Sunflower Texture Surprise: Using a 'Wet Cement' Stamp in a Whole New Way
Good day, fellow crafters. It's Tamara once again, with a new post showcasing my latest card created using Blank Page Muse products! I was having so much fun with their great flower-themed products that I decided to create with them again for this post.
When you think of a sunflower, the last thing that comes to mind is a "wet cement" texture—but that unexpected pairing is exactly what gave this card its unique charm. I used a stamp originally designed to mimic the look of wet cement to add subtle texture to the sunflower’s center and background. While the stamp doesn’t add dimension, it introduces a layer of visual interest that makes the design feel more organic and detailed. This kind of creative twist shows how a stamp’s purpose isn’t limited to its label—sometimes the best results come from using tools in unexpected ways. Keep reading to see how this simple texture stamp added interest in all the right places.
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To create this project, you will need the following:
- Sunflower & Dragonflies stencil from Blank Page Muse
- Texture Wet Cement stamp from Blank Page Muse
- White cardstock panel - 4.25" x 5.5"
- White A2 Card base
- Inks in Green, Yellow, Caramel, Blue
- Ink Blending brush
- Clear block for mounting stamp
- Low-tack adhesive
- Frame stencil (I chose one from my stash that has both the frame and the cut-out)
- Scissors
- Liquid glue
- Paper Trimmer
- Sentiment of choice (I chose an uplifting one from my stash)
- Flat-back pearls (optional)
Process
- Place the white cardstock on the work surface and then secure the Sunflower and Dragonflies stencil over it, positioning it so as much of the sunflower is on the stencil as possible, then secure in place with mint tape or similar. I also put some mint tape in for masking between the flower and the greenery to make ink blending cleaner.
- Use the ink blending brush and the green inks to color the stem and leaves. Begin with the a lighter green for the base then apply a darker green to build up the visual dimension. Be gentle with the dark green as to not cover up all of the lighter under tones.
- Reposition the masking tape so that it covers the green.
- Using inks in shades of yellow, and beginning with the lighter shade, ink-blend the sunflower petals and the center.
- Once the petals are completed, use a darker shade of the yellow, I chose a more yellowish-orange shade, and ink-blend the flower center.
- Blend this color into the petals to make them pop; be sure to leave some of the lighter tone visible.
- When complete, return with a darker shade of yellow or a bit of orange (your preference) for the flower center.
- Make sure to not remove the stencil, it is important for what comes next.
- Use the low-tack adhesive on the back of the Wet Cement stamp, and secure it to the glass block.
- Ink the stamp with the Caramel colored ink and then stamp over the stenciled image. This will give a very unique visual texture that makes this card stand out. Repeat until satisfied with the coverage.
- This is reminiscent of a splatter technique, but with the stamp, it is more organized in the execution.
- Allow the inks to dry fully.
- Remove the stencil and clean.
- Using the frame of preference, I chose one from my stash that had both the frame and its interior cut out so that I could ink-blend with a shade of light Blue around the scalloped interior cut to mimic a clear blue sky.
- Use a darker shade of blue along the edges of the cardstock with only a light pressure on the edges of the stencil.
- Allow the ink to dry.
- Remove the stencil and clean.
Assembly
- Using liquid glue, secure your completed panel to the White A2 card base and allow to dry.
- Use Black ink and the sentiment of your choice to create the sentiment. For this design, I found the lower end of the card was a perfect location.
- Using liquid glue, adhere flat-back pearls to the panel to give it some dimension.
