New Video: Tips for Using Background Stamps

I’m thrilled with the amazing selection of background stamps in Stampin’ Up!’s 2015-2016 Annual Catalog.  What a wonderful variety of large stamps that can be used in so many different ways.  Since I used two new background stamps in the card I shared with you yesterday, I thought it’d be fun to share some of my tips for getting the most out of your background stamps.  Here’s a quick video I made for you:

Since I know you watched the video (who’s going to just skip ahead without watching the video that I just shared with them?), here’s a quick recap of the tips I shared in the video:

  • I always choose wood mount for my background stamps.
  • Background stamps aren’t limited to being in the background – you can use some as great focal points.
  • Apply ink to the stamp (rather than putting the stamp in the ink).
  • Maintain control of your stamps by never letting go of them between the time that you ink them and stamp them.  This is true for any stamps – keeping your hands on the stamp prevent the stamp from bouncing or rolling – but it’s particularly true of background stamps.
  • Anchor your card stock with sticky notes or sticky note tape.

I hope you found this video and these tips helpful and that you’ll take another look at the amazing background stamps in this year’s catalog.  In case you missed them, here’s another look:

Bonus – Measurements from Yesterday’s Card

Because I love you so much, I’m sharing the measurements for the “You’re Remarkable” card from yesterday (see it here) that uses both the Watercolor Wash Background Stamp and the Definitely Dahlia Background Stamp.  These measurements are shown from the base up:

  • Layer 1 – Mint Macaron – 4-1/4″ x 5-1/2″
  • Layer 2 – So Saffron – 3-3/4″ x 5″
  • Layer 3 – Mint Macaron – 3-1/8″ x 4-3/8″
  • Layer 4 – Very Vanilla – 3″ x 4-1/4″

Thanks for stopping by today!

Brian

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27 Comments

  1. Great card and tip, Brian. I usually stay away from these large stamps, but I’m thinking I may try one. My favorite would be Brushstrokes.
    🙂

  2. Good information and video. When I first began stamping I struggled with a couple of these things that you point out . Also thank you for showing what is in the catty . I overlooked two when I first began making out my wish list . The Note Book Paper one is lost in the catalog . Last ,but not least ….yay for giving the measurements !

  3. Thanks, Brian! I agree with you that background stamps and words should be wood mount. I appreciate your videos, tips, and tricks…measurements, too!

  4. Great video Brian, but you have man hands…large man hands. I have tiny (dainty) hands. There is no way I can put down a large background stamp on card stock let alone leave my hand there and lift it. It’s a two handed process for me. I put the background stamp on its back, ink it, then place the card stock on top, cover with sheet of copy paper and rub. Plus my customers who are of a certain age and have arthritis in their hands would find this technique difficult. We are a tiny, aged, and arthritic people in Central Illinois, but we make do.

    • Please know that I, in no way, meant to offend people with small or arthritic hands. Everyone has to find a way that works for them – I’m just sharing my way in hopes that it will work for someone who’s struggling to get a good stamp. I love the method you’ve found and love that you share it with others.

      • Hey, great video, but I too have small hands and no way could I use the background stamp as you do.. I do ink it up like you but then I add my card stock on top of the stamp, a piece of scrap paper and run the brayer over the top. It works great , you just need to be very careful that you lift the card stock off cleanly.
        Cheers M…..

  5. Hi Brian, I always enjoy learning from your tips and tricks videos. You mentioned that you prefer wood mount stamps for backgrounds and small images and I wondered if you would elaborate on your reason.

    • Maybe it’s because of my big hands, but I find it tedious and annoying to handle all those tiny stamps – pulling them off the sheet to mount them on the blocks and lining them up perfectly. With wood stamps, I line them up perfectly ONCE. Tiny clear mount stamps also get lost easily if I’m not paying close attention (I’m never paying close attention). I find that the larger stamps are more “permanently mounted” when they are on the wood blocks – not buckling or bubbling in the middle of the stamp if the stamp isn’t mounted perfectly each time.

  6. Oh Brian – it’s so nice to know that I am not the only one who has taped a piece of card stock down only to have it stick to the stamp anyway! LOL And I love the fact that you left that in the video instead of editing it out. Thank you. It’s nice to know that even the KING is not infallible! Like Sonny, I want to thank you for showing all the background stamps. Sometimes they are a bit intimidating but having them all in one place takes away some of the hesitancy to attempt using them. As always, it was nice to have you visit me this morning. You have yourself a Marvelous Monday.

  7. Brian, great tips. I too like wood for background and for tiny stamps.
    Why do I feel there is an outage video in the works, including something from this video?

    • Ha! There’s not outtakes from this video. I was just SUPER-talkative when I filmed it, so I edited out the jibber-jabbering. 🙂 It saved you all a bunch of time. 🙂

  8. Love the tips Brian. Post it note tape?? Is this what you use to mask a stamp as well?

    • That’s it! I also use blue painter’s tape for masking stamps – whichever is closest to me at the time. The painter’s tape is stickier than the post it note tape, though, and will rip paper if it’s pressed down too hard so I just use the post it note tape to hold cards down. 🙂

  9. Great tips Brian, thanks so much for sharing those as well as the dimensions from your card.

  10. Had to share your video with my three friends/customers….hope it encourages them to buy a background stamp from me and play! Have a great week!

  11. Had to share your video with my three friends/customers….hope it encourages them to buy a background stamp from me and play! Have a great week!

  12. Thanks for the tips, Brian! I don’t do background stamping often enough! And, I am putting that watercolor background stamp on my wish list!:-)

  13. Great tips Brian, I’m going to try to tape the card stock like you did, because it always moves for me, sheeesh!! It’s always hard to stamp a big image straight so, the paper not moving helps a lot.
    Hugs.

  14. Brian that was a great idea !!!!i loved it !!! But it also made me laugh!!! That was cute , Tfs friend !!!!
    Hugs Frenchie

  15. Cheryl D, after you place the paper on top of the stamp, use a brayer to make sure to apply even pressure.

    Great tip, Brian!

  16. Brian, in addition to sharing great cards and ideas, you never fail to make me smile. Thanks

  17. Cute! That IS reminiscent of grade school as we know it.

  18. Absolutely loved your laugh…and thanks for the help with the tape idea, love it.

    Sandra

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  20. Thanks for the helpful video, Brian! I am just getting into stamping for holiday card making and using background stamps to jazz up plain cardstock and appreciate your tips.

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