Creativity Unlocked feat. Craft-A-Flower: Saffron | Using Ink Blending to Elevate Card Elements

Hello everyone!

Svitlana is here. Today I want to share a bold floral card featuring the recently released Craft-A-Flower: Saffron Layering Die Set as well as several other cool die sets.

Welcome to Creativity Unlocked, where we highlight a new product from this month’s new collection! 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 stamp and die set!

You know what? Now that I'm writing this post I realized that this card was made with no stamping involved—only die-cutting and ink blending! I incorporated these techniques as an additional touch to add texture and dimension to the card elements.

I started off strong by creating a bold teal background using the Calming Reflections Die. I used a teal cardstock to create both the card base and the Calming Reflections die-cut.

The card base was ink blended using the Galactic Stream Dye Ink and a Large Blending Brush. The Teal Cave Die Ink was used to ink blend the background die-cut.

After ink blending, I've sprinkled both elements with water. I allowed the ink to move and then blotted it. I then began adhering the background die-cut onto the card base.

Next, I moved on to the floral element creation using the Craft-A-Flower: Saffron Layering Die Set.

First, I die-cut the flower parts out of a Solar White Cardstock. Then, I added some shading to all the white die-cut elements by ink blending them using the Fuchsia and Magenta Dye Inks, and using the Mini Blending Brushes as blending tools. I tried staying within the elements center and a little bit along the edges with ink blending, leaving large parts of the petals white.

The water splatters were added to each element for additional texture. After that, I assembled the flowers by layering their corresponding elements.

The flowers were adhered onto the card forming a floral cluster in the center.

To create leaves, I made several die-cuts out of different purple cardstock from the New Purple Gradient Cardstock Set. Each leaf was also enchanted by adding ink blending using the Midnight Violet Dye Ink and a little bit of water splattering.

All the leaves were added to the card around the floral cluster as well as in between of the flowers. This placement helps to differentiate one flower from another, especially when they all are of the same color.

To make the sentiment, I used the Versatile Greetings Die Set as well as color cardstock from the New Purple Gradient Cardstock Set. This wonderful set feature cute, chunky sentiments; their shadows can be used in many different ways!

I die-cut the “hugs” sentiment out of a Wisteria Cardstock from the set and added ink blending to the bottom part of it using the Midnight Violet Dye Ink.

To die-cut the word's shadow, I used the Andromeda Cardstock from the Gradient Cardstock Set. After assembling the sentiment I popped it up onto the card.

To finish off the card I added several enamel dots from the Enchanted Garden Enamel Dots Set.

I want to note that this card could be totally made without implementing ink blending. I could simply die-cut all elements out of different color cardstock and assemble the card the same way. But in my opinion adding this extra step of ink blending did add more bling!

Also, you could skip adding water splatters as simple ink blending would look fine without it. But I have to admit I like the texture and interest that the splatters added.

How about you? Do you like the ink blending technique and the addition of water splatters? Let us know in the comments below!

Thank you for stopping by.

1 Product, Multiple Ways!

Before you go, here are a few card ideas featuring this new stamp and die set!

Elize chose a dark, solid color for her card's background and we think she made the perfect choice! The dark hue nicely contrasted with the delicate colors of the saffron's petals.

From the beautiful shades of violet, splatters, and embellishments, every inch of Jaycee's card is elegance.

Nathalie also made the Craft-A-Flower: Saffron Layering Die Set her focal point. The color she chose for her background and embellishments really made the design pop.

Is that the real deal?! Michelle opted to pay homage to the saffron flower by using the colors that made this deep lavender, purple-veined blossom and its long, scarlet stigmas beautiful.

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