I’ve been taking a few of the classes over on Altenew Acadamy, and I decided to create these two cards after taking Beyond the Basic Backgrounds class. I picked up several techniques there, some I knew about but never really used so I challenged myself to use them. What’s great is you can make them as elaborate or as simple as you wish. However, I decided to one technique to create these two cards. It is a great away to combine your stamps and dies, and stretching them to go further by creating a DIY stencil. So let’s get started on One background design, two ways!
This card was produced as part of my work towards my ALtenew Certificate Educators Programme.
PRODUCED AS PART OF MY DESIGN-TEAM WORK FOR BUMBLEBERRY PAPERCRAFTS - SEE END OF POST FOR MORE DETAILS
Creating the DIY stencilled design
For these cards, you need to create a stencil. However, we’re going to make two in one go – one to use as a stencil and the other for dimension over your stamping.
Trim down a piece of Neenah 80lb cardstock to your card base size and repeat this with a scrap piece of card. Next, use a bit of purple tape to temporarily adhere these two together. This will also use to die-cut both at the same time with the same design.

Next, choose the dies from the ALtenew Bold Bunch die set and position onto the card with purple tape, running this through your die-cutting machine. Repeat this, repositioning and rotating the dies until you have die-cut the panels completely.
One background, two ways: Popped-up dimension
For the first card, place a piece of white cardstock into your MISTI and position the scrap die-cut panel over the top.

Position each of the first layers of stamps within the negative spaces of the stencil and stamp in a colour of your choosing. Continue moving the first layers and stamping until all spaces are filled. Next, repeat this with the second layer of stamping.
One background, two ways: Popped-up dimension
The ink colour used on this card were:
- Bellini – Catherine Pooler Designs
- Tutti Frutti – Catherine Pooler Designs
- It’s A Boy – Catherine Pooler Designs
- Juniper Mist – Catherine Pooler Designs
- Sugared Lavender – Catherine Pooler Designs
- Seafoam – Catherine Pooler Designs

Once all the stamping is complete, trim the card panel down to 1/4″ smaller than your card base, repeating this for the die-cut panel which has been die-cut out of Neenah Classic Crest Solar White 80lb cardstock.
Creating the dimension
Adhere the stamped panel directly to the card base with tape adhesive. Next, use 3D foam squares to add to the back of the die-cut panel and align with the stamped panel before adhering down.


One background, two ways: stencilled base layer
For the second card, use the die-cut stencil panel once more and adhere temporarily with purple tape to a white card panel. Next, using blending tool and foam pad, softly blend a layer of light ink through the stencil. You may wish to use scrap paper or post-it notes to mask off areas of the stencil to apply certain colours of ink in particular areas.
For this card, I swapped out ‘It’s a boy’ ink for ‘Stone Blue’ Catherine Pooler Designs ink for a softer approach on this card.


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finishing the card design off
Stamp a selection of the die-cut pieces in corresponding ink. Again, add another heat embossed strip using the Altenew Sentiment Strips stamp set and foam mount offset to one side.


Supplies
One background design, two ways
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).
![]() Sentiment Strips – Altenew Shop at: ALT | BP | SB | ![]() Bold Bunch Stamp – Altenew Shop at: ALT | SB | ![]() Bold Bunch Die – Altenew Shop at: BP | SB |
![]() Juniper Mist Ink – Catherine Pooler Designs Shop at: SB | ![]() Juniper Mist Reinker – Catherine Pooler Designs Shop at: SB | ![]() It’s A Boy Ink – Catherine Pooler Designs Shop at: SB |
![]() It’s A Boy Reinker – Catherine Pooler Designs Shop at: SB | ![]() Stone Blue Ink – Catherine Pooler Designs Shop at: SB | ![]() Stone Blue Reinker- Catherine Pooler Designs Shop at: SB |
![]() Seafoam Ink – Catherine Pooler Designs Shop at: SB | ![]() Seafoam Reinker – Catherine Pooler Designs Shop at: SB | ![]() Bellini Ink – Catherine Pooler Designs Shop at: SB |
![]() Bellini Reinker – Catherine Pooler Designs Shop at: SB | ![]() Tutti Frutti Ink – Catherine Pooler Designs Shop at: SB | ![]() Tutti Frutti reinker – Catherine Pooler Designs Shop at: SB |
![]() Royal Treatment Ink Pad – Catherine Pooler Designs Shop at: SB | ![]() Royal Treatment Reinker – Catherine Pooler Designs Shop at: SB | ![]() Sugared Lavendar Ink – Catherine Pooler Designs Shop at: SB |
![]() Sugared Lavendar 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) | ![]() Metallic Gold Rich Pale – WOW! Embossing Powder Shop at: CS (UK) | CS (US) | 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 | ![]() Purple Tape – 0.5″ – Thermoweb Shop at: BP | 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) | ![]() Mini Ink Blending Tool – Ranger Tim Holtz Shop at: BP | SB | CS (UK) | CS (US) | ![]() Mini Ink Blending foam replacements – Ranger Tim Holtz Shop at: BP | SB | CS (UK) | CS (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) |
![]() QuickStik – We R Memory Keepers Shop at: SB | CS (UK) | CS (US) | ![]() Beyond Basic Backgrounds – Altenew Shop at: ALT |
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Design team work:
DISCLOSURE
This post was produced as part of my design team work for Bumbleberry Papercrafts have not been paid to make this post, but I am given supplies from Bumbleberry Papercrafts to use. However, 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.
2 thoughts on “One background design, two ways”
Your cards look absolutely fantabulous!! Love the look, the colours and also the layouts.
Thank you for entering your work to the AECP assignment gallery.