Paper Seedlings: GELLI PRINT CARD

If you've been following Paper Seedlings for more than a few months, you are already aware that I am completely obsessed with Gelli Printing.

Sometimes I get prints that are not quite good enough to keep and cherish, but are appealing enough to be used in another way -- namely in cardmaking. I had accumulated a stack of these prints, so I thought it would be a good thing to incorporate Gelli prints within one of the projects I created for a Stamp-In.

All the prints were different. So, to have one common denominator, I used a combination black/white color palette for all the cards. No matter which of the prints was chosen, the finished card would have a uniform look and work well.

The card below is the one I used for my sample for my May Stamp-In.

In case you are not familiar with Gelli printing, the mishmash of prints shown in the following photo are what I've been working on for about the past week or so.

My favorite size Gelli plate to work on is 3" x 5", so the prints are the perfect size to use in creating cards. I have been experimenting with various types of papers, including music, notes from my notebooks while I was taking classes a year ago, small notebooks where I kept track of ATC swaps I'd been involved in about ten years ago, old dictionary pages, the Yellow Pages!, anything I can get my hands on is fodder for my printmaking. I especially love it when little elements -- music, words, stamping -- poke through some of the designs.

To add some Stampin' Up! flavor to my Stamp-In card, I used the beautiful sentiment from the Colorful Seasons set (page 161), the maple leaf die from the Seasonal Layers Thinlits (page 219) that coordinate with Colorful Seasons, and a gorgeous square using the Stitched Shapes Framelits on page 220. Plus Stampin' Dimensionals, of course!

By adding elements that are not too overpowering, it is possible to still enjoy the design of the print.

Following is a tutorial on how to make this card. In lieu of Gelli prints, this section can always be replaced with some beautiful Designer Series Paper (on sale now! Buy three, Get one FREE!)

SUPPLIES:

Gold Foil Paper (page 192)

Basic Black Cardstock

Whisper White Cardstock

A 3" x 4 3/4" Gelli Print or Designer Series Paper (DSP)

Colorful Seasons stamp set (page 161)

VersaMark ink

Embossing Buddy

Heat Tool

Gold Embossing Powder

Seasonal Layers Thinlits (page 219)

Stitched Shapes Framelits (page 220)

Big Shot

Stampin' Dimensionals

INSTRUCTIONS:

Fold a 5 1/2" x 8 1/2" piece of black cardstock in half, creasing it well with a bone folder.

Add a 4" x 5 1/4" piece of white cardstock to this card base. Before you forget, add a piece of white cardstock in the same size inside the card for writing your message on.

Mount your chosen Gelli print (or DSP) onto a 3 1/2" x 5" piece of black cardstock. Add this to the card base.

Using gold foil paper, die cut a maple leaf. Set aside for now.

With the Stitched Shapes Framelits, cut a 2 1/2" square from Whisper White cardstock. Run the Embossing Buddy well over this piece. With VersaMark ink, stamp the sentiment in the center of the square. At the Heat Station, cover the stamping with gold embossing powder, tapping the excess back into the container. Use the Heat Tool to emboss the words until they are shiny and set.

Use Stampin' Dimensionals to adhere the sentiment to the card, leaving even margins at the sides and top.

Attach the gold leaf to the lower left portion of the sentiment piece.