Directions:

1) Place the background stamp face up on your stamping surface.
 
2)  Ink the stamp completely by tapping the ink pad on the rubber.
 
3) Place the card stock on the inked stamp. 
 
4) If the card stock is smaller than the stamp, cover it with a piece of scratch paper.
 
5) Rub the card stock with smooth, firm strokes, making sure to rub all areas of the stamp and to keep the card stock from sliding.
 
6) Remove the scratch paper and carefully lift the card stock off the stamp. 

Tips: 1) For a more subtle background, try the repetitive stamping technique and stamp off once prior to stamping. 

2) Another technique for subtle backgrounds is to ink a sponge and dab it on the background stamp.

3) Create a multicolored background by applying two or more inks to the background stamp.