Textured Elegance: A Muted Mixed Media Card

 

Hello friends! Ericka from Strangely Creative here, and today I’m sharing a mixed media card that’s all about texture, muted tones, and just the right amount of shimmer. ✨

This project started with some serious playtime on my gel plate using the gorgeous new PaperArtsy Fresco Paints in Admiral, Zinc, and Pumice. I wanted something soft but still full of depth, so I added just a hint of brown paint into the mix—and wow, the results had that perfectly aged, vintage vibe I was after. 

 

Building the Background Magic

Once my gel press prints were dry, I reached for some of my favorite PaperArtsy Seth Apter Mini Stamps (49, 71, and 108). To give them extra punch, I heat embossed the designs using WOW! Embossing Powders in Dirti Verdi, Weathered Gold, and Crusty Copper. These powders not only add sparkle but also create incredible texture you can see and feel.

For even more interest, I stamped the PaperArtsy Ink & Dog Mini 124 with Lavinia Elements Ink in Truffle. It’s a subtle detail, but it brings warmth and cohesion to the whole design.

The Leaf Focal Point

Every card needs a star, and for this one I chose the bold leaf from PaperArtsy Kate Crane 013. I stamped it onto another gel press print using the same Fresco colors and then heat embossed it with WOW! Black Glint embossing powder. The shimmer and drama it adds—perfection.

 

Layers & Finishing Touches

To create dimension and texture, I tucked some thread and twine from my stash behind the leaf before adhering it to the card front. For the sentiment, I used one of the Lavinia Sentiment Stickers, which was just the right fit without stealing the spotlight.

 

I finished everything off with a hand-drawn frame, because sometimes the simplest detail is the one that pulls the whole design together.

 

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If you love working with muted tones but still crave sparkle and dimension, this technique is one to try. The combination of gel press layers, embossing powder texture, and natural fibers gives your card so much personality—without overwhelming the eye.

Thanks for stopping by, and I hope you have a wonderfully creative weekend! 💛

 

Topflight Stamp Supplies

 

PaperArtsy - Ink and the Dog Mini 124 Shop at: TP	PaperArtsy - Kate Crane Mini 013 Shop at: TP	PaperArtsy - Seth Apter Mini 108 Shop at: TP	PaperArtsy - Seth Apter Mini 49 Shop at: TP	PaperArtsy - Seth Apter Mini 71 Shop at: TP
WOW! Embossing - Clear Embossing Pad Shop at: TP	WOW! Embossing - Seth Apter Dirti Verdi Shop at: TP	WOW! Embossing - Seth Apter Weathered Gold Shop at: TP	Lavinia - Sentiment Stickers - Uplifting Collection Shop at: TP
Lavinia - Elements Dye Ink - Truffle Shop at: TP	Tsukineko - VersaFine Clair - Morning Mist Shop at: TP	PaperArtsy - Fresco Paint Admiral Shop at: TP	PaperArtsy - Fresco Paint Pumice Shop at: TP
PaperArtsy - Fresco Paint Zinc Shop at: TP	Gel Press - Reusable Gel Printing Plate Shop at:  TP	Speedball - 2" Brayer Shop at: TP

It's Augtober! Let's Get Spooky!

Greetings! It's Tuesday so you've got Kathi here to share a project with you! This week's theme is "Anything Goes". When I was out and about last week, I noticed Halloween merchandise is now available in stores.

 As such, I decided to create a slightly spooky card with Midnight Elegy A5 Clear Stamp Set by Dawn Bibby Designs. This is a fabulous ten piece stamp set that is part of the Gothic Romance Collection that contains wonderful stencils and die sets that are perfect for Spooky Season.

Here's my card!

Use Tuxedo Black Memento Ink by Imagine Crafts/Tsukineko to stamp the little scene from the Midnight Elegy A5 Clear Stamp Set by Dawn Bibby Designs onto white cardstock.

Color the entire image with Copic markers and set aside.

Sponge or brush Violet Chalk Elements Ink by Lavinia Stamps onto a white cardstock panel until you're happy with the ink coverage. Use a stippling brush to pounce Emperor Red and Graphite Elements Inks over the inked panel to add visual interest and tie in the red from the red roses.

Use Nocturne VersaFine Clair Ink by Imagine Crafts/Tsukineko to stamp the large ornate frame from the Midnight Elegy A5 Clear Stamp Set onto the inked background panel.

Use a rectangle die to cut an aperture in the center of the panel, then use the Violet Chalk Elements Ink to edge the aperture's edges and the background panel.

Adhere the inked background panel over the stamped scene to frame it then add it to a black 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:

Midnight Elegy A5 Clear Stamp Set by Dawn Bibby Designs

Tuxedo Black Memento Ink by Imagine Crafts/Tsukineko

Violet Chalk, Emperor Red, and Graphite Elements Inks by Lavinia Stamps

Nocturne VersaFine Clair Ink by Imagine Crafts/Tsukineko

Thanks for visiting today!

