How many completely different cards can you create with one flower stamp and a stash of leftover backgrounds?
That was my challenge for today! I grabbed the fun PaperArtsy Kate Crane Mini 013 flower, colored it several times, and then went digging through my ever-growing stash of gel prints and mixed media backgrounds. Instead of creating something new from scratch, I wanted to see how much I could change the look of the same flower simply by changing the background around it.
The result? Three backgrounds, three completely different styles, and three finished cards—all from supplies I already had waiting on my desk.
Let’s see how they came together!
🌸 Starting with One Colorful Flower
I began by stamping the PaperArtsy Kate Crane Mini 013 flower several times onto watercolor paper. For color, I reached for some Lindy’s Gang Autumn Leaves Magicals that were already sitting on my desk. I love being able to use whatever is left from another project rather than putting everything away or letting those beautiful colors go to waste. Once the flowers were painted and dry, the really fun part began—digging through my background stash!
I narrowed my choices down to three backgrounds, each with its own personality.
🎨 Card One: A Little Grungy
For my first card, I chose a leftover gel print created on printed paper.
The combination of the original printing and the layers from the gel plate already gave this background a wonderful grungy feel, so I decided to embrace it. I used Lavinia Truffle ink around the edges to add a little extra shading and depth, followed by splatters of gold acrylic paint for some shine.
Once my flower was in place, I finished the card with a sentiment from the Lavinia Uplifting Collection. I love the contrast between the bright flower and that distressed, imperfect background.
One flower down, two to go!
✨ Card Two: Fine Texture & Simple Layers
For my second card, I found a leftover gel press print I had created using the DIY & Cie Spring Break texture plate.
I love the delicate texture this plate creates. There’s plenty happening in the background when you look closely, but it’s subtle enough that it doesn’t compete with the flower.
I stamped the Darkroom Door Thank You Strip along the side of the panel and added my flower as the focal point. Simple, colorful, and completely different from the first card.
Card two done!
🖤 Card Three: Paint & Printed Pages
For my final card, I went in another direction and pulled out a book page I had previously experimented on with glossy paints.
I love incorporating book pages into mixed media projects because the printed text instantly adds another layer of interest. To build even more texture, I added the AALL & Create #12 Code die cut and played with white and black acrylic paint over the background.
Once everything was layered together, I added my final flower and another sentiment from the Lavinia Uplifting Collection.
Same flower—but a completely different personality!
💛 Why I Love Creating This Way
One of my favorite things about these cards is seeing how much the background changes the personality of the exact same stamped image.
The first feels distressed and grungy.
The second is lighter with delicate texture.
The third has a bolder mixed media feel with book text, paint, and die-cut details.
And I didn’t have to create any of those backgrounds from scratch!
This is exactly why I have such a hard time throwing away gel prints and mixed media experiments. Something that doesn’t work for one project might be perfect for another one months later.
💡 A Little Creative Challenge
Here’s a fun challenge for your next crafting session:
Choose one stamp and create three completely different cards with it.
🌸 Stamp and color your focal image several times.
🎨 Dig through your gel prints, painted papers, and leftover backgrounds.
✂️ Choose three that look completely different from one another.
✨ Then let each background guide the rest of your design.
Try not to overthink it. You might be surprised by which combination becomes your favorite!
It’s also a great excuse to use some of those beautiful backgrounds we all seem to save for “someday.”
Maybe today is someday!
Thank you so much for stopping by! I hope these cards inspire you to dig through your background stash, pull out a favorite stamp, and see how many different looks you can create with supplies you already have.
Have an amazing weekend and happy creating!
 Darkroom Door – Sentiment Strip Thank You Shop at: TP |
 DIY & Cie – Texture Plate – Spring Break Shop at: TP |
 PaperArtsy – Kate Crane Mini 012 Shop at: TP |
 AALL & Create – 12 – Code Shop at: TP |
 Lavinia – Sentiment Stickers – Uplifting Collection Shop at: TP |
 Lavinia – Elements Dye Ink – Truffle Shop at: TP |
 Tsukineko – VersaFine Clair – Nocturn Shop at: AZ | TP |
 PaperArtsy – Fresco Chalk Paint – Aquamarine Shop at: TP |
 PaperArtsy – Fresco Chalk Paint – Firebird Shop at: TP | |
 PaperArtsy – Fresco Chalk Paint – Sunshine Shop at: TP |
 PaperArtsy – Fresco Chalk Paint – Twilight Shop at: TP |
 Lindy’s Gang – Magicals Autumn Leaves Shimmer Shop at: Lindys |
 Gel Press – Reusable Gel Printing Plate Shop at: AZ | TP | Misc | |
 Speedball – 2″ Brayer Shop at: TP |