Hi everyone, it's Victoria here with you today, creating with Kay Carley products. I’m a sucker for a pretty floral, so Kay’s designs are the perfect choice for creating dreamy floral artwork that celebrates colour, texture, and nature. Today’s ‘Flower Moon’ project is all about building simple layers which show how easy it is to create depth using just a few thoughtful elements.
Here are the PaperArtsy products I’m using for today’s project. I choose two stamp sets, EKC59 and EKC68, and stencil PS298. The flowers in these designs should complement each other nicely and provide me with options for creating different flower heights in the piece. I also selected Fresco Finish Acrylic Paints in Chalk (FF83) and Blue Moon (FF170) as my base colours for the piece.
I started off by creating the moon element using a circular gel plate and the Fresco Finish Acrylic Paints in Chalk (FF83) and Blue Moon (FF170). To create some subtle background flowers I sponged some Blue Moon (FF170) paint through the stencil (PS298) onto the gel plate.
Once they were dry, I added a layer of Chalk (FF83) paint on top of the gel plate using a brayer to pull the print. Gel printing is a wonderfully playful process, full of happy unpredictability. It creates fabulous texture, and stencils are invaluable for adding depth and layered detail to your prints.
This is the first pull I made. Whilst I loved the texture, ultimately, when I started to add the stamping, I decided I wasn’t happy with the placement of the stencil flowers, particularly with the large gap between the first and second stems. I therefore end up using a second print, so you’ll notice that the ‘moon’ changes in the stamping steps below.
The main focal point in this piece is the flower stamping. Creating layers when stamping is a simple yet powerful way to add depth, dimension, and a natural sense of composition to your designs. I started off by placing the bluebell style flower from stamp set EKC68 on the left hand side of the moon. I stamped the image using Archival Ink, as I wanted a waterproof base when I got to the colouring stages.
Next I created a mask for the bluebell type flower by stamping on some lightweight paper and fussy cutting. With the mask in place I stamped one of the florals from stamp set EKC59. Masking is a simple but effective technique for creating dimension in your stamped designs. By covering parts of an image before stamping the next, you can build realistic layers that appear to sit naturally behind or in front of each other.
You can see in this image the final composition and the stamping layers in the foreground. The silhouette stencil florals and the more prominent stamped flowers create real visual depth.
I decided to use watercolours to colour the flowers. The beauty of PaperArtsy Fresco Finish Acrylics, is their Matt finish which allows you to use other mediums on top of them and watercolours work wonderfully on top of the paints .
Using watercolours successfully is all about water control. Adjusting the ratio of pigment to water allows you to create everything from soft, translucent washes to deeper, more intense tones. By gradually building colour in layers and letting each one dry if needed, you can achieve beautiful depth while keeping your blends smooth and luminous.
Once the flowers were dry, I created some extra depth using Stickles for a glittery centre on some of the flowers. I enjoy a bit of sparkle in my makes and love how it instantly lifts a project from pretty to eye-catching. Whether it’s a subtle shimmer in the background or a touch of glitter to highlight key details, a little shine adds depth and draws the eye. Used thoughtfully, sparkle can enhance your design without overpowering it, giving your finished piece that perfect finishing touch.
Finally, I added some watercolour through stencil PS298 to create two shorter flower stems and fill some gaps at the bottom of the moon.
This Flower Moon piece brings together stamping, watercolour, and gel printing to create a layered design that feels both dreamy and full of quiet detail.
I love how the combination of soft watercolour and textured gel prints gives the flowers a beautiful sense of depth and atmosphere.
Whilst that touch of sparkle really draws the eye into the details. It’s a lovely reminder of how simple layers can come together to create something truly magical.
Until next time, wishing you a happy creative week!
Victoria
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