Hey Friends! It’s EK, and I have been playing around with my gel press a lot lately seeing what new tricks and tips I can come up with using it.
It is fascinating all the different looks and styles you can create using the little slab of gel. Today I am using my press to create a grunge tag using several of Ilse and Charlene’s stamps and stencils.
Step One: Using one of the floral stamps from the First Sights of Spring stamp set, ink it up with a waterproof ink, and stamp it onto the gel press.
Step Two: Stamp a few more floral images from the First Sights of Spring around the focal image.
Step Three: Using alcohol markers, color in the images on the gel press, but be careful not to touch the stamped lines.
Step Four: Add a thin layer of white paint over the stamped and colored images.
Step Five: Press a manila tag into the wet paint, and pull the image up. Let dry.
Step Six: In the negative space on the tag, blend Salvaged patina Distress Oxide through the Spring Flower Mandala stencil.
Step Seven: Blend Wild Honey Distress Ink through the Story Telling stencil. Blend a little Frayed Burlap Distress Ink around the edge of the whole tag.
Step Eight: Hand stamp some extra texture onto the edges of the tag using the Words and Layers stamp set.
Step Nine: Splatter the tag with Salvaged Patina Distress Oxide Spray.
Step Ten: Using a stamping platform, add a sentiment from the Words & Layers stamp set.
Step Eleven: Add an assortment of textures and layered ribbons to the tag.
I just love how raw Ilse and Charlene’s stamp looks pulled from the gel press. The technique is so fun and organic looking.
Let us know in the comments below if you ever play around with your stamps on a gel press, or if you are interested in try out this technique. Until then, happy crafting!
Hey Friends! It’s EK, and I have a little secret to confess. I don’t buy much printed paper or cardstock. I know…gasp. The truth is when I do buy printed paper, I tend to hoard it and never use it for fear of wasting it. So, to prevent the build up of unused paper, I simply don’t buy it. But that leaves a lot of my crafting projects pretty bland. So I simply stamp my printed papers, and then I always get what I want. And frankly I have found that designer Ilse and Charlene’s stamps are perfect for my stamped ‘printed’ paper.
Step One: Pick two pieces of coordinating cardstock and die cut it with the Stitched Indented Rectangle die set so it can be layered. I went ahead and die cut the centers out of my base pieces so that I didn’t waste good paper.
Step Two: On the largest base piece, blend ink over the paper using the Story Telling stencil. I used Tea Dye Distress Oxide because it was only a shade darker than the paper and would be subtle.
Step Three: On the smaller base piece, I hand stamped floral and fauna from the Spring Fling stamp set. I used both Abandoned Coral and Crushed Olive Distress Oxide to create this print.
Step Four: Adhere the two layers together using 10mm Clear Double Sided Adhesive. Adhere the base layers to an A2 card frame.
Step Five: On the large focal panel, hand stamp images from both the Spring Fling stamp set and the Words & Layers stamp set. Again I used Abandoned Coral and Crushed Olive Distress Oxide to coordinate the ‘paper’ with the layer below.
Step Six: On the smallest die cut panel, pull out the Story Telling stencil again and the original ink color and blend the ink through the cut outs.
Step Seven: Adhere the two smaller die cuts to the larger two with 6mm Clear Double Sided Adhesive forming the layers of the card.
Step Eight: To finish the card, stamp an image from the Poppy Dream stamp set onto some watercolor paper. I used Tea Dyed Distress Oxide.
Step Nine: Using some coordinating water-soluble ink, watercolor in the poppy. I used both Abandoned Coral and Crushed Olive Distress Oxide.
Step Ten: Fussy cut out the image and adhere it to the card frame using a liquid adhesive.
Step Eleven: Using a stamping platform, stamp the sentiment onto the card from the Words & Layers stamp set. I used Walnut Stain Distress Ink and adore how the letting of the sentiment matches the style of the stencil.
Step Twelve: Finish the card by adding Transparent Crystal Craft Drops to both the flower petals and the sentiment. Let Dry.
And just check out how gorgeous the floral image becomes with the Craft Drops on it. It turns out stunning!
So what do you think? Do you like my hand stamped ‘printed’ paper? Let me know in the comments below.
