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Today we have a guest post from M. Carmen Sánchez (Cuchy) with two ideas for creating beautiful backgrounds for your pages.
Hi there! Thank you Julie for inviting me today to your blog.
I'm a huge lover of all kind of techniques which I try out and use in all my projects. My art journal is not an exception. I would like to show you two of my favourite background techniques ever.
First one is the “Salt Technique." Originally used in silk painting and watercolour, it turns out great also with spray paints and glimmer mists on paper.
For this page I used glimmer mist and color wash and some salt.
Spray the paints blending the different colours in a gradient-like way.
Before it dries, pour some pinches of salt all over the page.
See how the salt absorbes the paint and leave a mark around the salt spots?
Let it dry completely. You can use the heat gun. Once dried, remove the salt with a rag (or your hand).
The background is ready for collage, doodling, stencils or whatever.
I finished my page with some magazine's images, a bit of lettering (see my bad spelling? I did my best to correct it) and some fashion add-ons to the image.
Second technique is “Water stamping.”
Grab your favourite colours of distress inks.
Spread a thin layer of gesso on your paper and let it dry.
Directly with the ink pad, colour the page.
With a damp brush, blend the ink and see how it works as watercolour paint. Let it dry
Now use the blending tool to apply more ink over the background and intensify the colours.
Spray some water directly on your stamps and stamp on the background (I found that foam stamps takes more ink which I love it, but you can use either rubber or clear stamps, just try them out for different outcomes).
See how the stamp removes the ink and leaves a beautiful mark?
Let it dry horizontally or vertically if you want some dripping.
You can leave your background as it, or go further.
Let's outline the stamped images.
And stamp the title with acrylic paint. Put some paint on your craft mat and spread it with the stamps.
Stamp it over the background and outline the title if you want.
Hi all, I'm M. Carmen, but you can call me Cuchy. In fact, nobody but my mother calls me M. Carmen.
As far as I remember, I’ve always been interested in any kind of arts & crafts. Mainly self-taught, I do not miss the chance to attend as much workshops, either online or on-site as I can, being always in an ongoing training.
I am a member of the Design Team of Kuretake and contributor and guest designer in various Spanish and international blogs. I taught several workshops in Madrid and Barcelona and I love to teach from my own experiences, and encourage the students to think outside the box and put their inner self in everything they create, to achieve a personal and unique result.
For a couple of years now, I'm more into mixed media, altered art and art journaling. It is in my art journaling where I try out and experiment with new techniques, sometimes with good results and sometimes not so good 🙂 but always interesting. I love that creative process.
You can find me online here:
- Blog: Hecho a mano
- Facebook: Hecho a mano
- Livestream: Hecho a mano (usually broadcasting live on fridays)
- YouTube: Cuchyy2k
EHHHHHHHHHHHH, Cuchy, muy biennnnnnnnnn.
EHHHHHHHHHHHH, Cuchy, muy biennnnnnnnnn.
EHHHHHHHHHHHH, Cuchy, muy biennnnnnnnnn.
EHHHHHHHHHHHH, Cuchy, muy biennnnnnnnnn.
Wow Cuchy! I love these two techniques, especially the second one!! They are now on top of my ‘Want to try’-list!! Thanks for sharing and Julie, thanks for inviting Cuchy here on your blog. Can’t wait to meet you both in Hamburg!
Wow Cuchy! I love these two techniques, especially the second one!! They are now on top of my ‘Want to try’-list!! Thanks for sharing and Julie, thanks for inviting Cuchy here on your blog. Can’t wait to meet you both in Hamburg!
Wow Cuchy! I love these two techniques, especially the second one!! They are now on top of my ‘Want to try’-list!! Thanks for sharing and Julie, thanks for inviting Cuchy here on your blog. Can’t wait to meet you both in Hamburg!
Wow Cuchy! I love these two techniques, especially the second one!! They are now on top of my ‘Want to try’-list!! Thanks for sharing and Julie, thanks for inviting Cuchy here on your blog. Can’t wait to meet you both in Hamburg!
Great techniques from one of my favorite artists….waving HI Cuchy!!!
Great techniques from one of my favorite artists….waving HI Cuchy!!!
Great techniques from one of my favorite artists….waving HI Cuchy!!!
Great techniques from one of my favorite artists….waving HI Cuchy!!!
I love these techniques – thanks!
I love these techniques – thanks!
I love these techniques – thanks!
I love these techniques – thanks!
Great techniques!! Thanks.
Great techniques!! Thanks.
Great techniques!! Thanks.
Great techniques!! Thanks.
I will definitely try that ‘backward stamping’ technique… thanks! Enjoy your weekend Julie!
I will definitely try that ‘backward stamping’ technique… thanks! Enjoy your weekend Julie!
I will definitely try that ‘backward stamping’ technique… thanks! Enjoy your weekend Julie!
