Soft, Artistic Blossoms in Minutes – Dancing Cosmos Techniques

Hello everyone! Bibi Cameron here, and today I’m excited to share a set of vibrant cards created with the Altenew Dancing Cosmos Embossing Folder + Layering Stencil Set.

This beautiful duo makes it incredibly easy to achieve an artistic, hand-painted look- no blending headaches. Just stencils, ink, and a few minutes of pure floral joy.

PAPERS:

• Crafty Necessities: Starlight Cardstock
• Crafty Necessities: Coral Berry Cardstock
• Crafty Necessities: Sapphire Cardstock
• Crafty Necessities: Chamomile Cardstock

DIES, STAMPS, EMBOSSING:

• Dancing Cosmos- Embossing Folder and Layered Stencils
• Honeycomb Haven- Stamp set and Add-On Die Set.
  
  

INKS:

• Cloud White Pigment Ink

• Firebrick Fresh Dye Ink

• Autumn Blaze Fresh Dye Ink

• Lemonade Stand Fresh Dye Ink

• Lime Fresh Dye Ink

• Mountain Pine Fresh Dye Ink

• Desert Night Fresh Dye Ink

• Magenta Fresh Dye Ink

• Navy Fresh Dye Ink

• Bronze Pigment Ink

• Silver Pigment Ink

• Platinum Pigment Ink

• Embossing Ink and Antique Gold Crisp Embossing Powder.

• Obsidian Pigment Ink - For the sentiment in the yellow card.

The Dancing Cosmos 3D Embossing Folder adds crisp, deep texture to a large floral spray that fills an A2 panel effortlessly. 

Pair it with the 4-layer coordinating coloring stencils, and you can quickly add dimension, shading, and color variations to every petal and leaf.

Whether you prefer bold colors, soft pastels, or dramatic contrasts set performs beautifully every time.

The process for each card is the same, making this a perfect project for batching!

1. Emboss the Panel

• Cut an A2 panel of colored cardstock.

• Run it through your die-cutting machine with the Dancing Cosmos 3D Embossing Folder.
  
  

2. Add Color with the Layering Stencils

• Secure the embossed panel.

• Align each stencil layer and apply ink with blending brushes.

• Use lighter pressure for a soft painterly effect or build up saturation for bolder results.
  
  

3. Add Details

• Brush metallic or white pigment ink over the flower centers.

• Add a spotlight of white or gold gel pen if you’d like extra highlights.

4. Finish with Sentiments

Foiled, embossed, or die-cut sentiments work beautifully on these colorful backgrounds.

For my first card, I opted for a striking monochromatic look by applying a base layer of white ink and then blending Desert Night and Navy inks over the flowers, with a touch of Lime and Silver ink added to the leaves and stems.

The embossed cosmos catches the light beautifully, and the silver-sparkled centers add a touch of luxury. A gold-heat embossed sentiment completes the elegant feel.

Next up is a radiant yellow panel filled with citrusy, warm cosmos.

The stencils make it effortless to blend Firebrick and Autumn Blaze inks into the petals, while Lime and Mountain Pine add depth to the stems, with a hint of Platinum on the flower centers.

This card feels cheerful, friendly, and perfect for a “You Are So Sweet” message.

For something bold and modern, I paired bright pink cardstock (Coral Berry) with Firebrick, Autumn Blaze, and Magenta Inks for the Flowers and Bronze for the leaves and stems.

I love how the petals glow against the vibrant background- it’s the kind of card that instantly lifts your mood.

The last card features the same ink colours used on the yellow card (Card 2), but the inks take on a completely different look depending on the cardstock colour beneath them. 

Firebrick and Autumn Blaze blend beautifully on the petals, while Lime with a touch of Platinum adds shine to the leaves and the flower centres.

These undertones create a magical, luminous feel and pair perfectly with simple metallic sentiments.

You can watch the short tutorial HERE.

Thanks for stopping by and hanging out with me today!  I hope you were inspired.  And until next time, I hope you have a fabulous day!  

Happy Crafting
Bibi