Having Fun with a Gel Press|Using Backgrounds for Scene Cards|Simple Cards with Background as the star
It's been a few minutes since I have posted anything on my blog but I have been creating. I had some fun with a Gel Press, a Brayer, some Distress Oxides, and stencils. I am not going to describe the process. I think there are some great tutorials already out there on YouTube. Jennifer McGuire has 3 or 4 videos she's done over the last few months. I confirm that it is fun and addicting. I was left with a stack of backgrounds I shared on my IG stories.
I am not sure about you, but when I create a stack of backgrounds from a technique, I seem to have a hard time focusing on what kind of cards to turn them into. I think the best approach is to pull 2-4 sentiments dies, a couple of sentiment stamp sets and a few smaller dies that are simple but would add some interest without making the cards busy. But noooo.... I have to look at each background and let it "speak" to me I guess. Thus the reason for 2+ weeks going bye before I got to this post.
I wound up with two very different groups of cards. A number of scene cards first inspired by a card by @Bobbihartdesigns. The background was very similar to something I had created. That started me down the Easter Card path, so I pulled a couple of other backgrounds that had a spring feel to them.
Background was stamped light green to overlay some leafy pattern- Hero Arts Jungle Bold Prints
Bunny Stamps and Sentiment - Lawn Fawn Eggstra Amazing
Carrots & Leaves - The carrots are from the Happy Easter kit in the Carrots Shadow Box file. I took one of the carrot front flaps sized to W 1.010 X L 2.960 and the leaves from 3D mum in Fall flowers sized W1.090 X L2.134 then colored with copic markers
Copic Colors - Leaves YG03, YG06, YG09, YG17 Carrots YR21, YR12, YR14, YR18
Envelope - Simply Crafty SVG free File A2 envelope size up slightly W 7.9 X L 9.811 Cardstock is Doodlebug Designs Hello Spring "Easter Bunnies" which is no longer available but I linked a similar paper pack . Trying to use up some of my 12x12 paper.
Bunny - Mama Elephant Pop Bunny & Cat Double layered the head of the bunny and added glossy accents to the nose inked the bunny with grey ink to make it stand out.
Fence- Mama Elephant Gatefold X fence ink blended and cut down. Layered with 2 additional die cuts to give it dimension.
Carrots & Leaves - The carrots are from the Happy Easter kit in the Carrots Shadow Box file. I sized the carrot smaller then above W 1.010 X L 2.960 and the leaves from 3D mum in Fall flowers sized W0.760 X L2.227 then colored with copic markers and trimmed down to nestle behind the grass.
Copic Colors - Leaves YG03, YG06, YG09, YG17 Carrots YR21, YR12, YR14, YR18
Grass - Lawn Fawn Grassy Hil Borders. Inked with Altenew Parrot and Bamboo
Envelope - Simply Crafty SVG free File A2 envelope size up slightly W 7.9 X L 9.811 Cardstock is Doodle Bug Designs Easter Parade "Bitty Bunnies" no longer available but link current Easter CS.
The Gel Press Background reminded me of chicken wire which inspired the theme of this one. I used a generic Hex Stencil on the press. I also stamped over the background with the SSS Leaves and Berries Background stamp
Chick - Mama Elephant Favor Bag Chickie ink the edges of the chick and hands to five it some dimension. I added Glossy accents to the beak.
Hey Chickie Sentiment - Neat & Tangled Cotton Tail Cuties which seems to no longer be available
Large egg - cut from an Oval Die cut in 1/2 with the edge die in the ME Favor Bag Chickie Set and splattered with some white craft paint.
I used the Fence piece from scrap I cut off the bottom of the fence on the previous card
Grass - Lawn Fawn Grassy Hil Borders. Cut from white Card stock and inked with green ink
Small Eggs- From Lawn Fawn Chirpy-chirp-chirp. I used the egg dies and cut them from white card stock. I then inked in some spring colors to give a bit more depth than just cutting from colored CS.
Envelope - Simply Crafty SVG free File A2 envelope size up slightly W 7.9 X L 9.811,
Card Stock - Doodle Bug Designs
The background on this card said water theme from the get go. I had a die set that I think I picked up used so I don't know the name. I inked the die cuts in various colors to brighten up the card. The fish were cut from some mirrored purple CS and some pearl CS from Tessler Crafts.
The Sentiment is from Rubbernecker Stamps
Clear Drops - Trinity Boiled Sugar Embellishments
For the next group of cards, I tried to keep it simpler and let the backgrounds be the focus. Here I tried to use some simple die cuts and sentiments. This still took me way too long.... deciding what would work best. A little over thinking... This may be why I seem to top out at about 10 cards from a stack of backgrounds. I just start to get board and move on to something else.
On the Gel Press Background I used the Hero Arts Ponsettia Stencil and a Dollar Tree Butterfly stencil.
White Card Base - SSS Detialed Bohemiam Cut Plate
Butterflies - SSS Stitching Butterflies inked lightly on the edges and the butterfly center I used Blizzard Nuvo Drops
Hello Die Cut - I can't seem to locate what brand mind is but here is a similar one from Sunny Studios
Sentiment - Altenew Sentiment Strips 2
Envelope - Simply Crafty SVG free File A2 envelope size up slightly W 7.9 X L 9.811
Leaf Die Cuts cut 2X each from Heavy Weight CS-- Don't know the brand
Sentiment - SSS Tiny Words
Hello - SSS Script Hello
Envelope - Simply Crafty SVG free File A2 envelope size up slightly W 7.9 X L 9.811
Gel Press Background Stamped with white Pigment ink using SSS YOU MATTER Background stamp
Panel and Center Circle Backed with Erin Lee Creative holographic CS
White Card Base - SSS Detialed Bohemiam Cut Plate
Flower - SSS CZ Design Chunky Flower
Sentiment - SSS Hex Greetings Stamped with Versa Fine Black Onyx ink and Clear Heat Embossed
Heart Background Stamp - Hero Arts Bursting with Love
White Card Base - SSS Detailed Ringlet Plate
Envelope - Simply Crafty SVG free File A2 envelope size up slightly W 7.9 X L 9.811
White Die cut Heart - I think it's by SSS but I can't find it to link
Die Cut Sentiement - SSS CZ Design Lover your Guts
Envelope - Simply Crafty SVG free File A2 envelope size up slightly W 7.9 X L 9.811
Gel Press Background I stamped Hero Arts Jungle Bold Prints in white pigment ink
Sentiment and Flower - Pink Fresh Studios Hugs & Good Vibes stamp with Versa Mark and white heat embossed-- remember to use anti-static powder!
Envelope - Simply Crafty SVG free File A2 envelope size up slightly W 7.9 X L 9.811
The Gel Press background was stamped twice with the SSS Leaves and Berries Background stamp . Once in gold ink then rotated and stamped with a coral ink.
Frame - Prink Fresh Ornate Oval Frame Die backed with vellum
Die Cute Sentiment - I cannot find the link to mine but the Hero Arts Thinking of You is very similar.
I still have a bunch of Backgrounds to use. Some a bit more winter themed and I am ready to move onto Spring... Am I right? I may put them to use over the coming months trying to #getcrackingonchristmas.
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Hope you enjoyed the creative inspiration!! Remember to just create and have fun!