Faux Leather Backgrounds

Supplies needed: Mod Podge (or pva glue), ink pads, heat tool and craft sheet (optional), card stock, paintbrush, sponge or cut n dry foam, tissue paper



Apply ink to the card stock


Completely cover the card stock using various complimentary colours, remember you are going to create a leather looking effect


Tear off a piece of tissue paper slightly larger than your card stock, scrunch it into a ball and open it out again


Completely cover your card stock with mod podge or pva glue


Cover your card stock using your crumpled piece of tissue paper. Do not flatten the tissue paper too much, you want it to have creases and texture. Leave to completely dry or use a heat tool to speed up the process


Now add more colour. Using your cut n dry or sponge, completely cover the tissue paper with the same set of colours you started off with. Allow the inks to dry (at this stage it doesn't look anything!!)


When the inks are dry, apply a further coat of mod podge


Set aside to dry or use your heat tooll to speed up the drying process


When completely dry you will be left with a wonderful shiny waxed leather look


Trim the excess tissue paper and your background is ready to use for your project


I also experiemented with Adirondack dye inks, following exactly the same process as above and got fantastic results. These inks seemed to bleed more, therefore the finished piece wasn't as dark