If you’ve got a brayer sitting in your craft room and you’re not quite sure what to do with it… you are not alone.
This little tool is one of the most underused items in cardmaking—but once you start playing with it, you’ll wonder why you didn’t pull it out sooner.
Today I’m sharing three simple ways to use a brayer with your ink pads to create beautiful card backgrounds—no designer paper required.
You can watch the full tutorial here:
Tip: If the video doesn’t load for you, click through to watch it directly on YouTube so you don’t miss anything.
Why Use a Brayer?
A brayer is perfect for creating quick, custom backgrounds with just ink and cardstock.
You can:
- Add soft color blends
- Create ombré effects
- Mix multiple colors together
- Add texture and variation
And the best part?
There’s no “right” or “wrong” way to do it.
Technique 1: Monochromatic Background
This is the easiest place to start.
Simply load your brayer with ink and roll it across your cardstock in different directions. The key here is to vary your movement so you get light and dark areas that create natural texture and interest.
You can keep it soft and subtle or build up the color for a more dramatic look.
This technique is perfect when you want a quick background that still has visual interest.
Technique 2: Ombré Blending
If you love that soft fade from light to dark, this technique is for you.
You can create an ombré effect using:
- Just one ink pad
- Or multiple ink pads in similar tones
Start at the bottom of your cardstock and roll upward. Each pass will naturally lighten as the ink disperses. If you want deeper color, simply reload your brayer and focus on the lower portion.
When using multiple colors, begin with your lightest shade and work your way down, cleaning your brayer between colors.
This creates a smooth, blended look that’s perfect for clean and simple cards.
Technique 3: Rainbow Brayer Background
This one takes a little more patience—but it’s so worth it.
Instead of blending large sections, you’ll work in smaller areas so you can fit multiple colors onto your cardstock.
Start with your lightest color and work your way through your color palette, cleaning your brayer between each color. Move slightly lower each time so the colors build and layer without turning muddy.
The result is a bold, colorful background that really makes a statement.
A Few Quick Tips
- Keep baby wipes nearby to clean your brayer between colors
- Start light—you can always add more ink
- Don’t overthink it… just play
Sometimes the best results come from experimenting.
Want the Measurements & Step-by-Step Guide?
I’ve created a printable Inspiration Sheet that includes:
✔ Card measurements (imperial + metric)
✔ All three techniques broken down step-by-step
✔ Quick reference photos so you can recreate these anytime
Right now, my Inspiration Library is in preview mode, so you can access it for free.
Right now, access to my Inspiration Library is available to my email subscribers.
Starting April 1, it will become part of a paid membership.
If you’d like access (and future tutorials like this one), make sure you’re on my list:
Ready to Try It Yourself?
If you’re missing any supplies, you can shop everything I used in my Stampin’ Up! store:
Brayers are one of those tools that can feel a little intimidating at first—but once you start using them, they open up so many creative possibilities.
So pull it out, give it a try, and see what you can create.
Stay Crafty,
Judy 💚