Technique: Faux textured metal backgrounds

What:

Testing out a new technique for creating backgrounds with Distress ink, Perfect Pearls and an embossing folder.
(Note to self: remember to actually post things and not just leave them in my drafts folder.)

Inspired by:

Jennifer McGuire’s faux textured metal paper tutorial.

How:

This is a surprisingly straightforward technique.

1. Mask off around the area you want to colour.
2. Apply lots of Distress ink in one or more colours; get a good coating so the Perfect Pearls has plenty of moisture to grab on to.
3. Sprinkle on some Perfect Pearls and distribute it evenly over the ink. I use my finger to do this as it makes sure that the powder is well rubbed in.
4. Buff with a soft cloth to get rid of any excess powder.
5. Clean the inky powdery layer off your finger before going on to the next step. Ask me how I know this is a good idea…
6. Carefully remove the masking tape or paper.
7. Use an embossing folder to add texture.

Here are the recipes I used for my first background panels. These will definitely end up on some cards. (Clockwise from top on the photo.)

Background 1

Distress ink – fossilized amber, abandoned coral
Perfect Pearls – gold
Embossing folder – Tim Holtz gears

Background 2

Distress ink – shaded lilac, peacock feathers
Perfect Pearls – pearl
Embossing folder – XCut stars

Background 3

Distress ink – barn door, spiced marmalade
Perfect Pearls – bronze
Embossing folder – Sheena Douglass taste of India

Background 4

Distress ink – mermaid lagoon, cracked pistachio
Perfect Pearls – pearl
Embossing folder – Creative Expressions braided vines

Supplies:

• dies:
  Spellbinder – wonky rectangles
• Distress inks:
  fossilized amber, abandoned coral, mermaid lagoon, cracked pistachio, barn door, spiced marmalade, shaded lilac, peacock feathers
• Perfect Pearls:
  gold, pearl, bronze
• texture:
  Tim Holtz – gears
  Creative Expressions – braided vines
  Sheena Douglass – taste of India
  XCut – stars
• paper and card:
  Neenah – solar white
• miscellaneous:
  Inkadinkado – stamping mask paper
  masking tape