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Cling Wrap Background


This technique could be used on a scrapbook page, a greeting card or on an artist trading card, or in an art journal/ It is so easy to do. And more than likely, you have most of the supplies you need already in your stash, It is a fun technique. Almost like finger painting. You can use almost any colors that make you happy.

I would use very heavy paper for this technique since you will be adding acrylic paint to it. If you are doing this technique on a book page, I would cover the page with two three coats of gesso. Or Glue two pages together to give the page more weight before you get started.

Start with a roll of plastic wrap (cling wrap) and then you chose the medium to work with. It will work on all kinds of media.

Technique 1-Acrylic Paint

Supplies

  • Sheet of heavy card stock or watercolor paper
  • Craft mat to cover your work surface.
  • Two plastic cups or containers to hold paint and water.
  • Cling or saran wrap
  • Foam brush or soft paintbrush
  • Rubber Gloves 
  • Paper towels
  1. Cover your workspace with a craft mat. You could also use parchment paper.
  2. Create a wash by using equal parts ( 1/2 part) water and paint.
  3. Brush the paint on your paper covering it in the colors you would like to use. You want lots of the paint wash on the paper.
  4. Cut a piece of the cling wrap 1 1/2 times the size of the paper.
  5. Crumple the cling wrap in your hand.
  6. Unwind the wrap and lay it on top of the painted paper.
  7. Push and press the cling wrap. 
  8. Allow the page to dry with the cling wrap on it.
  9. Once the paint is dry, pull the cling wrap off the paper and discard.

Cling Wrap Technique Tips

  • Use a wide brush to keep the paint from drying out.
  • Spray light sprays of water to keep the paint "wet."
  • You can also lift the cling warp after you manipulate the paper and let it air dry.
  • This is a messy technique. Make sure that your work area is covered as well as your hands (especially if you have a manicure)



Technique 2-Using Ink And Cling Wrap

This technique is so easy to do. More than likely, you have all of the supplies you need in your stash. You can use this technique for scrapbook pages, card fronts, journal pages, planners and more.

Supplies

  • Cardstock- Cut to size.
  • Inks
  • Cling Wrap
  1. Lay down a craft mat, parchment paper or some freezer paper to protect your work area
  2. Cut pieces of cardstock to the size you want to use. If you are making a background page for a scrapbook page, leave whole.
  3. Crumple a small piece of cling wrap in your hand. pen it slightly enough to provide a surface for your ink pad. You will want this to be a loosely crumpled ball.
  4. Daub the cling wrap onto the ink.
  5. Hold the paper with one hand or use thin washi tape to hold down the paper. 
  6. Then, daub the cling wrap with the ink onto a section of the paper.
  7. Keep adding ink until you feel you have the design you would like. You will want to daub the paper onto the ink pad for every stamping. 
  8. Let the ink dry for a few minutes.
  9. Add additional colors if you would like. Allow a few minutes for the ink to dry between applications.

Another Cling Wrap Technique

For this technique, you need to use a very good quality acrylic paint. Craft acrylic paints may not be thick enough to stay on the cling wrap when you go to flip it over. But if you want to experiment with craft paints, I say give it a try!

Supplies

  • An open journal layout or a piece of cardstock
  • Acrylic paint
  • Cling wrap
  • Foam brush
  • Fine line makers or pens
  • Craft mat or parchment paper
  1. Cover your work area with a craft mat or parchment paper
  2. Using the foam brush, apply paint to both sides of your layout.
  3. Let the paint dry
  4. Stretch and cut a piece of cling wrap larger than the layout or page
  5. Place the piece of cling wrap over the page
  6. Place some blobs of paint on the cling wrap where you want them within the borders of paint.
  7. Stretch and flip the cling wrap over and place it on your layout or paper. Move quickly so that the paint does not drip off the wrap
  8. Move your fingers over the wrap on your layout or page. This will move the paint to create your design. 
  9. Allow the layout or page to dry.
  10. You can define some of the design with fine line markers or pens if desired.
  11. Add any ephemera, stamped images or whatever you desire to complete the page.

Project Tips

  • Use dime sized applications of paint. Less is better
  • Keep space between the blobs of paint to get more dimension to your design.
This is an application that actually is a painting, but you could use it on your backgrounds. You can also use any of these techniques to create your own art on paper and then frame it.



More Cling Wrap Options

There are different options when it comes to this technique. You can try any or all of them to get different results and looks. 
  • Distress ink on glossy paper
  • Distress oxides on glossy paper
  • Spray inks on glossy cardstock or watercolor paper
  • Distress inks, oxides or sprays on paper that has a coat of gesso.
  • Acrylic paint on cardstock that has been a layer of watercolor paper.
  • Watercolor on watercolor paper
  • Alcohol ink on glossy paper

Cling Wrap With Distress Inks

The technique is similar to the acrylic paint techniques, but this time, you will be using distress inks. Here is another option to use what you have in your stash. For this technique you could use the distress inks, dye inks or distress oxide inks for a softer look.

You need to use colors that blend well so that you do not get a muddy result. You could consult a color chart or test the colors on a piece of scrap paper to check out how the colors will work when blended.

You want a smooth paper, but one that will hold up against the water you will be using. A good mixed media paper would be another alternative. You could use a smoother type of watercolor paper. The results on a regular watercolor paper will have a different result.

Supplies

  • Bristol smooth cardstock or mixed media paper cut into a card panel
  • Distress inks in your choice of color. Use two to three colors
  • Cling wrap (any plastic wrap will work)
  • Clean water in a small spray bottle
  • Glass mat, craft mat or parchment paper
  1. Cover your work area-use a glass mat, craft mat or parchment paper
  2. Cut the cardstock into a panel smaller than your card base.
  3. Cut a piece of cling wrap to cover the card panel
  4. Lay the cling wrap on the mat or parchment paper
  5. Press the ink pad on the cling wrap, creating your design.
  6. Spray the water over the piece of wrap. Do not over water the colors. The more water that you use the softer the color. You want the ink to bead up.
  7. Lay your cardstock panel into the ink-face down.
  8. Give the panel a bit of a twist to create the design.
  9. Leave the panel on the ink and cling wrap.
  10. Wrap the edges on top of the cardstock panel.
  11. Flip the project over.
  12. Slide your fingers around the cardstock to blend the ink.
  13. Continue blending until there is no white showing.
  14. Let the ink sit on the card with the cling wrap on top for about 5-10 minutes.
  15. Remove the cling wrap from the card.
  16. Let the card air dry or use a heat gun to dry the cardstock.
  17. If you use a heat gun and the panel warps, place it in a heavy book for a while to flatten. Remember to always follow the manufacturer's instructions to us ethe heat gun.
  18. Make a card base and adhere the panel to the base. Add a sentiment and any other embellishments that you desire.



Instead of using cling wrap, try aluminum foil instead. This would work best with a thick coat of acrylic paint. Try one color or mix some colors. For this technique, you will want a thick coat of paint. Apply the paint. While the paint is wet, place the foil over it. Make several small crumbles with your hand. Leave the paint on until it tries. Remove and discard the foil.
  • You can crumble the paper either before or after you apply the medium to the paper, 
  • Use green and yellow colors to create a very nature like effect. This would be a perfect choice behind floral stamps and die cut


Here is more inspiration on this technique
The Magic Of Cling Wrap And Watercolors

Cling Wrap Background For A Greeting Card



Completing The Project




We have provided some tools and supplies that you may need to complete this project. Just click on the item you may be interested in for more information. 
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