Ink Blended Embossed Flower Card with the Stampin’ Up! Lovely Arrangements Bundle
If you love a crisp, modern floral card with just enough texture to feel special, this Thursday’s project is for you. In my live session on Thursday 12 February, I went back to a colour combo I couldn’t stop thinking about: Azure Afternoon, Balmy Blue, and Smoky Slate. It started as a Colour Inkspiration challenge palette, but it quickly became one of those “why haven’t I used this more?” combinations. And the best part? The flowers look like they’ve been carefully coloured… but they weren’t. This card is a perfect example of how the Stampin Up Lovely Arrangements Bundle can give you high-impact results with a simple technique and a few thoughtful layers.
The star technique: “coloured” flowers with ink blending
I embossed a single floral image in white embossing powder on Basic White cardstock. Then, instead of reaching for Stampin’ Blends, I used a blending brush with Azure Afternoon and focused the ink mainly in the centre of the flower.
That’s the whole trick.
By keeping the colour concentrated in the middle and letting it fade naturally toward the edges, you get instant depth and vibrancy without any detailed colouring. It’s fast, forgiving, and ideal when you’re crafting on the fly (or, let’s be honest, making a card two hours before you need it).
If you want even more intensity, simply go back in for a second (or third) pass in the centre. The embossing keeps your lines crisp while the ink blending does all the heavy lifting.
Building the palette: leaves and layers
For the leaves, I stamped them in Smoky Slate and die cut them, then added one solid leaf die cut in Balmy Blue to tie in the third colour without needing to use Balmy Blue ink at all.
That balance is what makes this colour trio work so well:
- Azure Afternoon brings the punch
- Smoky Slate keeps it grounded and elegant
- Balmy Blue softens everything and adds a gentle contrast
Simple layout, elevated with texture
This card leans minimal, but it doesn’t feel plain because of the texture choices:
- A Smoky Slate panel embossed with the Lovely Stripes Embossing Folder (I ran it as if it were a 3D folder for deeper texture)
- A light Smoky Slate ink blend over the embossed panel to highlight the ridges
- A punched Azure Afternoon circle to anchor the floral cluster
The layout is intentionally off-centre and slightly layered, which gives it a modern, “designer” feel without extra fuss.
Sentiment and finishing touches
I stamped a simple Happy Birthday in Azure Afternoon on white, then used a rectangle die to cut it. That die adds a subtle raised edge that makes the sentiment look finished even before you pop it up on Dimensionals.
For embellishments, I kept it clean with a few white glossy dots (perfect when your card already has plenty of texture).
And then… a fun twist: Wink of Stella on the background stripes, not the flower. Adding shimmer to every second stripe catches the light beautifully when the card is displayed, and it’s a great reminder that sparkle doesn’t always have to go on the focal image.
Why you’ll want the Stampin Up Lovely Arrangements Bundle
This bundle is the kind of “workhorse floral” you’ll reach for again and again. It gives you:
- a floral image that looks stunning embossed, stamped, or blended
- coordinating dies that make quick work of layering
- endless colour combo potential (especially if you enjoy challenges and colour play)
If you’ve been wanting a floral set that can look classic or contemporary depending on how you style it, Stampin Up Lovely Arrangements Bundle is a smart addition to your craft room.
If you’re not already on my email list, make sure you’re subscribed so you’ll receive the written tutorial as this has been added to the Freebie Library with my other card designs.
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