Thank you all so much for joining me for my LIVE on Monday night, where I created this floral card featuring some beautiful new stamps and stencils from Honey Bee Stamps!
If you weren’t able to join live, no worries—you can catch the replay on YouTube. I’ve also updated the supply list in the video description so you can easily find everything I used.
VIDEO
One of my favorite things about this live was that I had absolutely no plan going into it. I started with a blank workspace and shared my entire thought process as I worked through the design from start to finish—including the moments where I changed my mind and had to figure out what the card needed next.
I began by stamping the floral image in a light ink before ink blending with the coordinating stencil. This is a technique I love because the light stamped lines act as a guide while blending, making it much easier to see where each color belongs without contaminating the color I’m blending with.
For the flowers, I used a gorgeous combination of orchid and lilac shades from Gina K Designs. Layering these soft purples created beautiful depth while still keeping the overall look fresh and elegant.
During the live, I also talked about why I switch between different sized blending brushes throughout the process. Larger brushes help create smooth blends over bigger areas, while the smaller brushes make it much easier to add deeper shading and reach the tiny details in the petals and leaves.
Once all of the ink blending was finished, I restamped the image in black ink to bring back all of those crisp details before cutting everything out with the coordinating die. This simple step really makes the coloring pop and gives the finished image a polished look.
For the background, I chose a soft purple cardstock instead of white. The subtle color helped all of the ink blending stand out while adding just enough contrast without competing with the focal image.
As often happens when I’m designing live, I hit a point where the layout just wasn’t working. Everything felt like it was floating on the card until I added an oval behind the floral arrangement. That simple shape grounded the design, created a place for the eye to rest, and pulled the entire composition together. It’s always a good reminder that sometimes one small design element can completely transform a card.
To finish everything off, I added a simple sentiment and assembled the final design.
Thank you again to everyone who joined me live and participated in the chat—it always makes these sessions so much fun! And if you’re watching the replay, I hope you enjoy following along and maybe even pick up a few new ink blending tips along the way. Happy crafting!
SUPPLIES
