“I know we don’t need another flower stamp…” And then we see one like this! 😂

Today I’m sharing a Sweetly Sentimental “Sending Hugs” card with blue florals, green leaves and gold details. This project started with an idea and took on a life of its own during our behind-the-scenes crafting session. Sometimes that’s the fun of it: trying something, moving a few pieces around and seeing where the card takes you.

A different colour direction for a floral card

Rather than reaching for pinks, I wanted to try something a little different. I chose Secret Sea for the dark background, Misty Moonlight for the flower and Mossy Meadow for the leaves.

The blue and green keep the floral arrangement fresh, while the deep background and gold details give the finished card a vintage feel. A decorative circular layer frames the flower, with a fine gold detail around the centre.

Softening the stamped background with white ink

I stamped flowers and background accents onto the dark cardstock, then used a small amount of white ink refill with a water painter to lighten parts of the flowers.

Rather than colouring every area evenly, I tried loose, sweeping movements. The white softened as it settled into the cardstock, giving the stamped flowers a washed look.

This is a lovely technique to test on a spare piece first. Start with very little white ink and a small amount of water, then see how it looks once dry. I also cleaned my tools straight away because that white ink has a habit of turning up everywhere!

Stamp once in blue, once in green

For the main floral arrangement, I stamped the image in Misty Moonlight and again in Mossy Meadow. I then cut out the blue flower and the green leaf sections separately.

This gave me more freedom with the layout. Instead of keeping the flower and leaves exactly as they appear in the stamped image, I could tuck the leaves behind the flower at different angles.

I used ink on clear blocks as a palette and added colour with a water painter. Keeping some white areas visible helped create the soft, wispy finish I was looking for.

If you try this, begin lightly and build up the colour where you want more depth. You can keep the petals softer while allowing the stamped details to remain visible.

A gold-embossed border without a full foil layer

One of my favourite experiments on this card was the gold edge. I considered adding gold foil behind the background panel, but that would use a large piece when only a tiny border would show.

Instead, I swiped VersaMark around the edges of the cardstock, added gold embossing powder and heat set it. The uneven edge suited the vintage look beautifully.

I also added a little scattered gold powder to the background for extra detail. Because those loose grains can blow away, I started heating from underneath before finishing from above.

Keep the heat tool moving and use heat-safe tweezers to hold the panel. If you prefer a cleaner edge, use an anti-static embossing tool before adding the VersaMark.

Ribbon, shimmer and a little rearranging

I added ribbon across the background and tied it on the left, balancing the sentiment on the right. Having the ribbon wrapped around the panel let me adjust its position as the rest of the card came together.

The flower is raised with dimensionals, with the leaves tucked behind it. I moved those leaves around a few times until the angles felt right and there was room for the sentiment.

A little Wink of Stella adds shimmer to the flower, while the “Sending Hugs” sentiment finishes the card with a thoughtful message. The green embellishments echo the leaves and bring another small touch of colour into the design.

Ideas to try on your own cards

• Try a dark background with a lighter flower in the same colour family.
• Stamp an image in two colours, then separate the pieces to create your own arrangement.
• Use white ink to soften stamped details on dark cardstock.
• Heat emboss the edges when you want a metallic border without a full foil layer.
• Leave some white space when colouring for a lighter, more relaxed finish.

You don’t need to try every technique at once. Choose the detail that catches your eye and have a little play with the supplies you already have.

Watch the members-only video class

Join me behind the scenes as I make this Sweetly Sentimental card, try different techniques and bring the design together.

This is a members-only video. To watch, sign in to YouTube with the account connected to your channel membership.

If the video isn’t displaying, watch the members-only class on YouTube here. Membership access is required.

Sending a little encouragement

A “Sending Hugs” card is a lovely way to reach out when you want someone to know you’re thinking of them. Add a few words inside, pop it in an envelope and let your handmade project brighten someone’s day. 💙

If you live in Australia and would like to shop with us, visit our Stampin’ Up! online store here.

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

Do you enjoy this vintage style, or do you usually prefer a cleaner look? I’d love to hear which detail you’d like to try.