Hello crafty friends! Ericka from Strangely Creative here, and I’m diving headfirst into the summer vibes with a splashy ocean-themed mixed media card. If you’re dreaming of the sea or just need a little coastal creativity in your life, this project is for you! It’s fun, textured, and a great way to use up that stack of gel prints we all have stashed away.
For this card, I pulled out the adorable PaperArtsy Tracy Scott 79 stamp set. I’ve always loved the whimsical fish designs, but today I focused on the smaller elements to really let my layered background shine.
🌊 Let's Talk Background:
This card started with one of my experimental gel press prints—created during a session where I played with corn starch as a resist (yes, really!). Here's the quick breakdown:
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Roll out a base color (I used a bold pink) and pull your first print.
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Apply a second color on the plate and sprinkle some corn starch before pulling the next print.
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The starch acts as a resist and gives you a wild pop of texture and visual interest—perfect for a watery, ocean feel!
🐠 Stamping & Embellishing:
Once the background was ready, I stamped the Tracy Scott shell and starfish and heat embossed them in gold for that perfect sun-kissed shimmer. For the smaller fish, I reached for WOW! Sparkling Sand embossing powder—a favorite for giving things just a bit of extra beachy sparkle.
The remaining fish were stamped separately, colored with pencils to make them pop, and then fussy cut and layered onto the card. I finished it all off with a sentiment from the Creative Expressions Sentiment Sheet for a final touch of inspiration.
Whether you’re staying cool inside or soaking up sunshine, I hope this card inspires you to bring some ocean magic into your own creations. Don’t be afraid to experiment with new techniques—like corn starch on your gel plate—you never know what beautiful surprises await!
Thanks so much for stopping by, and have a creative, colorful summer! 🐚✨
Want more colorful chaos? Visit me over at StrangelyCreative.com for more mixed media tutorials and card inspiration!
Topflight Supplies
![]() PaperArtsy - Tracy Scott 79 Shop at: TP |
![]() WOW! Embossing - Clear Embossing Pad Shop at: TP |
![]() WOW! Embossing - Jo Firth Young Silver Snow Shop at: TP |
![]() WOW! Embossing - Metallic Gold Rich Pale Shop at: TP |
![]() Creative Expressions - Sentiment Sheets - Birthday Shop at: TP |
![]() Tsukineko - VersaFine Clair - Nocturn Shop at: TP |
![]() Gel Press - Reusable Gel Printing Plate Shop at: TP |
![]() Speedball - 2" Brayer Shop at: TP |
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