Kylie Bertucci

Sometimes a card tells a story before you even read the sentiment.

As soon as I finished this card using the Safari Smiles Bundle, I couldn't help but smile. There's something so heartwarming about this sweet lion family sitting together as the sun sets behind them. It feels peaceful, full of warmth, and you could even say they're enjoying their own little Circle of Life. 🦁💛

While the finished card looks quite detailed, it's actually created using just a few simple techniques and a carefully chosen colour palette.

Building the Layers

I started with a square card base and added a layer of Basic White Cardstock. On top of that, I added a layer of Secret Sea Cardstock, which I embossed using the Fern & Flora 3D Embossing Folder.

Rather than using a plain background, the embossed texture adds interest without taking attention away from the focal image. Secret Sea is such a beautiful colour for this because it creates plenty of depth while still allowing the warm sunset colours to shine.

Creating the Sunset

The sunset is what really brings this card to life.

After cutting a circle from Basic White Cardstock, I coloured the background using Stampin' Blends in Fresh Freesia, Flirty Flamingo and Golden Glow. Instead of trying to create harsh lines between the colours, I gently blended them together to create a soft evening sky.

One little tip that made a big difference was colouring both sides of the cardstock. After finishing the front, I turned it over and coloured the reverse side as well. It created a richer, smoother blend that gave the sunset an even softer glow.

Bringing the Lions to Life

The adorable lion family is definitely the star of this card.

I stamped the group of three lions from the Safari Smiles Bundle and coloured them with Stampin' Blends using a combination of Pecan Pie and Bronze. Keeping the colouring simple allows the warm sunset behind them to remain the hero while still giving the lions plenty of character.

To ground the scene, I added the grass die cut using Secret Sea Cardstock. It's a small detail, but it helps complete the landscape without making the design feel busy.

A Simple Finishing Touch

For the sentiment, I chose "Just for You" from the Safari Smiles stamp set. I stamped it with Versamark Ink, heat embossed it using WOW! Basic White Embossing Powder, then cut it out using one of the Words of Beauty Dies.

I love how the crisp white sentiment stands out beautifully against the darker background while tying in perfectly with the white card base.

Give It a Try

This card is a lovely reminder that you don't need lots of layers or embellishments to create something eye-catching. A textured background, a softly blended sunset and a sweet focal image are sometimes all you need to tell a beautiful story.

If you've never tried pairing warm sunset colours with Secret Sea, I'd definitely encourage you to have a go. The contrast is striking, and colouring the background from both sides is a technique that's well worth trying.

I'd love to know what catches your eye first. Is it the glowing sunset, the rich embossed background or this adorable lion family?

Video

Products Used

Note: Australian Residents Only

Safari Smiles Bundle (English)	Fern & Flora 3 D Embossing Folder	Words Of Beauty Dies (English)	Secret Sea A4 Cardstock	Basic White A4 Cardstock
Fresh Freesia Stampin' Blends Combo Pack	Flirty Flamingo Stampin' Blends Combo Pack	Golden Glow Stampin’ Blends Combo Pack	Secret Sea Stampin’ Blends Combo Pack	Pecan Pie Stampin’ Blends Combo Pack
Bronze & Ivory Stampin' Blends Combo Pack	Versamark Pad