I will definitely try that ‘backward stamping’ technique… thanks! Enjoy your weekend Julie!
Wonderful Cuchy…now these I can do!
Can’t wait to try them out this weekend.
I always like what you say on Nat’s comment section.
How nice to have you hear as a guest blogger…
thanks Julie!
Wonderful Cuchy…now these I can do!
Can’t wait to try them out this weekend.
I always like what you say on Nat’s comment section.
How nice to have you hear as a guest blogger…
thanks Julie!
Wonderful Cuchy…now these I can do!
Can’t wait to try them out this weekend.
I always like what you say on Nat’s comment section.
How nice to have you hear as a guest blogger…
thanks Julie!
Wonderful Cuchy…now these I can do!
Can’t wait to try them out this weekend.
I always like what you say on Nat’s comment section.
How nice to have you hear as a guest blogger…
thanks Julie!
Love these techniques. Thanks for sharing
Love these techniques. Thanks for sharing
Love these techniques. Thanks for sharing
Love these techniques. Thanks for sharing
Great techniques to try! Thank you for the terrific post.
Great techniques to try! Thank you for the terrific post.
Great techniques to try! Thank you for the terrific post.
Great techniques to try! Thank you for the terrific post.
WOW…ONCE AGAIN Julie you find the BESTEST artists to share here! THANK YOU! AWESOME INFO!
WOW…ONCE AGAIN Julie you find the BESTEST artists to share here! THANK YOU! AWESOME INFO!
WOW…ONCE AGAIN Julie you find the BESTEST artists to share here! THANK YOU! AWESOME INFO!
WOW…ONCE AGAIN Julie you find the BESTEST artists to share here! THANK YOU! AWESOME INFO!
I LOVE these techniques. Can I ask: what type of pens/markers did you use to do the lettering on the first project? I love all the bright colors!
I LOVE these techniques. Can I ask: what type of pens/markers did you use to do the lettering on the first project? I love all the bright colors!
I LOVE these techniques. Can I ask: what type of pens/markers did you use to do the lettering on the first project? I love all the bright colors!
I LOVE these techniques. Can I ask: what type of pens/markers did you use to do the lettering on the first project? I love all the bright colors!
Can’t wait to try the salt technique. I’ve used it with silk dyes on gourds, but not on a journal page. And I love, love, love the “If You Don’t Raise Your Eyes” page, especially!
Can’t wait to try the salt technique. I’ve used it with silk dyes on gourds, but not on a journal page. And I love, love, love the “If You Don’t Raise Your Eyes” page, especially!
Can’t wait to try the salt technique. I’ve used it with silk dyes on gourds, but not on a journal page. And I love, love, love the “If You Don’t Raise Your Eyes” page, especially!
Can’t wait to try the salt technique. I’ve used it with silk dyes on gourds, but not on a journal page. And I love, love, love the “If You Don’t Raise Your Eyes” page, especially!
Thank you all.
I’m so happy you like the tutorials.
@Sarah I used Kuretake pigment ink pens. They have a huge range of pens and markers with bright and beautiful colours.
Thank you all.
I’m so happy you like the tutorials.
@Sarah I used Kuretake pigment ink pens. They have a huge range of pens and markers with bright and beautiful colours.
Thank you all.
I’m so happy you like the tutorials.
@Sarah I used Kuretake pigment ink pens. They have a huge range of pens and markers with bright and beautiful colours.
Thank you all.
I’m so happy you like the tutorials.
@Sarah I used Kuretake pigment ink pens. They have a huge range of pens and markers with bright and beautiful colours.
Beautiful! Can’t wait to give these ideas a try! Also, love that you cut the magazine face in half and applied to opposite sides of your journal page–brilliant!
Beautiful! Can’t wait to give these ideas a try! Also, love that you cut the magazine face in half and applied to opposite sides of your journal page–brilliant!
Beautiful! Can’t wait to give these ideas a try! Also, love that you cut the magazine face in half and applied to opposite sides of your journal page–brilliant!
Beautiful! Can’t wait to give these ideas a try! Also, love that you cut the magazine face in half and applied to opposite sides of your journal page–brilliant!
