Faux Batik Backgrounds by Jaine

Backgrounds can either enhance a focal image or drown it, so it's important to get the balance just right. Sometimes an image can be both the background and main event in its own right and one such technique is faux batik.

It's one of my all time favourite techniques to use as the result is unpredictable, a little grungy and leaves people wondering how you did it?!

This particular project is so easy to do providing you're a little cautious.

• Firstly stamp the background and emboss with Clear Gloss powder. 

• Spray over with water and add spots of colour using watercolours or as I have, Distress Oxide inks. Watch the pigment as it swirls around the embossed image. Leave this to dry naturally. 

• Once it's dried place on a soft towel with a piece of plain copy paper on the top and iron over it until you see the embossing lift onto the paper. Go over it again with a second piece of paper just to remove any extra powder. 

The result is perfectly smooth and should leave no trace of embossing behind. All it needs now is a little embellishment with a die cut word embossed with Opaqe British Summer to complement the colours in the background and a spot or two of Stickles.

What's your favourite embossing technique?

Jaine