Hi friends! Today’s video shares lots of ways to use handmade cotton papers on your cards and projects. I also share a few ways to ink and manipulate the papers to create beautiful backgrounds and make them your own style.

(Looking for anything that I used in the video? All of the supplies are linked with images to multiple stores at the end of this post. Compensated affiliate links used when possible. Watch the full video HERE in HD!)

DIE CUTTING

This is the technique that surprised me the most… unlike a hand embossed piece of cardstock, the cotton paper does not flatten in a die cutting machine! I used Peony Blossom die set to cut a variety of the different patterns and colors of the handmade papers. Then, I adhered the floral scene onto the card and added a With Love die cut sentiment.

PAPER PIECING

Using the handmade paper gives a whole new look to paper piecing with color and texture. I used the Mermaid For You stamp set and stamped my images onto Mermaid’s Tail cotton paper and onto white cardstock. Then, I cut out the tails from the cotton paper and adhered them onto the mermaids. This creates such a fun texture and new look to the stamped images!

COLORING WITH MOUSSE

Coloring the handmade paper with Nuvo Mousse is an easy way to create beautiful and dimensional looking color on the paper. For the first card, I used the Iced Petals cotton paper and added a variety of mousse colors on the paper using a blending sponge. to finish the card, I partially die cut the Yay sentiment die into the background and inlaid a black die cut.

On the next example, I used the Ivory Bouquet cotton paper to create a similar effect with a bit more detail and shading. I used a variety of mousse colors and blending sponges to add shading and reach smaller areas of the paper. I apply the mousse with light pressure so that it hits the embossed areas and leaves the debossed areas plain. I finished off the card with a small Thank You die with Nuvo Glaze.

COLORING WITH MARKERS

Coloring the cotton papers with alcohol markers creates a unique color bleeding effect that makes for a beautiful background. To create the card, I used the English Lace cotton paper and colored the embossed areas with alcohol markers. Because the paper is cotton, the marker bleeds a little bit and creates a really fun effect!

COLORING WITH INK PADS

I love using ink pads to color cardstock and the handmade papers are no exception! To create the card, I used the Snowdrop Meadow cotton paper and lightly rubbed a variety of mini ink pads onto the surface. This catches the embossed edges and creates a fun coloring on the background. I finished the card with the Kobi Bearing Gifts stamp set for a fun and playful image to coordinate with the colorful background.

SUPPLIES

Below are all of the supplies used in today’s video linked to multiple stores for convenience. Compensated affiliate links used when possible (when you use these links it helps support me at no extra cost to you)… Thank you!