Creating a Grungy Floral Card with Fresco Paints

 

Hello crafty friends! Ericka from Strangely Creative here, and today I'm sharing a card that embraces all the things I love about mixed media: layers of paint, plenty of texture, and a beautifully distressed finish.

Sometimes the most interesting backgrounds come from simply experimenting with color and letting the layers build naturally. For this project, I reached for my PaperArtsy Fresco Paints and some beautiful Alison Bomber designs to create a card with a vintage, weathered feel.

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Building a Grungy Background

I started by creating the background with a combination of PaperArtsy Fresco Finish Acrylic Paints in Beach Hut, Mud Splat, Mulled Wine, and Pumice.

Using a brayer, I rolled the colors across my cardstock, allowing the layers to overlap and peek through one another. I love how this technique creates an imperfect, textured look that feels naturally aged and full of character.

 

Once the first layers were dry, I reached for the PaperArtsy Alison Bomber PS523 stencil and added even more texture by pouncing paint through the design with a dauber. Those extra marks brought movement and depth to the background and helped tie all the colors together.

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Adding Layers of Detail

With the background complete, I stamped one of the beautiful images from the PaperArtsy Alison Bomber 59 stamp set using Lavinia Truffle Ink.

 

These subtle details add another layer of interest without overwhelming the background. One of my favorite things about distressed projects is how each layer peeks through the next, creating little surprises as you look closer.

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Creating the Focal Point

For the focal image, I stamped the rose from the same stamp set onto a separate gel print and carefully fussy cut it.

To give the flower a bit more dimension, I pulled out my colored pencils and added shading to the petals along with touches of green on the leaves. I love how just a few extra strokes of color can bring a stamped image to life and help it stand out against a busy background.

Once the rose was finished, I added a sentiment stamped in Versafine Clair Twilight and began assembling the card.

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Finishing Touches

To complete the design, I added:

• Gold and white paint splatters for a little extra contrast
• A hand-drawn frame to define the composition
• Simple layering that lets the rose remain the star of the card

 

Those final details brought everything together and added just the right amount of grungy charm.

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Thank you so much for stopping by today! I hope this card inspires you to pull out your paints, experiment with texture, and create something beautifully grungy.

 

Have a wonderful day and happy crafting! 🌹✨

  

 

Topflight Stamp Supplies 

PaperArtsy - Alison Bomber 59 Shop at: CSTP	PaperArtsy - Alison Bomber PS523 Shop at: TP	WOW! Embossing - Clear Shop at: TP	WOW! Embossing - Clear Embossing Pad Shop at: WOW US | TP	Lavinia - Elements Dye Ink - Truffle Shop at: TP
Tsukineko - VersaFine Clair - Nocturn Shop at: AZ | TP	Tsukineko - Versafine Clair - Twilight Shop at: TP	PaperArtsy - Fresco Chalk Paint - Beach Hut Shop at: TP	PaperArtsy - Fresco Chalk Paint - Mud Splat Shop at: TP
PaperArtsy - Fresco Chalk Paint - Mulled Wine Shop at: TP	PaperArtsy - Fresco Chalk Paint - Seth Apter Pumice Shop at: TP	Speedball - 2" Brayer Shop at: TP

Mixed Media - Lavender Plumed Bird

Hello!  We're focusing on Mixed Media creations this week at Topflight Stamps.  I made a card using paints, ink and embossing powder.  On a piece of white cardstock, I painted an ombre effect with two PaperArtsy Fresco Finish Chalk Paints:  Blah Mange and Sugar Plum.  When it was dry, I stamped the Creative Expressions Vintage Plume stamp with Versafine Clair Nocturne (black) ink.  While the ink was wet, I sprinkled on WOW! embossing powder in Platinum and hit it with a heat tool.  The effect is so cool!  Hopefully you can see it in the second card photo below.  On a separate piece of scrap cardstock, I stamped the Woodware Viola stamp with the same Nocturne ink.  Using a circle punch, I punched out two postmarks that were part of the Viola image, inked the edges, and attached to the card front.  A seam binding bow tied around the painted ombre panel was topped with one other piece of stamped ephemera I had on my desk.  Hope you have a terrific day! ~ Colleen

Supplies From Topflight Stamps:

Creative Expressions - Vintage Plume

Woodware Viola

Wow Embossing Powder - Pure Platinum

PaperArtsy Fresco Finish Chalk Paint - Blah Mange

PaperArtsy Fresco Finish Chalk Paint - Sugar Plum

Versafine Clair - Nocturne

National Coffee Day Instagram Hop with Topflight Stamps

 

Hello crafty coffee lovers! ☕✨ Ericka from Strangely Creative here, and today I’m celebrating National Coffee Day with Topflight Stamps! We’re joining in on a fun Instagram Hop, and you won’t want to miss it—there’s a chance to win a $25 Gift Card to the store. 🎉 Be sure to check our Instagram post here.

