LeAnn is our hostess in the Color Challenge this week, and she has asked us to make a masculine card (dessert option) using Bumblebee, Mossy Meadow and Merry Merlot. This card is also for the current challenge over at The Paper Players, which is to make a masculine birthday card. The timing is perfect; I need a birthday card for my nephew.
I am extremely excited about this card, but I'll try to control myself. Once again, a video from the amazing Jennifer McGuire has opened new vistas to me. This video shows how to use a gel press, something I'd heard about a few times, but hadn't looked into. I don't have a gel press (yet!), but I pulled out an old mirror stamp that I've had in my stash and never used. It's just a smooth rectangular photopolymer stamp. It worked pretty well, all things considered.
Following Jennifer's examples, I picked three Distress Oxide colors that were close to this week's challenge colors, and I applied the ink from the pads to the mirror stamp. Then I went over them with a brayer, and then pressed a piece of white cardstock onto the stamp. The result was OK, but just OK. I actually made two of these panels, which was a very good thing, as you'll see.
Then I cleaned off the stamp, inked it again, brayered it again, and put the mosaic stencil on top. I placed one of the panels, face down, onto the stencil and rubbed. I was extremely disappointed at the result--almost no mosaic design at all. But when I removed the stencil, I could see a distinct mosaic design in the ink that was left on the stamp. So I grabbed the second panel and placed it down on the remaining ink. Wow! I was totally thrilled when I removed it.
The rest of the card was easy and was built around this panel. Card base in Mossy Meadow, edges sponged with same color ink, frame cut from Merry Merlot, two cuts from the leaf die, glued together and slightly offset. Greeting on another strip from the gel press adventure, stamped and heat embossed.
Thanks for hanging in and reading this! If you haven't used a gel press, give it a try! It's fun and so rewarding!
Registered: January 6, 2004 Location: Connecticut Posts: 20543
Mon, Sep 07, 2020 @ 7:21 PM
Love, love, love your background tile mosaic effect! Brilliant! TFS how you did this!
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FS465
Registered: June 3, 2006 Location: In my "She Shed Tornado Shelter" Posts: 4010
Mon, Sep 07, 2020 @ 7:43 PM
Barbara... if you've not got a gel press, you are in for some fun! Your card is outstanding without one. I must try your technique with a mirror image stamp, it appears to provide a little crisper image, which I like better. Love your card and the over all design! You do beautiful work as always. TFS
Handsome card and I love how the mosaic background came out! I don't have a gel press but I do happen to have a mirror stamp. Thanks for sharing your process!
Registered: December 31, 2016 Location: Western Colorado Posts: 2495
Tue, Sep 08, 2020 @ 9:26 AM
Awesome mosaic effect. Thanks for explaining your process. I have learned a lot from those Jennifer McGuire videos as well! Will have to check this one out.
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