Rubber Brayer Backgrounds: Tips & Techniques: The Stampin' Place: Rubber Art-Stamps, Accessories & Custom

Many types of interesting and colorful textures and backgrounds can be created with the rubber brayer.
Brayer techniques are a fun and creative way to add interest and variety.

Resist Technique:

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Creating a white stamped image through
a colored background.

Ink a stamp with clear embossing ink or Perfect Medium. Stamp the image onto white paper. Matte or Glossy cardstock works the best.
Ink your brayer with dye based ink. Roll the brayer directly over your stamped image and all around the background area. As you bray, the image will appear. The clear embossing ink will resist the dye based ink. You will achieve a soft, subtle, "wall paper" look.
If desired, you may emboss your stamped image with clear or white powder and heat before braying - but this is not necessary.

Stamping on the Brayer:
Stamping on the Brayer
You can create many interesting
patterns with this simple technique.

Ink a rubber stamp and roll a brayer over its surface, picking up the ink.
Repeat several times with the stamp in different positions on the brayer.
Roll the brayer across your paper or card. Repeat with a different shade of ink if desired.
For an added touch stamp directly on the paper with the same inked rubber stamp for a foreground focal point. This will create a finer, more vividly colored image than the softer brayered background, and will also be a mirror image, adding variety

Using Markers with a Brayer:
Using Markers with a Brayer

Use Marvy markers to decorate the roller with your own colors and designs. Roll out your design on paper. Note: The design will get lighter after the first complete roll of the brayer roller. Place a scrap paper behind your work so that you are able to roll off the edge.

Create Interesting Textures:
Create Interesting Textures

Add colors by cleaning your brayer after rolling on one color, and then rolling on another color over it with a different texture. Use a rainbow pad for adding lots of colors.

Reflection Technique:

The same type of technique, as the "Stamping on the Brayer" above can also be used for scenery and reflections.

Stamp your main image onto the paper.
Re-ink the stamp and roll the brayer over the inked stamp die.
Roll the image, which is now a "mirror" image, under the main stamped image for the illusion of a reflection

Other TEXTURE Ideas using the Brayer:

Lay a piece of cheesecloth over your paper. Ink the brayer and roll it over the cheesecloth. Remove the cheesecloth for a textured look. Pick apart the threads for a different texture. The more you roll your brayer over your paper, the deeper your color will be.
Experiment with netting, paper doilies, lace or other open-weave fabrics.
Wrap rubber bands around the brayer before inking on a pad.
Wrap plastic food wrap around the brayer roller before inking on a pad.
Add dimensional texture by braying over bubble wrap or other textured surfaces. Place the material on a flat surface and place your paper over it. Ink your brayer and roll over the paper, revealing the textured surface beneath. Try this with leaves or other "found art."
Roll several times without re-inking. As the ink fades, the images will look like distant background.