If any of you are familiar with my work, then you know how much I abuse use Polka Dot Basics. I find myself reaching for it almost every project! A few months ago, it occurred to me that I needed to expand on that set and design a few other options. I haven't met a stamper yet that doesn't like a little variety!
So this month we are proud to introduce the first of a Background Basics Collection, all working in ways similar to Polka Dot Basics, where you are able to easily build backgrounds to any size necessary for your design. (If you would like to see a tutorial about how our background stamps work, go HERE). This month's set focuses on stars, and trust me, you will love them as much as Polka Dot Basics, if not more!
I decided to make just a couple quick cards to show you the variety of looks & styles this new background set can cater to. This first one uses Bitty Baby Blessings and a fun star background to make an adorable baby card (dedicated to Beth a.k.a babies, from the PTI forum!). This particular background stamp has two full rows of stars combined on one image, making it easy to cover an entire card front in just minutes. I used Vintage Cream ink on classic kraft cardstock to create the look found here.
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I layered two Heidi Swapp clear stars on top of one another, held together with a Making Memories brad, to create a unique finishing embellishment.
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This project combines another of the backgrounds found in this new set, along with images from Birds of a Feather. The background was stamped with Vintage Cream ink onto Ocean Tides cardstock. I love the color combo of Ocean Tides, Vintage Cream & Sweet Blush. It has such a pretty, vintage look to it.
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I added a few dots of Stickles on each pink berry around the bird to add a bit of sparkle. I just love how it shimmers in the light!
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The last project I have is a quick black & cream vintage-style card. The background was stamped in black ink onto Vintage Cream cardstock. The sentiment is from Melissa Bickford's newest set, Heartfelt Basics.
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This adorable flower was inspired by Melissa Phillips. She has been die-cutting pages from old books to create little custom vintage flowers! I loved them the moment I saw them and just had to try one out myself!
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I hope you are as excited about this set as I am! I think the manner in which we design these background sets is such a win-win situation for stampers! The price is right with five different backgrounds for only $24. They are designed to give you the tools to easily create any size background you need, from 2×2 to 12×12 inches, The storage is minimal for this set when compared to five large background stamps. As the title says, they are a basic that you will turn to again and again. I look forward to hearing all about what you think of this set once you have stamped with it yourself!
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Stop by Heather's blog and you can see what SHE has done with Background Basics: Stars!
Lisa has one last peek into her new stamp set.
Melissa has a little something up her sleeve as well, in regards to both of her new releases!
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Welcome Little One Card
stamps: Background Basics-Stars (available November 15th), Bitty Baby Blessings
ink: Vintage Cream, Noir Black
paper: Classic Kraft, Stamper's Select White, Spring Rain, linen vellum
other: Copics, Spring Rain Twill, clear stars from Hiedi Swapp, slot punch & epoxy brad from Making Memories
Life is Like a Song Card
stamps: Background Basics- Stars (available November 15th), Birds of a Feather, Out on a Limb
ink: Vintage Cream, Ocean Tides, Dark Chocolate, Sweet Blush
paper: Ocean Tides & Vintage Cream
other: Sweet Blush satin ribbon, Cuttlebug Swiss Dots embossing folder, pink brads from Chatterbox, scalloped scissors from Paper Studio, Scor-Pal, 1.75-inch circle punch (EK Success)
You are a Blessing Card
stamps: Background Basics- Stars & Heartfelt Basics (available November 15th), Polka Dot Basics
ink: Noir Black, Vintage Cream
paper: PTI Vintage Cream, black from Prism
other:Flower Cuttlebug dies, black button, needle & thread
Oh my gosh! I love the “Life is like a song” card!!! Beautiful Nichole!
I am so excited about this set!!! I can’t wait to see all of it!. 🙂
Another fantastic versatile set. I love that this can be used for masculine cards, with four boys I sometimes find backgrounds can be hard.
Right in to my cart, Nichole! Your secoond card could be a baby card, too, just put a nest of eggs on there, and New Beginnings as the sentiment! I can’t wait for the blue to arrive!!
Great set! I love how versatile it is! Your cards are amazing!
Love your cards. Fabulous
…Love it!…
Your projects are fabulous, Nichole!
I cannot wait for tonight!
Hugs~~
I love each of these! The black & cream is such a stunning combination and the flower on it is the perfect extra touch.
LOVE the Stars set, but I also have to tell you that I LOVE the card you made using Birds of a Feather. I LOVE everything about the card………..the rounded corners on the bottom, the simple score lines and scallop accent paper, using the polka dot embossing folder on 2/3 of the sentiment paper, the way you used Out on a Limb, the popped up bird, everything! You have a gift of making clean and simple cards look amazing and balanced, but you also have a gift of making cards, like this one, that have a lot of different elements and embellishments look clean and balanced as well. It’s difficult to find a balance and to know when to add or to take away something on a project. You seem to have the balance thing down perfectly!
This looks great! Can’t wait to see it all in the release!
I love your beautiful, simple cards. I don’t have to stamp with that background set to know that I will be liking it lots. So glad you are offering more backgrounds at such a reasonable price. Thank you very much.
I am so excited for this set!!! I love Polka Dot Basics and can’t wait to get my hands on this background set too!! Your samples are spectacular!!
Ooh, very pretty and very versatile! The cards are just gorgeous! I love all of your samples!
These are gorgeous samples. This set looks great.
Nichole, this set is fabulous! I can’t wait until tonight. I have a polka dot background stamp, so I tried to keep from buying more, but I’m going to buy your basics now along with this set. I just love the versatility of creating your own pattern paper in the way you want to! Thanks so much for sharing your creativity!
This IS a definite must have!
Charmaine
oh my gosh!!! this is my favorite, love it so far! this new background set looks like it will be fabulous!!! can’t wait!
thank you, chelle
Beautiful! I love polka dot basics, and I can see myself using this one a lot also! Now I’m very curious to see what other background basics will be offered in the future!
Melissa
Great ideas!!! I especially like the star used with birds of a feather. Polka dot basics is one of my favorite sets so I expect I will love all of the other background basics too.
The black and cream is a stunning combo. You have the touch!
Ohhhh so pretty! I love all three of these cards. The background stamps are marvelous, and your colors are beautiful. Thank you for showing us these cards.
OHHHH and wow The color is great.