Ideas for Background Textures

Ideas for Background Textures

If you’ve been trying out the decorative paper techniques from my site, you know how much I like to make background textures on paper. I have a big Nike shoe box crammed full of different found materials. When I decide to play with decorating paper, I pull out my box and dive in. […]


Tips for Using Masquepen

Tips for Using Masquepen

I use Masquepen exclusively to mask-out text in my altered books. I use it to cover the words or phrases, and after it dries, I am able to do art work over the page without worrying about obscuring the text. […]


How to Make an Image Transfer

How to Make an Image Transfer

That’s the beauty of making an image transfer is that it creates a transparent image for your art. This transfer method also works well with contact paper, cold laminate. and clear packing tape. […]


How to Make a String Background

How to Make a String Background

I used some gessoed paper for this example, but you can use other types of paper as well. Try laying the string down in different directions and patterns. […]


How to Make a String Stamp

How to Make a String Stamp

The sketch paper shown above was decorated using a stamp I made from string. The left side of the picture shows how I painted the sketch paper first and then stamped over it. This is a very fun technique. Creating the string stamp pattern can be very relaxing, in a zen sort of way. And no two are ever alike. […]


How to Make Colorful Wrinkled Paper

How to Make Colorful Wrinkled Paper

This wrinkled paper technique is so fun and easy to do, and it can turn out beautifully. Try it with different types of paper and paints for a unique look. […]


How to Create Salt Patterned Paper

How to Create Salt Patterned Paper

The secret to using salt to make designs on your paper is to make sure the surface of the paper is really wet before tossing on the salt. The cool thing about this technique is you can never be sure exactly what will happen! […]


How to Print with Paper Doilies

How to Print with Paper Doilies

You can make some lovely background papers using paper doilies as prints. Using inks as an over-dye gives a really nice effect. The top picture on the right has been over-dyed with Pearlescent ink, which is what gives it that shimmery look. […]


How to Make Silver Textured Paper

How to Make Silver Textured Paper

The textured design for this paper came from one of those cardboard sleeves you put around a paper coffee cup. This particular one had a nice wavy pattern. I used modeling paste and oil pastels to get this amazing surface design. […]


How to Make Decorative Papers

How to Make Decorative Papers

Ceramic stucco is another texture gel medium from Liquitex. It has a slightly rough, cement-type feel to it. Mix it with paint and impress textural objects into it to make some really interesting decorative papers. […]