PaperPlay - Creating your own background (and faux stitching)

This week's PaperPlay Challenge was set by Jackie:

" It's all in the background " so for this challenge I want you to create your own background papers using rubber stamps, chalks, inks, whatever you like, but NO patterned papers, you can use plain papers too and any embellishments you like as long as there is a handmade pattern clearly visible somewhere"

It was great fun, I tried something I saw somewhere (probably Tim Holtz's blog).

I first stamped the script with black stazon, then stamped the swirls with Versamark and embossed with clear embossing powder. Then I covered 3/4 of the paper with pink acrylic paint. When the paint was almost dry, I rubbed baby wipe over it, revealing the bits which were embossed.



My intention was to stitch around the photo and leaves, but my sewing machine is dead (hopefully a change of fuse is all it needs), so I was stuck until I remembered a technique in the CK magazine: use a paper piercer to prick holes at regular intervals, and then with a white gel pen connect the dots.

It is very convincing, even looking at the "stitching" in real life, you have to get real close to realise it's fake.