Creating Multi-Layered Masterboards

By: Christine Candora-Hickey, Artistic Guide

I have often been intrigued by the concept first introduced in Stamper's Sampler called "Masterboard."  Essentially, it involves creating your own background paper to be used "as is" or cut up into smaller pieces.  You are encouraged to keep your original and copy it for use over and over.

I liked the concept.  I love to create my own backgrounds, but have such a hard time actually using them because they are "just too pretty".  It never occurred to me to save my original and use it over and over by copying it and manipulating it.  The only thing that I did not like about the original article was the way in which the Masterboard was made.  For me, it did not have enough depth and layering.  A few stamps and a few splashes of color are not enough for me to feel that I could not easily replicate the paper.  I needed deep layers, lots of colors, and enough imagery to get lost in!

I found the process to be extremely freeing and wildly playful!  I think I would do this again if ever I was in a creative slump and needed to refuel.  I used a variety of media on my piece and lots and lots of color!  For printmaking, I used stencils and foam rubber stamps.  I found that giant foam rubber stamps worked the best when having to stamp over layers of paints and ink.  I also didn't have a panic attack if they were covered in paint with no hopes of them washing clean!

This project is all about the layers.  It may take you some time to create, but remember, you'll be saving the original and using digital copies (just make sure that the stamps and original substrate are copyright free).  Below are my layers in order they were created.  Please feel free to add and subtract media, colors, or even order!  My only bit of advise it to use a palette of no more than 3 to 5 colors.

1. Start with your base substrate.  This can be anything from canvas to cardboard, but I chose paper because it will be easier for me to store the original later in a binder.  The base paper I chose was a piece of sheet music from an old music book.
2. I used Ranger's Perfect Pearls to swipe over the paper.  Just one color run along the edge of a credit card and then swiped in three or so strokes.
3. I chose 5 Adirondack ink pads in coordinating colors.  I used three of the lighter shades to randomly cover the entire page.  [Watch how the ink reacts with the Perfect Pearls].
4. Next, I chose a darker shade to stamp with foam stamps.  I randomly stamped and filled the paper.
5. Using Penscore, I made an impressing of a wood mounted background stamp.  Penscore is great for using the reverse image of your stamps!  I inked the Penscore stamp with the lightest shade of ink and completely stamped all over the paper.  This unifies the layers.
6. With some watered-down white acrylic paint, I stenciled some images onto the paper.  I used a combination of store-bought stencils and punchinella (sequin waste).
7. Next, I used a small background stamp to stamp very randomly in my darkest ink.  I only stamp in places that appear to have "holes" - meaning that there does not seem to be enough layering in those areas.
8. Almost done!  Take two or three colors of Glimmer Mist and lightly spray.  I sprayed each color only once or twice.
9. Lastly, I drew a few freeform flowers with a Smooch pen.

Now get to work!  Let's see what your Masterboards look like.  Remember, there are no rules - my steps were to simply guide you and inform you on how I created mine.  Add steps, subtract others, and most importantly, have fun!  I'll give you some time to get messy with this and then on Wednesday I will show you how some simple digital manipulation will multiply your original into endless possibilities!