cardmaking · Mixed Media · papercrafting

Easy Gel Press Print Cards

Mixed Media card made with Gel Press Prints and floral die cuts: WPlus9 Doodle Buds.

Hello! I recently spent a most enjoyable afternoon making acrylic gel press prints and then I turned four panels into cards. For my first card, I used Altenew’s Bubble Wrap Stencil to add varation to my background. I die cut my background using The Greetery’s Crimped Frame die, and then die cut blooms using WPlus9 Doodle Buds stamp and die bundle. I drew in stems with paint pens and assembled my card with foam squares.

Mixed Media Acrylic Rainbow print turned into a card.

For my second card, I put 7 dots of acrylic paint on my gel press and brayered one direction horizontally so the ink would gently blend but would also maintain the bands of color. I brayered the excess ink onto a second page. I added a die cut bloom, stem and Hello sentiment.

Gel Press Printing using Altenew's Leaves and Berries Stencil.

The background on Card #3 used Altenew’s Leaves and Berries stencil. My bottom layer was orange, yellow and green. Next, I placed the stencil on the wet paint and blotted most of the orange that showed through onto a piece of copy paper. I let the paint dry a minute and then gently brayered on light blue acrylic paint, removed the stencil and pulled the print. I think the background is so beautiful for a floral card. The sentiment is from Altenew’s Birthday Greetings.

Mixed Media Card featuring Hero Arts I Am Puffer For You stamped fish.

The background on card #4 started with yellow and green paint on layer 1. I placed Simons Says Stamp’s Ring Cluster Stencil on the wet paint and then blotted most of the paint that showed through the stencil with a sheet of copy paper. I then brayered on light blue paint, removed the stencil and pulled the print. It was bright and fun and reminded me of the ocean so I went with an aquatic theme. The cute little puffer fish (Hero Arts I am Puffer For You) were stamped and fussy cut and a Hello sentiment was stamped on the background.,

Supplies:

Acrylic Paint Kit

Brayer Set

Gel Press Printing Plate

Thanks for stopping by!

Karen

cardmaking · papercrafting

Altenew Doodle Blooms + Pantone Veri Peri

Altenew Doodle Blooms stamp and dies paired with Honey Bee Square Window Trio die in a birthday card.

Hello and welcome! Altenew is celebrating Pantone’s 2022 Color of the Year, “Very Peri”, with an Instagram Hop.

Altenew’s Doodle Blooms Stamp and Die Set

Altenew Lavender Fields Dye Ink Blend Background + Doodle Blooms floral images + Warm and Cozy Enamel Dot.

I used Very Peri two ways: as a bold background (card 1) and as the focal color for my images (card 2 below). Veri Peri is blue with violet undertones. On my first card, I ink blended a background with Lavender Fields Dye Ink from the Shades of Purple Ink Collection. I then paired it with long time favorite Doodle Blooms Stamp and Die Set. I colored the greenery and blooms with Altenew Artist Markers Sunshine Valley Set F. I finished the card with a Warm and Cozy enamel dot for the flower’s center.

Using Pantone Color of 2022 "Very Peri" on a handmade card with Altenew's Doodle Blooms Stamp and Die Set + Water Garden Set G Artist Markers.

For the second card, I ink blended a background Parrot crisp dye ink. The blooms were colored with a Wisteria Artist Marker from the Water Garden Set G. I finished the card with enamel dots from the Shades of Purple collection.

Using small die cut images on a DIY card:  Altenew Doodle Blooms + Shades of Purple Enamel Dots

I am so happy you stopped by today!
Karen

cardmaking · papercrafting

Easy Mixed Media Cards

Easy Mixed Media Cards

Last week, I taught a workshop on creating Easy Mixed Media cards. The participants had never done Gel Press printing before so I guided them through the printing process.

Gel Press Printing

And then we turned the prints into cards.

Some of the participant cards
Lots of decisions to make in cardmaking
Brainstorming
Working on the layout
Easy Mixed Media Cards featuring Altenew Doodle Blooms, Enamel Dots, Painted Grid Washi Tape and Gel Press Prints.

Supplies used:

Altenew Doodle Blooms Bundle

Altenew Enamel Dots

Altenew Bird of the Woods Stamp Set, Die Set and Bundle

Altenew Rounded Rectangles Die Set

Altenew Painted Grid Washi Tape

Ranger Paint Pens

Misti Stamp Positioner

Gel Press

cardmaking · papercrafting

Spellbinders Die Cut Dogwood Blossom Card

Spellbinders Susan's Garden Favorites Dogwood Card.

I just love bright happy colors and I think they pair so well with Spring cards. Today I am sharing two Dogwood themed cards from Spellbinders new collection called Susan’s Garden Favorites.

DIY Glitter Paper Background

My Process:

  • I started by making pale pink and green Gel Press prints for my flowers and leaves. The branch is cut from a copper gel print because I thought brown was too plain.
  • I also wanted a bright fun background so I made my own glitter paper. First, I taped some watercolor paper to a hard board and brushed water over the surface. Then I mixed Salty Ocean and Mermaid Lagoon Distress Inks with Shimmer Spray (no water was added) and I painted it on the watercolor paper. I wanted an intense color so I applied three layers but I didn’t bother to let it dry in between. The background is so pretty in person but its hard to see the sparkle in the photos so I added a quick video below.
  • I die cut the blooms/leaves and then, using a bone folder, I molded and shaped them.
  • The flower center is an enamel dot.
  • I wanted to anchor the background so I die cut a frame using Spellbinders Essential Rectangles from 80 lb. cardstock.
  • I assembled the card with liquid glue (frame) and foam tape for the leaves, blooms and sentiment.
Quick Video to Show the DIY Glitter Paper
Die Cut Dogwood Blossom Card with DIY handmade glitter paper background.

I changed the position of the branch on the second card and also let the background peek around the edges of the frame.

Die Cut Floral Card + Gel Press Prints

The shimmer is so much prettier in person. I think when I post to Instagram I will do a little reel so you can see the sparkle better.

Using Gel Press Prints in die cutting + How to Make DIY Glitter Cardstock

Thanks for stopping by!

Karen