Splitcoaststampers.com - the world's #1 papercrafting community
You're currently viewing Splitcoaststampers as a GUEST. We pride ourselves on being great hosts, but guests have limited access to some of our incredible artwork, our lively forums and other super cool features of the site! You can join our incredible papercrafting community at NO COST. So what are you waiting for?
A while back, it seemed that background stamps were SO popular. Almost every card I saw in the gallery used them, and they were constantly talked about on the forums. Now, I NEVER seem to use mine. I think, with all of the cuttlebug embossing folders, new die cuts, etc, they are just not being used as much. What are your thoughts? I'm actually debating selling some of mine.
Oooh, I love background stamps! I'm no authority on what's in or what's out but I can do stuff with my backgrounders I can't do with other things so I reach for mine a lot of the time! You can make your own DP in any colour to go with your other elements, add texture over the top of another pattern (either stamped or DP), use them as a feature in their own right, stamp small embellies with them (script or polka dots on Prima or die cut flowers for example)... the list goes on. Maybe your stamping is just going through a phase where they don't suit you as much at the moment?
Not as far as I'm concerned! I love them! They just dress up the cards so much that I tend to use at least one on every project. I sure hope the interest doesn't subside! ;) But you're right...I've not heard much of a fuss about them on SCS lately.
__________________ Have an awesome day!
Loretta Rathert~
I agree with Angelnorth, I use mine for all sorts of things, especially when I don't want the raised effect of the Cuttlebugged stuff or the thickness of chipboard or die cuts. I guess it depends on what you're doing.
__________________
The task ahead of us is never as great as the Power behind us. - Amen! Fan Club Member
I haven't used my BG stamps in MONTHS - they've been gathering dust. I have been selling off a few here and there but there's still quite a few that I plan on keeping - I want to wait and just see if I'm in a phase where I'm just not using them and will again or if I really just don't plan on ever using them again!
Wouldn't it be great if printed paper didn't exist at all? If ll we had was solid color cardstock, stampers would be going all out on background stamps and techniques, and there would be so much more to consider than the layout and the obligatory ribbon, flower, embellishment.
I haven't used mine in a while but guilt is setting in so I better go make something. I've been playing with my big shot so much my BG stamps are getting neglected.
I have been thinking along the same lines as the original poster. I rarely use my background stamps anymore and am thinking of getting rid of them. There are a couple I use, and a couple I love even though I don't use them, but lately I have been using DP and the cuttlebug so much! I'm subscribing to this thread so I can go back and check out the galleries of you ladies who say you use your Bkgrnd stamps a lot and hopefully get some inspirations! Thanks.
I have a few BG stamps, but like AmyR, just haven't used them. I use PP on almost all of my cards, and when i don't I usually cuttlebug the BG... I'm keeping mine, because sometimes i will have a light-bulb moment and want to use one!
__________________
{Gallery}{Blog}
I design for: Stampendous!, There She Goes, Technique Tuesday,
SRM Stickers and Deconstructed Sketches.
I haven't used mine in sometime now, either. I don't know why when I used to use them so much...for some reason it just doesn't occur to me to use them. I think my cards have gotten much more simpler - maybe that's why.
__________________ Laura
It's official...I'm a stamping addict (second only to my "being a grandma" addiction)!
You might think they seem like they're out of fashion now, but stick around.
Someone will post a technique using a background stamp that everyone will go crazy for, and the next thing you know, that's what everyone will HAVE to have.
I'm only joking a little - look at how many people dragged out dusty corner punches that hadn't seen the light of day in goodness knows after Becca's circle medallion was posted?
I love my backgrounds--I don't like buying patterned paper--seems like I get a couple I love, and then I get stuck with a bunch I don't/can't use. I like making my own with my backgrounds!
Not out for me, I probably use one on every card I make unless the paper is textured or printed.
I agree with every word Angelnorth typed out here! ;)
And for oversized cards (larger than A2/4.25 x 5.5") I like the Scrapblocks from Cornish Heritage Farms; they are 6 x 6"...perfect for the larger images won't fit on A2 cards.
I haven't used my BG stamps for a while, but then I haven't been stamping much lately either. I have no intentions of getting rid of them. They are so versatile like some of the other posters stated. I say keep them and challenge yourself to use them!!
I just used one of mine (the first one I ever purchased) on some craft paper to make a pretty pillow box. I have purchased maybe 5 or 6 since my first one, but don't like them as much and don't use them. The same way with my wheels. Now I'm collecting the cuttlebug folders. I should buy one or two of these things instead of always starting a collection.
Well, then I'm not the only one who has drifted away from background stamps. I think many people are on a cuttlebug binge with embossed backgrounds, while others are using scrapbooking paper. Still - I love my good old "French Script" background stamp. Now there is a real classic.
I havent used mine for a while but got Canvas out yesterday to use on the basket I cut out with my Big Shot using the Baskets & Blooms SU die - it made it look very 'baskety' - I had forgotten how much I love BG stamps :-)
I like them and use them..not always to cover an entire background but many times as texture to a background. I think it depends on what style card you're doing...my stamping has evolved so much since I started. I may have started out with more simple desings, then moved to more collage style, now am back to some more simple things again but that said I'm not ready to get rid of any background stamps. One of my favorite things to use in backgrounds or edges of cards are flourishs..I have a set from Autumn Leaves and I've gotten more use out of them...
I was just realizing I hadn't used mine in awhile, too. I thought about selling them, but that thought lasted about half a second! I love the ones I have, and will be hanging onto them no matter what. I've learned that lesson!!
