The Crafter's Workshop BlogHello Spring! Cards with Gel Printed Collage

Hi ya’ll! Spring is in full bloom here in New Orleans – so, for my last post as TCW guest designer, I thought I’d share a project full of spring colors…..with a few flowers, of course. This week’s project is two cards featuring gel-printed collage paper made using the fabulous Winter 2019 TCW Stencils.

I started by creating a bunch of gel prints on plain white tissue paper (I used the cheap stuff from the dollar store). Because I planned on collaging the prints, I kept them super simple. I applied acrylic paint with a brayer to my gel plate (I’m using a 5×7 plate), then placed a stencil on top, then the tissue, carefully smoothed the surface with my hand, then pulled a print. If you’ve never gel printed on tissue before, it’s easy – you just have to be a little more gentle when smoothing down the tissue and pulling it off. I then removed the stencil, and pulled another print with the remaining paint left on the plate.

This picture shows the process – getting a first pull print, the first and second prints from one paint application, and the entire load of prints I made!

I used the following TCW Stencils for the prints:

The next step was to collage the tissue prints. I tore bits of the print and adhered them to a piece of mixed media paper with Matte Gel Medium – and brushed a coat over top as well. I had no plan in mind, I just tried to spread the colors around somewhat evenly. I love how transparent the tissue paper becomes with the matte medium!

Now to turn these beauties into cards! For my first card, I die cut a stitched rectangle out of the collage paper to use as a background and inked around it with some Ranger Jet Black Archival Ink. Then, I die cut some flower shapes from the collage paper (and also black and white cardstock) to create a focal point. I used Sizzix Simple Flowers dies for this (6598950). The floral centers are from my stash. For a sentiment, I used my embossing labeler (you know, that label maker from the 60s/70s that your grandpa had to label the stuff in the basement….). I used a black mat for the collage panel, then adhered everything to a white A2 card base.

I wanted a different look for the second card, so I used the same set of Sizzix dies to cut out more flower shapes from the collage paper. For a background, I applied some Distress Inks (Broken China, Milled Lavender) on a piece of acetate, spritzed it with water, then “smooshed” the acetate onto a piece of watercolor paper. For the sentiment, I heat embossed a phrase from the Altenew Painted Greetings stamp set with gold embossing powder. I matted this panel with gold card stock, and adhered it to a white A2 card base.

Well, that’s it for this project! I hope you’ll give gel printing on tissue with stencils a try! I’ve had a great time as this month’s guest designer. Please visit me on my blog: Amy’s Card Obsession