Kylie Bertucci

What do you do when the coordinating Designer Series Paper you had in mind isn’t available? Sometimes it’s the perfect opportunity to go back to stamps, ink and cardstock and see what you can create with them instead.

That was my approach with this Flowering Meadow handmade card. Rather than relying on patterned paper, I used embossing to add texture to the background and made the stamped floral images the main feature.

I love how this one turned out. The combination of Barely Blush, Berry Burst and Peaceful Pine is soft and pretty, while the white embossed background gives the card plenty of detail without taking attention away from the flowers.

Creating the Embossed Card Background

I started with a Thick Basic White card base and added a layer of Barely Blush cardstock.

For the next layer, I cut a piece of Basic White cardstock and embossed it with the Forever Plaid 3D Embossing Folder. This is such a simple way to add interest when you aren’t using Designer Series Paper. The white-on-white texture is subtle, but it gives the background much more dimension.

I adhered the embossed Basic White panel over the Barely Blush layer, leaving just enough of the colour showing around the edges to frame it.

Stamping the Flowering Meadow

For the focal point, I cut another piece of Basic White cardstock with the 3¼" diameter circle die from the Spotlight on Nature Dies.

Then it was time to create the flowers using the Flowering Meadow Stamp Set.

The floral images are designed so that the different elements can be layered together, which makes it easy to introduce several colours while building the scene. I used:

• Barely Blush for the main flowers
• Berry Burst for the stamens and flower centres
• Peaceful Pine for the stems and greenery

Using the same three colours throughout keeps everything coordinated, and I particularly like the contrast of the deeper Berry Burst centres against the softer Barely Blush flowers.

Once the stamping was finished, I adhered the circle to the card front with Stampin’ Dimensionals. Raising that focal panel gives another layer of depth against the embossed background.

Adding the Thanks Sentiment

For the sentiment, I stamped “THANKS” from the Flowering Meadow Stamp Set onto a strip of Barely Blush cardstock.

I punched the ends into a banner shape and positioned the sentiment across the lower portion of the stamped circle. The Barely Blush ties it back to both the flowers and the cardstock layer underneath the embossed panel.

To finish the front, I added a few small white flowers from the Dreamy Flowers. They add a little extra detail while keeping the overall look soft and simple.

Carrying the Design Through to the Inside

I also decorated the inside rather than leaving it completely plain.

I added a Barely Blush layer followed by Basic White cardstock, then repeated some of the Flowering Meadow stamping using the same Barely Blush, Berry Burst and Peaceful Pine colour combination from the front.

Repeating those elements is an easy way to make the inside feel like part of the overall card design.

Want to Watch Me Make this Card?

Click on the image below and watch a video of me making it.

Making Cards Without Designer Series Paper

Although coordinating Designer Series Paper can make card making wonderfully easy, you can still get plenty of variety from a stamp set when the paper isn’t available.

For this card, the Forever Plaid 3D Embossing Folder provided the background pattern, while the stamped flowers became the main decorative feature. The die-cut circle helped contain the floral scene and gave it a clear focal point.

It’s a combination you could easily adapt too. Try changing the flower colours, switching the embossed background or using a different shape for the focal panel and you can create a completely different look from the same basic layout.

If you’re in Australia and would like more information about ordering Stampin’ Up! products with me, you can visit my Stampin’ Up! Australia information page.

I hope this Flowering Meadow handmade card gives you a little inspiration for looking beyond coordinating patterned paper and seeing what you can create with stamps, ink, cardstock and texture instead.

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Shop the Stampin' Up! products used in this project.

Flowering Meadow Photopolymer Stamp Set (English)	Spotlight On Nature Dies	Forever Plaid 3D Embossing Folder	Three Banner Punch
Basic White A4 Thick Cardstock	Basic White A4 Cardstock	Barely Blush A4 Cardstock	Dreamy Flowers
Berry Burst Classic Stampin'' Pad	Peaceful Pine Classic Stampin''' Pad	Barely Blush Classic Stampin' Pad	Stampin'' Dimensionals