I planned to make an entirely different card design, but when I saw my package of this Violet Dreams Specialty Designer Series Paper I decided to use it along with one of the included diecut frames and floral images. As I looked through the paper, I couldn’t resist this floral paper with the dark Secret Sea background! And that is how this Violet Dreams Card For Any Occasion came about!
This is really a quick & easy card to copy and make, now that you have the design! It’s just a basic card with one of the precut pieces to put as a background behind the bouquet of violets. Just embellish, and you’re done.
The card base is Secret Sea cardstock to match the dark background on the designer series paper. I decided to put a layer of Barely Blush behind the designer paper to bring out the pink tone on some of the very light flowers. The DSP is cut at the usual 4″ x 5 1/4″ and the Barely Blush is just an eighth of an inch bigger, so 4 1/8″ x 5 3/8″.
The large piece behind the flowers is one of the precut images you can just punch out of a couple of the sheets in the package. That’s what makes it “specialty” paper. The center can be punched out if you want to use it as a frame, but I left the center in. This piece is glued down flat on the card. The little bunch of violets is punched out also (be careful that you are not punching out two sheets at once like I did and didn’t notice until I went to glue down the background piece!). The flowers are popped up on Stampin’ Dimensionals.
However, before I adhered the flowers to the card, I thought they looked a little pale against the strong dark background of the paper. Then I remembered someone’s tip about adding some color to diecut images like these before adding to a card. I got out my Hydrangea Hue Stampin’ Blends and just added a few highlights and shading on the petals and really liked the result. Just make it very light and light-handed. You don’t need to color in the whole flower. I think I only used the Light Hydrangea Hue marker.
For embellishments, I added a Barely Blush bow, as if it were tied around the flower stems. I also added a few of the Barely Blush 2026-2028 In Color Dots. These are all so pretty. Add your name to the email list to be notified when they are back in stock, if they are unavailable. I didn’t even add a greeting as there wasn’t much space, but I can put one inside the card and it will be just fine. Inside the card, I added a piece of Basic White and adhered a few of the diecut violets in the corner from the package. They almost look like real dried flowers when you first open the card!
If you like to make quick & easy cards, any of these designer papers that come with precut images or stickers are perfect for you! Also, try one or more of the epehmera packs for easy greetings!