{"id":17596,"date":"2026-01-03T12:09:38","date_gmt":"2026-01-03T01:39:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.alisatilsner.com\/blog\/?p=17596"},"modified":"2026-01-03T12:10:21","modified_gmt":"2026-01-03T01:40:21","slug":"2026-virtual-card-making-retreat","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.alisatilsner.com\/blog\/2026-virtual-card-making-retreat\/","title":{"rendered":"Textured Floral Birthday Card with the 2026 Virtual Card Making Retreat Stamp Set"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Today\u2019s card is a little sneak peek, and one I\u2019ve been quietly excited to share. I\u2019ve had the chance to play early with the <strong>exclusive stamp set from the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.stampinup.com.au\/products\/2026-virtual-card-making-retreat-english?demoid=4000014\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">2026 Virtual Card Making Retreat<\/a><\/strong>, and this project perfectly showcases why this set is going to be such a standout for anyone who loves detailed florals, layering, and texture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This bold floral birthday card combines rich colour, subtle mixed media details, and a few happy accidents that remind us why handmade cards have so much personality.<\/p>\n\n\n<style>.kb-image17596_eafcce-6a .kb-image-has-overlay:after{opacity:0.3;}<\/style>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-kadence-image kb-image17596_eafcce-6a size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/www.alisatilsner.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/VCMR-.jpg\" alt=\"2026 Virtual Card Making Retreat\" class=\"kb-img wp-image-17597\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.alisatilsner.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/VCMR-.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/www.alisatilsner.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/VCMR--300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.alisatilsner.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/VCMR--150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.alisatilsner.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/VCMR--768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.alisatilsner.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/VCMR--560x560.jpg 560w, https:\/\/www.alisatilsner.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/VCMR--400x400.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.alisatilsner.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/VCMR--600x600.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.alisatilsner.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/VCMR--100x100.jpg 100w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why this exclusive stamp set is so special<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The 2026 Virtual Card Making Retreat stamp set is a floral lover\u2019s dream. The images are beautifully balanced \u2014 detailed enough to enjoy colouring, but open enough to let colour and texture do the heavy lifting. The florals work just as well for focal clusters as they do for backgrounds, and the supporting images add movement and softness without overwhelming the design.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Because this set is <strong>exclusive to the retreat<\/strong>, it\u2019s not something you\u2019ll find in a catalogue or online later. It\u2019s one of those sets that feels timeless, versatile, and well worth building projects around.<\/p>\n\n\n<style>.kb-image17596_f09a2e-3e .kb-image-has-overlay:after{opacity:0.3;}<\/style>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-kadence-image kb-image17596_f09a2e-3e size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/www.alisatilsner.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/VCMR-Set.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"kb-img wp-image-17601\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.alisatilsner.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/VCMR-Set.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/www.alisatilsner.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/VCMR-Set-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.alisatilsner.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/VCMR-Set-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.alisatilsner.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/VCMR-Set-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.alisatilsner.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/VCMR-Set-560x560.jpg 560w, https:\/\/www.alisatilsner.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/VCMR-Set-400x400.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.alisatilsner.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/VCMR-Set-600x600.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.alisatilsner.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/VCMR-Set-100x100.jpg 100w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Colour palette: bold, fresh, and elegant<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For this card, I&#8217;ve used the Colour Inkspiration Challenge #201 &#8211;  <strong>Melon Mambo, Poppy Parade, Pretty Peacock, and Gold<\/strong>, and the combination is striking without being overpowering. Pretty Peacock provides a deep, elegant base that makes the brighter florals pop, while the gold adds warmth and just the right amount of luxe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The floral images were coloured using <strong>Stampin\u2019 Blends<\/strong>, allowing me to build depth and vibrancy in the petals and leaves. Once coloured, I <strong>fussy cut<\/strong> each image, which really helps the florals stand proud on the card front and gives you more freedom when arranging the cluster.<\/p>\n\n\n<style>.kb-image17596_84389d-ee .kb-image-has-overlay:after{opacity:0.3;}<\/style>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-kadence-image kb-image17596_84389d-ee size-medium_large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"960\" src=\"https:\/\/www.alisatilsner.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/596461778_2020510445470981_7775456156450107123_n-768x960.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"kb-img wp-image-17602\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.alisatilsner.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/596461778_2020510445470981_7775456156450107123_n-768x960.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.alisatilsner.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/596461778_2020510445470981_7775456156450107123_n-240x300.jpg 240w, https:\/\/www.alisatilsner.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/596461778_2020510445470981_7775456156450107123_n-819x1024.jpg 819w, https:\/\/www.alisatilsner.