Stars, Stripes & Stamps: A Mixed Media Fourth of July Journal Page

Hello friends! Ericka from Strangely Creative here, and with the Fourth of July just around the corner, I thought it would be fun to create something a little different.

Instead of reaching for traditional patriotic papers, I challenged myself to build an American flag using stamps, stencils, embossing powders, and mixed media techniques. One of my favorite parts of creating is looking at everyday supplies in a completely new way, and this project was the perfect opportunity to do just that.

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🎨 Building the Flag

I started by creating the basic shapes of my flag using the PaperArtsy JOFY PS423 stencil along with PaperArtsy Fresco Finish Acrylic Paints in Twilight and Toffee Apple.

 

Using a sponge to apply the paint gave the page soft texture while still creating crisp blocks of color. Once everything was dry, it was time to start adding the details that would transform those simple shapes into something recognizable.

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⭐ Adding the Stars & Stripes

Rather than drawing traditional stripes, I wanted to create a little more texture.

I reached for the PaperArtsy Kate Crane KC005 stamp set and heat embossed portions of the design in white across the red sections of the flag. The embossing adds subtle shine while keeping the stripes interesting and full of movement.

 

For the blue section, I stamped stars from the Visible Image Midnight Sky set and heat embossed them in white. Those bright stars really pop against the darker background and instantly complete the patriotic look. I then added some PaperArtsy Fresco Peal Glaze on top of my panels for s fun pearl sheen.

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❤️ Layering in Meaning

One of my favorite things about art journaling is adding layers that invite you to take a second look.

For this page, I incorporated sentiments from the Visible Image Bold Enough stamp set, embossing them with red and blue WOW! Embossing Powders to coordinate with the rest of the design.

 

To add a little more depth, I stamped the heart from the same collection and heat embossed it with WOW! Vintage Gold Lace. I also scattered a few gold stars across the page to tie everything together and add just a touch of sparkle.

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✨ Finishing Touches

To complete the page, I added:

• Soft shading with a Stabilo pencil
• A hand-drawn frame to define the composition
• Final details to balance the page and bring all the elements together 

I love how this project shows that you don't need themed products to create a holiday-inspired design. Sometimes the most creative projects come from using your everyday supplies in unexpected ways.

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Thank you so much for stopping by today! I hope this project inspires you to experiment with your stash and celebrate the season in your own creative way.

Have a safe, happy, and creative Fourth of July! 🇺🇸✨ And if you're looking to add a few new favorites to your collection, don't forget to check out the current sale before it's gone!

  

Topflight Stamp Supplies

 

PaperArtsy - Kate Crane KC005 Shop at: TP	Visible Image - Bold Enough Shop at: TP	Visible Image - Midnight Sky Shop at: TP	PaperArtsy - JOFY PS423 Shop at: TP	Embossing - Bright White Ultra Fine Shop at: TP
WOW! Embossing - Clear Embossing Pad Shop at: TP	WOW! Embossing - Tracy Scott Gold Vintage Lace Shop at: TP	PaperArtsy - Fresco Chalk Paint - Pearl Glaze Shop at: TP	PaperArtsy - Fresco Chalk Paint - Toffee Apple Shop at: TP
PaperArtsy - Fresco Chalk Paint - Twilight Shop at: TP

Stars & Hydrangea

Hello all!  You've got Colleen here today, sharing a card that features STARS.  That's our theme this week at Topflight Stamps!  The base layer of the card has a piece of patterned paper from Craft Consortium Ink Drops - Ocean.  Then I made a background of stars with the Darkroom Door Starry Night Small Stencil, and a piece of patterned paper from Craft Consortium's Test of Time paper pad.  Though I used a gold stencil paste from Studio Light, the Topflight store has silver in stock for you!  For my focal point is a hydrangea flower and leaves from Hobby Art Stamps - Hydrangea, stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black ink and fussy-cut and colored with alcohol markers.  I also stamped a postage stamp from PaperArtsy Ink and The Dog Mini 134 in the same ink and colored it as well.  This was tucked beneath a corner of the hydrangea.  The final touch is a sentiment from Lavinia's Sticker Collection - Uplifting Sentiments, mounted on foam tape.

Hope you have a wonderful week! ~ Colleen

Supplies used from Topflight Stamps:

Craft Consortium - Test of Time

Darkroom Door - Small Stencil - Starry Night

Hobby Art Stamps - Hydrangea

PaperArtsy - Ink and the Dog - Mini 134

Studio Light - Stencil Paste - Gold

(Silver available here)

Memento Tuxedo Black ink

Lavinia Sentiment Stickers - Uplifting Collection

Craft Consortium - Ink Drops - Ocean

Studio Light Foam Tape 6mm

Happy Independence Day!

