Ink Blend & Build Beautiful Water Lilies with Pinkfresh Studio Dies & Stencils

There’s just something about water lilies that feels calming, isn’t there? Maybe it’s the way they float so effortlessly across the surface or the soft way they bloom open. I’ve been in a bit of a clean-and-simple mood lately, and when I pulled out the Tranquil Water Lilies Stencils and Dies from Pinkfresh Studio, I knew I wanted to capture that soft, serene vibe in card form. This set has—the dies, the layering stencils. I even a beautifully versatile sentiment set from another collection—and I loved watching the card come to life through layers of ink and soft dimension.

This design was inspired by a walk I took last week at a local botanical garden here in Alabama. It was early morning, and there were still beads of dew on the flowers. There was a pond tucked away in one of the corners, and the lilies were just starting to open with the sun. That peaceful moment stayed with me, and I wanted to channel that same stillness into a card that felt both elegant and easy to make. This design ended up being a great mix of ink blending, layering, and just a touch of sparkle—my favorite kind of project.

Ink Blend & Build Beautiful Water Lilies with Pinkfresh Studio Dies & Stencils

Soft Layers with Stencils and Ink

I started this project on my favorite go-to for ink blending: Hammermill Smooth 100 lb Cardstock. It’s buttery smooth, which means the ink glides across like magic. For the leaves and lily pads, I blended through the Tranquil Water Lilies Stencils using Sage, Eucalyptus, and a bit of Spruce Tips from Pinkfresh Studio’s ink line. These three tones layered beautifully for depth without becoming muddy—especially since the stencils are clearly labeled for each layer, which is always a bonus.

For the flowers, I wanted something a bit more vibrant but still soft, so I reached for Cherry Blossom, Peony, and Begonia inks. These colors blend together effortlessly, and when layered up, they really give the impression of soft petals curling open. One little pro tip: let your ink blending dry for just a minute or two before die cutting. It helps prevent warping and makes your cuts a little cleaner.

Once the flowers and lily pads were blended, I used the coordinating Tranquil Water Lilies Die Set to cut everything out. The die is detailed and hugs the stenciled images just right, so you don’t lose any of those soft color blends you just worked so hard on.

Creating a Serene Water Background

Now, I could have popped those lilies up on a white background and called it a day—but I wanted that tranquil pond feeling. So, I took a second panel of Hammermill Cardstock and brought in the other stencils from the Tranquil Water Lilies Stencils set, the ones designed to create the water base. Using Waterfall, Turquoise and Atlantis inks, I blended in the water areas, fading out toward the edges. Then, I went back over the entire panel edge with Atlantis ink and a light hand just to give it a gentle vignette. That one little step really helps the center panel pop and adds a nice sense of depth, especially when you're working with soft tones.

Framing the Scene with Die Cut Dimension

To add just a bit more structure to the card—and draw the eye inward—I used the Rounded & Braided Rectangle Die Set. I love this die for how clean it cuts and how much detail it brings without stealing the spotlight. I cut the outer decorative frame first, then used the smaller rectangle die to cut out the center panel.

I added 1mm foam tape behind the center panel to give it a gentle lift. This is one of my favorite tricks when I want dimension without bulk, especially if the card is going through the mail. The outer panel was adhered directly to a top-folding A2 card base made from Neenah Ultra Thick Cardstock, which always gives the card that sturdy, professional feel.

A Sentiment with Purpose

For the sentiment, I went with “Find Your Path” from the Mark the Moments Stamp Set. I stamped it in Detail Black Ink onto more of that smooth Hammermill Cardstock, then die cut it using the coordinating dies. I also cut a few blank layers to stack underneath, which adds subtle dimension and makes the sentiment stand out just enough.

There’s something really grounding about this phrase—it felt right for the quiet vibe of this card. It’s also versatile enough that it could be encouragement, a thinking-of-you card, or even a non-traditional sympathy design.

Finishing Touches That Sparkle

To wrap it all up, I layered my lilies around the popped-up sentiment and then added a sprinkle of Iridescent Dew Drops. I placed them in a soft triangle to guide the eye, and they add just the right amount of sparkle without taking over. When working with embellishments like these, I always step back and squint a little—if anything catches the light too much or looks unbalanced, that’s when I know to shift it or remove it.

Bringing It All Together

This card may look layered and detailed, but it was actually a really calming process to put together. The stencils do most of the work, the ink colors blend effortlessly, and the dies tie everything together beautifully. If you’ve been wanting to build a card that feels soft, dimensional, and full of calm energy, this is a great technique to try.

So next time you reach for your floral stencils, think about building a scene around them. Let the layers of ink do the storytelling, and don’t be afraid to play with dimension and soft color palettes. I hope this inspires you to create your own peaceful garden moment—right there on a card front.

Thanks for dropping by today I hope that you found a little spark of creative inspiration with my project today. Wondering what I used in this project? Everything is linked to multiple sources in the thumbnails in the Materials Used section, or in the text below. Compensated affiliate links used when possible.

Materials Used:

Here you will find the list of supplies that I used to create today's card. All supplies are linked to supply sources below. Compensated affiliate links may be used at no cost to you.

Happy Stampin'

Rick Adkins

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