ThePowerOfACard: Florals

Showing posts with label Florals. Show all posts

Tuesday, September 1, 2026

Clean and Classic Cards

The term Clean and Simple is often used to describe cards and while I like them, I often think that simple is the incorrect term. They have a lot of "white" space but some of them are far more advanced than what I think card makers are looking for, especially beginners. Instead, I am using the term Clean and Classic and here are the characteristics I have used to make my samples:

Mostly neutral colors
Layers (lots of them!)
Texture
Small pops of color
No patterned paper
Designs that are more simple than complicated.

In the video, I am making a Smoky Slate card and my samples include Basic White, Basic Black, Basic Beige, Very Vanilla and Crumb Cake. You could also use Night of Navy, Secret Sea, Pecan Pie, or really, any solid color you would wear in slacks or a skirt. As I show you the many examples (11 of them!), I give some useful tips along the way. I am also showing many of the new products that were just released on September 1! I think you'll find plenty of inspiration, whether you're a beginner or seasoned card maker.

Gather your supplies:

Cardstock: Smoky Slate 8-1/2" x 5-1/2", 3-3/4" x 5", 3-7/8" x 5-1/8"
Stamp Bundle: Poetic Petals
Stamp: Fragrant Layers
Ink: Memento Black
Embellishment: Natural Matte Dots
Adhesive and Tools

As you can see, this card comes together in a jiffy. I love this new bundle, which has three different floral designs in a square and three squares, each with a different edge stitching. You can pair them to make a framed flower motif, or use them individually. The sentiments from this set are awesome and quite versatile.

From the smallest layer of Smoky Slate, cut out the flower of your choice. I positioned mine near the lower right corner, making sure I had enough space below the die cut flowers for my sentiment. Stamp the sentiment below the cut out portion and add this layer to the larger piece of Smoky Slate with Dimensionals (and Mini Dimensionals behind the flowers). Don't be skimpy with these as you don't want your card to sag in the middle. Add these two layers with even more Dimensionals to your card base, which you've folded in half and creased with a bone folder. Add a few embellishments to the flowers. Normally, I add my embellishments in odd numbers, but decided that just the centers of the flowers were perfect. I think the shadows you get from adding dimension between layers make this simple card so very interesting.

To finish the card, I stamped my get well message on the inside with black ink. I also used a flower and leaves from the retiring Fragrant Layers bundle to add a coordinating touch to the inside and to the envelope. If you don't already have this bundle, check out the Last Chance List. It's one of my all time favorites and I am sad to see it retire!

My original card was made using Crumb Cake, which is my second most used neutral color of cardstock. I stamped in Secret Sea and chose the same color for my embellishments. The only difference is the envelope where instead of the flower, I stamped the words "Take Care".

We have a new set of square dies that come in a variety of edges and sizes. They are very similar to the circles in the Spotlight on Nature set. I stamped in Berry Burst using the Radiant Sunflowers stamp set, then added this to another square of white using Dimensionals. Before popping it up on my card base, I tied a knot with the Berry Burst Shiny ribbon around the card base. I finished by adding another butterfly on the inside and along the left edge of the envelope. I really love how you see the shadows from the cutouts on the die.

My next sample was inspired by the August Paper Pumpkin kit. (And if you don't have a subscription to this, I would highly recommend it because everything you need is included and it's like getting a fun card class delivered to your mailbox every month!) The five strips of Very Vanilla (3-7/8" x 7/8") were embossed with the Lazy Daisy 3D embossing folder before being added to the card base with Dimensionals. Then a label was punched from the new Advent Labels punch. This has an optional hole you can add for ribbon. I used Mossy Meadow and Very Vanilla Gingham ribbon, which was then tied with some Vanilla Baker's Twine (from the Essentials pack). I stamped in Mossy Meadow ink with stamps from Scalloped Blooms (another great sentiment collection). I added a strip of embossed cardstock to the in inside and embossed the envelope flap with the same folder.

