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I like to use stripes and dots, as well as text (including SU!'s French Script mentioned by Debbie) and sheet music.
It would depend on what cards you like making. I like making rustic, distressed cards, so I also like backgrounds like canvas and cheesecloth. And speckled random dots.
I love the Cover-A-Card backgrounders from Impression Obsession. Since they're square, they work well for most card sizes.
Favourites there - Flourishes, Swirled Lace, Snowflakes (for Christmas), Greenery...and a whole bunch more. I use the Map one a lot for homemade DP.
Script stamps are great too and I second what Sophie says; I use Canvas, Aida Cloth and Linen a lot. Sanded (another retired SU one) is one I have my eye on!
I like the IO stamps too. I get a bit cranky with "background" stamps that are not the size of an A2, let alone any thing bigger. I have a lot of trouble with lining up patterns-I see that all the time. Small 2 inch "background" stamps you are to stamp over and over. If it is some randomly spaced items free "floating" that's one thing, but honeycombs, stripes, etc. ugh
Maybe an idea for you is to think about what kind of DP you like a lot? You can make DP yourself with background stamps on colored paper often*....so if you like stripes, or damask or whatever, that may be the right background stamp for you whether you want to make DP or not. But tells you what patterns you like
*or an A2 postcard you color with the stamp pad to get a specific color match
I would say stick to classics at first. Stripes, dots, branches, etc. Avoid specialty like lips, mustaches, sunglasses, holidays, etc. Till you see how often you use your "mains".
What I want to try next is either embossing backgrounds or glittering them. I did glitter tape and liked that. So easy.
I love Stampin Up's En Francias. I have used it on sympathy cards, thank you cards, Mother's Day cards, Christmas cards, Birthday cards and welcome baby cards. It's very versitile. I also use it as designer paper and have used it to die cut and punch embellishments with it.
I like script and sheet music, as well as "textural" - sanded, crackled, fabric, etc. I also find that border stamps work very well to create backgrounds. Many are wide enough to cover the entire width (or length) of a card front and, depending on the pattern, you can do them in symmetric rows or offset them. That's also a good way to get a multicolor background and/or ombre effect...
I agree with what many have already said, sheet music, scripts and any distressing type backgrounds are what I use the most.
But honestly, I love and use all my background stamps.
I often use non background stamps to make background paper, just stamp repeatedly rotating the stamp different directions as you do. Then pick up another stamp and do the same thing. I usually use at least three different stamps when I do this, in several different colors. Either each stamp is a different color or each stamp is in several colors. Lots of fun and it goes really fast once you learn to "let go" and just do it. You can mix it up and use smaller background stamps and non bg stamps too.
I also love to use a sea sponge that has been dampened and then inked up.
Name your go to background stamps
