Mixed Media Mini Book From One Gel Print

 

Hello crafty friends! Ericka from Strangely Creative here, and today I’m sharing a fun little experiment that turned into one of my favorite projects lately: a mixed media mini book made from one single gel print.

I went into this project curious. Could one gel press print really become a mini book? Spoiler alert: absolutely yes.

Starting With the Gel Print

I began with a gel press print that I created purely as an experiment. Once the print was dry, I added layers using the PaperArtsy Kate Crane 427 and 453 stencils, applying paint along with black embossing paste for texture and contrast. That embossing paste adds instant drama and gives the surface just enough grit to keep things interesting.

After everything dried, the real fun started.

Folding and Cutting the Page

Instead of trimming the page down right away, I folded the print several different ways to see how the patterns landed. Once I liked the flow, I cut into a few sections and suddenly had this playful little one-page book taking shape.

 

If you’ve got a stack of gel prints sitting around, this is a fantastic way to use them. One page. No pressure. Lots of payoff. There are so many variations on one-page books, and I already know I’ll be making more.

 

Adding the Details

With the structure finished, I moved on to the embellishing stage. I stamped and watercolored images from PaperArtsy Tracy Scott 58 and 105, then added them throughout the book for focal points and movement. To finish it off, I layered in elements from AALL & Create Motivation Station, which tied everything together beautifully.

 

Each page feels connected, but still has its own little moment.

Want to See the Full Flip-Through?

This project really comes to life when you can see it in motion. Be sure to check out the Instagram video where I share the full mini book from start to finish.

 

Thanks so much for stopping by today. I hope this inspires you to pull out a gel print and try turning it into something unexpected.

Have a wonderful weekend and happy creating.

Topflight Stamp Supplies

 

PaperArtsy - Tracy Scott 105 Shop at: TP	PaperArtsy - Tracy Scott 58 Shop at: TP	PaperArtsy - Kate Crane PS427 Shop at: TP	PaperArtsy - Kate Crane PS453 Shop at: TP	AALL & Create - Motivation Station Shop at: TP
Tsukineko - Versafine Clair - Twilight Shop at: TP		Gel Press - Reusable Gel Printing Plate Shop at: TP

Enjoy Life with Gossamer Gold

Hello crafters!  I've got a shimmery card to share with you today for Topflight Stamps, using Lindy's Stamp Gang Gossamer Gold spray.  Oh my, this is so gorgeous!  It's got a combination of walnut brown and gold hues in one spray.  First, I took a plain manila tag and spritzed it with this product, then a bit of water and hit it with a heat tool to help speed up drying. Once dry, I used the PaperArtsy Scrapcosy PS317 Stencil and Lavinia Truffle Dye Ink to create borders and a sentiment on the tag.  After mounting it on an old hymnal page and decorative paper, I added a twine bow and it's all set to give to my father in law for his birthday.  Thanks for joining me, and hope you have a great day! ~ Colleen

Supplies From Topflight Stamps:

PaperArtsy Scrapcosy PS317 Stencil

Lavinia Dye Ink - Truffle

Lindy's Stamp Gang Moon Shadow Mist - Gossamer Gold

Punny Valentines for the 14th with Katzelkraft

Hello, Lisa Hoel here. This week at Topflight Stamps our theme is "Anything Goes". I'm still going to town with the Valentine theme so I created a set of "punny" valentines like the kind you used to hand out to your grade school classmates. I'm amused by all the goofy puns on those vintage valentines so I made up some of my own to pair with the funny Katzelkraft stamp images.

To make these, I first made some masterboards to chop up for the backgrounds. I layered ink sprays, stamping and washi tape (AALL & Create #52 Blush) and used watercolor paper for the substrate.

Using both the Holey Fun and Quirky Post AALL & Create die sets, I cut the inner sections from the masterboards and a backing of plain red cardstock. I stamped various Katzelkraft animal stamps onto separate paper, watercolored them and then fussy cut them out. My whole family contributed to brainstorming the punny sentiments which I printed out using my computer. It was fun!

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:

Katzelkraft stamp sets - Jungle Animals

Katzelkraft stamp - Robot Cat

PaperArtsy mini stamps - EM77

PaperArtsy mini stamps - EM125

AALL & Create washi tape - #52 Blush

AALL & Create die set - Holey Fun DI-88

AALL & Create die set - Quirky Post DI-87

Katzelkraft stamp sets - Frogs, Cats

Carabelle Studio stamp & stencil set - Heartful Pattern

Lindy's Stamp Gang Starburst Sprays - Autumn Leaves, Gossamer Gold, Industrial Chic

Lavinia Mysticals Mist Spray - Pinkella

Versafine pigment ink pad - Onyx Black

watercolors

Winter Is Magic

 It's Tuesday so you've got Kathi here today to share a project with you! This week's theme is "Anything Goes". It's been a really cold snowy winter and there's no end in sight, so I created a wintry-themed card with the Kate Crane 007 Rubber Cling Mounted Stamp Set by PaperArtsy, the Winter Is Magic Clear Stamp Set 1191 by Janet Klein for AALL and Create, the Crea-Nest-Lies XXL Double Stitched Rectangle Die Set by CREAlies, the Acetate Hills Masks/Stencils, Snowflakes 8x8 Stencil, and Della Blue Elements Ink by Lavinia Stamps.

Here it is!

Here's a close-up that shows the sparkly and stenciled details.