Wow! I’ve used salt with watercolor & even when coffee dyeing but never thought to use it with glimmer mist or color wash. So lovely! The water stamping technique looks fantastic, too! I love learning new techniques like these with a small amount of supplies needed (& that I already have). Thank you Cuchy for sharing the information & thank you Julie for having Cuchy on your blog today 🙂
Wow! I’ve used salt with watercolor & even when coffee dyeing but never thought to use it with glimmer mist or color wash. So lovely! The water stamping technique looks fantastic, too! I love learning new techniques like these with a small amount of supplies needed (& that I already have). Thank you Cuchy for sharing the information & thank you Julie for having Cuchy on your blog today 🙂
Wow! I’ve used salt with watercolor & even when coffee dyeing but never thought to use it with glimmer mist or color wash. So lovely! The water stamping technique looks fantastic, too! I love learning new techniques like these with a small amount of supplies needed (& that I already have). Thank you Cuchy for sharing the information & thank you Julie for having Cuchy on your blog today 🙂
Wow! I’ve used salt with watercolor & even when coffee dyeing but never thought to use it with glimmer mist or color wash. So lovely! The water stamping technique looks fantastic, too! I love learning new techniques like these with a small amount of supplies needed (& that I already have). Thank you Cuchy for sharing the information & thank you Julie for having Cuchy on your blog today 🙂
Thanks for showing us how you make your beautiful art Cuchy!
Thanks for showing us how you make your beautiful art Cuchy!
Thanks for showing us how you make your beautiful art Cuchy!
Thanks for showing us how you make your beautiful art Cuchy!
Great techniques! Thanks so much for sharing them.
Great techniques! Thanks so much for sharing them.
Great techniques! Thanks so much for sharing them.
Great techniques! Thanks so much for sharing them.
Cuchy thank you so much for sharing! These techniques look fabulous! I’ve never tried either one and I plan to use both. Awesome awesome awesome! And thanks Julie, as always, for bringing us all together!!
Cuchy thank you so much for sharing! These techniques look fabulous! I’ve never tried either one and I plan to use both. Awesome awesome awesome! And thanks Julie, as always, for bringing us all together!!
Cuchy thank you so much for sharing! These techniques look fabulous! I’ve never tried either one and I plan to use both. Awesome awesome awesome! And thanks Julie, as always, for bringing us all together!!
Cuchy thank you so much for sharing! These techniques look fabulous! I’ve never tried either one and I plan to use both. Awesome awesome awesome! And thanks Julie, as always, for bringing us all together!!
Thank you so much girls!
Thank you so much girls!
Thank you so much girls!
Thank you so much girls!
Awesome, will try this later this evening!!!
Awesome, will try this later this evening!!!
Awesome, will try this later this evening!!!
Awesome, will try this later this evening!!!
wonderful wonderful…..i love yhis
wonderful wonderful…..i love yhis
wonderful wonderful…..i love yhis
wonderful wonderful…..i love yhis
Felicidades por ese buen trabajo!!!!!
Felicidades por ese buen trabajo!!!!!
Felicidades por ese buen trabajo!!!!!
Felicidades por ese buen trabajo!!!!!
just beautiful, thanks so much to both of you for sharing your work!
just beautiful, thanks so much to both of you for sharing your work!
just beautiful, thanks so much to both of you for sharing your work!
just beautiful, thanks so much to both of you for sharing your work!
Thank you for the techniques, so clearly shown. It surprised me that the water-spritzed stamp would take the color away…just hadn’t thought about it. Beautiful effects, some resembling batik. Great information.
Thank you for the techniques, so clearly shown. It surprised me that the water-spritzed stamp would take the color away…just hadn’t thought about it. Beautiful effects, some resembling batik. Great information.
Thank you for the techniques, so clearly shown. It surprised me that the water-spritzed stamp would take the color away…just hadn’t thought about it. Beautiful effects, some resembling batik. Great information.
Thank you for the techniques, so clearly shown. It surprised me that the water-spritzed stamp would take the color away…just hadn’t thought about it. Beautiful effects, some resembling batik. Great information.
Wow, wow, wow! Such cool techniques, and your artwork is gorgeous! Thanks for sharing with us.
Wow, wow, wow! Such cool techniques, and your artwork is gorgeous! Thanks for sharing with us.
Wow, wow, wow! Such cool techniques, and your artwork is gorgeous! Thanks for sharing with us.
Wow, wow, wow! Such cool techniques, and your artwork is gorgeous! Thanks for sharing with us.
These pages are stunning Cuchy… thank you so much for sharing these fabulous techniques with us… can’t wait to have play now :))
Jenny x
These pages are stunning Cuchy… thank you so much for sharing these fabulous techniques with us… can’t wait to have play now :))
Jenny x
These pages are stunning Cuchy… thank you so much for sharing these fabulous techniques with us… can’t wait to have play now :))
Jenny x
These pages are stunning Cuchy… thank you so much for sharing these fabulous techniques with us… can’t wait to have play now :))
Jenny x
I have the luck of having been a student of your workshops. We have a good time with the creative process.
Thanks for sharing!!!!
Un besote guapa!!!
I have the luck of having been a student of your workshops. We have a good time with the creative process.
Thanks for sharing!!!!
Un besote guapa!!!
I have the luck of having been a student of your workshops. We have a good time with the creative process.
Thanks for sharing!!!!
Un besote guapa!!!
I have the luck of having been a student of your workshops. We have a good time with the creative process.
