Embossing with dies is a fun way to get even more use from some of those beautiful dies in your collection. The large leaf sprig from the Nature’s Symphony Dies is gorgeous when it’s die cut, but I thought why not use it another way?
Embossing With Dies Adds Beautiful Texture
For this card I used the large leafy die to emboss rather than cut my Basic White cardstock. I love the result! The raised leaves create plenty of detail while
keeping the focal panel clean and simple.
I knew I wanted a white card base to coordinate with the white embossed panel. I had also intended to use some Fresh Freesia Satin Ribbon, so I went hunting for designer paper that would coordinate.
Here’s a little shopping tip: When you visit my Online Store, try typing a Stampin’ Up! color into the search box. It’s an easy way to see products that coordinate with that color.
I pulled out both Lovely & Beautiful and Violet Dreams designer papers, fully expecting Violet Dreams to be my choice. But I never got that far!
The large, bold floral prints included in Lovely & Beautiful caught my eye immediately. In fact, I had a hard time choosing between two of them. I think this one was the right choice. 🙂
After embossing the leaves on a larger piece of Basic White cardstock, I trimmed it down. Embossing with a die can sometimes create a little cracking or distortion closer to the outside edges, so starting with a larger piece gave me room to remove those areas afterward.
A Few Simple Finishing Touches
Before layering the embossed panel onto a slightly larger piece of Old Olive cardstock I stamped “Happy Birthday to You” in Old Olive ink. The sentiment is from the Framed Violets stamp set.
And that Fresh Freesia ribbon I originally planned to use? It never made it onto the card! Sometimes a project takes you in a completely different direction once you start putting everything together.
Instead, I finished the card with a few of the 2026–2028 In Color Butterflies. I love those tiny butterflies next to the crisp white embossed leaves. They add just a touch of color and dimension without competing with the floral paper.
This is one of the reasons I love experimenting with my dies. Embossing with dies gives you another way to use designs you already own, and the result can look completely different from a traditional die cut.
And this leafy die really is versatile! I used the very same leaves for a completely different look on this rustic thank you card. It’s fun to see how one die can go from soft and colorful to warm and rustic simply by changing the papers and technique.
