One Gel Print, Three Christmas Cards: Christmas in July Inspiration

 

Hello crafty friends! Ericka from Strangely Creative here, and today we're celebrating one of my favorite crafting traditions... Christmas in July!

I know it may seem a little early to start thinking about holiday cards, but I've learned that making a few cards now means a lot less stress when December rolls around. Plus, it's the perfect excuse to pull out some festive stamps and spend a little extra time creating.

For today's project, I challenged myself to stretch my supplies by turning one gel print into three different Christmas cards.

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🎨 Starting with a Favorite Gel Print

I began by digging through my stash and found a colorful gel press print that had been waiting for the perfect project.

 

One of the things I love about gel prints is that every section has its own personality. Cut your larger gel prints into smaller panels and let each one become the background for a different design.

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🎅 Coloring the Gnomes

Next, I reached for the adorable PaperArtsy Kate Crane 017 stamp set and colored each of the whimsical gnomes with colored pencils.

 

I love how relaxing colored pencils are. Building soft layers of color and adding subtle shading gives each little character its own personality. Once they were finished, I paired each gnome with the section of the gel print that suited it best. It almost felt like matching ornaments to the perfect Christmas tree.

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✨ Adding Texture & Shine

To give the backgrounds a festive touch, I used the PaperArtsy Kate Crane PS427 stencil with gold texture paste.

 

The raised metallic texture catches the light beautifully and adds just the right amount of holiday sparkle without overpowering the colorful backgrounds.

Sometimes a little shimmer is all a Christmas card needs.

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💌 Finishing Touches

To complete the cards, I added:

• Sentiments from the PaperArtsy JOFY 117 and Kate Crane 007 stamp sets
• My signature hand-drawn frame
• Simple layering that lets each gnome remain the star of the card 

 

Three cards finished... and a few more crossed off my Christmas list!

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Thank you so much for stopping by today! I hope these cheerful little gnomes inspire you to get a head start on your holiday cards and remind you that even one background can become several beautiful projects.

Have a wonderful weekend, happy crafting, and Merry Christmas... just a little early! 🎄✨

 

Topflight Stamp Supplies 

PaperArtsy - JOFY 117 Shop at: TP	PaperArtsy - Kate Crane 007 Shop at: TP	PaperArtsy - Kate Crane 017 Shop at: TP	PaperArtsy - Kate Crane PS427 Shop at: TP	WOW! Embossing - Clear Shop at:  TP
	Tsukineko - Versafine Clair - Twilight Shop at: TP	Gel Press - Reusable Gel Printing Plate Shop at: TP	Speedball - 2" Brayer Shop at: TP

Christmas Snowflakes

Hello!  This week at Topflight Stamps, we're celebrating CHRISTMAS in July!!  I went with a clean and simple design, making Visible Image "Let It Snow" stamp set the star attraction here.  With WOW! Embossing Ink and WOW! Weathered Gold embossing powder, I stamped the largest snowflake in the center of the card, and then at each of the four corners, and used a heat tool.  The shine on this is gorgeous in person (see second photo below).  The very center of the main snowflake has a cluster of juniper berries from PaperArtsy - Alison Bomber - Juniper Edition.  I stamped it on a scrap piece of cardstock with Memento Tuxedo Black ink, colored with alcohol markers and fussy-cut.  It passes easily for a different kind of berry; it's a versatile stamp set!

Have a wonderful week! ~ Colleen

Supplies used from Topflight Stamps:

Visible Image - Let It Snow

PaperArtsy - Alison Bomber - Juniper Edition

WOW! Embossing Powder - Weathered Gold

WOW! Embossing Ink - Clear

Memento Tuxedo Black ink

Christmas in July with Woodware Stamps

Hello, Lisa Hoel here. This week at Topflight Stamps we're cooling it down with "Christmas in July"! If you are like most of us, when December rolls around we run short on time for holiday card making. Why not get a start now?

I started off with a shimmery silver gel print background. The main stamp from the Woodware Holy Night set is such a beautiful focal image – I just added some color and gold accents. Perfect!

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:

Woodware stamp set - Holy Night

VersaFine Clair ink pad - Nocturne

Gel Press print

watercolors

 

Ho Ho Ho!

 It's Tuesday which means you've got Kathi here to share a project with you!! Our theme this week is Christmas in July! 

Here's my card created with the Kate Crane 007 Cling Mounted Stamp Set by Kate Crane for PaperArtsy, the Hills Acetate Stencil/Mask Set by Lavinia Stamps, and the A Gingham Christmas 8x8 Patterned Paper Pad by Creative Expressions.

Use Tuxedo Black Memento Ink by Imagine Crafts/Tsukineko to stamp Santa from the Kate Crane 007 Cling Mounted Stamp Set by Kate Crane for PaperArtsy twice — once onto a piece of Mixed Media paper and once onto repositionable sticker paper. Fussy-cut the sticker paper version and place it over its counterpart on the image panel.

Place the reindeer stamp from the Kate Crane 007 Cling Mounted Stamp Set facedown on the right of Santa. Ink the stamp with  Tuxedo Black Memento Ink and stamp it twice — once onto the image panel and once onto repositionable sticker paper. Fussy-cut the sticker paper version and place it over its counterpart on the image panel.