Thanks for sharing!!!!
Un besote guapa!!!
These are both great techniques. Thanks for sharing.
These are both great techniques. Thanks for sharing.
These are both great techniques. Thanks for sharing.
These are both great techniques. Thanks for sharing.
Ahh, I am loving this blog! 🙂 I have wanted so badly to get back in to my artwork, and finally I have gotten the inspiration to do so!! Can’t wait to link up!
Ahh, I am loving this blog! 🙂 I have wanted so badly to get back in to my artwork, and finally I have gotten the inspiration to do so!! Can’t wait to link up!
Ahh, I am loving this blog! 🙂 I have wanted so badly to get back in to my artwork, and finally I have gotten the inspiration to do so!! Can’t wait to link up!
Ahh, I am loving this blog! 🙂 I have wanted so badly to get back in to my artwork, and finally I have gotten the inspiration to do so!! Can’t wait to link up!
Thanks for these tecniques, very beautiful!
Thanks for these tecniques, very beautiful!
Thanks for these tecniques, very beautiful!
Thanks for these tecniques, very beautiful!
The salt b’ground has been one of my favourites for ages, but I’ve not tried it with GM!! & time to give my foam stamps a bit of a work out too, gracias por el tut, me voy a jugar :*
The salt b’ground has been one of my favourites for ages, but I’ve not tried it with GM!! & time to give my foam stamps a bit of a work out too, gracias por el tut, me voy a jugar :*
The salt b’ground has been one of my favourites for ages, but I’ve not tried it with GM!! & time to give my foam stamps a bit of a work out too, gracias por el tut, me voy a jugar :*
The salt b’ground has been one of my favourites for ages, but I’ve not tried it with GM!! & time to give my foam stamps a bit of a work out too, gracias por el tut, me voy a jugar :*
Great backgrounds Cuchy!
I love both your page, very inspiring!
Great backgrounds Cuchy!
I love both your page, very inspiring!
Great backgrounds Cuchy!
I love both your page, very inspiring!
Great backgrounds Cuchy!
I love both your page, very inspiring!
Yay Cuchy! I especially love the salt technique, your result looks stunning!
Yay Cuchy! I especially love the salt technique, your result looks stunning!
Yay Cuchy! I especially love the salt technique, your result looks stunning!
Yay Cuchy! I especially love the salt technique, your result looks stunning!
Hello, what are the names of the Distress Ink pad colors pictured in the second tutorial?
thanks!
Hello, what are the names of the Distress Ink pad colors pictured in the second tutorial?
thanks!
Hello, what are the names of the Distress Ink pad colors pictured in the second tutorial?
thanks!
Hello, what are the names of the Distress Ink pad colors pictured in the second tutorial?
thanks!
Hi, thanks for this tutorial. Can you give me the name of the stamps that you used in the water stamping technique. I love the design of the flowers. Again my thanks,
Hi, thanks for this tutorial. Can you give me the name of the stamps that you used in the water stamping technique. I love the design of the flowers. Again my thanks,
Hi, thanks for this tutorial. Can you give me the name of the stamps that you used in the water stamping technique. I love the design of the flowers. Again my thanks,
Hi, thanks for this tutorial. Can you give me the name of the stamps that you used in the water stamping technique. I love the design of the flowers. Again my thanks,
Lovely fun and great techniques!
Lovely fun and great techniques!
Lovely fun and great techniques!
Lovely fun and great techniques!
Watercolour and salt is such a fun technique. I love the stripes. You reminded me you can also get interesting stamping effects by rubbing gelatos on them and then spritzing with water. Ceri xx
Watercolour and salt is such a fun technique. I love the stripes. You reminded me you can also get interesting stamping effects by rubbing gelatos on them and then spritzing with water. Ceri xx
Watercolour and salt is such a fun technique. I love the stripes. You reminded me you can also get interesting stamping effects by rubbing gelatos on them and then spritzing with water. Ceri xx
Watercolour and salt is such a fun technique. I love the stripes. You reminded me you can also get interesting stamping effects by rubbing gelatos on them and then spritzing with water. Ceri xx
Watercolour and salt is such a fun background technique. I love your stripes. You also reminded me that you can get interesting effects by rubbing gelatos on stamps and then spritzing them with water before stamping. Ceri xx
Watercolour and salt is such a fun background technique. I love your stripes. You also reminded me that you can get interesting effects by rubbing gelatos on stamps and then spritzing them with water before stamping. Ceri xx
Watercolour and salt is such a fun background technique. I love your stripes. You also reminded me that you can get interesting effects by rubbing gelatos on stamps and then spritzing them with water before stamping. Ceri xx
Watercolour and salt is such a fun background technique. I love your stripes. You also reminded me that you can get interesting effects by rubbing gelatos on stamps and then spritzing them with water before stamping. Ceri xx