Magic in the Layers – A Mixed Media Card with Lavinia Stamps & Gel Press

Hello crafty friends! Ericka from Strangely Creative here, and today, I’m diving into the world of silhouettes and texture with a mixed media card that combines Lavinia stamps, a gel press background, and a little bit of magic—aka cornstarch!

If you’ve never experimented with cornstarch in your gel prints, let me tell you—it’s a game-changer! It creates the most beautifully unpredictable textures, adding depth and interest to your background.

How I Created This Card

I started by layering pinks and yellows onto my gel press, pulling up a vibrant first print. Then, I added blues and greens, but here’s where the fun begins—I sprinkled cornstarch over the wet paint before pulling my print. The result? A gorgeous mixture of random dots and distressed areas, creating an organic, dreamy effect.

Once my background was dry, I brought in the stunning Lavinia Briana stamp, paired with Foliage stamps, to create a magical silhouette scene. To really make the images pop, I clear heat embossed them and added white gel pen highlights—a simple trick that makes a big impact!

To finish, I hand-drew a sketchy frame (because, why not add more artistic flair?) and chose a sentiment from the AALL & Create Motivation Station ephemera to tie it all together.

Time to Experiment!

If you haven’t tried cornstarch with your gel press yet, I highly encourage you to give it a go! It adds a fun unpredictable texture that makes each print one-of-a-kind. Let me know in the comments—what’s your favorite unexpected supply to use in your mixed media projects?

Thanks for stopping by, and I hope you have a wonderfully creative weekend!

Want to find the supplies I used? I have listed them below. (Compensated affiliate links used at no cost to you.) Thank you for your support!

Lavinia – Briana Shop at: TP	Lavinia – Foliage Shop at: TP	WOW! Embossing – Clear Shop at: WOW US | TP	AALL & Create – Entertaining Gems Shop at: TP	AALL & Create – Motivation Station Shop at: TP
Tsukineko – VersaFine Clair – Nocturn Shop at: CS | AZ | TP	Gel Press – Reusable Gel Printing Plate Shop at: AZ | TP | Misc	Speedball – 2″ Brayer Shop at: TP