Pinkfresh Studio Whispering Views Release Blog Hop

There's something about florals that always brings me back to why I fell in love with cardmaking in the first place. They’re timeless, always in season, and can go from soft and subtle to bold and dramatic with just a few tweaks. Today I’m excited to be part of the Pinkfresh Studio Whispering Views Release Blog Hop, and I’ve created a card that brings together some of my favorite things: BetterPress, beautiful stencils, a little hot foiling, and, of course, a whole lot of ink blending.

This card started as a simple idea—to let the new Blushing Blooms Press Plate shine—but like most of my projects, it quickly turned into a layered mix of textures, color, and dimension. If you're looking to try something fresh that feels elevated but still totally doable, this combo is a winner.

Pinkfresh Studio Whispering Views Release Blog Hop

A Beautiful Start with BetterPress

I’ve been using the BetterPress system more and more lately, and every time I pull a plate off that crisp cotton cardstock, I’m reminded just how much it adds to a card. For this project, I used the Blushing Blooms Press Plate with Detail Black Ink from Pinkfresh Studio on a piece of watercolor cardstock. That ink is crisp, bold, and perfect for both blending and watercoloring—plus it dries beautifully without smearing when you go back over it with stencils.

Pro Tip: If you’ve ever had your stenciling smudge because your press ink wasn’t dry, a quick blast with your heat tool or a little patience goes a long way. I usually stamp or press my image, then move on to prepping die cuts or backgrounds while it dries completely.

Soft Blending with the Blushing Blooms Stencils

Once that panel was dry, it was time to play with the coordinating Blushing Blooms Stencils. One of the things I love about Pinkfresh layering stencils is how they guide you. You don’t have to second-guess where the shading should go or wonder if you’re doing it right—it’s all built into the design.

For the blooms, I used Peach Fuzz, Apricot, and Clementine, layering them to create this soft citrusy glow that just feels happy. The flower centers were done with Lemon Whip, which adds the perfect pop of sunshine. For the stems and leaves, Sage and Eucalyptus gave just enough contrast while keeping the look cohesive.

Pro Tip: Start your blending light and build up color gradually. Especially when working over pressed lines, soft ink layers keep everything crisp and give you more control over your final result.

Die Cutting & Dimension

After the ink blending was complete, I brought in the Blushing Blooms Die Set to cut everything out. These dies align beautifully with the pressed image and stenciled areas, so if you're ever nervous about cutting something you spent time coloring—this is a set that takes that worry away.

I assembled the two main florals with their stems and set them aside while I figured out the background. Sometimes I plan everything out ahead of time, but more often than not, I build as I go. I love seeing the card come together piece by piece and letting the design take shape organically.

Adding a Foiled Twist

I knew I wanted something in the background that would add texture without overwhelming the florals. I pulled out the Twisted Pattern Press Plate, but instead of using it with BetterPress, I decided to hot foil it with gold foil onto glossy white cardstock. I don’t use glossy cardstock all the time, but there’s something about the way foil reacts with that surface—it adds a clean, high-shine finish that makes the whole card feel elevated.

While the Glimmer Hot Foil System was hot, I also foiled one of the sentiments from the Blushing Blooms Press Plate set. I went with “Wishing You Every Happiness,” also in gold on glossy white, and used the coordinating die to cut it out.

After everything was foiled, I added a little ink blending over the background with Sage and Eucalyptus, just lightly to let that pattern shine through and match the floral greenery. This subtle shift gave the background a bit more depth and warmth without competing with the focal image.

Building the Layers

I trimmed the background panel down to 4" x 5.25" and mounted it to a white A2 card base. Then, for a little extra frame and softness, I brought in the Essentials Fancy Rectangle Frame Dies. I used both the frame and the inside panel—inking that inner piece with Waterfall, Turquoise, and just a touch of Paradise, then layered in a little extra stenciling with the same Blushing Blooms stencil set (but with blues this time). To deepen the contrast just a bit, I added a hint of Atlantis to the florals.

It’s a fun way to stretch your stencils—use them not just on your main floral die cuts, but as subtle textures behind your focal image too.

Once the frame and panel were taped back together, I adhered it to the foiled background with foam tape to add some nice dimension.

Finishing Touches That Shine

From there, I arranged the florals, overlapping the stems slightly and tucking them into the soft background scene I created. Some were adhered with liquid glue, others with foam adhesive for a bit of lift and movement. The sentiment got the same foam treatment, but I stacked a few extra die cuts behind it to give it that chipboard-style thickness that always looks so polished.

For finishing touches, I added a few white gel pen highlights to the florals and sprinkled on some Sky Blue Clear Drops. These give just the right amount of sparkle without taking over the design.

Final Thoughts

This card was such a joy to create, and it reminded me how much fun it can be to combine techniques. If you’ve been curious about press plates or layering stencils—or looking to try hot foiling with your press plates—this new Pinkfresh Studio Whispering Views Release is a great place to jump in.

Thanks so much for hopping along with me today. I hope this project inspires you to pull out your press plates, try some soft ink blending, and maybe even foil something unexpected. I’d love to hear what you’re excited to make from this release—let me know in the comments!

And don’t forget to visit the rest of the designers in the Whispering Views Release Blog Hop—there’s so much inspiration waiting for you.

Keep Hopping

Giveaways

Pinkfresh Studio is giving away TEN $50 gift cards along the hop. And one lucky winner will win the entire Whispering Views Release. Winners will be selected from the comments, at random. Pinkfresh Studio will pull the winners and post them on July 22, 2025, on their GIVEAWAY PAGE. Please check that page for the winners and the prizes must be claimed within two weeks.

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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