Would you like some more background techniques? Today I use the same plate to create 3 different looks!
But first, I wanted to let you know that this post contains a ton of affiliate links (at no extra cost to you – just in case you decide to go shopping 😉) and that it is part of a Hop celebrating a new release from Altenew and you can find all of the hop details in the link list below!
#BACKGROUNDS3WAYS
Do you love stretching your supplies to get different looks? And you may already know that I certainly do. Today I use the Essential Textures: Gilded Marble Press Plate to create 3 different backgrounds.
Would you like to see the cards I made?
Technique #1 – Letterpress
Press Plates are made to be used with the BetterPress System and were specifically designed to create a beautiful ‘Letterpress’ look.
What is Letterpress?
“Letterpress printing is a technique of relief printing for producing many copies by repeated direct impression of an inked, raised surface against individual sheets of paper or a continuous roll of paper”. In the past this has been difficult to ‘replicate’ in papercraft, until now!
Why Letterpress?
Create beautiful, textured, and intricate designs that cannot be achieved with stamping, embossing, dry embossing and foiling… I know, because I tried 😤! And BONUS, it’s so easy to use!
You can use specifically designed products with this system, but I have also had fabulous results using products that I already had in my stash. You can see a video I made sharing My BEST 5 Tips & Techniques to MASTER the BetterPress RIGHT HERE.
Here I used the Press Plate with a Fresh Dye Ink which gave a beautiful impression. I kept this card design simple and added a beautiful die cut layered bloom.
PRO TIP: Use BetterPress Cotton Card Panels for the best result, but also try any watercolour cardstock you have in your stash too.
Technique #2 – Blind Letterpress
What is Blind Letterpress?
“Blind letterpress uses a single metal die that presses into the surface of the paper on one side. It’s called blind letterpress because this process is usually done with ink. Without the ink, all that is left is the impression into the surface of the paper stock.”
This technique is fantastic if you like clean and simple designs (putting my hand up here) because it adds a little something extra to the card design, but it’s very subtle.
This layered floral is not a stamped image! And ANYONE can easily recreate this bouquet and very quickly too, because, it’s actually one of the beautiful Stencil Art sets from Altenew (gotta say, I’m a fan!).
PRO TIP: Don’t have a background die? You could easily recreate these looks by repeating an image die to cover a panel of cardstock.
Technique #3 – Hot Foiling
Did you know that you can use Press Plates with a Hot Foil system, such as the Glimmer or Go Press N Foil? This is a great way to stretch your plates and get a totally new look.
HOW: Simply follow the usual steps using the Press Plates, that you would, if you were Hot Foiling with hot foil plates/dies. I would always check the sandwich (using small scraps of foil/cardstock) and add or remove shims until you were happy with the result before commiting to a whole panel of foil.
Please note that Hot Foil Plates do NOT work in the BetterPress system.
I think this marble panel really shines 😉using Hot Foil. Again, I kept the card design simple and added a flower that I coloured a LONG time ago and now can’t remember why I didn’t use it lol.
BONUS video: Want to see these techniques in ACTION, then watch my most recent Take 2 video right HERE.
Giveaway Prizes
$300 in total prizes! To celebrate this release, Altenew is giving away a $100 gift certificate to 1 lucky winner and a $50 gift certificate to 4 winners! Please leave a comment on the Altenew Card Blog and/or each designer’s blog post on the blog hop list below by 05/14/2023 for a chance to win. Altenew will draw 5 random winners from the comments left on each stop of this blog hop and announce the winners on the Altenew Winners Page on 05/16/2023.
*The winners of the $100 gift certificate will be chosen from comments left on the Altenew blog.
Let’s Hop
I hope you are inspired to stretch your ‘backgrounds’ to create some different looks! Crafty Hugs,
Other Supplies: SHOP the New RELEASE HERE
Altenew Artist’s Markers: S | Y204 | Y608 | Y817 | Y823 | R056
Stamps: Altenew – Grateful Heart (orange flower)
 Neenah Solar 110 SSS |
 Porcelain Cotton Card Panels 118lb SSS | SB |
 Enchanted Gold – Hot Foil ALT |
 Guilded Marble Press Plate ALT |
 Charming Delights Bundle ALT |
 Charming Delights ALT |
 CAF: Gardenia ALT |
 Classic Greetings Bundle ALT |
Classic Greetings ALT | SSS |
 Sweet Bouquet ALT | SSS |
 Obsidian ALT | SSS |
 Dried Petals Ink Set ALT | SSS |
 Green Fields ALT | SSS |
 Frayed Leaf ALT | SSS |
 Forest Glades ALT | SSS |
 Evergreen ALT | SSS |
 Pink Crystal ALT | SSS |
 Mauve ALT | SSS |
 Berrylicious ALT | SSS |
 Acai Berry ALT | SSS |
 Sunkissed ALT |
 Orange Cream ALT |
 Autumn Blaze ALT |
 Firebrick ALT |
 Limestone ALT | SSS |
 Ink Blending Tool ALT | SSS |
 Micro Blending Brush Set ALT | SSS |
 Mini Blending Brush Set ALT | SSS |
 Metallic Gold & Silver ALT | SSS |
 Iridescent Crystals ALT | SSS |
 Tweezers ALT | SSS |
 Fine Blade Scissors ALT | SSS |
 Bone Folder Altenew ALT | SSS |
 Sticky Grid Mat Ultra ALT | SSS |
 Score Board ALT | SSS |
 Paper Trimmer SSS |
 Bigshot SSS |
 BetterPress SB ALT | SSS | SB |
 Gemini Junior SSS |
 Gemini Double Cutting Plates SSS |
 Turntable AMZ |
 Satin Masking Tape ALT | SSS |
 Bearly Art Glue SSS |
 Glue Tape ALT | SSS |
 Foam Tape ALT | SSS |
