Hi Altenew friends, it's Jaycee! As part of the Marvelous Monthly Series, NEW for February 2023 is Craft-A-Flower: Himalayan Blue Poppy. I love this layering die set for its debossed petal vein texture, ease of use with alignment images, and nearly life-like layering style.
Welcome to Creativity Unlocked, where we highlight a new product from each month's collection or a fan favorite from past collections! Discover each product's endless creative possibilities and get inspired to create the paper crafting ideas we share here. Keep on reading for exclusive tips from our designers, handy tips and tricks, and stunning project inspiration from talented crafters.
Keep on reading for more tips and project ideas using this new layering die set!
Craft-A-Flower: Himalayan Blue Poppy Layering Die Set
The Himalayan poppy is a stunning flower that blooms in a rich blue hue. This die set allows you to create two exquisite blue poppies with three accompanying leaves. The images are easy to layer up with your favorite cardstock colors – there is no need to limit yourself to only blue! With this die set, you can create a gorgeous floral bloom with nothing more than paper and your die cut machine! Watch as the separate elements perfectly fit together to compose a blooming Himalayan Blue Poppy flower. It's just like putting together a puzzle!
Need help with layering? We've got you!
Download the layering guide below:
I love to play with texture on cards, especially flower cards. By omitting all colors and making a single-tone card, we are able to use five different kinds of texture on a single card. Although there is no color on this card, we are miraculously able to distinguish separate flower die-cut elements.
Debossing Cover Dies
Debossing cover dies allow us to create a solid foundation for all the flower texture. A simple yet interesting die helps create contrast between the heavily textured floral focal points and offset flat untouched foliage layers.
Craft-A-Flower Debossing Dies
Lately, the Craft-A-Flower layering dies have contained debossing details in the dies. This gives nearly realistic curves to petals and foliage on an otherwise flat shape.
Texture Contrast
Mixing flat foliage shapes with textured flowers gives a range of textural contrast to these cards. Just like we use a range of layering inks to give depth to a layering stamp, we can use a range of textures to make a dynamic scene.
Instant Dimension Foam Tape
Instant Dimension Foam Tape is a crafting essential. I love using this foam tape to create height on a card and also create cast shadows. These cast shadows tell you that other floral elements are more in the foreground than others for an interesting depth of field.
Embossing Folders
Like the debossing cover dies, embossing folders help give a solid foundation to these dimensional cards. I picked an embossing folder that had a discreet pattern, yet helped anchor the varying depth and texture of this card.
Designer's Tips!
If you would like your poppies to be blue like the original inspiration flower, but you don't have enough blue cardstock, create your own! Blend your favorite blue tones of ink onto plain white cardstock to customize the look. Of course, you don't need to only use blue. These blooms will look gorgeous in any color palette! To give the poppies a bit of extra dimension, curl up each of the petals. Then, only apply adhesive to the center (near the alignment guides). The flowers will practically pop off the page!
Perfect Pairings
We've curated a few items that will go well with this product. Check them out!
1 Product, Multiple Ways!
Before you go, here are a few card ideas featuring this new layering die set!
Popping up these vibrant floral dies against black or dark cardstock will definitely take it to the next level!
A little ink blending, some stamping, and lots of splatters – LauraJane's card looks so much fun!
Dark cardstock + vibrant colors = perfect combination! We just love how the colors simply pop off Joy's card. Read more about it here.
Keep the color palette simple, but make the background stand out! Virginia elevated hers by using dry-embossing the Loving Birds 3D Embossing Folder.
What do you think about the new Craft-A-Flower: Himalayan Blue Poppy? Which project/s caught your eye? Comment below! Thank you for stopping by!
~ Supply List ~
7 comments
Beautiful cards!!! I love the all black one!!
Jaycee, you ‘had me’ at grey!
=]
Beautiful! I’m glad this set made it into your product line as I couldn’t keep it growing in my garden – not enough goat manure, i guess. :)
Amazing projects!!
Both cards are beautiful!!! I can’t choose a favorite.
They’re both just gorgeous Jaycee!! I would have thought that they off-white would’ve been my favorite, but upon closer inspection my eye was more drawn to the black layout. Beautiful and I definitely am going to try this myself, as it’s been a technique that has intrigued me for quite awhile now… Thank you for the inspiration and for sharing your talents! đź’•
Glad you like it! The all-black card is so unique! Hope you can give it a try sometime!