going to create an abstract background with hot foiling. So for this, we need to use transfer deco foil gel. Again, a heavyweight cardstock is best to reduce any warping to the card and apply the white gel over the panel with a spatula in one corner moving up the panel and reducing the amount of card covered. Now this applies white, but will dry clear. Once it has dried clear it is ready to foil.
For this background, use FabFoil’s from WOW! Embossing powder in Teal and Blush. Now, turn on a Minc machine onto 3 to heat up or you can use a laminator as well if you don’t have a Minc. Next, place the dried panel into a carrier sheet and cut some of the blush and teal foil, covering half on the card with one and then the other half with the other colour. The reveal of foiling never tires, and I love rustic look it has, as though the foil is painted on.
This card was finished off with a Fram Builder botanical diamond die-cut in one corner and a happy birthday sentiment from Altenew birthday builder stamp set.
Abstract backgrounds with heat embossing
The third technique uses heat embossing to create an abstract background, and for this, I’m using a new tool, the WOW! Mixed media brush. It is great for this technique. This tool has a brush that sits in a pot of embossing ink, you can then apply the ink anywhere you wish by just simply painting the ink on.
For this background, create three strips of embossing ink and brushing a neat horizontal line with the brush. You can easily see where you’re applying the ink as it will be nice a shiny. The first embossing powder used is Glassy Ocean by Jo Firth with WOW! Embossing and this is a lovely translucent teal powder.
After this was heat set, go back in with the brush to apply another strip of ink in the middle and this time cover with Soft Mango by WOW! Embossing powder. The card was finished with 3 white palm die cuts from the Altenew Pallor Palm die set and then a foiled sentiment from Graciellie designs digital stamps.
Abstract backgrounds with watercolours
For the fourth technique, we’re going to use watercolours. Don’t worry, you don’t need to be an avid watercolourist to do this background.
Start by using your Altenew watercolour 36 pan set and mix Coral Berry with Crimson to get a slightly darker coral colour as watercolours will dry backlight. For this card we are using a wet on dry technique, so your paintbrush is wet but the paper is dry, and with a flat brush apply the paint to make a square. Also, add a small rectangle down in the opposite corner.
Now paint a large blue square in the middle using the Ocean waves, overlapping with the coral to link the shapes together. This card was simply finished off with an Altenew Happy die cut and a stamped birthday sentiment.
Abstract backgrounds with inks
For the last technique, we’re creating the abstract background with ink cubes and this is the quickest background to make out of all 5.
Select a few Altenew mini ink cubes and simply drag the ink pad along the card panel. So start off by dragging Coral Berry ink from the top of the panel down about two thirds.
Next to this, drag Teal Cave mini ink cube up two thirds, and then lastly just apply Coralberry again up to the middle of the panel. This took seconds to make, but you can change up the direction or colours very easily. Finish this card off with the Pink Fresh Studio Sentiment Suite Hello die and another sentiment from the leafy décor stamp set.
(click to enlarge images)
Abstract backgrounds for modern cards
Supplies
Affiliate links used at no extra cost to you at these shops: Altenew (ALT), Scrapbook.com (SB), Hero Arts (HA), Picket Fence Studios (PF), My Favourite Things (MFT), and Craft Stash UK/US (CS UK/US).
All other shops are not affiliated links: Bumbleberry Papercrafts (BP) and WOW! UK/US (WOW UK/US).
