You know when you want to find that glow where light seems to filter through the flowers? White heat embossing the flowers is the best technique to bring that ethereal feel. I started watercolouring with this method many years ago, and I have always found it an easy way to paint that gives consistently great results. My card today uses the exclusive Altenew STAMPtember set, Rose Reverie.

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Altenew 2023 STAMPtember Set

I have always loved Altenew’s flowers. They have a timeless elegance that makes me itch to paint them! The Rose Reverie set includes what I think of as a dogwood rose with its delicate petals, strong leaves, and growth pattern. 

great technique to bring an ethereal feel to flowers

I chose a smooth, hot-pressed watercolour card to get the best impression when heat embossing. I stamped the rose image in Versamark ink and white heat embossed.

The advantage of white heat embossing is that it gives you contained areas surrounded by the raised bumps of the lines. Each area is separate from the next, so you don’t need to worry about the green paint of the leaves spreading into the pink of the rose. It makes a speedy way to get the colour down. 

I like to use Daniel Smith watercolours and aim to get areas of deep shadow at the base of the leaves and barely there highlights on the petals. For interest, I like to add touches of colour other than green to the leaves, bringing them to life. So, for the leaves of this card, I used Undersea Green with hints of Cobalt Blue.

I used Quinacridone Coral for the petals and let the Quinacridone Gold of the flower centre spread into the wet petals. I finished off with Faber Castell coloured pencils to add details and depth. My last step is always a good splatter of white gouache and leftover paint.  

I picked a greeting from the Altenew set and stamped it in Versamark ink on Vellum before white heat embossing, trimming to a banner and then tucking around the painted panel. I kept it in place with teeny tiny strips of foam adhesive behind the lettering.

I attached the panel to a card base cut and scored from Neenah Desert Storm card. I finished with a scattering of sequins and pearls.

stamptember

In previous years I have found it helpful to put a summary of the STAMPtember events for reference. I will try to take part as much as possible, but I’m still not at full speed and so I will pop in during the month as best I can. Here’s the calendar of events as it stands so far:

• 01 September Simon Says Stamp Own Brand release
• 02 September treasure hunt blog party
• 03 September Heidi’s birthday!
• 04 September Lawn Fawn – sold out
• 05 September Picket Fence Studios – sold out
• 06 September Gina K stamp – sold out
• 07 September Art Impressions stamp set
• 08 September Rainbow Splash
• 09 September Alex Syberia  stamp set  and stamp and die set – sold out
• 10 September Pink And Main – sold out
• 11 September Concord and 9th – sold out
• 12 September Whimsy Stamps stamp set (sold out) and stamp and die set
• 13 September Clearly Besotted – sold out, plus Memory Box stamp set and stamp and die set
• 14 September Monthly Card Kit
• 15 September Mama Elephant stamp set and stamp and die set
• 16 September Riley And Company – sold out, Avery Elle stamp set and stamp and die set (sold out), The Greeting Farm stamp set and stamp and die set
• 17 September – Altenew stamp set and stamp set with matching dies

supplies

You can find links to the supplies I’ve used below; click on the picture or shop icon to get taken directly to the product. Where available I use compensated affiliate links which means if you make a purchase I receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you! Items marked with an asterisk (*) provided by a store or the manufacturer. You can read my affiliate and product disclosure here. I genuinely appreciate your support.