The BoBunny Blog: Background Stamps & Gesso

Are you ready for Technique Tuesday with Carin???

I am. If you've wanted to try a little of the mixed media look,

and have been a little skeptical... Here is a fun way to try it.

If you've already been dabbling in mixed media and want a fun new technique to use with Gesso.... this is for you too.

Old Bag Young Bag
Carin McDonough

Bo Bunny Products:
Patterned Paper: C'est La Vie, Decoupage, La Vie En Rose, Belle/C'est La Vie
Noteworthy : C'est La Vie
Chipboard : C'est La Vie layered Chipboard
Brads : C'est La Vie
Petals : C'est La Vie
Jewel Flourishes : Frosting Jewels
Doilies : 4" Small Doilies
Stamps : Flourishes and Such Stamps

Today I am going to show you how to create a textured background for your layouts using some of the new Bo Bunny Background stamps (I am soo in love with these!!) and Gesso.

I started by adding a bit of colour with some mists under the area I was going to Gesso. You don't have to do this step but I like to do it as sometimes the background colour shows through when you do the stamping. I marked off the area I wanted to colour with some pieces of paper.

Next spray your paper with your chosen mists

Allow your paper to dry or dry with a heat gun. Make sure it is completely dry before the next step otherwise your paper can end up peeling up from too much moisture.

Paint a very thick layer of Gesso

over the area you want to use.

You now need to let your Gesso dry a little bit. It must still be quite soft but not totally wet, when it just starts loosing a bit of it's wet shine it is ready. I am impatient so I have used my heat gun again and I probably used it for 2 or 3 minutes to dry the Gesso.

Get the stamps you want to use and press them very firmly where desired. You will have to carefully hold the paper down to remove the stamp as it does stick to it a bit. I also gave the stamp a very quick wipe inbetween each stamping to get rid of a bit of the excess Gesso. Once you have finished stamping wash your stamps immediately in warm soapy water so the Gesso doesn't dry in them. This is also a good time to sprinkle any seed beads, glitter or other small textural item you would like to add onto your Gesso.

You will have to let your Gesso dry completely after you have finished your stamping, I left mine overnight. Once the Gesso is dry then spray with some mists or paint with some acrylic paint.

Use a heat gun to dry again as Gesso can get a bit soggy if left with the spray on too long.

Use a bit of sandpaper to lightly sand over your stamped images to make them stand out even more. I have used very light blue and gold so it does not show up too clearly on mine but the darker the inks/paints you use the better the sanding works.