Hello, Lisa Hoel here. This week at Topflight Stamps our theme is "Stars". It's certainly the perfect opportunity to create a festive themed card for the 4th of July!

The background was created with Lindy's Stamp Gang sprays and Magical Shakers plus some Lavinia Dinkles powder. They all combined with inky goodness! Over that I applies texture paste through the Stars & Rays stencil and then sprinkled on WOW! Caramel Vanilla embossing powder. When the paste was dry, I heat embossed the powder.

Thanks for stopping by and be sure to check out the Topflight Stamps store for a wide selection of different and hard to find stamps, stencils and other paper crafting supplies from all around the world! Also keep an eye here on the Topflight Stamps blog. There is new inspiration posted often!

Topflight Stamps Supplies Used:

AALL & Create stencil - Stars & Rays

Visible Image stamp set - Birthday Wishes

Visible Image stamp set - Rock Out

Visible Image stamp set - Birthday Balloons

WOW! embossing powder - Caramel Vanilla

Lindy's Starburst Sprays - Autumn Leaves (Autumn Maple Crimson)

Lindy's Magical Shaker Set - Under the Sea #2 (Yellow Tang Yellow)

Lavinia Dinkles - Chilli Jam

Do you want to swing on a star?

Greetings! It's Tuesday so you've got Kathi here to share a project with you! This week our focus is on the stars! Here's a birthday card inspired by a song created with the Swing Clear Polymer Stamp, the Pris Clear Polymer Stamp, the Musical Notes Small Clear Polymer Stamp Set, the Treble Clef from the Musical Notes Large Clear Polymer Stamp Set, a sentiment from the Heartfelt Verses Clear Polymer Stamp Set, the Dynamic Stencil, and four colors of Elements Premium Dye Inks — all by Lavinia Stamps. The focal images were stamped with Nocturne VersaFine Clair Ink by Imagine Crafts/Tsukineko and shimmer was added with Scintillating Silver Glitz Spray from the Glitz Spritz Spray Set by Lindy's Stamp Gang.

Apply embossing ink over a star opening on a stencil onto a 5" x 7" panel of Mixed Media paper. Add detail white embossing powder to the wet ink, dump the excess back into its container, and heat emboss. Re-apply the embossing ink over the star opening again. Add sparkly clear embossing powder to the wet ink, dump the excess back into its container, and heat emboss.

Sponge or brush Dark Denim Elements Premium Dye Ink by Lavinia Stamps over the embossed star applying the ink more heavily around the edges of the panel. Sponge or brush Blue Lagoon Elements Premium Dye Ink over the panel, blending as you go. Thoroughly heat set the panel. Use a wet cotton swab to remove the excess ink from the star.

Use a Post-It Note to cover the bottom parts of the star. Position the Swing Clear Polymer Stamp by Lavinia Stamps facedown with the top of the swing's ropes on the Post-It Note covering the base of the star. Ink the stamp with Nocturne VersaFine Clair Ink by Imagine Crafts/Tsukineko and stamp. Position Pris Clear Polymer Stamp by Lavinia Stamps facedown so that her posterior is sitting on the swing and her hands are on the ropes.  Ink the stamp with Nocturne VersaFine Clair Ink by Imagine Crafts/Tsukineko and stamp.

Working in small segments, use a water-laden tiny paintbrush to apply water to the swing seat and ropes. Use a tissue or paper towel to dab off the water and bleach the area. Smoosh the lid of the Henna Elements Premium Dye Inkpad onto the ink pad. Use the tiny paintbrush to apply the ink to the seat of the swing. Smoosh the lid of the  Sahara Elements Premium Dye Inkpad onto the ink pad. Use the tiny paintbrush to apply the ink to the swing's ropes. Use watercolor pens to correct the color if you'd like.

Use a white chalk pencil to add small highlights to Pris.

Position the Dynamic Stencil by Lavinia Stamps over the image panel. Sponge or brush Blue Lagoon Elements Premium Dye Ink over the stencil onto the image panel avoiding Pris and the Swing.

Use Dark Denim Elements Premium Dye Ink to randomly stamp the treble clef from the Musical Notes Large Clear Polymer Stamp Set by Lavinia Stamps around the image panel. Use the same ink to stamp a variety of notes from the Musical Notes Small Clear Polymer Stamp Set by Lavinia Stamps as well.