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/596461778_2020510445470981_7775456156450107123_n-120x150.jpg 120w, https:\/\/www.alisatilsner.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/596461778_2020510445470981_7775456156450107123_n-560x700.jpg 560w, https:\/\/www.alisatilsner.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/596461778_2020510445470981_7775456156450107123_n-600x750.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.alisatilsner.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/596461778_2020510445470981_7775456156450107123_n.jpg 1080w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n<style>.kb-image17596_c1ed17-df .kb-image-has-overlay:after{opacity:0.3;}<\/style>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-kadence-image kb-image17596_c1ed17-df size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/www.alisatilsner.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/VCMR-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"kb-img wp-image-17598\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.alisatilsner.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/VCMR-1.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/www.alisatilsner.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/VCMR-1-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.alisatilsner.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/VCMR-1-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.alisatilsner.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/VCMR-1-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.alisatilsner.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/VCMR-1-560x560.jpg 560w, https:\/\/www.alisatilsner.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/VCMR-1-400x400.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.alisatilsner.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/VCMR-1-600x600.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.alisatilsner.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/VCMR-1-100x100.jpg 100w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Texture, layering, and a little mixed media magic<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Texture plays a big role in this design. The top layer of Pretty Peacock cardstock was stamped with the text image to create subtle background interest, then <strong>ink blended around the edges<\/strong> to frame the focal point and draw the eye inward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For added detail, I stamped the linear images along the top and bottom edges and <strong>heat embossed them in gold<\/strong>, creating a soft decorative border that ties in beautifully with the gold accents throughout the card.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One of my favourite parts of this card came from a slightly unexpected moment. I watered down some <strong>liquid glue<\/strong> and flicked it over the card front to create organic texture. When it came time to gold emboss, I realised the ink blending around the edges was still slightly damp \u2014 which meant the embossing powder stuck there too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Normally, that might feel like a mistake, but in this case it added a soft, scattered gold effect around the edges that actually enhanced the design. It\u2019s a great reminder that sometimes the best details happen when you lean into the process instead of fighting it.<\/p>\n\n\n<style>.kb-image17596_6be70c-ba .kb-image-has-overlay:after{opacity:0.3;}<\/style>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-kadence-image kb-image17596_6be70c-ba size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/www.alisatilsner.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/VCMR-2.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"kb-img wp-image-17599\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.alisatilsner.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/VCMR-2.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/www.alisatilsner.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/VCMR-2-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.alisatilsner.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/VCMR-2-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.alisatilsner.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/VCMR-2-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.alisatilsner.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/VCMR-2-560x560.jpg 560w, https:\/\/www.alisatilsner.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/VCMR-2-400x400.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.alisatilsner.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/VCMR-2-600x600.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.alisatilsner.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/VCMR-2-100x100.jpg 100w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Finishing touches that elevate the design<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Before adhering the florals to the card front, I used liquid glue and then <strong>gold heat embossed the flower centres<\/strong>, giving them a beautiful raised finish that catches the light. Just allow the glue to go tacky or you boil the glue when embossing!  The combination of smooth colouring, embossed shine, and layered die-cut shapes creates a card that feels rich and tactile in the hand.<\/p>\n\n\n<style>.kb-image17596_7a6ede-1c .kb-image-has-overlay:after{opacity:0.3;}<\/style>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-kadence-image kb-image17596_7a6ede-1c size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/www.alisatilsner.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/VCMR-3.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"kb-img wp-image-17600\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.alisatilsner.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/VCMR-3.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/www.alisatilsner.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/VCMR-3-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.alisatilsner.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/VCMR-3-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.alisatilsner.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/VCMR-3-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.alisatilsner.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/VCMR-3-560x560.jpg 560w, https:\/\/www.alisatilsner.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/VCMR-3-400x400.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.alisatilsner.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/VCMR-3-600x600.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.alisatilsner.