Totally Techniques: Faux Linen

Welcome to the Totally Techniques International Design Team blog hop!  I am Lynsay Mahon, from Edmonton, Canada, and you have just arrived here from the talented Barbara Meyer from Austria.

This month we are focusing on a technique called “Faux Linen.” There are two ways you can approach this technique and I decided to share them both with you.

The first technique is done with Glossy White Cardstock:

1. Use a very fine sanding block or sand paper and sand the shiny side of the paper in long strokes, moving in one direction.
2. Turn the paper 90 degrees and sand in long strokes moving in one direction.  This will create a cross hatch.
3. Use two neutral inks (I used Sahara sand and Gray Granite) and a sponge dauber to sponge ink over the entire sanded surface.  The paper will subtly darken in the areas that you have sanded.  I used a tissue to remove any excess ink from the surface.
4. Stamp around the edges of the cardstock with a watercolour stamp (I used Artisan textures).  I stamped off to create a softer colour on the edges.
5. With black ink, stamp a bold image over the linen background and allow to dry.

Here are the results of this technique:

I love how simple it is to create this subtle texture in the background.

For my second project, I tried the other way that Faux Linen can be achieved!  Here are the steps:

1. Stamp your image on Whisper White Cardstock.
2. Use multipurpose glue and paint the entire cardstock so it’s all sticky.
3. Apply thin, white, tissue paper to the entire stamped surface. I like to crumple it first so it has even more texture.
4. While it’s wet, I sprinkled Dazzling Diamonds glitter onto the front so it had a bit of sparkle. (optional)
5. Allow to dry and use on your card front.

This card layout was inspired by Barbara Anders.  I loved this clean layout and it was a perfect way to showcase this second technique in action:

Take a closer look and you can see how it has a “material” look to it.  You can also catch a glimpse of the glitter:

I hope you’ve enjoyed seeing these two styles of the same technique as well as some sneak peaks from our upcoming Holiday Catalogue (released Sept. 5, 2018)!

Be sure to check out the rest of the blog hop – we have a talented group of demonstrators from around the world sharing their version of this technique!  Keep hopping by clicking the links below:

1. Lynsay Mahon —-> YOU ARE HERE
2. Nadine Weiner 
3. Kelly Acheson
4. Zoe Tant
5. Shannean Moncrieff 
6. Barbara Meyer

Product List – Live in Canada?  Click on the links below to be transferred to my online store to shop for these, and other Stampin’ Up! products:

8-1/2″ X 11″ Glossy White Cardstock [144240] $10.50	Sahara Sand Classic Stampin’ Pad [147117] $10.25	Gray Granite Classic Stampin’ Pad [147118] $10.25
Sponge Daubers [133773] $7.00	Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad [132708] $8.25	Dashing Deer Clear-Mount Stamp Set [147728] $30.00
Lovely Lipstick 1/8″ (3.2 Mm) Grosgrain Ribbon [146952] $8.25	Lovely Lipstick 8-1/2″ X 11″ Cardstock [146970] $11.50	Basic Black 8-1/2″ X 11″ Card Stock [121045] $11.50
Glitter Enamel Dots [146934] $9.50	Winter Woods Clear-Mount Stamp Set [147661] $31.00	Festive Farmhouse Elements [147890] $5.50
Whisper White 8-1/2″ X 11″ Card Stock [100730] $13.25	Whisper White 8-1/2″ X 11″ Thick Cardstock [140272] $10.50	Liquid Multipurpose Glue [110755] $5.25
Basic Adhesive-Backed Sequins [146933] $9.50