You may have heard that Stampin' Up! recently released the Stampin' Hot Foil System and we have a great selection of hot foil dies, many of them with coordinating stamps! The Echos of Detail bundle is full of textures that are great for making shabby chic backgrounds. I used one of them to make a border along one edge of my raised white panel. Before adhering it to my card, I added a piece of Black Iridescent Ribbon. The Fern & Flora bundle was used for the label, sentiments and ferns. This makes a fantastic masculine thank you card!

I used a fun technique to make my next card. When you take Two Tone Cardstock, which has a white core, and a sanding block, you can make the paper look like it is linen! Run the sanding block (another new product) back in forth in one direction. Then rotate the paper 90º and repeat. The result is a very cool cloth-like look! I added this layer directly to the card base, but you could certainly raise it up too.

My focal point was made using the Fragrant Layers dies (aren't they gorgeous?). The frame was popped up over the second die cut piece of mostly solid flowers. To get the alignment, I peeled off the backings of the Dimensionals on the left side of the frame and stuck it down. This allowed me to slip the second piece under and get it perfectly in place under the flower outlines. Then I went back and removed the rest of the backings so the frame was attached fully. The sentiment was heat embossed in white and also popped up. I cut out more flowers/leaves in white and attached them to the inside, while I stamped flowers/leaves on the envelope in Crumb Cake ink.

https://ThePowerOfACard.blogspot.com Karen Sliwinski Stampin’ Up!®

The Sunflower 3D embossing folder has been around for a while and it's such a lovely pattern with very deep impressions. I added a panel directly to the Basic Beige card base, then added a plain strip with my sentiment stamped in Early Espresso and a sunflower from the Radiant Sunflowers set. Both of these were popped up with Dimensionals. To color the flower, I used the Shimmer Brushes in Golden Glow and a little Crisp Cantaloupe. The final touch on this strip were the Radiant Gems. I left the inside blank, except for a strip of embossed cardstock and the envelope flap was also embossed.

Another favorite embossing folder is Swirls of Magic. After embossing my Basic White panel, I spritzed it with the Hydrangea Hue Shimmer Brush. To do that, simply have the brush tip primed with ink and smack the pen against your bone folder edge. Be careful because the splatter goes where it wants to! Then I cut two circles from the Stylish Shapes dies, stamping my sentiment from the Balloon Festoon set on the smaller one. I adhered the larger circle directly to the embossed panel, then added two strips of Hydrangea Hue Bordered Ribbon around the panel, and finally, popped up the smaller circle. I stamped off the stars on the inside and envelope flap, then stamped Happy Birthday in full strength ink.

My first popped up layer was created by cutting out an arch (Everyday Arches dies) and embossing it with the new Softly Woven 3D embossing folder. I used the Words of Beauty bundle to do my sentiments (layering the because with white as the middle layer) and using black ink. Before adding these with Dimensionals to the arch, I added linen thread. It's helpful to add some Seal under the words - this really holds down the thread. Lastly, I added dots from the Adhesive-Backed Bats Ghosts & Dots embellishments. More embossed strips of Basic Beige were added inside and to the envelope.

To add texture on this next sample, I first scored five parallel lines on the top and bottom of a panel of Crumb Cake cardstock. You can do this with your Paper Trimmer or a score board. Then I used a Blending Brush to add a little color to the outside edges - first with Crumb Cake ink, then to make it a little deeper, just a touch of Pecan Pie. The branch, from Nature's Symphony bundle, was stamped in Versamark ink, cut out, decorated with a little Linen Thread Bow, and popped up on the card front. The sentiments are stamped in Pecan Pie ink and more stamped branches complete the inside and envelope.

The Pretty Poinsettia bundle is one of my favorite new sets for Christmas! By using the Impressions Plate, the petals and leaves of the flower are so striking! I adhered four layers of petals with Mini Glue Dots, plus the center and tucked in a sprig of leaves with glue to my card base. My sentiment was stamped in Cherry Cobbler, then matted with a slightly larger piece of white. Note - each layer is popped up. A stamped poinsettia decorates the inside and envelope. Boy do I love this card!

