Frame making: Using Background Scan with stamps

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For this project, I used the Be at Peace stamp set alongside the worker stamp from Gerbera and Friends from Chocolate Baroque. This project was created as part of my Design Team work for the shows in April

Stamping the images

Stamp your tree image using chocolate dye ink onto a DL size piece of buttery coloured cardstock; positioning your stamp towards the top. Then, we pull in the chocolate ink through the trunk and branches of the tree to give it form. As we are working onto coloured paper, use soft coloured pencils in two shades of green for the leaves to get a truer colour pop.

Onto a white piece of card (slightly larger than DL) use the dandelion worker image to create a patterned background. Stamp it in toffee coloured dye or permanent ink. You could wait to do this step until after you’ve cut the frame to save time and ink.

Stamp the sentiment in chocolate ink with the worker stamp in the same toffee ink as your background.

Creating the frame

Die cutting method:

You can use nesting dies to create your frame pieces; you will need four sizes of dies for this design. Use the largest and smallest dies centred to create the patterned layer featuring the worker stamp. Cut the remaining two dies from a piece of chocolate coloured cardstock. This should tone with the colouring of your main image.

Software method:

Electronic cutter method: you can use your electronic cutter to cut your pieces. In your design software, create the centre aperture to fit your stamped design. The lozenge design works really well with this focal stamp. You can then use offset three times to create your shapes so they nest perfectly. Cut the largest and smallest shape from white card and the two other shapes from the chocolate card to create the pieces as shown above.

ScanNCut method:

Place you stamped image onto your mat so it is ready for scanning. Add a basic shape that is roughly the right shape for your design; use shape BA-A024 as it fits the featured design. Size is not important at this stage. Background scan your mat so your stamped image appears on your screen. Next, remove your stamping from the mat and set it to one side; replace this with a piece of white card (the stamped background if already stamped) and a piece of chocolate textured card. This lozenge design works well with this focal stamp, and size it to tightly frame the image; stretch the shape horizontally to fit the design using the ratio button in resize. Then, use offset outwards (positively) three times to create your shapes so they nest perfectly. Group and cut the largest and smallest shape from white card and group and cut the two other shapes from the chocolate card to create the pieces as shown above. Grouping is important to maintain the alignment, but you can always realign if needed,

You can use a smaller version of the shape to cut out your stamped sentiment using your chosen method.

Assembling the card

Trim your panel to fit inside the fluted edge of a shaped DL card (or create your own patterned edge using dies, decorative border punches, etc. Alternatively, cut your own decorative card base to DL size using two copies of BA-A021 stretch to DL dimensions (99x210mm); weld these to form you card base by overlapping slightly and welding them. Adhere the stamped panel, using tape, to the card base.

Assemble your frame pieces flat, then overlay the frame onto the tree image; adding dimension using foam dots/tape if you wish.

Pop up the sentiment on foam to create a drop shadow. This is a useful technique to add contrast without then having to cut a shadow layer or border.