The new Make a Wish release from Catherine Pooler is such a fun one and perfect for creating birthday cards for anyone or any style. Today, I used the Birthday Candle Bundle to create mixed media abstract cards in a more masculine modern style – great for teenage boys! The sentiments are also perfect for taking centre stage on a slimline card!
I’ve also experimented with some new tools to me – a Geli Plate and brayer, and it was fun try out a new technique and style. Alternatively, you can use other techniques to achieve similar looks if you don’t have these.
The new Catherine Pooler release will be available to buy from 12pm EST 13.07.2021 to StampNation Members. It is available to the general public from 9am EST on 14.07.2021.
PRODUCED AS PART OF MY BRAND AMBASSADOR WORK FOR CATHERINE POOLER DESIGNS - SEE END OF POST FOR MORE DETAILS
*** Affiliate links used at no extra cost to you ***
Mixed media abstract cards: ink brayer backgrounds.
For this first card, use a 2″ brayer and roll the brayer in Fiesta Blue ink. Next, roll the brayer onto a white slimline panel. This does not have to be neat, and overlaps and different intensity of ink adds to abstract nature of the card.

Repeat the same process, but this time apply Suede shoes ink with the brayer, slightly over lapping the Fiesta blue. Lastly, do the same but this time with Grape Crush. To add a little interest, add some metallic gold acrylic paint on top of the background, allowing it to be patchy and sparse.
For the sentiment, die cut the Party word die out of black card and layer up for dimension. Add this to a white shadow die-cut and add to the front. The remainder of the sentiment comes from the Time to Party stamp set and this was heat embossed in Primary Ebony embossing powder.

Mixed media abstract cards: brayer inked background 2
This second card used the same method as the previous card but instead applies the ink horizontally along the the card. Here I have only used the two blue ink colours to give a bold background drop the sentiment. Again, acrylic gold paint was also added over the top.

To create the sentiment, die-cut the Party word die with both the letters and shadow outline cutting at the same time. This will cut the party letters out of the shadow outline die-cut. Do this three times to layer up for dimension.
This card was finished with another sentiment from the Time to Party stamp set. After fussy cutting the sentiment out, these were added to the card front along with a few black nuvo drops.

Mixed media abstract cards: acrylic print backgrounds
These next two cards uses a Geli Plate to create acrylic paint print background. Three colours of acrylic plaint: light blue, blue and purple were added to a Geli Print and blended with a brayer.

To add the textured design, press the Scribbled background stamp onto the Geli print and the remove. This will lift the paint up where the stamp has been. Next, press a white card panel down onto the Geli print to transfer the paint design.
To finish this card off, add a layered party sentiment using the Party word die. In addition, add black embossing to the bottom half of the die-cut sentiment. Another heat embossed sentiment was added to the front along with a few black nuvo drops.

Mixed media abstract cards: acrylic print background 2
The background for this card was created in the same manner, however the colour was applied so that the shades of colour went from dark to light horizontally. Again, press the Scribbled background stamp down onto the plate and then transfer the design to a white card panel.

The candles are created using the Make a wish stamp & die set. Die-cut the small candle die out of black card 13 times. Next, cover the bottom half with embossing ink and cover with gold embossing powder before heat setting. Stamp in Tiara ink the Happy Birthday sentiment flames and die-cut with the coordinating dies.
Add the first set of flames to the card front before adding the candles beneath the flames. Repeat with the second row of flams and candles, using foam pads for added dimension. Lastly, add a few black nuvo drops to embellish the card.