For my card, I decided to combine two of my favorite things: coffee + gel press printing. 

I started by digging into my stash of gel press prints (seriously, they’re like hidden treasures waiting to be used!). I took a rich brown gel press background and white heat embossed one of the gorgeous images from the PaperArtsy Scrapcosy 13 set. To give my coffee pot some extra character, I repeated the process on a deep Admiral Blue gel press background, fussy cut the pot, and layered it over the brown base. The contrast really makes it pop!

For the sentiment, I reached for another gel press print I had created with Watermelon Fresco Paint. I stamped the sentiment from the Scrapcosy 29 set and mounted it to my card, giving it a cheerful and bold touch. To finish everything off, I added a hand-drawn frame—because sometimes the smallest details make the biggest impact.

I love how this card came together—it feels cozy, creative, and perfect for celebrating National Coffee Day. ☕💌

Don’t forget to stop by our Instagram post

 

Topflight Stamps Supplies 

PaperArtsy - Scrapcosy 13 Shop at: TP	PaperArtsy - Scrapcosy 29 Shop at: TP	Embossing - Bright White Ultra Fine Shop at:  TP	WOW! Embossing - Clear Embossing Pad Shop at:  TP	Tsukineko - VersaFine Clair - Nocturn Shop at:  TP
Tsukineko - VersaFine Clair - Pine Cone Shop at: TP	PaperArtsy - Fresco Paint Seth Apter Admiral Shop at: TP	PaperArtsy - Fresco Paint Tracy Scott Watermelon Shop at: TP	Gel Press - Reusable Gel Printing Plate Shop at: TP
Speedball - 2" Brayer Shop at: TP

Moody Mixed Media Card with PaperArtsy Frescos

 

Happy Friday crafty friends! ✨
Ericka from Strangely Creative here, and today I’m sharing a moody mixed media card that has all the grungy-good vibes perfect for heading into the weekend.

 

Playing with Paints

I couldn’t resist diving into the brand-new PaperArtsy Fresco Acrylics in Admiral, Zinc, and Pumice. These shades together instantly gave me that moody, stormy feel I love.

To build my background, I used my brayer but instead of rolling straight, I moved in a swirl motion. This added unexpected streaks and circular textures across my plate. When I pulled the print, I fell in love with the depth and drama the paint created. 

 

Layering Stamps & Details

For stamping, I reached for one of my all-time favorite nature sets: Alison Bomber 41 – Pressed Umbels by PaperArtsy. I paired it with my trusty Ink & the Dog Mini Script stamp for those subtle background details.

To keep the moody look flowing, I stamped using Versafine Clair inks in Pine Cone and Twilight—the warm brown and deep blue play so beautifully against the Fresco paints.

Finishing Touches

No card of mine is complete without a little extra texture, so I wrapped some natural twine around the base for a rustic feel. To finish it off, I added a strong, simple sentiment from IndigoBlu, letting the background and stamping shine.

 

Final Thoughts

I love how this project turned out—moody, textured, and full of little details that make you want to look closer. Perfect for sending a thoughtful note or simply enjoying as art.

Thanks so much for stopping by today! 💕 I hope you have a wonderful Labor Day weekend filled with creativity and rest.

👉 Don’t forget—you can shop the holiday weekend sale here.

Until next time, happy crafting!
—Ericka

 

 

Topflight Stupplies 

IndigoBlu - Journaling Quotes 1 Shop at: TP	PaperArtsy - Alison Bomber 41 Pressed Umbels Shop at: TP	PaperArtsy - Ink and the Dog Mini 124 Shop at: TP	WOW! Embossing - Clear Shop at: TP	Tsukineko - VersaFine Clair - Pine Cone Shop at: TP
Tsukineko - Versafine Clair - Twilight Shop at: TP	PaperArtsy - Fresco Paint Seth Apter Pumice Shop at: TP	PaperArtsy - Fresco Paint Seth ApterAdmiral Shop at: TP	PaperArtys - Fresco Paint Tracy Scott Coastal Shop at: TP
Gel Press - Reusable Gel Printing Plate Shop at: TP	Speedball - 2" Brayer Shop at: TP