Hey Friends! It’s EK and I am popping in to share with you a little just because card! In a year filled with crazy ups and downs, one of the things that has become a positive in the year is I have started sending friends and families cards just because I am thinking of them. I am not waiting for their birthday or a holiday, I am just popping a note in the mail and saying “I am Thinking of You!” So with all of these simple no reason cards heading out, I have been upping my game in types of cards I am making and I find ECD’s Ilse and Charlene line of stamps and stencils are perfect for just these moments.
Step One: Stamp and heat emboss small floral images from the Spring Fling stamp set onto a piece of trimmed 90lb Soft Finish Cardstock. I used Rose Gold embossing powder.
Step Two: Using colored pencils, add a little color to the insides of the heat embossed flowers.
Step Three: Blend some ink around the edges of the cards stock. I used Victorian Velvet Distress Oxide.
Step Four: Using the Dot Dot Dot stencil, blend ink through the stencil onto the cardstock. I used Scattered Straw Distress Oxide and a dirty blending brush.
Step Five: Using the Story Telling stencil, blend a contrasting ink. I used Dusty Concord Distress Oxide.
Step Six: Stamp one of the girls from the Earthy Girls stamp set onto a piece of 90lb Soft Finish Cardstock. Color the image in with colored pencils. Fussy Cut out the image.
Step Seven: Using 10mm Clear Double Sided Adhesive, add the background cardstock to an A2 card frame. Add the trimmed girl to the card face using 6mm Clear Double Sided Adhesive.
Do you send cards to loved ones simply because? What is your favorite ECD products to use? Let us know in the comments below. Until then, happy crafting!
Hey Crafters! Katelyn here, sharing with you my Fall Planner Insert.
To create my Fall Planner Insert, I’ve used a variety of dies from the Planner Essentials Collection, the Art Journal Specials Collection and stamps from Charlene. You’ll want to read below as I share with you how to recreate my planner insert at home.
Step One. Die cut the small tag from the Planner Essentials 26 – Planner Pocket 4 – Tag & Toppers die out of White Soft Finish Cardstock. Place the Story Telling stencil in the middle of the tag. Using a palette knife, put Texture Paste Opaque Matte through the stencil. Remove the stencil and allow the paste to dry. Once the paste has dried, sprinkle Magenta Nuance in Red and Orange on the tag. Spritz the powder with water and allow time to dry.
Step Two. From the Background Stamps 1 you’ll need the dot stamp. Apply Potting Soil Archival Ink to the dot stamp and stamp randomly on the tag. You’ll need to stamp a total of seven times. Reapply ink to the stamp as needed. Ink the edges of the tag using Walnut Stain Distress Ink and a blending tool with foam.
Step Three. From a Fall piece of patterned paper, die cut the rectangle with a slot on the right from the Planner Essentials 21 – Note Pieces die out of the patterned paper. Ink the edges of the rectangle piece using Walnut Stain Distress Ink and a blending tool with foam.
Step Four. From the Planner Essentials 26 – Planner Pocket 4 – Tag & Toppers die, you’ll need the stitched banner and the long point label. Die cut the stitched banner out of a piece of kraft cardstock. Die cut the long point label out of a piece of Fall patterned paper. Ink the edges of both pieces using Walnut Stain Distress Ink and a blending tool with foam.
Step Five. From the Reinforcement Variety Pack, you’ll need the reinforcement with the rounded end. Die cut a total of eight reinforcements out of a piece of kraft cardstock. Ink the edges of the reinforcements using Walnut Stain Distress Ink and a blending tool with foam.
Step Six. From the Make A Wish Stamp Set, you’ll need two of the feathers. Apply Potting Soil Archival Ink to both the feather stamps and stamp onto a piece of watercolor cardstock. Color the feathers in using the Watercolor Palette. Fussy cut both feathers out. Ink the edges of both feathers using Walnut Stain Distress Ink and a blending tool with foam.
Step Seven. From the Morning Letters Stamp Set, you’ll need the letters to spell out Fall. Apply Potting Soil Archival Ink to the letter stamps and stamp onto a piece of White Soft Finish Cardstock. Fussy cut the word out. Ink the edges of the word using Potting Soil Archival Ink and a blending tool with foam.
Step Eight. Adhere one of the reinforcements over top of the hole at the top of the tag. Adhere four of the reinforcements on the left hand side of the tag, making sure that they line up with the rings in your planner. Flip the tag over and adhere the remaining reinforcements overtop of the reinforcements you just adhered.
