NOTE: You will find at the bottom of the page, a detailed descriptions of the background techniques

Detail

Rust background. I encased the card with copper foil. I made swirls from decorative wire and interconnected them. Cut a bunch of fibers and strung it through one of the holes in the wire forms adding a mini dragonfly bead (hard to see it is mini). Added the words "Enjoy" with my embossing technique and copper embossing powder. Mounted it onto red cardstock.  

Acrylic Copper background. I encased the card with copper foil. I dry embossed a piece of copper with an oriental design word of "Friendship", heated the copper to get variegated tones and encased the edge with Liquitex Glass Bead Gel mixed with some copper Pearl Ex. I attached a copper eyelet to string my fibers through and allows my medallion to hang free. Added the word "Friendship" with a purple gel pen. Mounted it onto Purple cardstock

Acrylic Gold background (this is the background I said was to die for a while back).  I added some abstract lines using the Liquitex glass beads, a line plain and a line mixed with Neuberg-Ebel Gold Leaf Powder. I flicked my brush against the edge of the card with leafing adhesive (to get a random application) and then applied my gold leaf. Added the words with Dr Martins copper metallic ink and shadowed it with a black micron pen. Mounted it onto red cardstock

Words: Golden dreams of tomorrow.

Same as Golden Dreams except words "Golden Illusions" is done with a gold Krylon pen 

Acrylic silver background. I flicked my brush against the edge of the card with leafing adhesive (to get a random application) and then applied my silver leaf. Wrote my words using my embossing technique and silver embossing powder. Overlaid it with a maroon & gold  net ribbon. Dry embossed a dragonfly onto aluminum metal and attached it to the card with 3 colorful brads. Added the antennae using some floral stamen. Mounted it onto purple cardstock.

Words: On silver wings I soar.

Acrylic Silver background. I flicked my brush against the edge of the card with leafing adhesive (to get a random application) and then applied my silver leaf. I dry embossed the rose and leaves onto aluminum metal and painted it with acrylics. Adhered it to the cardstock with some glue and added the 2 silver brads as well as a bead along the edge using Liquitex Glass Beads mixed with Neuberg-Ebel Silver Leaf powder. Added the words with a silver gel pen and shadowed it with a black micron pen. mounted it onto purple cardstock.

Words: Everywhere a silver lining.

Rust background. Used Dreamweaver gold embossing medium on a brass template of a feather (Inkadinkado # 94429) and sprinkled lightly with some copper glitter. Added some real feathers. Wrote the word "Peace" using my embossing technique and gold embossing powder. Mounted it onto a gold metallic cardstock. 

This is my gift to Beth Ann for being such a wonderful hostess.

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The Acrylic Background Technique described below, was first introduced to me by Nettonya, after she tried it and was impressed. She found the instructions on the web:

http://tryittuesdays.wordpress.com/2006/05/16/technique-week-1-easy-acrylic-backgrounds/

I tried it and expanded on some of the steps. 

140 lb CP watercolor paper. All over wash with Delta Ceramcoat Yellow "D" (bright yellow)  acrylic paint. Edges with Bittersweet #2041, then with Navy Blue # 2089, both colors spritzed with some water. When dry, all over with Dark Brown #2053, spritzed with water and then dabbed lightly when slightly dry. Sprayed with Moon Glows - Moon Shadows Bucket O' Blood & Golden Doubloons, heavily applied in some areas. Each layer of color was dried with a heat gun and produced some minor bubbling. 
It's a pity a scan doesn't do it justice because this background has such gorgeous nuances of colors and iridescence. It will be a miracle if I ever am able to create it again.

Strathmore 140 lb CP watercolor paper. I coated the paper with a very thick gesso (by Utrecht). All over was with a mixture of Delta Ceramcoat Pink Angel #2061 & Fiesta pink #2045 and water. Edges and some random strokes with a mixture of Luna Lights Magenta & Lavender and water and gently worked with a sponge. Did another application of the edge using a mix of Delta Ceramcoat Vintage Wine #2434 and water. All over with various silver and pewter Lumiere and Luna paints (just a mish mash). Spritzed with Moon Glows - Glitz Spritz Desert Moon Horny Toad Teal.

Canson 90 lb CP watercolor paper. Applied a coating of gesso (by Rheotech). Did a wash of Magic Color Asian Lime. Edges with Delta Ceramcoat Black Green #2116 spritzed with some water and then slightly rubbed. All over with Delta Mexicana #2410 and some water. Another all over layer with Folkart Metallic Copper mixed with some water and rubbed with a sponge. Spritzed with  Moon Glows - Glitz Spritz Desert Moon Horny Toad Teal. Rubbed with Brilliance Copper stamp pad and Opalite Winter Rust stamp pad. Stamped oriental text rubber stamp (Prairie rubber#2182) and Color Box Chalk stamp pad Alabaster.

I used Strathmore 140 Lb CP watercolor paper. I also use the products by Modern Options which included an Instant iron paint and an Instant Rust paint. I started by coating my paper with Rheotech gesso. When dry applied 2 coats of Instant iron and 2 coats of Instant Rust, drying each before the next application, The first rust application gave a yellowish color to the iron and the second gave a more orangey color. I then spritzed on liberally in areas Moon Glows - Moon Shadows Bucket O' Blood  and Glitz Spritz Desert Moon Tumbleweed Sage. I used a heat gun to dry this layer. 

It's a pity you can't see this in real. A scan just doesn't do it justice. It has such nice textural feel (like 300 grit sandpaper) and the nuances from the iridescence and the variations of the rusting process. Just great.