Use Tuxedo Black Memento Ink by Imagine Crafts/Tsukineko to stamp the fairy and the snowman from the Kate Crane 007 Rubber Cling Mounted Stamp Set by PaperArtsy twice — once onto a panel of Bristol Paper and once onto repositionable sticker paper.

Use Copic markers to color both images. Use Copic markers to outline the images. Fussy-cut the sticker paper versions and place them over their counterparts as masks.

Use the second largest die from the Crea-Nest-Lies XXL Double Stitched Rectangle Die Set by CREAlies to cut the image panel. 

Place the flattest hills mask from the Acetate Hills Masks/Stencils by Lavinia Stamps across the bottom part image panel die-cut so that the mask's top edge is across the bottom part of the masked snowman. 

Brush Della Blue Elements Ink by Lavinia Stamps over the Acetate Hills Mask and the masked snowman onto the image panel die-cut to add a background color to the top part. Remove the Acetate Hills Mask. Lightly mist the inked portion of the image panel die-cut. with water to add some white splatters and splotches to the background . Heat set the image panel die-cut.

Use a sponge dauber or a small blending brush to add shimmery white pigment ink over the bottom part of the image panel die-cut, then heat set the ink.

Place the Snowflakes 8x8 Stencil by Lavinia Stamps over the image panel die-cut. Brush white pigment ink, then shimmery white pigment ink over the Snowflakes 8x8 Stencil onto the image panel die-cut.

Remove the stencil and heat-set the image panel die-cut.

Remove the masks from the fairy and snowman. Add Stardust Clear Glittering Gel Ink Pen by Sakura onto the fairy's wings, crown, and the star on her mask, then use a Copic blending marker to spread the glitter over them. When done, clean the markers nib onto a piece of tissue.

Use the Stardust Clear Glittering Gel Ink Pen by Sakura to add lines extending from the bottom of the fairy and from the star on her wand. Also use it to add dot details to the snowman and to the top of the snowy hill.

Position the "winter is magic" sentiment stamp from the Winter Is Magic Clear Stamp Set 1191 by Janet Klein for AALL and Create onto the image panel as shown. Ink the stamp with embossing ink and stamp. Ink the sentiment stamp a second time with Nocturne VersaFine Clair Ink by Imagine Crafts/Tsukineko and stamp. Sprinkle clear detail embossing powder onto the wet ink, dump the excess powder back into its container, and melt the powder with an embossing tool.

Cut a piece of black cardstock so that it's .25" larger than the image panel die-cut and use it as a mask. Adhere the matted image panel to a white card.

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

Topflight Stamps Products Used:

Kate Crane 007 Rubber Cling Mounted Stamp Set by PaperArtsy

Winter Is Magic Clear Stamp Set 1191 by Janet Klein for AALL and Create

Crea-Nest-Lies XXL Double Stitched Rectangle Die Set by CREAlies

Acetate Hills Masks/Stencils by Lavinia Stamps

Snowflakes 8x8 Stencil by Lavinia Stamps

Della Blue Elements Ink by Lavinia Stamps

Tuxedo Black Memento Ink by Imagine Crafts/Tsukineko

Nocturne VersaFine Clair Ink by Imagine Crafts/Tsukineko

Stardust Clear Glittering Gel Ink Pen by Sakura

Thank you for visiting today!

Mixed Media Art Journal Page with Gel Press, Stencils & Embossing

 

Hello crafty friends! Ericka from Strangely Creative here, and today I’m sharing a mixed media art journal page that came together through layers, texture, and a little creative problem-solving.

This page started with a gel press print where I used packing material to create an organic, imperfect pattern. I love using unexpected textures on the gel plate because they instantly add depth and visual interest. Once the print was dry, I layered in printed tissue postcards to begin building the background.

 

To soften and unify the layers, I worked through a butterfly stencil using white gesso. After that dried, I went back through the same stencil with embossing ink and added embossing powder in soft vintage tones. That touch of heat-set shine brought subtle sparkle and helped the stencil design pop without overpowering the background.

Next came the details. I added hand-drawn accents with acrylic pens and tucked in a few tiny punched hearts made from embossed paper. These small elements may seem simple, but they make the page feel finished and intentional. 

After stepping back, I realized the page needed one more layer to balance everything out. I added pieces of printed paper to selected areas and tinted them with a soft pink matte finish. Then I stamped a bold floral image, heat-embossed it, and added color using a rosy spray from my stash. That final pop of color pulled the whole page together.

 

To finish the page, I added a few motivational ephemera sentiments. They grounded the design and gave the page a clear focal point without cluttering the layout.

 

This is one of those art journal pages that reminds me why I love mixed media so much. You can layer, experiment, step back, and adjust until it feels right. No rules. Just creativity.

 

Thanks so much for stopping by, and I hope you have a wonderfully crafty weekend!

Topflight Stamp Supplies 

 

PaperArtsy - Francis Papillon 378 Shop at: TP	WOW! Embossing - Clear Embossing Pad Shop at: TP	WOW! Embossing - Jo Firth Young Petalicious Shop at: TP	WOW! Embossing - Tracy Scott Gold Vintage Lace Shop at: TP	AALL & Create - Motivation Station Shop at: TP
Tsukineko - Versafine Clair - Twilight Shop at: TP	PaperArtsy - Printed Tissue Postcards Shop at: TP	Lindy's Gang - Magical Shakers - Boho Dreams Shop at: TP	Gel Press - Reusable Gel Printing Plate Shop at: TP