Gel Print Backgrounds by Natalie

 

The sample above uses two types of gel print - both the positive and the negative. The positive image is pulled through your chosen stencil (or many stencils) and can be seen on the white area above. The negative is what is left behind after the positive pull and the removal of the stencil itself. The second pull was done directly onto my card blank. As I used Distress Oxide inks I didn't have to worry about warping either my card blank nor the paper of the positive pull. I'll often create multiple prints in a session so i don't always print with a particular layout in mind.

As the white section is cut from a separate piece, we can tuck in our floral images, and even play with which elements are in front on the piece and which tuck behind. Some of the floral images are stamped onto other gel prints (or offcuts of them, I never throw anything away). Others were stamped onto stamping card and blending brushes were used to softly apply ink using the same shades as the print. The florals at the back come from A Heart Full of Love and they are perfect for this kind of decorative element. The feature images are from the lovely Happy Flower's Day.

A card as lovely as this can do for many different occasions; when I make cards I tend to leave them without a sentiment until that moment they are needed. Sentiments are for the receiver rather than to reinforce the design in most cases, and, of course, there are those moments for which there are no words.