Let's Talk About Backgrounds

When I'm putting a digital design together, I often start with the background. Even if I have a wonderful image I want to feature, the background has to be right, or I'm not happy. I love using words for the background, especially vintage printed or handwritten words. You can do so much with them, to alter or change their appearance.

If I'm working digitally, it's easy to do with blending and adding layers. But even if you're working with paper, there are lots of possibilities.

Consider using a sponge and a stamp pad to add color and texture. Ink the edges, or use an almost dry stencil brush to add a different look. Find a pattern stamp and use that to alter the background. Add a layer of tissue or velum to soften the look.

You get the idea, I'm sure - the more things you try, the more possibilities. Keep a little workbook or notebook and jot down the things you did to get an effect you like, so you can remember how you did it.

Here are a couple of background pages for you to play with. The first is from "The Test and Study Speller", 1921. Click on the image to enlarge it and save.

The second page is from "Le Premier Livre", 1915, and is of course, in French. Tres chic', n'est pas?

The Dog is astounded that I remember that much of my high school French. After all, that was 350 years ago in dog years.

Shaking out the Cobwebs

Lots of cleaning is going on here, now that the Spring sunshine shows up all the dust and cobwebs. Don't live on a dirt road, on a farm, with lots of critters if you can't stand dust and dirt. Ask me how I know.

I have a free scan that includes a cobweb for you today. It's a wonderful Miss Muffett illustration by Hope Dunlap, from a 1908 children's book. You all know how much I love illustrations, I hope you all love this one. Click on the picture to enlarge, and save to your computer.

I've also been adding new things to my Etsy Shop, Digital Antiques One of my customers asked about something with a beach theme, and I had fun putting these tags together.
At the Seashore

More new things to come over the next few days, including some new, free, downloadable tags. The Dog and I are working on them right now.

Thanks for dropping in.

A wonderful Surprise...

One of the blogs I visit regularly for inspiration is Diane Knott's Musings. She does wonderful things with papers and images, and often works in series, which I especially like to see. So you can understand my delight with her post "A Lazy Crafting Spring Day". She's made this wonderful pocket

It uses one of the beehive images from my Etsy Shop. She has the greatest color sense, I love the things she combines.

Thanks, Diane, from the Dog and me!