Hello, crafty friends! I’m thrilled to be back with Day 5 of the Sweet & Spooky Halloween Series. Today’s card brings together two of my favorite things: mixed media techniques and a vintage floral design—with just a touch of Halloween magic!
I love playing around with the unexpected, and florals might not be the first thing you think of when it comes to Halloween. But, with the right colors and textures, you can create a beautiful balance of sweet and spooky in one card. I hope today’s project inspires you to stretch your supplies and think outside the box for your Halloween designs. Let’s dive into the details!
Balancing Florals and Halloween Elements:
Whenever I sit down to create a Halloween card, I always challenge myself to incorporate unexpected elements. For this card, I knew I wanted to use the Lovely Bouquet Stamp Set from Pajama Crafter Stamps. It’s such a beautiful and versatile floral set, but I had to figure out how to give it that Halloween twist without taking away from the elegance of the flowers.
Here’s what I came up with: mixing traditional floral elements with autumn colors and pops of gold for a bit of drama. I stamped the large floral image from the set twice, once at the top and once at the bottom of my card panel. Using Watering Can Archival Ink gave the images a soft, vintage look while still maintaining enough contrast to stand out.
Pro Tip: If you find black ink a little too bold for a softer, vintage look, try using a gray ink like Watering Can for a muted, antique feel. It gives the card an aged quality that fits perfectly with the spooky theme.
Adding Texture with Stencils and Watercolor Pencils
One of my favorite ways to add subtle dimension to a card is by layering stencils over stamped images. It’s a simple step that can make a huge difference. For this project, I used the Falling Leaves Stencil (from the Rabbit Hole Designs) and traced the leaves with my Distress Watercolor Pencils in shades like Rusty Hinge and Crackling Campfire. These warm, autumn colors were the perfect complement to the floral elements and helped set the scene for a Halloween card.
Once the pencil work was done, I grabbed a small paintbrush and added just a touch of water to soften the pigment and blend the color into the leaves. Watching the colors spread and come to life is always such a satisfying moment!
Pro Tip: When working with watercolor pencils, start with just a little water at first—especially on smooth cardstock. You can always add more water, but once it’s on the paper, it’s hard to take it away! I like to practice on a scrap piece first to make sure I’m happy with the result.
A Touch of Gold for Drama
Now, what’s a vintage card without a little shimmer? I decided to bring some glam into the design by heat embossing smaller floral images around the card front using Polished Gold Super Fine Embossing Powder from WOW Embossing. Gold embossing really pops against the muted background and adds that touch of luxury that ties everything together.
A quick personal story here—I remember the first time I used embossing powder years ago. I was completely blown away by how it transformed the card. It’s one of those techniques that still excites me, even after all this time. If you’ve never tried heat embossing before, I highly recommend it! It’s such an easy way to elevate any project.
Bringing the Bouquet to Life
The focal point of this card is, of course, the large floral bouquet. I stamped it in Memento Tuxedo Black Ink and colored it using OLO Markers. Here’s where I had a bit of fun: I wanted the roses to feel a little spooky, so I colored two of them in cool gray tones, almost to resemble black roses. The rest of the flowers were done in shades of orange and yellow, with hints of red and green on the leaves and berries.
It’s amazing how a small change in color can completely shift the mood of a card. By going with these bold, dramatic colors, the bouquet fits perfectly into the Halloween theme while still maintaining the beauty of the floral design.
Pro Tip: Don’t be afraid to use unconventional colors for your florals! Black, gray, or even deep purples can add a gothic or moody vibe that’s perfect for Halloween. Pair them with warmer tones like oranges and yellows for contrast.
Assembly and Final Details
Once I finished coloring and fussy-cutting the floral bouquet, it was time to assemble the card. I adhered the card front onto a top-folding A2 card base, then popped up the bouquet with 2mm Foam Tape for extra dimension. I love how lifting an image off the card creates a shadow that adds depth without cluttering the design.
For the sentiment, I die-cut “BOO” from Mixed Media Black Cardstock using my Bold Alphabet Dies. A simple but bold sentiment is all this card needed to complete the look. I also wanted to add a bit of texture, so I grabbed some May Arts Natural Burlap Twine and colored it black with my Copic Marker. After tying it into a double bow, I added it to the card front for a fun, rustic touch.
Lastly, no card is complete without a little sparkle. I sprinkled a few Lump of Coal Rhinestones from Pajama Crafter Stamps around the card to draw the eye and add that final bit of shine.
Pro Tip: When placing embellishments like rhinestones or sequins, I like to create a visual triangle around the focal point. It helps guide the viewer’s eye and creates a balanced design.
Video Tutorial:
If you have problems watching the video here on my blog you can always watch it on my YouTube Channel by Clicking Here!
(Wondering what I used in this video? Everything is linked to multiple sources in the thumbnails at the end of this post, or in the text below. Compensated affiliate links used when possible). As always I appreciate your support of my videos!
Final Thoughts
This vintage mixed media floral card was such a joy to create! I love how it combines the softness of florals with the drama of Halloween colors and textures. It’s a great example of how you can mix different themes to create something truly unique and unexpected.
If you’re looking for a way to add a little spooky flair to your cards this season, I hope this inspires you to try out some of these techniques. And don’t forget—crafting is all about experimenting and having fun, so don’t be afraid to play around with your supplies and see what you can come up with!
Until next time, happy crafting!
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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