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/VCMR-3-100x100.jpg 100w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">A stamp set worth watching<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If this card is any indication, the <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.stampinup.com.au\/products\/2026-virtual-card-making-retreat-english?demoid=4000014\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">2026 Virtual Card Making Retreat<\/a> stamp set<\/strong> is going to be incredibly popular. It\u2019s perfect for birthday cards, special occasions, and elegant everyday designs, especially if you love combining colouring with texture and mixed media-style techniques.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The<a href=\"https:\/\/www.stampinup.com.au\/products\/2026-virtual-card-making-retreat-english?demoid=4000014\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> 2026 Virtual Card Making Retreat<\/a> is being hosted by Stampin&#8217; Up! towards the end of January (around the Australia Day Long weekend) so there&#8217;s still time to grab your Retreat Box.<\/p>\n\n\n<style>.kb-image17596_61f9f7-b2 .kb-image-has-overlay:after{opacity:0.3;}<\/style>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-kadence-image kb-image17596_61f9f7-b2 size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.alisatilsner.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/170023-1024x1024.webp\" alt=\"\" class=\"kb-img wp-image-17603\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.alisatilsner.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/170023-1024x1024.webp 1024w, https:\/\/www.alisatilsner.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/170023-300x300.webp 300w, https:\/\/www.alisatilsner.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/170023-150x150.webp 150w, https:\/\/www.alisatilsner.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/170023-768x768.webp 768w, https:\/\/www.alisatilsner.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/170023-1536x1536.webp 1536w, https:\/\/www.alisatilsner.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/170023-560x560.webp 560w, https:\/\/www.alisatilsner.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/170023-400x400.webp 400w, https:\/\/www.alisatilsner.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/170023-600x600.webp 600w, https:\/\/www.alisatilsner.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/170023-100x100.webp 100w, https:\/\/www.alisatilsner.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/170023.webp 1600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Cheers for now<\/p>\n\n\n<style>.kb-image17596_689b51-0b .kb-image-has-overlay:after{opacity:0.3;}<\/style>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-kadence-image kb-image17596_689b51-0b size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"250\" height=\"250\" src=\"https:\/\/www.alisatilsner.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/alisa-tilsner-round-logo-transparent-e1623752213720.png\" alt=\"Alisa\" class=\"kb-img wp-image-11857\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Shop my <a href=\"http:\/\/www.stampinup.net\/esuite\/home\/alisatilsner\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">ONLINE STORE<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.alisatilsner.com\/blog\/join-stampin-up-australia\/\">Join The Artful Stampers<\/a><a aria-label=\"undefined (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/www.alisatilsner.com\/blog\/join-stampin-up-australia\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"> Team<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.alisatilsner.com\/blog\/join-stampin-up-australia\/\"> <\/a>&#8211; Happy Shoppers, <g class=\"gr_ gr_11 gr-alert gr_spell gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim ContextualSpelling ins-del multiReplace\" id=\"11\" data-gr-id=\"11\">Hobbiest<\/g>, Part Time and Full Time welcome!<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.alisatilsner.com\/blog\/tutorial-and-card-making-membership\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"14602\">Creative Card Makers Club<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Watch me on <a aria-label=\"undefined (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/alisatilsner\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">YouTube<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Socialise with me on <a aria-label=\"undefined (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/AlisaTilsnerIndependentStampinUpDemonstrator\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">FaceBook<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"mailto:alisacraig@westnet.com.au\">Email Me<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Today\u2019s card is a little sneak peek, and one I\u2019ve been quietly excited to share. I\u2019ve had the chance to play early with the exclusive stamp set from the 2026 Virtual Card Making Retreat, and this project perfectly showcases why this set is going to be such a standout for anyone who loves detailed florals,&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":170,"featured_media":17597,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_wp_convertkit_post_meta":{"form":"-1","landing_page":"","tag":"0","restrict_content":"0"},"_kadence_starter_templates_imported_post":false,"_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"_kad_post_classname":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[455,5,459],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-17596","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-stampin-up-birthday-card-ideas","category-stampin-up-card-ideas","category-stampin-up-colouring-with-blends"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.alisatilsner.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17596","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.alisatilsner.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.alisatilsner.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.alisatilsner.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/170"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.alisatilsner.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=17596"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.alisatilsner.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17596\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":17606,"href":"https:\/\/www.alisatilsner.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17596\/revisions\/17606"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.alisatilsner.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/17597"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.alisatilsner.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=17596"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.alisatilsner.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=17596"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.alisatilsner.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=17596"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}