Textured Hearts: A Gel Press Valentine Card

 

Hello crafty friends! Ericka from Strangely Creative here, and I’m back with another mixed media card that’s full of texture, layers, and a whole lot of heart. Today’s project features the AALL & Create Heart Collage stamp, and honestly, this one never gets old.

Over the weekend, I pulled out my gel press and decided to play. No pressure, no plan. Just paint, curiosity, and some leftover packaging materials that were too interesting to toss. Those bits of texture turned out to be the perfect background starter. Slightly grungy, slightly imperfect, and exactly what I love for a handmade Valentine. If you want to see how that background came together, I shared the full process over on Instagram. Definitely worth a peek if you like seeing layers build from nothing.

 

Once the background was fully dry, I white heat embossed the Heart Collage stamp right over the top. That crisp white against the busy gel print instantly pulled everything together. To add a little extra detail, I grabbed my white paint pen and filled in some of the tiny hearts. Small step, big payoff. It adds just enough contrast and makes those hearts pop without overwhelming the background.

To finish the card, I hand-drew a simple frame around the edge to ground the design and keep the eye focused inward. For the sentiment, I reached for one of my favorites from Creative Expressions Sentiment Sheets. Clean, bold, and easy. Sometimes simple really is the best choice.

This Heart Collage stamp is one of those designs that works with just about everything. Heat embossing, mixed media, clean cards, messy cards. It plays well with all of it. If you’re looking for a stamp that earns its keep, this one definitely does. Here are all the Valentine's I've made so far with this awesome stamp.

 Thanks so much for stopping by today. I hope this card inspires you to experiment with texture, use what you already have on your desk, and maybe even look twice at that packaging before it hits the trash. Until next time, stay creative and keep getting inky.

 

 Topflight Stamp Supplies

AALL & Create - Heart Collage Shop at: TP	Embossing - Bright White Ultra Fine Shop at: TP	WOW! Embossing - Clear Embossing Pad Shop at: TP	WOW! Embossing - Metallic Gold Rich Pale Shop at: TP	Creative Expressions - Sentiment Sheets - Birthday Shop at: TP
Lindy's Gang - Magical Shakers - Under the Sea #1 Shop at: TP	Lindy's Gang - Magical Shakers - Under the Sea #2 Shop at: TP	Gel Press - Reusable Gel Printing Plate Shop at: TP	Speedball - 2" Brayer Shop at: TP
Lavinia 5/8 Stencil Brush Shop at: TP