Colorful Conehead Daisy: A Mixed Media Moment

Hello crafty friends!
Ericka from Strangely Creative here, and today I’m sharing a bright and bold mixed media card featuring one of my new favorites: the IndigoBlu Colour Me Conehead Daisy stamp. If you love layering colors and textures as much as I do, this one’s for you!

🎨 Let’s Get Creative!

I started by pulling out a Gel Press print from my stash, don’t you love when one of those unexpected prints becomes the perfect base? I stamped the Conehead Daisy directly onto the print and white heat embossed it to give the image a crisp, clean pop against the busy background.

Next, I wanted to add even more depth and vibrancy, so I grabbed my Lavinia Sun Yellow Acrylic Spray. A couple of spritzes added the perfect sunny glow and brought the whole piece to life.

 

✂️ Final Touches

To tie it all together, I doodled a hand-drawn frame around the card for a whimsical touch (my go-to move lately!). I couldn’t resist adding a couple bits of the AALL & Create Cobalt Swallowtail washi for extra texture and color contrast.

And voilà — a bright, textured, and totally fun card that’s as playful as it is layered.

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💛 Whether you're just starting your mixed media journey or looking to try something new with your gel prints and sprays, this project is a reminder that sometimes simple supplies can create the most magical results.

Thanks for stopping by — I hope you have a wonderfully creative weekend!
—Ericka 🌸

 Topflight Stamp Supplies

IndigoBlu - Colour Me Conehead Daisy Shop at: TP	AALL & Create - Washi Tape Cobalt Swallowtail Shop at: TP	Embossing - Bright White Ultra Fine Shop at:  TP	WOW! Embossing - Clear Embossing Pad Shop at:  TP
Lavinia - Acrylic Spray - Sun Yellow Shop at: TP	Gel Press - Reusable Gel Printing Plate Shop at: TP	Speedball - 2" Brayer Shop at: TP

IndigoBlu Steampunk Cottage Card

Hello, Lisa Hoel here. This week at Topflight Stamps our brand focus is on IndigoBlu. I created a Steampunk themed card set using the new Steam Cottage stamp for the focal image. It has such great detail!

I cut the card base using the Counting Circles die set and added some gears I cut with a Paper Rose set. I raided my handy stash of Gel Press prints to use as a bottom layer on the front.

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:

IndigoBlu Stamp Set - Steam Cottage

IndigoBlu Stamp Set - Wrapped

IndigoBlu Stamp Set - Fly High

AALL & Create Die Set - Counting Circles

Paper Rose Die Set  - Cog Frame

Gel Press print

watercolors

Steampunk Strut

 Greetings! It's Tuesday so you've got Kathi here to share a project with you. This week the team is showcasing Indigo Blu's wonderful and eclectic cling rubber stamps.

Here's my card created with the Lady Fortesque Cling Mounted Rubber Stamp by Indigo Blu, the Flowers and Gears Clear Stamp Set 195 by Bipasha BK for AALL and Create, the Tag It Yourself Die Set 27 by AALL and Create, the Words of Steam Clear Polymer Stamp Set by Lavinia Stamps, and the Ink Drops - Midnight 6x6 Paper Pad by Craft Consortium.

Use Tuxedo Black Memento Ink by Imagine Crafts/Tsukineko to stamp the woman from the Lady Fortesque Cling Mounted Rubber Stamp Set by Indigo Blu onto white cardstock. 

Use Copic markers to color Lady Fortesque. Use a metallic gold pen to add sheen to her earrings, her choker, and the dangling thing. 

Place a piece of low-tack tape across the image panel below Lady Fortesque 's feet. Place the second largest die from the Tag It Yourself Die Set 27 by AALL and Create cutting-side down with Lady Fortesque centered in the die. Secure the die with low-tack tape, then run the sandwich through your die-cut machine. 

Flip the die and panel so that the back of the panel shows. Use low-tack tape to secure the tag die-cut to the panel. Flip the combination back over so that the image is facing upwards. Gently brush Graphite, then Russet Orange Elements Inks by Lavinia Stamps over the back of the die onto the image panel die-cut. 

Remove the low-tack tape below Lady Fortesque 's feet and place the tape onto the horizon line so that it's covering part of the top of the image. Brush  Graphite, then Russet Orange Elements Inks more heavily over the tape and the back of the die onto the image panel die-cut. 

Remove the cutting die and clean it with hand sanitizer. Set the image panel die-cut aside.

Cut a piece of patterned paper from the Ink Drops - Midnight 6x6 Paper Pad by Craft Consortium to 5" wide and adhere it to the top of a 5" x 6 ¾" of thin white cardstock. Use Y26 and Y23 Copic markers to alter the color of some of the veins of the patterned paper.

