Hello everyone! I hope your week is off to a great start :) ! It’s TaeEun here today with a soft floral birthday card featuring the beautiful Cardinal Kiss product suite from the Sunlit Manor Release. For this design, I created a textured background by dry embossing the Cardinal Kiss images repeatedly. I also inked the press plate before embossing, which added a bit more definition and helped the embossed images to stand out softly in the background.

*Disclaimer: All products used are linked below as clickable images. If a product isn’t listed, it’s been discontinued.

Here is how I made the card.

1. Ink blend a white A2 panel lightly with Grassy Knoll, Bay Leaf, and Coral Reef to create a soft airy background.
2. Die cut an oval from the center of the panel using a die from the Nested Ovals: Double Stitch die set.
3. Secure the die cut oval back in place on the reverse side with some washi tape.
4. Dry emboss the lower left part of the panel using the Cardinal Kiss Press Plate after inking the plate with Misty Coast.
5. Dry emboss the Cardinal image two more times in the lower area of the background panel for added texture, inking the press plate with Misty Coast each time.
6. Hot foil the Cardinal Kiss image in gold and color it using the coordinating stencil set in the following colors :
   - Stencil 1: Coral Reef, Peony
   - Stencil 2: Bubble Gum
   - Stencil 3: Bay Leaf, Grassy Knoll
   - Stencil 4: Olive
7. Die cut the colored image using the coordinating die.
8. Hot foil the Cardinal Kiss image again using the negative foil and Solid Hot Foil Plate, then die cut it.
9. Hot foil the sentiment in gold and die cut. Stack three additional die cut layers behind it for dimension.
10. Adhere the background panel to a white cardbase, adding the center oval piece back in place with foam tape for extra dimension.
11. Splatter white opaque ink over the background and let it dry completely.
12. Layer the stenciled Cardinal Kiss image over the negative hot foiled image slightly offset, using foam tape.
13. Attach the layered floral image to the oval panel.
14. Add the sentiment with foam tape.
15. Finish the card with three Sparkling Champagne Metallic Pearls.

One of my favorite ways to add subtle detail to a background is to dry emboss with a press plate. The relatively deep impression shows up beautifully and adds elegant texture to the background. This time, I also tried inking the plate before embossing, and I really love the result. It gives you both texture and a soft printed look at the same time, which is a lovely way to build interest without making the background feel too heavy. Dry embossing in the background works especially well when you want the focal image to remain the star of the card while still adding extra depth to the design.

I hope my card inspired you today!
Thank you so much for stopping by, and I wish you a crafty week ahead!

TaeEun