 Birthday Builder – Altenew Shop at: ALT | BP | SB |  Leafy Decor – PinkFresh Studio Shop at: BP | SB |  More than you know – Gracielle Designs Shop at: GD |
 Happy – Altenew Shop at: ALT |  Script Words 2 – Altenew Shop at: ALT | BP | SB |  Fantasy Floral 3D Die – Altenew Shop at: ALT | BP | SB |
 Parlor Palm Die set – Altenew Shop at: ALT | BP | SB | CS (UK) | CS (US) |  Frame builder: Botanical diamond die – PinkFresh Studio Shop at: BP | SB |  Sentiment Suite: Hello Die – PinkFresh Studio Shop at: BP | SB |
 Red Cosmos Mini Ink Cubes – Altenew Shop at: ALT | BP | CS (UK) |  Ceruean Skies 6 Mini cube set – Altenew Shop at: ALT | BP |  All That Jazz – Catherine Pooler Designs Shop at: SB |
 All That Jazz Reinker – Catherine Pooler Designs Shop at: SB |  Polished ink – Catherine Pooler Designs Shop at: SB |  Polished reinker – Catherine Pooler Designs Shop at: SB |
 WOW! Clear ultra slow drying embossing ink pad Shop at: CS (UK) | CS (US) | WOW (UK) | WOW (US) |  WOW! Clear ultra slow drying embossing ink refill Shop at: CS (UK) | CS (US) | WOW (UK) | WOW (US) |  WOW! Clear ultra slow drying embossing ink pad & refill Shop at: CS (UK) | CS (US) | WOW (UK) |
 Teal Fab Foil – WOW! Shop at: WOW (UK) | WOW (US) |  Blush Fab Foil – WOW! Shop at: WOW (UK) | WOW (US) |  Opaque Bright White -WOW! Embossing Powder Shop at: CS (UK) | WOW (UK) | WOW (US) |
 Trio! Dockside by Jo Firth (Glassy Ocean) – WOW! Shop at: WOW (UK) | WOW (US) |  Soft Mango – WOW! Shop at: WOW (UK) | WOW (US) |  Embossing Paste – Altenew Shop at: ALT | BP | SB |
 Watercolour 36 Pan Set – Altenew Shop at: ALT | BP | SB |  White Gloss Crystal Nuvo Drops – Tonic Studios Shop at: SB | CS (UK) |  Mixed media Brush – WOW! Shop at: WOW (UK) | WOW (US) |
 Neenah Classic Crest Solar White 110lb Cardstock Shop at: BP | SB | Neenah Classic Crest Solar White 80lb Cardstock Shop at: BP |  Distress Watercolor Cardstock – Ranger Shop at: SB |
 Original MISTI – My Sweet Petunia Shop at: ALT | BP | SB | HA |  Gina K Designs – Connect Glue Shop at: BP |  Scrapbook Adhesives 3D foam squares 1/4″ white Shop at: BP | SB |
 WOW! Dual Speed Heat Gun (UK version) Shop at: CS (UK) | WOW (UK) | WOW! Dual Speed Heat Gun (US version) Shop at: WOW (US) |  Teflon Bone Folder – Lawn Fawn Shop at: BP |
 Tim Holtz 8.5 Inches Comfort Trimmer – Tonic Studios Shop at: SB | CS (UK) | CS (US) |  Trim and Score Board – We R Memory Keepers Shop at: SB | CS (UK) | CS (US) |
love TO SEE ANOTHER project like this?
you’re in luck, check out this post here!
So the lovely Justine Hovey organises the Save the Crafty Youtuber hop, this is to open up viewers to new card makers and YouTubers as well as help us reach monetization goals. There are lots of prizes along the hop, so make sure you leave a comment at each stop for your chance to win as well as letting us know if you’re in the USA or international. This must be done over on YOUTUBE.
And if you liked the video, please think about giving it a thumbs up and possibly subscribing to the channel if you want to see more from them in the future. You need to leave a comment by the 5th of April and Justine will announce the winners on her blog and channel on the 10th of April. I’m giving away a craft package of goodies, and I will pay for postage but any local customs fees are the winner’s responsibility.
Feel free to leave me a comment below
I would love to hear what you think of the project!
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DISCLOSURE
This post was not produced as part of any of my design teams’ work. I create projects with creative control and produce projects I am proud of and with products that I love. The information provided is based on my own personal experience – I am not an expert.
4 thoughts on “Abstract backgrounds for modern cards – Save the crafty YouTuber Hop 2020”
hi Verity. A new subscriber from Australia here, I loved your modern spin on card making. I couldnt give you a definite favourite of your five cards….but I am a sucker for embossing. It’s the first time I’ve seen that little pot of embossing ink though and oh the possibilities!
So many great ideas. Thankyou for showing these lovely, modern, abstract cards.
I love your color combination! Thank you so much for sharing these wonderful cards! So many terrific ideas!
Kerry USA