By Penny Bearcroft
You might have noticed how into backgrounds I am at the moment! This is one of Tim’s techniques that I absolutely love to do, so I thought I’d share it with you. I’ve also used some of the new Artifacts stamps that I designed, called Complex Creation. The cards I’ve made here use several different Distress ink pads. You can mix and match the colours any way you like, as they all go together so well!
Sarah Smile
 We used:
Step by Step
 - Dab one of the inkpads a couple of times on the craft sheet. Choose another colour and do the same with this one, But don’t overlap the colours or you will get a muddy finish. Spray lightly with water and then place a piece of cream card on the sheet, pressing it down and turning it slightly. Dry the wet ink and then repeat for more depth.
 - Stamp the Complex Creation patterns all over the dried background with Walnut Stain ink and heat again. Cut out a piece to fit on the C6 card and glue it in place, leaving a border all round.
 - Stamp the Feather image a few times down one side using embossing ink and heat set with gold embossing powder.
 - Colour a cream scrap of card with Dried Marigold and Spiced Marmalade ink. Stamp ‘Sarah’ on to it with Smokey Gray ink. Trim and layer this on to a gold mirror card panel using sticky foam pads. Add to the card.
- Add a strip of German Scrap Fleur De Lys border.
Jigsaw Pieces
 This follows on from the jig saw pieces used in the last issue of Guilded and shows how easy it is to change the overall look. We used:
Step by step
- Stamp a piece of cream card with the Complex Creation designs using embossing ink and heat set with clear embossing powder. Make a largish piece as you will then be able to use it to make the next card and some ATCs.
- Transfer some Mustard Seed and Fired Brick ink to the craft sheet, by rubbing the surface of the pad directly onto the sheet. Spray with water and apply it to the clear embossed card, as before. Over stamp with some of the images using Fired Brick ink.
- Stamp the Flourish on to the background with Sepia ink.
- Tear a strip off the right hand side of the C6 card. Sponge the card with Vintage Photo ink and stamp with the Flourish.
 - Tear a strip of the prepared background and colour the edges with Gold Krylon pen. Stamp and gold emboss the words Complex Creation on it and attach it to the card front.
 - Sponge the jigsaw pieces with the Mustard and Fired Brick inks. Stamp with Secret Keys in black and triple emboss with clear embossing powder .
- Punch one piece with the Crop-A-Dile and attach the keys charm. Stick the pieces on the card, slightly overlapping the torn edge, putting the charm one at the bottom.
Hanging Hearts
 We used:
Step by step
- Trim a portion of the background and layer on to the red card with a piece of gold mirror card. You can add gold embossed words at this stage. 2. Sponge the chipboard frame with Fired Brick ink and sprinkle with gold embossing powder. Don’t cover up all the ink, but put quite a bit on as you will be stamping in to it. Heat the embossing powder and immediately press the Swirl Plaque into it. Leave for a few seconds and then remove. Repeat on the other side of the frame, trying not to melt your first pattern!
 - Add some glitter glue to the frame and a piece of gold ribbon. Punch three holes along the bottom and add three heart charms. Attach the frame on to the card using sticky foam pads.
 - Cut a piece of Friendly Plastic roughly the size of the Heart Art Mould. Place it colour side down on the Mould, then use a heat tool to melt the plastic. When it ‘sags’ into the heart mould, wet your fingers and work it in. Leave to cool, then apply a little ink and gold glitter glue and add to the card using strong glue.
ATCs
 We used:
Step by step
- Start by cutting two ATCs from the red card, each measuring the required 2.5 x 3.5 inches or 64 x 89mm.
- Apply two or three layers of gold embossing powder to the chipboard oval, heating between each application. While the last layer is still molten, press on the Magic Carpet stamp. Remove when cool, then punch a hole and attach the charm.
- Place the mesh/Maruyama paper on to the pre-made background and sponge on some Fired Brick ink to make a grid pattern, then attach it to the ATC. Fray the edges of a strip of mulberry paper and add this over the top.
- Add the chipboard piece, washers, brads and German scrap.
- For the second ATC - stick on a torn strip of background. Stamp and gold emboss with the Orchid border. Punch two holes at the top left and set with eyelets, then thread a piece of gold ribbon through the eyelets and tie in a neat know on the front.
- Punch out some flowers from the various card and paper that we have used, using the three different sizes of flower punches. Layer them together and attach them to the card using a small gold brad.
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Japanese Lace Paper Set