I just used one today. I think that with all the other possibilities - like cuttlebug, patterned paper,etc. - its easy to forget you have them. I am not getting rid of the ones I have but I probably won't buy alot more. And like someone already said - just wait, their popularity will come around again and you will wish you still had them!!;)
I don't know if they are out of style or not, but I see a lot of fabulous cards that use background stamps. I think you just have to make a conscious effort to use them to your advantage--which could be said about any stamp that's been collecting dust for a while, KWIM?! :-D
A while back, it seemed that background stamps were SO popular. Almost every card I saw in the gallery used them, and they were constantly talked about on the forums. Now, I NEVER seem to use mine. I think, with all of the cuttlebug embossing folders, new die cuts, etc, they are just not being used as much. What are your thoughts? I'm actually debating selling some of mine.
I think whatever current popular trend is in the forefront tends to overshadow things that many are still liking and using.
I was told eyelets were out/not trendy any more. That may be, but, I still use them and consider them one of my favorite embellishments (basic/standard round, in 1/8 and 3/16"), and I'd bet many others do, too.
We're just not as vociferous about it, UKWIM?! ;)
I haven't gotten rid of any of my background stamps, and, I'll admit, I haven't used them lately . . . And, I have a tendency to buy patterned paper simply because it is beautiful, but, I don't actually use it that often--I just like to collect it. LOL! I find they inspire me for color combos, and sometimes, I even like to duplicate the look/effect using my stamps.
I prefer using stamps to create backgrounds and feel they are more versatile/give me more creative options than patterned paper gives me. That said, they also can save me when I'm in a pinch and don't have time to hand-stamp the background for a design.
__________________ Julie Ebersole (JulieHRR once upon a time . . . )julieebersole.com"So shines a good deed in a weary world." -Willy Wonka
Wouldn't it be great if printed paper didn't exist at all? If ll we had was solid color cardstock, stampers would be going all out on background stamps and techniques, and there would be so much more to consider than the layout and the obligatory ribbon, flower, embellishment.
I stamp on a budget, so most of my stock is plain coloured... in fact my dp is so precious I often begrudge using it at all!
Though I admit I've got stuck in the Cuttlebug rut and seem to take the easy way out and use my embossing folders. I don't have many big bg stamps but I do enjoy making my own dp with smaller stamps
What a laugh...when I started stamping about 13 years ago, my cards all had some kind of patterned paper on them. Then it was stamps as backgrounds, then "background" stamps...now it is a return to patterned paper. Just like those old cords and wedgie heeled shoes, stamping styles come and go! As far as BG stamps go, I won't be parting with mine anytime soon. And those that I have sold off or traded, I have had some serious regrets recently!!!
I, too, noticed that I hadn't been reaching for my BG stamps lately. (I even mentioned it on my blog about two weeks back!) I've been lazy, just grabbing the DSP in place of stamping. I made the choice to pull out some background stamps, and wow, I do still love them. Sometimes, we forget about a favorite product or technique because we get in a rut. I hope this thread will resurrect the background beauties!
I've been seeing card-sized background stamps used a ton! I am a big fan of Unity Stamps and see a lot of their backgrounds in the gallery and on blogs. My favourite ones have a bit of a distressed look -- no need to pull out a brayer on those ones to get a nice impression!
There definitely seems to be less used, but CHF still produces lots of really fun and fresh designs! There's just been a shift to more and more patterned paper it seems
I had found myself using them less, so I decided to change that. I recently unmounted all my favorites (they took up SOOO much space on the big block), and now I have about 18 kept in the Stampin' Up punch box/blue tin. I keep that right near my desk and I find that I use them a bit more now.
I'll never give up my Linograph, Houndstooth, French Script, or Linen!
I haven't used mine a lot lately but as someone mentioned I haven't been stamping a lot lately either! Whenever I see them used or use them, I always love it. They were my last holdout for unmounting and I just might do that with them after all, too.
And ... I credit my background stamps for my ability to talk myself out of DP again and again ~ I'm tempted and then I say, "I just need to stamp more of my own backgrounds..." and walk away!!
Wouldn't it be great if printed paper didn't exist at all? If ll we had was solid color cardstock, stampers would be going all out on background stamps and techniques, and there would be so much more to consider than the layout and the obligatory ribbon, flower, embellishment.
Oh my! I can't believe you said that! Perish the thought!! I like bg stamps, but no printed paper? *****SHUDDER*****
You might think they seem like they're out of fashion now, but stick around.
Someone will post a technique using a background stamp that everyone will go crazy for, and the next thing you know, that's what everyone will HAVE to have.
I'm only joking a little - look at how many people dragged out dusty corner punches that hadn't seen the light of day in goodness knows after Becca's circle medallion was posted?
You are so right! :mrgreen: It's true though, hang on to something long enough and it'll come back in style. Today I just saw a card where someone had used some fiber with ribbon and it actually looked good! scary, eh?!?
And ... I credit my background stamps for my ability to talk myself out of DP again and again ~ I'm tempted and then I say, "I just need to stamp more of my own backgrounds..." and walk away!!
You must have an incredible amount of discipline! Walking away... WOW!
You are so right! :mrgreen: It's true though, hang on to something long enough and it'll come back in style. Today I just saw a card where someone had used some fiber with ribbon and it actually looked good! scary, eh?!?
Okay, I'll admit I don't get it. What's fiber with ribbon and why is it scary? Can you link to something that would show me a picture?
I LOVE background stamps!!! I use an SU! BG stamp on pretty much every single card I make! I usually use either the Sanded BG, French Script, or Canvas, depending on the style/occasion I am going for.
I really think every stamper should have at least 1 BG in their supplies.
I LOVE my background stamps . . . each and every single one! I'll never get rid of 'em -- I love using them. They just "make" a card to me. I always reach for those way before patterned paper.
Are background stamps "out"?