Step Nine. Staple the stitched banner and long pointed label to the left hand side of the rectangle. Foam square the rectangle 7/8″ from the bottom and 1/4″ over the right hand side of the tag.
Step Ten. Use adhesive and foam squares to adhere the two feathers as desired on the rectangle piece. Use adhesive and foam squares to adhere the Fall word to the bottom right side of the feathers as desired.
Thanks for joining me today! I hope that I’ve inspired you to create your own version of my Fall Planner Insert at home.
Hey Crafters! Katelyn here, sharing with you my Imagine Wall Hanging.
To create my Imagine Wall Hanging, I’ve used a variety of dies, stamps and stencils from Charlene and Ilse’s Art Journal Specials Collection as well as dies from Joset Designs. You’ll want to read below as I share with you how to recreate my wall hanging at home.
Step One. Die cut a 4 3/4″ Stitched Indented Square out of Black Cardstock. Distress the edges of the square.
Step Two. Die cut a 4 1/4″ Stitched Indented Square out of a piece of book page. Place the Storytelling stencil in the middle of the square. Using a palette knife and Texture Paste Opaque Matte through the stencil. Remove the stencil and allow the stenciled area to dry. Once the square is dry, distress the edges of the square. Ink the edges of the square using Walnut Stain Distress Ink and a blending tool with foam.
Step Three. Die cut the Bubbles out of White Soft Finish Cardstock. Apply Emboss It Ink to the entire surface of the bubbles. Sprinkle Burnt Copper Leaves embossing powder over the entire surface. Tap off the excess powder and emboss with a heat tool.
Step Four. Die cut the right Ornate Gateway die out of kraft cardstock. Ink the edges of the gateway using Walnut Stain Distress Ink and a blending tool with foam.
Step Five. From the Streetlights die, die cut the street lamp out of black cardstock.
Step Six. Die cut one of the blooming branches from the Blooming Branches die out of White Soft Finish Cardstock. Die cut the other bloom out of a piece of book page.
Step Seven. Choose two of the leaves from the Spring Fling Stamp Set. Apply Jet Black Archival Ink to both stamps and stamp onto a piece of watercolour cardstock. Colour the leaves in using the Watercolour Palette and a waterbrush. Once the images have dried, fussy cut them out. Ink the edges of the leaves using Walnut Stain Distress Ink and a blending tool with foam.
Step Eight. Next, you’ll need the cotton stamp from the First Sights of Spring Stamp Set. Apply Jet Black Archival Ink to the stamp and stamp onto a piece of watercolour cardstock. Colour the cotton in using the Watercolour Palette and a waterbrush. Once the image has dried, fussy cut it out. Ink the edges of the cotton using Walnut Stain Distress Ink and a blending tool with foam.
Step Nine. From the Morning Letters Stamp Set, you’ll need the letters to spell out Imagine. Apply Jet Black Archival Ink to each of the letters and stamp onto a piece of White Soft Finish cardstock to spell the word imagine. Fussy cut the word out. Ink the edges of the word using Walnut Stain Distress Ink and a blending tool with foam.
Step Ten. Adhere the 4 1/4″ stitched indented square to the 4 3/4″ stitched indented square.
Step Eleven. Adhere the bubbles to the middle of the 4 1/4″ stitched indented square. Foam square the ornate gate to the middle of the bubbles. Adhere the street lamp to the middle of the ornate gate.
Step Twelve. Adhere the first blooming branch overtop and to the left of the street lamp. Adhere the other blooming branch overtop and to the right of the street lamp. Adhere one of the stamped branches slightly overtop of the left blooming branch. Adhere the other stamped branch slightly overtop of the right blooming branch.
Step Thirteen. Foam square the cotton image to the middle of the branches making sure that you can see part of the street lamp. Use adhesive and foam squares to adhere the imagine word to the right side of the cotton.
Step Fourteen. Punch two holes at the top of the 4 3/4″ stitched indented square. Tie a piece of twine through the two holes to create the hanging part for your wall hanging.
Thanks for joining me today! I hope that I’ve inspired you to create your own version of my Imagine Wall Hanging.
