Bubble Wrap Technique for Easy Handmade Card Backgrounds

Images copyright 1990–2026 Stampin’ Up!®

Have you ever looked at the bubble wrap in a package and thought, “I should save that”? Well, today is the day to dig it out of your stash!

The bubble wrap technique is an easy way to add texture and pattern to your handmade cards using something you probably already have around the house. You can use large bubbles, tiny bubbles, or anything in between, and every piece creates a slightly different look.

I created four cards to show you several ways to use this simple rubber stamping technique. You can cover an entire card background, layer multiple colors, repeat the print, or add just a few bits of texture around the edges. Let’s get stamping!

Supplies for the Bubble Wrap Technique

You only need a few basic supplies to try this cardmaking technique:

• Bubble wrap with unpopped bubbles
• Ink
• Cardstock
• Brayer, if desired
• Additional stamps, ink, paper, and embellishments to finish your card

Any size bubble wrap will work. The large bubble wrap used on a couple of today’s cards came from a Stampin’ Up!® shipping box. Stampin’ Up! sometimes uses it to fill extra space inside a box, and as any paper crafter knows, interesting packing materials should never go to waste!

Project Sheet for the Bubble Wrap Technique

How to Create a Bubble Wrap Background

Lay the bubble wrap in front of you with the bubbles facing upward. You can dab your ink pad directly onto the bubbles, then press your cardstock onto the inked bubble wrap. You can also turn the bubble wrap over and press it onto the cardstock like a stamp.

The direct-to-bubble-wrap method works, but it may leave ink along the edges of your ink pad. That isn’t a disaster. You’ll just want to wipe the sides of the ink pad when you finish.

I prefer to use a brayer to apply the ink. This gives me more control and helps keep ink off the sides of my ink pad.

If your brayer has little feet, pay attention to which direction they are facing. Turn the feet upward while you ink the brayer and roll it across the bubble wrap. When you need to set the brayer down, flip it over so the feet hold the inked roller above your work surface. This can save you from getting ink all over your table.

Once the bubble wrap is inked, press it onto your cardstock. Don’t worry about getting a perfectly even image. The broken, uneven circles are what make this background interesting.

You can also press the bubble wrap down more than once, rotate it between impressions, or add a second ink color. Play with it and see what happens!

​Download the free project sheet for the bubble wrap technique so you’ll have the instructions and project dimensions ready for your next cardmaking session.

Pool Party Bubble Wrap Card with Wrapped Greenery

For the first card which is the one I demonstrate in the video, I used the Wrapped Greenery stamp set with a soft Pool Party and Peaceful Pine color combination.
​
I started with Pool Party cardstock and inked a piece of large bubble wrap with Pool Party ink. Because the bubbles were so large, one impression left quite a bit of open space. I inked the bubble wrap again and added a second impression, changing the position slightly so the background looked fuller and less uniform.

The large bubbles create an imperfect, distressed-looking pattern rather than a precise row of circles. I love the extra texture it adds while still keeping the background tone-on-tone and fairly subtle.

I stamped the greenery in Peaceful Pine ink and colored the leaves with Pool Party Stampin’ Blends. The white border around the image helps it stand out against a Peaceful Pine panel cut with the Nested Essentials Dies.

Since the Wrapped Greenery stamp set doesn’t include sentiments, I borrowed “Grateful for You” from the Soiree Salutations stamp set. I stamped it in Peaceful Pine and punched it out with the Three Banners Punch.
​
For the finishing touches, I added a few coordinating sequins and some white Baker’s twine. The white twine came from the Multicolor Christmas Baker’s Twine pack. Yes, I could have used regular white twine, but pulling it out of the multicolor pack gave it a loose, squiggly texture that I really liked on this card.

Supplies for this Thank You Card

Layered Bubble Wrap Background with Radiant Sunflowers

You don’t have to limit your bubble wrap background to one ink color. For this card, I combined Crumb Cake and Petal Pink to create a warm, layered background for the Radiant Sunflowers.

I started with Crumb Cake cardstock and used the same large bubble wrap from the first card. I stamped the bubble wrap twice with Crumb Cake ink. Then, I added Petal Pink ink to the bubble wrap and pressed it onto the cardstock again.

The combination created irregular Crumb Cake and Petal Pink areas that look a little worn and grungy. Once that texture was in place, I stamped sunflowers across the background with Early Espresso ink.

I stamped a few more sunflowers in Early Espresso on Basic White cardstock and colored them with Petal Pink and Pecan Pie Stampin’ Blends. To keep the bright white edges from looking too stark against the earthy background, I added Light Crumb Cake around the outside of the flowers. Then, I used the Color Lifter to soften and spread the color so the edges faded into the card more naturally.