My last sample features the use of die cut pieces to add texture to a panel. I cut out a full spider web and two partials from the Web of Fun bundle. Before adding them to my popped up panel of Basic Black, I spritzed them with shimmer ink. Several years ago, we had this ink and I still had some of it in a spritz bottle. You could also use Wink of Stella to add shimmer. My letters were cut with the Party Alphabet dies and stamped with Smoky Slate (second generation stamping). I popped them up over the

spider webs, then added little bats (more from the Bats Ghosts & Dots embellishments) and a big die cut spider. The inside panel has Happy Halloween - I used the happy from A Family Celebration stamp set. Another spider web adorns the envelope corner.

So now that you've seen so many samples of Clean and Classic cards, are you going to make some yourself? Which one is your favorite? Do you have a go-to neutral that you use? Please let me know in the comments of the video! Happy card making!

Karen

ThePowerOfACard@gmail.com

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Product List

Poetic Petals Bundle (English)

[168271]

$41.25

Fragrant Layers Photopolymer Stamp Set (English)

[167150]

$24.00

Smoky Slate 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[131202]

$14.00

Natural Matte Dots

[167510]

$8.00

Multipurpose Liquid Glue

[110755]

$6.00

Stampin' Dimensionals

[104430]

$4.25

Mini Stampin' Dimensionals

[144108]

$4.25

Paper Trimmer

[152392]

$28.00

Basic White Medium Envelopes

[159236]

$15.00

Tuesday, March 3, 2026

Introducing the Garden Poetry Suite

A new batch of On-line Exclusive products were just released yesterday. Someone compared these releases to the secret menu at Starbucks and I thought that was a great way to look at them! We have three catalogs each year that are in print format and "secret" menu releases that come out every other month! Isn't it fun to check out what treats you can find here? This suite was my favorite and the first thing I wanted to show off!

If you love florals, you will love this suite of products! The pack of Designer Series Paper (DSP) is called Garden Party and it is simply stunning! One side has luscious watercolor flowers and leaves in Berry Burst, Blueberry Bushel, Shaded Spruce, Flirty Flamingo, Poppy Parade, Crushed Curry and more. The reverse side has solid-ish patterns to coordinate. Then there is a pack of Specialty Foil paper called Garden Textures (Berry Burst, Shaded Spruce and Blueberry Bushel) - it is so rich looking! The stamp bundle consists of 14 stamps (including four sentiments) and 13 dies (including three labels). There is a hybrid embossing folder with a lovely leaf background (I adore this one!). Finishing off the suite is Berry Burst Shiny Ribbon and fun Garden Epoxy Dots.

Here is 4" x 5-1/4" paper embossed and cut with the die (the hybrid combo) and simply embossed. One thing to pay attention to when using the dies are the edge parts that may get cut off. I simply added a little glue and put them back where they belonged. When you cut a larger piece, as you'll see in one of my samples, less of the leaves get cut off.

In my video, I am making a simple Fun Fold card. My first sample featured the DSP and foil, but in the video, I am making a mono chromatic card with just the DSP. I'm also showing you how to customize ribbon to match your card. Plus, I have lots of samples to share and some more tips along the way. I knew I would love this suite as soon as I saw it, and I think you will too.

Gather your supplies:

Cardstock: Calypso Coral 4-1/4" x 11" scored at 2-1/8", 4-1/4" and 5-1/2"; Garden Poetry DSP 3" x 4", (2) 1" x 4", 1-7/8" x 4"; Basic White 3" x 4", 1-1/2" x 4-1/2"
Stamp Bundle: Paradise Garden
Inks: Calypso Coral, Poppy Parade
Ribbon: Basic Beige Classic Ribbon 11"
Stampin' Blends: L Calypso Coral
Adhesive and Tools, including a Sponge Dauber

I love this simple Fun Fold because it's easy to make and the measurements are simple. Start by scoring your card base and pressing the folds with a bone folder. The section closest to the center fold gets glued together. Add the 1" pieces to the top left side and inside right side as I demonstrate. Open the card and add the 1-7/8" piece of DSP to the section to the left of the fold. Finally, add the largest piece of DSP to the Calypso Coral piece.

