Background stamps are tricky. Typically, they’re not large enough to cover the area you’d like to stamp. Acrylic stamps are great because you can see where you’re stamping … roughly.

Years of art classes may have taught me how to “eyeball it” and have a steady hand, but these skills are far from reliable.

Add embossing powder to the process, and you can have a mess on your hands (and table, and floor).

This card’s background was stamped in black ink using a small, square acrylic stamp, and then embossed in black. It also shows a handy trick: thin strips of cardstock that cover gaps in the pattern.

I turned to my trusty Slice Elite to complete this sweet birthday card.

[gigya src=”http://static.issuu.com/webembed/viewers/style1/v2/IssuuReader.swf” type=”application/x-shockwave-flash” allowfullscreen=”true” menu=”false” wmode=”transparent” style=”width:420px;height:136px” flashvars=”mode=mini&backgroundColor=%23222222&documentId=120223193717-5a04c2f21ea34ce7826be17bd5c867ba”]