The “Thinking of You” sentiment was stamped in Early Espresso on Crumb Cake cardstock and cut with the label die from the Radiant Sunflowers bundle. A strip of Early Espresso cardstock, a strand of jute, and Petal Pink glossy dots finish the card.

Make Radiant Sunflowers with Me in October

The Radiant Sunflowers bundle will be featured in my October Online Card Class. Place an order of at least $100 in Stampin’ Up! products through me during September, and you’ll earn the October class make-and-take kit for free.
​
The kit includes the precut cardstock and other consumable supplies needed to create the class cards. You’ll use your own stamps, ink, and adhesive to finish the projects while you stamp along with me.

Supply List for this Sunflower Card

Supply List for this Birthday Card

Tiny Bubble Wrap Birthday Card

The first two cards use large bubbles, but this birthday card shows how different the technique looks with teeny-tiny bubble wrap.

I stamped Lemon Lolly ink onto Lemon Lolly cardstock to create the background. The tiny, closely spaced impressions almost look like a piece of dotted Designer Series Paper. It’s still imperfect and textured, but the scale of the pattern gives it a completely different personality.

The birthday image is from the Round About Messages stamp set. I stamped it in Early Espresso and added Lemon Lolly and Pumpkin Pie to the little cake image. The circle is layered on Pumpkin Pie cardstock to help it pop against the yellow background.

The striped accent may look like patterned paper, but I made it myself. I started with Lemon Lolly cardstock and drew stripes across it using Daffodil Delight and Pumpkin Pie Stampin’ Blends. You don’t have to worry about making the stripes perfectly straight or evenly spaced. The handmade quality works nicely with the irregular bubble wrap background.
​
I finished the card by pulling apart a piece of the new jute and using just one strand. This created a thinner bow while keeping that loose, slightly fuzzy texture.

A Subtle Bubble Wrap Background

Bubble wrap doesn’t have to cover the entire background. For the final card, I used it more selectively to add texture around the corners and edges.

This card features one of the stamp sets included in the Stampin’ Up! Virtual Card Making Retreat box. I started with Lemon Lolly cardstock, but instead of inking the entire piece of bubble wrap, I added Lemon Lolly ink to only a few areas. I pressed those sections onto the cardstock so the bubble pattern would peek out in the corners without becoming an all-over design.

Next, I used some of the small words and texture stamps from the set to add another layer of Lemon Lolly ink over the Lemon Lolly cardstock. Layering several tone-on-tone patterns gives the background interest while still leaving plenty of open space.

The flowers were stamped in Lemon Lolly and Crushed Curry with Crumb Cake centers. I also stamped and die-cut flowers using the same colors, then added Lost Lagoon leaves for a little contrast.
​
The sentiment says, “You are loved so very much.” I stamped it in Early Espresso and Crushed Curry so the emphasized words coordinate with the flowers. A bit of Linen Thread tucked behind the sentiment finishes this sweet card.

Join the Virtual Card Making Retreat

The Stampin’ Up! Virtual Card Making Retreat is happening October 1–2, 2026, in celebration of World Card Making Day. The retreat box includes the project supplies and two stamp sets, including the set used on this card.

You can craft along during the live event, but don’t worry if you aren’t available on October 1–2. A replay will be available, so you can watch and create the projects on your own schedule.
​
If you want to join the fun, make sure you order your retreat box soon so it has time to arrive before the event.

More Cardmaking Ideas with Your Supplies

One of my favorite things about the bubble wrap technique is that you don’t need another specialized tool. You can rescue a piece of packing material from the recycling bin, pair it with the ink and cardstock you already own, and make a background that looks different every time.

Try changing the size of the bubbles or using two colors of ink. Stamp the bubble wrap once for an open pattern or repeat it to fill more of the background. You can cover the entire piece of cardstock or add just a few impressions to the corners. There really isn’t a wrong way to do it.
​
If you place an order of at least $50 in Stampin’ Up! products with me during September, you’ll also receive Creativity Made Simple Techniques, Templates & Folds Volume 12. It’s filled with even more ideas to help you use your supplies and keep making cards without having to figure out every design from scratch.

Ready to Try the Bubble Wrap Technique?

Before you throw away the bubble wrap from your next package, take it to your craft space and see what kind of background you can make with it. This is an easy rubber stamping technique for adding texture to handmade cards, and it works with so many different styles.

Be sure to download the free project sheet for the measurements and technique instructions. Then grab some bubble wrap, ink, and cardstock and give it a try.
​
Which do you prefer - the bold pattern from the large bubbles or the tiny dotted texture from the small bubble wrap? Let me know in the comments!