Credit Card Painting Technique For Backgrounds

Discover the excellent results of painting with a credit card to spread acrylics over paper or a canvas.

The first time I did this technique, I was surprised at the result. I thought it might create a mixed-up color mess. But I was wrong.

The different colors seem to attach to the paper where you put them and spread out, so you end up with various colors that don’t mush together. Now, too much swiping, and you could get a mess of mixed color, but if you do it right, they’re separate and beautiful.

Apply little dollops of paint to different spots on your card stock.

Use a few colors and be random where you put the drops of paint.

Pressing against the card stock, slowly scrape away the paint.

It should leave different colored areas on your paper.

Using little strokes, scrape outward with the credit card.

You can fill in any white gaps with another swipe of the card.

But be careful; too many swipes will mix the colors and not look as good.

And there you go!

Here are examples of a few color options:

And here is a mixed media postcard I made using the technique:

(Here is another tutorial using acrylic craft paints. And check out some cool layering techniques from Create Mixed Media.)