One thing that is wonderful about sentiments made out of photopolymer is that you can bend them as you adhere them to the block. I took the Thank You sentiment and bent it to match the shape of the wavy die cut label. Then I inked it in Calypso Coral, added Poppy Parade ink to the bottom with a sponge dauber, "huffed" on it and stamped it on the long Basic White rectangle. I used the die to cut it out on my Stampin' Cut & Emboss machine. I did the same inking technique with the inside sentiment on the remaining piece of Basic White. This panel was then adhered right next to the DSP strip.

While I adore the ribbon that comes in this suite, I didn't feel it was a good fit for my card. Instead, I took a piece of the Basic Beige ribbon and colored it with my light Calypso Coral Stampin' Blend. I colored both sides of the ribbon using the brush tip of the marker. When you color with alcohol markers, it takes a few minutes to dry and usually, the ribbon is stiffer. Before attaching it to the back of my label, I ran it through my fingers a bit to soften it. Then I made a zig zag and attached it to the back of the label with Seal adhesive. As a side note, I used Cloud Cover ribbon and colored it with Shaded Spruce and Blueberry Bushel Stampin' Blends for this sample.

For the final assembly, fold the outside flap back toward the card fold and add glue to this surface. Then add the floral DSP panel so it is evenly spaced left to right. It will extend about 1/8" to the left side of the flap (I show this in the video). My first sample did not extend beyond the flap and if you look closely, you can see that it slightly off center, which annoys my engineering brain! Add the label/ribbon with Dimensionals, centering it from top to bottom. Lastly, stamp a flower in both colors on the envelope.

I have lots of samples to share with you and most of them are self explanatory. However, I do have a few tips along the way. The first card features my favorite paper. The top part of the card is short so that the Berry Burst foil, which is adhered to the inside of the card, shows when the card is closed. For the green leafy card, I embossed vellum for the top half of the card. The label was stamped in Shaded Spruce, then Versamark so I could add clear embossing powder to get an embossed sentiment.

I cut three circles with the Stylish Shapes dies, two from DSP and one from peach Pie cardstock, which was them embossed. I cut each in half and layered them together for the offset circles. For the next card, I stamped smaller images on strips of Basic White to match the color of the 1/4" strips of foil which separated them.

This card used a quarter sheet of paper for the hybrid embossing and has a Blackberry Bliss card base. I think the dark layer underneath helps to show off the lift on the leaves.

Both of these feature the embossing folder - the first one has it embossed and the second one has it debossed. I used a sponge dauber to add Crushed Curry to the inside of the flowers and Poppy Parade to the outside. I also sponged Granny Apple Green and Garden Green on the leaves connected to the flowers. For the blue card, I cut the inner circle with a circle from the Spotlight on Nature dies before embossing. Then from a second piece of the foil, I cut the same circle and the next larger one to make the frame. Because the foil has a white core, I used a sponge dauber to add more ink to the inner edges to hide the white from showing.

Lastly, I have a really fun card design from Southridge Sudio's Facebook page. It is partially embossed and cut so that just a small strip of the top gets adhered to the inside of the card, leaving a gap in the front panel. The flowers and label keep both parts of the front working together as a single layer. How fun is that?? If you haven't seen this one, make sure you watch to the end of the video to see me open it! Again, I used a sponge dauber to add some Bubble Bath ink to the center of the flowers and sentiment.

Thanks so much for watching my video and reading my blog - I appreciate you and hope I've inspired you to make cards with this fabulous suite!

Karen

ThePowerOfACard@gmail.com

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