So, I love making backgrounds and decided to do another entry for the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge ‘Make Your Own Backgrounds’  …. You can find it here

Did you know you can use Distress Inks on a gel plate, too? Yuppers, you sure can!

For the main cardstock I started by sliding distress regular ink pad directly across gel plate (Barn Door, Rusty Hinge, Mustard Seed and Forest Moss). Spritzed a little water, then pressed Mixed Media Card stock onto gel plate and did a pull.

I then picked up the remaining ink on the gel plate with THS019 Lattice Work and then layed it onto the card stock. This really added a nice effect, allowing the colors to overlap a little and soften the lines between the ink colors.

For the leaves I stamped Nature’s Wonder CMS343 with archival Black Soot using masks, so they would appear to all be laying on top of one another on Mixed Media Cardstock. Then used Distress Inks and watercolor brush to color them.  Used a 1 3/8″ square punch to remove squares on inked cardstock. Layered the two pieces together than applied Glossy Accents into the square voids.

Finally I placed the card in my stamping platform and used Distress Oxide Forest Moss with the cling foam type letters alphabet stamps. After dry, I applied, very lightly,  Ranger clear dabber embossing liquid and Lindy’s Obviously Black embossing powder, then heat set.

Sometimes we just need to keep things simple  🙂 Thank you for viewing and have a blessed day!!!!