Spray Scintillating Silver Glitz Spray from the Glitz Spritz Spray Set by Lindy's Stamp Gang over the panel. Dab off the big blobs and heat set. 

I realized that the shimmer mostly obliterated the stenciling, so I re-did repeated the stenciling but you might not be bothered by it. 

Trim the image panel  to 4.75" x 6.75", edge with Dark Denim Elements Premium Dye Ink, and adhere it to a 5" x 7" black card.

Edge the sentiment stickers with a black pen. My stickers are on the old side so I adhered them with the Quickie Glue Pin Point Roller Pen by Sakura.

Use embossing ink to stamp the "Birthday Wishes" sentiment from the Heartfelt Verses Clear Polymer Stamp Set by Lavinia Stamps. Add detail white embossing powder to the wet ink, dump the excess back into its container, and heat emboss. Use a cutting die to cut the sentiment and adhere it as shown.

Use a white paint pen to randomly add white "stars" to the background to finish the card.

Please pop over to my blog, Kat's Tales of Stamping, for step-by-step instructions, complete supply lists, and notes.

Topflight Stamps Products Used:

Swing Clear Polymer Stamp by Lavinia Stamps

Pris Clear Polymer Stamp by Lavinia Stamps

Musical Notes Small Clear Polymer Stamp Set by Lavinia Stamps

Musical Notes Large Clear Polymer Stamp Set by Lavinia Stamps

Heartfelt Verses Clear Polymer Stamp Set by Lavinia Stamps

Dynamic 8x8 Stencil by Lavinia Stamps

Dark Denim, Blue Lagoon, Henna, and Sahara Elements Premium Dye Inks by Lavinia Stamps

Nocturne VersaFine Clair Ink by Imagine Crafts/Tsukineko

Glitz Spritz Spray Set by Lindy's Stamp Gang

Quickie Glue Pin Point Roller Pen by Sakura

Thanks for visiting today!

From Paint Mop-Ups to Beautiful Tags: Mixed Media Inspiration from Your Craft Desk

 

 

 

Hello friends! Ericka from Strangely Creative here, and today I'm sharing two mixed media tags that came together completely by accident.

Some of my favorite projects don't begin with a plan. They begin with leftover paint, scraps on my desk, and a little curiosity about what might happen if I simply started layering.

These tags are the perfect reminder that creativity doesn't always start with brand-new supplies. Sometimes it starts with the pieces we almost throw away.

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🎨 Saving Every Drop of Color

The inspiration for these tags actually started while I was playing with my Lindy's Gang Victorian Garden Sprays on watercolor paper. As I was spraying my background, I realized I had applied a little more color than I needed. Instead of letting those beautiful pigments go to waste, I grabbed a couple of blank tags and used them to soak up the extra ink.

It's one of my favorite stash-saving tricks. Not only do you avoid wasting product, but you also end up with beautifully unique backgrounds ready for another project.

 

Once the tags dried, I loved the soft blends and organic movement of the colors so much that I decided they deserved to become finished pieces.

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📖 Adding Layers of Story

Next, I reached into my stash for some old book pages that I had previously painted with watercolor and sealed with melted wax. The wax gives the paper a wonderfully soft, semi-translucent look that adds incredible depth when layered.

 

Rather than cutting the pages neatly, I tore them into random pieces and adhered them to the tags. Torn edges always feel a little more organic and help the layers blend naturally into one another.

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✨ Creating Texture with Simple Supplies

One of the things I love most about mixed media is that almost anything can become a mark-making tool. For these tags, I grabbed bottles of black and gold acrylic paint fitted with precision tips and simply started drawing loose, playful squiggles across the surface.

 

There was no pattern to follow and no right or wrong way to do it. Those imperfect lines became another layer of texture that helped tie the collage together while adding movement across the tags. Sometimes the simplest marks are the ones that make a project feel finished.

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🌸 Finishing Touches

To complete the tags, I added the beautiful AALL & Create Anemone Whispers florals along with sentiments from the AALL & Create Motivation Station collection.

 

Those final elements brought everything together while still allowing all of the layered textures to shine. 

 

Thank you so much for stopping by today! I hope this inspires you to embrace the unexpected, save those colorful leftovers, and spend a little time simply playing in your craft room this weekend.

Happy creating! 💛🎨

 

 Topflight Stamp Supplies

AALL & Create - 92 - Anemone Whispers Shop at: TP

AALL & Create - Motivation Station Shop at: TP

Lindy's Gang - Victorian Bouquet Shimmer Shop at: Lindys | TP