Swimming in Color: A Mixed Media Ocean Card

 

Hello friends! Ericka from Strangely Creative here, and today I'm sharing a project that feels perfectly suited for summer. When I think of summer, I immediately think of sunshine, beach days, and of course, the ocean. So I couldn't resist pulling out one of my favorite fish stamps from PaperArtsy Tracy Scott 79 and creating a colorful underwater scene filled with texture and layers.

---

🎨 Starting with Gel Prints

One of my favorite ways to create unique cards is by digging through my stash of gel prints. Every print has its own personality, and it's always fun finding new ways to use them.

For this card, I selected one gel print for my background (using Lavina Inks and Lindy's Gang Sprays) and two additional prints for my fish. The variety of colors and textures gave the project an instant underwater feel without requiring a lot of extra work.

That's one of the things I love most about gel printing—the background is already doing a lot of the heavy lifting.

---

🐟 Building the Ocean Scene

After choosing my prints, I stamped the fish images onto the gel prints and began creating my focal point. To help the main fish stand out, I added color with colored pencils. The extra shading and highlights brought the image to life and created a beautiful contrast against the printed background.

This is one of my favorite tricks when working with gel prints. Even a small amount of coloring can completely transform a stamped image and make it the star of the card.

---

✂️ Layering for Dimension

Once everything was colored, I fussy cut the fish and began arranging them across the background.

Layering multiple fish instantly created movement and made the card feel more like a lively underwater scene. It's amazing how a few simple layers can add so much depth and interest. To help frame the design, I added one of my signature hand-drawn borders around the card.

---

✨ Finishing Touches

No summer card is complete without a little sparkle.

To finish the project, I added:

• Sentiments from the Lavinia Sentiment Collection
• A few gems for shine and dimension
• Final details to help guide the eye around the design  

 

 

The result is a bright, cheerful card that captures everything I love about summer creativity.

---

Thank you so much for stopping by today! I hope this project inspires you to dive into your stash, play with your gel prints, and create something colorful this weekend.

Have a wonderful crafty weekend and happy creating! 🌊🐟💙

 

Topflight Stamp Supplies

 

PaperArtsy - Tracy Scott 79 Shop at: TP	Lavinia - Sentiment Stickers - Uplifting Collection Shop at: TP	Lavinia - Elements Dye Ink - Blue Atoll Shop at: TP	Lavinia - Elements Dye Ink - Mermaid Shop at: TP
Lindy's Gang - Glitz Spritz Set Shop at: TP	Lindy's Gang - TiffanyLou's Blue Starburst Shimmer Spray Shop at: TP	Gel Press - Reusable Gel Printing Plate Shop at: TP	Speedball - 2" Brayer Shop at: TP

Under the Sea with PaperArtsy & Lavinia

Hello, Lisa Hoel here. This week at Topflight Stamps our theme is "Beach/Ocean". This is always a fun theme that puts me in a summer mood! I used a variety of stamps and stencils to bring my "under the sea" card to life.

The base is a round Gel Press print I made using Lavinia Elements inks and the Coral stencil. Over that I layered 7 Seas washi tape and used the Under the Sea stencil to add some fish. Lastly, I stamped and watercolored the super fun fish from Kate Crane's Mini 007 stamp, then fussy cut them out. So cute!

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:

PaperArtsy Kate Crane stamp - Mini 007 Fish

Lavinia stamp set - Friendship

Lavinia stencil - Coral

AALL & Create stencil - Under the Sea

AALL & Create washi tape - 7 Seas

PaperArtsy Fresco paint - Dusty Teal

VersaFine Clair ink pad - Nocturne

Gel Press print

watercolors

 

Making Waves: Dive Into Summer with This Ocean-Inspired Mixed Media Card

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:

1. Roll out a base color (I used a bold pink) and pull your first print.

2. Apply a second color on the plate and sprinkle some corn starch before pulling the next print.

3. 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

To the Sea with Lavinia Stamps

Hello, Lisa Hoel here. This week at Topflight Stamps our theme is "Ocean" and I'm back with a second card to share with you. The store has a wide assortment of products that match the theme so check them out! One of my favorite Lavinia Stamps is Sebastian Sea Horse. I stamped it over a Gel Press print I made. I've also been having lots of fun using the new Quirky Post AALL & Create Die Set so it makes another appearance here too.

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 on the Topflight Stamps blog. There is new inspiration posted daily!

Topflight Stamps Supplies Used:

Lavinia Stamp - Sebastian Sea Horse

Lavinia Stamp - Shoal of Fish

Lavinia Stamp Set - Sea Creatures

Lavinia Stencil - Coral

AALL & Create Stamp Set - Everyday Sentiments

AALL & Create Die Set - Quirky Post

Clair Ink Pad - Nocturne

Lavinia Elements Ink Pad - Blue Atoll

Gel Press Plate - round

Beat the Heat with an Ocean Theme!

 Hello, Lisa Hoel here. The Summer heat is cranking up and so are dreams of a cool vacation by the sea! This week at Topflight Stamps our theme is "Ocean" The store has a wide assortment of products that fit the bill. I chose a beautiful Darkroom Door stamp called Seaside Squares to use on my card. 

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 daily!

Topflight Stamps Supplies Used:

Darkroom Door Stamp - Seaside Squares

PaperArtsy Stencil - PS165

AALL & Create Stamp Set - Everyday Sentiments

Versafine Pigment Ink Pad - Onyx Black

Lavinia Elements Ink Pad - Blue Atoll

watercolors

AALL&Create - Ocean Wonders

  Hi Everyone,

Cornelia here today. This week it's anything goes on the Topflight blog. 

I figured I'll  make another ocean themed card - I love to make those!

I stamped the shrimp and maske it. Smooshed the background with distress oxide inks. I then colored him with water colors. I trimmed the card. I stamped the seashells on the background panel with my Mist and then put teh card into the Misti and stamped the background panel again to have it match up with the card base. Added some enamel dots from my stash.

I hope you liked this. Thanks for visiting. 

See you next week with more Topflight Stamps inspiration.

And here are the stamp supplies I used: 

Ocean Wonders

NEW Lavinia Chalk Paint + Gel Press Fun Seahorse Tag

Hello, Lisa Hoel here. This week our theme over at Topflight Stamps is Anything Goes! We get to play with whatever strikes our fancy. I just got my hands on some of the new Lavinia acrylic chalk paint so I pulled out my Gel Press plate and had some fun.

The paint worked well on my Gel Press plate and comes in so many lovely colors! I went to town and made a whole stack of prints. The paint dries with a matte finish so it's perfect for layering on stamping and other mixed media techniques.

I chose two of the prints to use for my tag – the tag base and the raised panel with the seahorse stamped on it. See the list below for all the different stamps and inks I used.

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 on the Topflight Stamps blog. There is new inspiration posted daily!

Topflight Stamps Supplies Used:

Lavinia Stamps - Sebastian Seahorse

Lavinia Stamps - Sea Creatures

Lavinia Stamps - Shoal of Fish

Lavinia Stamps other - Mini fish, Seaweed 2, Fish Set

Lavinia stencil - Coral ST003

Lavinia acrylic chalk paint -
Spruce, Calypso, Snow White, Thistle Mist, Lime Zest, Parisian

Lavinia Elements Ink - Bermuda, Mulberry

Versafine Clair Ink - Shady Lime, Twilight

Versafine Ink - Black Onyx

Gel Press plate