Hey there stamping friends. Today I am sharing a creation from my new favorite tool, The Gel Press! The Gel Press is a new product to Fun Stampers Journey, but artists have been using it for a while. It is a gel like plate that you apply paint to and are then able to use it to make beautiful prints. It is hard to explain, and so I plan on doing some videos for you soon. I am starting a 3 week class on this new tool on Monday, so that I can be a Gel Press expert and then plan to teach a class for my customers.
Since my Gel Press got here on Thursday afternoon I have been playing with it. FUN, FUN, FUN! Here is one of the prints I made.
For this print I used Lemon Drop, Citrus Cooler and Candy Apple acrylic paint from Fun Stampers Journey, this way it matches my ink pads and card stock. Then I used my brayer to spread the paint over the 8-1/2" x 11" Gel Press. Then I laid down the Polka Dot Stencil. Then I placed a piece of paper over the top and pressed it down and rubbed, picking up a polka dot print on that piece. Then I lifted up my paper and stencil and laid down a second piece of Whip Cream card stock and picked up this print. At first look I was not overly impressed with it and just set it aside. Then today I decided that I wanted to try and make some cards with the prints that I made. I decided to use this one that I did not love as much as some others, that way I wasn't too sad to cut it or mess it up.
I started by cutting a piece to 3-7/8" x 5-1/8", this is it...
I decided to make this into a fall themed card. First step in the transformation was to stamp the Canvas Background stamp over the top with Hazelnut Blend ink. And then splatter some Gold Silk over that.
As you can see I did not ink my Canvas Background stamp too heavily and when I stamped it, I lightly pressed the paper on to the stamp, giving me some lighter areas and others that are darker. And with the Gold Silk, the more the better!
I wanted to mount my background onto a piece of Citrus Cooler card stock, but always feel so much card stock is wasted, when I only need a little border around the edge. Heres a little tip for you, use the Journey Rectangles Dies to cut out the center of your panel, giving just a frame to mount your background on. Then I used the piece that came out of the center to die cut the leaf for the front of my card. Not only that, then I used the piece with the leaf cut out of it for the inside panel of my card, a nice bright piece to write a note on.
The main stamp set I used for this card is Holiday Celebrations, I liked the "Give Thanks" image for this card. I like the images in this stamp set because they are sentiments, but also have some cute images added to the saying. Take a look at my finished card.
How do you like that background now? Its fun, unique and bold.
The ribbon I used is Pumpkin Patch ribbon, it is so nice and sturdy! And also, so super cute! I first tied this around my background that was already mounted to the Citrus Cooler frame. Next I die cute a small rectangle with the pierced edge using the same rectangle dies. I put adhesive on the back and slipped that under my ribbon. Then I added my sentiment, which I embossed with Journey White embossing powder on Hazelnut Blend card stock. In the bottom corner I added my die cut leaf. Did you notice the detail on that leaf! It is one of our dies that you can not only cut with but emboss with. The Platinum and Amaze machines come with an embossing plate and rubber mat. So, after you die cut the leaf, you run that through again, the die cut leaf on the die, but use the rubber mat and embossing plate to press the detail into the card stock. FANCY, right!?! Lastly, I made my own epoxy dots from Hazelnut Blend card stock. I punched out three of the largest circle using my Press Punch. Then I glued them to my card and covered them with Journey Glaze to "enamel" my dots. I think they just tie it all together and anchor that back ground down.
I have to say when this card was done I did have one of those moments, they moment when your like YEAH, I made this, check it out, it's dang cute! But there was no one there to see it and let's be honest had my husband been there to see it he may not have given me the exact reaction I wanted. That is why I have this blog, so I can share my creation with you, who care as much about these things as I do and know how much joy making a card can give a person! Now, if I could just give the card to a person, I also have moments where it is hard to let my creations go. You?
OH, one more pic, check out the inside of this card, remember I told you I put the piece of card stock with the leaf cut out of it on the inside....
Now I have a piece that is light enough for a little note, when I am able to let go of it and mail it that is.
Guess WHAT! That is not all I made, nope, I made two other cards using that same print from my Gel Press! So, if you come back tomorrow I will have card #2 to share with you. It's another cute one! a Halloween theme this time! But first let me know what you think of this card.
And here is a look at all the fun things I used to make this card
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