Clean and dry the reindeer stamp. Reposition it facedown on Santa's left. Ink the stamp with  Tuxedo Black Memento Ink and stamp it twice — once onto the image panel and once onto repositionable sticker paper. Fussy-cut the sticker paper version and place it over its counterpart on the image panel.

Place the flattest of the masks from the Hills Acetate Stencil/Mask Set by Lavinia Stamps horizontally across the image panel and secure with low-tack tape and/or magnets.

Brush or sponge grey-blue dye ink over the Hills Acetate Mask and the masked images onto the image panel to create a background sky.

Use a C1 Copic marker to trace the top of the Hills Acetate Mask, Flip the mask over and move it downwards. Use the C1 marker to trace it again.  Repeat this step to create more lines of snow on the background. 

Remove the masks from the images and use Copic markers to color them. Use a N6 marker to increase the size of the reindeers' pupils then use a white gel pen to add highlights to them and to the reindeers' hooves. Use a black Glaze pen to color the buttons on Santa's outfit and make them shiny and dimensional.

Position the "ho, ho, ho!" sentiment stamp facedown on the image panel as shown. Ink the sentiment stamp with Nocturne VersaFine Clair Ink by Imagine Crafts/Tsukineko and stamp. Heat set the ink.

Add dots of Bold Stardust Clear Glittering Gelly Roll Gel Ink Pens by Sakura along the traced snow lines. Let the gel ink dry, trim the image panel, and mat with a slightly larger panel of red textured cardstock.

Cut a piece of patterned paper from the A Gingham Christmas 8x8 Patterned Paper Pad by Creative Expressions to 4" x 5.25" to create the background panel. Edge it with a R35 Copic marker and adhere it to a red A2 card. 

Adhere the matted image panel to finish the 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 Cling Mounted Stamp Set by Kate Crane for PaperArtsy

Hills Acetate Stencil/Mask Set by Lavinia Stamps

A Gingham Christmas 8x8 Patterned Paper Pad by Creative Expressions

Tuxedo Black Memento Ink by Imagine Crafts/Tsukineko

Nocturne VersaFine Clair Ink by Imagine Crafts/Tsukineko

Bold Stardust Clear Glittering Gelly Roll Gel Ink Pens by Sakura

Thank you for visiting today!

One Magic Night 7/6/26

Hi, friends!  It's Walter Zemrock on the blog with you today sharing my first post as a member of the Topflight Stamps team.  I'm truly excited to be joining this team of amazing creators and look forward to opportunity to share designs with you.  This week's theme is Christmas, and I couldn't be happier about that!  It's a time of the year filled with so much magic and wonder . . . and I enjoy trying to capture that in my designs.

Today's card was created with products from Lavinia Stamps: Christmas Night - Santa's Sleigh, Snowy Fir Tree - Small, Forrest Scene, Annie & Edward Set, and Christmas Greetings.  In addition, I also used several Versafine Clair Ink pads (Nocturne, Blue Belle, Fallen Leaves, Green Oasis), Hunkydory Gold & Silver Diamond Sparkles Precious Pearls, as well as several items from my stash: watercolor paper panel, white pigment ink, ink pouncer applicator, white acrylic marker, and gel pens.

I began by applying the Blue Belle ink to the watercolor panel using a baby wipe.  Watercolor paper is a great background for this card for two reasons: 1). it won't pill as you pounce and swipe the baby wipe across it, and 2). it has texture that works great when creating a snowy scene.  I simply smoosh my ink pad onto my glass crafting surface, swipe the ink with the baby wipe, and add it to the paper by pouncing and swiping it around.  I then follow up by using my blue ink blending brush to swipe back and forth to blend it all a bit.  Note that you're not looking for a completely unified ink blended background and variations are okay. 

I then used my ink pouncing brush and white pigment ink to gently soften the color by randomly pouncing all over the panel.  This softens the blue color and fills in variations to create a snowy night sky.  I followed that up my adding white splatter to the card panel to create the falling snow.

 I was then able to determine the placement of images in my scene and stamp them.  Note that I achieved the darker green shade for the fir trees by stamping them first with Fallen Leaves and then stamping them with Green Oasis on top of it.

Once the stamping was done, I was able to add details.  I used a white gel pen to add snow onto tree branches, yellow and orange glitter gel pens to add a light effect around the lantern and candle, and a white acrylic marker to add some heavier snow impressions and snowy ground for Annie & Edward to stand on.

I just love Annie & Edward!  They add such a sense of wonder to the scene by standing there with their lights, looking up at Santa, and watching as he flies above them.  All I can think of is BELIEVE as I look at this card!

I hope that you enjoyed learning more about my design and process.  I look forward to sharing another post with you next Monday.  Until then . . . be well!

Topflight Stamps Supplied Used:

Lavinia Christmas Night - Santa's Sleigh

Lavinia - Annie & Edward Set

Lavinia Snowy Fir Tree Small

Lavinia Forrest Scene

Lavinia Christmas Greetings

Hunkydory Diamond Sparkles Precious Pearls Gold & Silver

Vaersafine Clair Nocturne Ink Pad

Versafine Clair Blue Belle Ink Pad

Versafine Clair Fallen Leaves Ink Pad

Versafine Clair Green Oasis Ink Pad

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