VIDEO: Spring Floral Stenciling & Color Theory

Welcome back, crafty friends! Karen Brown here and today, I'm diving into stenciled floral backgrounds with a focus on color theory.  If you've struggled with picking colors that pop or wondered how to make your stenciled backgrounds shine, this post (and video!) is for you!

If you are having trouble watching the video, please click here to watch on YouTube.

I'm using the Spring Floral Stencil and Large and Small Floral Layering Dies from the Friendship Blooms Collection to create three different looks that explore color, contrast and shimmer....so let's get into it!

For my first card, I wanted a rich elegant background with plenty of shine. I stenciled with Byzantine Green Reactive Glitz Ink, which gives a gorgeous shimmer, and paired it with a bold Plum "Congrats" sentiment. Here is the magic:

• The background is a mossy olive hue.
• The sentiment is red-violet, directly opposite on the color wheel - hello, instant contrast!
• The large Vellum shadow behind the sentiment, softens everything just the right amount. 

PRO TIP: When in doubt, check your color wheel! Using complementary colors creates high-impact contrast, making your card visually striking.

For the next card, I switched things up with a cool-toned, gradient background using Pool Party, Paradise, and Blue Raspberry inks . The result? A soft, dreamy floral backdrop that’s perfect for spring!

• I paired this with a white and Bermuda layered bloom from the Large Floral Layering Dies .

• A Mother’s Day sentiment keeps the design fresh and versatile.

Pro Tip: If you’re unsure which colors to use, swatching your cardstock makes a world of difference! I swatched mine with Spellbinders Color Swatch Petal Dies, and it made choosing my die-cut colors so much easier.

Since I was loving that Byzantine Glitz shine, I stenciled a second background—but this time, I turned it into a Mother’s Day card!

• I added Plum, Eggplant, and white die-cut flowers from the Small Floral Layering Dies.

• The combination of warm and cool tones adds depth while keeping it cohesive.

• A soft script sentiment (March Clear Stamp & Die Kit) finishes the look—elegant, yet modern.

I am so pleased you stopped by today!