p.s. I’m speaking at the CardMaker Success Summit on 17th July featuring two fabulous stenciled cards. You’re invited! Get all the details and grab your free ticket HERE!
Supplies
Mixed media abstract cards
Affiliate links used at no extra cost to you at these shops: Altenew (ALT), Scrapbook.com (SB), Hero Arts (HA), Picket Fence Studios (PF), My Favourite Things (MFT), Tonic Studios (TS UK/US), Crafty Meraki (CM), Concord & 9th (C9) WOW! UK/US (WOW UK/US), and Craft Stash UK/US (CS UK/US).
All other shops are not affiliated links: Bumbleberry Papercrafts (BP)
**For 10% off at the WOW! Embossing Powder shop, use the code WOWDTVB **
**For 10% off at the Crafty Meraki shop, use the code VERITYBIDDLECOM **
![]() Make a wish – I want it all bundle! – Catherine Pooler Designs Shop at: CPD | ![]() Birthday Candle bundle – Catherine Pooler designs Shop at: CPD | ![]() Make a wish stamp set – Catherine Pooler designs Shop at: CPD | SB | BP |
![]() Time to Party sentiments stamp set – Catherine Pooler designs Shop at: CPD | SB | BP | ![]() Scriblble Background stamp – Catherine Pooler designs Shop at: CPD | SB | BP | ![]() Make a Wish die set – Catherine Pooler Designs Shop at: CPD | SB | BP |
![]() Party Word die – Catherine Pooler Designs Shop at: CPD | SB | BP | ![]() Suede Shoes – Catherine Pooler Designs Shop at: CPD | SB | BP | ![]() Suede Shoes reinker – Catherine Pooler Designs Shop at: CPD | SB | BP |
![]() Suede Shoes Bundle – Catherine Pooler Designs Shop at: CPD | ![]() Fiesta Blue Ink Pad – Catherine Pooler Designs Shop at: CPD | SB | BP | ![]() Fiesta Blue Reinker – Catherine Pooler Designs Shop at: CPD | SB | BP |
![]() Fiesta Blue Ink Bundle – Catherine Pooler Designs Shop at: CPD | ![]() Tiara Ink – Catherine Pooler Designs Shop at: CPD | SB | BP | ![]() Tiara Reinker – Catherine Pooler Designs Shop at: CPD | SB | BP |
![]() Tiara Bundle – Catherine Pooler Designs Shop at: CPD | ![]() Grape Crush Ink – Catherine Pooler Designs Shop at: CPD | SB | ![]() Grape Crush Reinker – Catherine Pooler Designs Shop at: CPD | SB |
![]() Grape Crush Bundle – Catherine Pooler Designs Shop at: CPD | ![]() WOW! Clear ultra slow drying embossing ink pad Shop at: CPD | CS (UK) | CS (US) | WOW (UK) | WOW (US) | ![]() WOW! Clear ultra slow drying embossing ink refill Shop at: CPD | CS (UK) | CS (US) | WOW (UK) | WOW (US) |
![]() Metallic Gold Rich Pale – WOW! Embossing Powder Shop at: CS (UK) | CS (US) | WOW (UK) | WOW (US) | ![]() Primary Ebony – WOW! Shop at: CS (UK) | CS (US) | WOW (UK) | WOW (US) | ![]() Ebony Black Crystal Drops – Tonic Studios Shop at: SB | CS (UK) | CS (US) | WOW (UK) | WOW (US) |
![]() Black Cardstock – Concord & 9th Shop at: BP | CM | ![]() Neenah Classic Crest Solar White 110lb Cardstock Shop at: SB | BP | CM | ![]() Neenah Classic Crest Solar White 80lb Cardstock Shop at: BP |
![]() 3″ x 5″ Gel Printing Plate – GelPress Shop at: CPD | ![]() 4″ Brayer – Speedball Shop at: CPD | SB | ![]() 2″ Brayer – Speedball Shop at: CPD | SB |
![]() Original MISTI 2.0 – My Sweet Petunia Shop at: ALT | CPD | SB | HA | BP | CM | ![]() Double-sided adhesive sheets – Altenew Shop at: ALT | BP | ![]() Nuvo Deluxe Adhesive – Tonic Studios Shop at: TS UK | TS US |
![]() WOW! Dual Speed Heat Gun (UK version) Shop at: CS (UK) | WOW (UK) | ![]() WOW! Dual Speed Heat Gun (US version) Shop at: CPD | WOW (US) | ![]() Crafter’s Essential Bone Folder – Altenew Shop at: ALT | SB | BP |
![]() Tim Holtz 8.5 Inches Comfort Trimmer – Tonic Studios Shop at: SB | CS (UK) | CS (US) | ![]() Trim and Score Board – We R Memory Keepers Shop at: SB | CS (UK) | CS (US) |
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DISCLOSURE
This post was produced as part of my Brand Ambassador work for Catherine Pooler Designs I have not been paid to make this post, but I am given supplies from Catherine Pooler Designs to use. However, I create projects with creative control and produce projects I am proud of and with products that I love. The information provided is based on my own personal experience – I am not an expert.