Trim a piece of patterned paper to 1 ½" x 5" and lightly brush it with Graphite and Russet Orange Elements Inks. Use Graphite Elements Ink to edge the strip of patterned paper.

Use metallic gold/black metallic ink to stamp the long flowerless gears stamps from the Flowers and Gears Clear Stamp Set 195 by Bipasha BK for AALL and Create along the left side of the patterned paper panel. Clean and dry the stamp, then use the same ink to stamp the gears along the right side. Ink the smaller gear stamps from the same set with the gold/black metallic ink and stamp the gears into the center of the patterned paper panel.

Heat set the ink, then adhere the brushed panel over the patterned paper onto the bottom of the white cardstock panel. Trim the patterned paper covered panel to 4 ¾" wide. Use the metallic gold/black ink to edge the panel. Heat set.

Sponge or brush Graphite and Russet Orange Elements Inks onto a panel of white cardstock. Use Nocturne VersaFine Clair Ink by Imagine Crafts/Tsukineko to stamp "Steampunk" from the Words of Steam Clear Polymer Stamp Set by Lavinia Stamps onto the cardstock. Use a flags die to cut the sentiment, then use it again to cut another flag. Trim the flags off of either end of the "Steampunk" sentiment, then edge it with Nocturne VersaFine Clair Ink. Use blue rub-ons to add the word "strut" to the other flag, cut off the the flag edges, and edge with Nocturne VersaFine Clair Ink.

Adhere the image panel die-cut to the stamped patterned paper background panel. Adhere the sentiment die-cuts as shown. Adhere the card front to a 5" x 7" blue 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:

 Lady Fortesque Cling Mounted Rubber Stamp Set by Indigo Blu

Flowers and Gears Clear Stamp Set 195 by Bipasha BK for AALL and Create

Tag It Yourself Die Set 27 by AALL and Create

Words of Steam Clear Polymer Stamp Set by Lavinia Stamps

Ink Drops - Midnight 6x6 Paper Pad by Craft Consortium

Graphite and Russet Orange Elements Inks by Lavinia Stamps

Tuxedo Black Memento Ink by Imagine Crafts/Tsukineko

Nocturne VersaFine Clair Ink by Imagine Crafts/Tsukineko

Thanks for visiting today!

Crayon Blooms & Inky Play: A Mixed Media Floral Adventure

 

Hello friends and Happy Friday! 💕 Ericka here from Strangely Creative, and today I’m sharing a playful and vibrant card that features the Crayon Flowers set from Chou & Flowers. If you know me, you know I can't resist flowers or coloring—so this set basically had my name written all over it! 😄🌸

Brushmarker Comeback

To kick things off, I dusted off my Karin Brushmarkers (literally it’s been a minute!) and got to work. I stamped the sweet floral image using Versafine Clair Nocturne ink and watercolored it with my markers. These brushmarkers blend like a dream and brought the whimsical blooms to life with soft, juicy color.

Once everything was dry, I gave the flowers a good fussy cut to prep them for layering onto my background.

 

Inky Background Magic

For the backdrop, I reached for my Bristol Smooth paper and blended Lavinia Elements Dye Ink in Mulberry and Truffle. I love how rich and moody this combo turned out. To add a touch of texture, I spritzed the background with water to lift some ink—instant grungey goodness! 🙌

Then, I stamped the beautiful script from the PaperArtsy Sara Naumann 51 set in Twilight ink for some subtle layered interest.

Sparkle & Final Touches

No mixed media card is complete without a bit of shimmer, right? ✨ I gave the background a light mist of Lindy’s Gang Spritz Spray in Golden Sun, just enough to catch the light without overpowering the design.

To finish things off, I added a tiny tag with a sentiment from the same PaperArtsy set, highlighted a few details with a white gel pen, and drew a simple hand-doodled frame around the border for that artsy, handmade touch.

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Thanks so much for stopping by today! I hope this inspires you to pull out some supplies you haven’t used in a while—sometimes forgotten tools lead to the most fun discoveries. 🖌️💛

If you create something inspired by this post, I’d love to see it! Tag me on Instagram @strangelycreative and let’s get inspired together.

Have a beautifully crafty weekend!
—Ericka 💫

Topflight Stamp Supplies

Chou & Flowers - Crayon Flowers Shop at: TP	PaperArtsy - Sara Naumann 51 Shop at: TP	Lavinia - Elements Dye Ink - Mulberry Shop at: TP	Lavinia - Elements Dye Ink - Truffle Shop at: TP	Tsukineko - VersaFine Clair - Nocturn Shop at:  TP
Tsukineko - Versafine Clair - Twilight Shop at: TP	Lavinia 5/8 Stencil Brush Shop at: TP