Katelyn
Elizabeth Craft Designs Supplies Used:
Other Supplies Used:
Distress Ink: Walnut Stain
Blending Tool with Foam
Ranger Ink: Jet Black Archival Ink, Emboss It Ink and Texture Paste Opaque Matte
Emerald Creek Craft Supplies: Burnt Copper Leaves Embossing Powder
Misc: Black Cardstock, Kraft Cardstock, Book Page and Twine
Hey Crafters! Katelyn here, sharing with you my Bloom Card.
To create my card, I’ve used a variety of the new dies and stamps from Charlene and Ilse’s Art Journal Specials Collection as well as a couple of dies from the Planner Essentials Collection, Joset Designs and Els van de Burgt Studio. You’ll want to read below as I share with you how to recreate my card at home.
Step One. Die cut a 4 1/4″ Stitched Square out of White Soft Finish Cardstock. Place the Story Telling stencil to the left hand side of the square and put Texture Paste Opaque Matte through the stencil with a palette knife as much or as little as desired. Once the paste has dried, distress the edges of the square. Ink the edges of the square using Black Soot Distress Ink and a blending tool with foam.
Step Two. Die cut a 4 3/4″ Stitched Square out of a piece of book page. Distress the edges of the square. Ink the edges of the square using Black Soot Distress Ink and a blending tool with foam.
Step Three. Die cut a 2″ Stitched Circle out of White Soft Finish Cardstock. Cut the circle down to 1 1/2″. Die cut a 1 1/2″ Stitched Circle out of a piece of patterned paper. Cut the circle down to 1 1/4″. Distress the edges of the circles. Ink the edges of the circles using Black Soot Distress Ink and a blending tool with foam.
Step Four. Die cut a 3/4″ Diagonal Stitched Fishtail out of White Soft Finish Cardstock. Cut the fishtail down to 2 1/2″. Apply Jet Black Archival Ink to the Bloom sentiment from the A Field of Flowers stamp set and stamp onto the fishtail. Distress the edges of the fishtail. Ink the edges of the fishtail using Black Soot Distress Ink and a blending tool with foam.
Step Five. Die cut the Mandala out of a piece of kraft cardstock. Cut the Mandala down to 2 1/2″.
Step Six. Die cut the Blooming Branch from the Blooming Branches die and die cut the branch out of cream cardstock.
Step Seven. From the Planner Essentials 24 – Photo Frame die, die cut the film strip out of a piece of black cardstock. Trim the filmstrip down to 3 1/8″.
Step Eight. From the Planner Essentials 24 – Photo Frame die, die cut the arrow strip out of a piece of pattern paper. Ink the edges of the strip using Black Soot Distress Ink and a blending tool with foam.
Step Nine. Apply Jet Black Archival Ink to the flower branch from the First Sights of Spring stamp set and stamp onto a piece of watercolour paper. Colour the flower branch using the Watercolor Palette and a waterbrush. Fussy cut the flower branch out.
Step Ten. Cut a small piece of cheesecloth.
Step Eleven. Adhere the 4 1/4″ stitched square to the 4 3/4″ stitched square.
Step Twelve. Adhere the mandala to the left hand side of the 4 1/4″ stitched square. Adhere the 1 3/4″ stitched circle to the middle of the mandala. Adhere the 1 1/4″ stitched circle to the 1 3/4″ stitched circle.
Step Thirteen. Staple the arrow strip to the film strip in two sections as desired. Adhere the bloom fishtail 1/2″ from the bottom and 1″ from the left of the 4 1/4″ square. The fishtail will sit slightly underneath the circles. Adhere the arrow strip and film strip to the middle of the circles.
Step Fourteen. Adhere the cheesecloth to the middle of the arrow strip and films trip. Adhere the bloom branch to the middle of the cheesecloth.
Step Fifteen. Foam square the flower branch as desired overtop of the bloom branch.
Step Sixteen. To finish the card, cut a piece of White Soft Finish Cardstock that measures 4 3/4″ x 9 1/2″, score at 4 3/4″. Adhere the cardfront to the cardbase.
Thanks for joining me today! I hope that I’ve inspired you to create your own version of my Bloom Card.
Katelyn
Elizabeth Craft Designs Supplies Used:
Other Supplies Used:
Distress Ink: Black Soot
Blending Tool with Foam
Ranger Ink: Jet Black Archival Ink and Texture Paste Opaque Matte
Graphic 45: Bloom Collection
Misc: Black Cardstock, Kraft Cardstock, Book Page, Cream Cardstock, Mini Stapler and Cheesecloth
