For this technique, I began by embossing the outline stamp from the To a Wild Rose stamp set in either white or gold. (For more directions about embossing, check out this blog post.) 

Then, I used my Whisper White craft ink pad to put some ink on a clear acrylic block. I used the clear block as a palette to do the watercoloring. Using an aqua painter, I picked up some of the white ink and colored in the flowers and leaves.

​If you've never used an aqua painter before, it is like a watercolor brush with a built-in water reservoir. You fill the end with water and then, give it a little squeeze to get the water flowing to the brush tip. You swish your brush in the ink just like you would a watercolor brush. When the ink is gone, you pick up some more. When you're done with a color, wipe the aqua painter on some scrap paper to get the white ink out of the tip. All the fun of watercolor, with a lot less mess. I used to give these to my kids when they were in upper elementary/middle school so I didn't have to worry about them knocking over glasses of water while painting.

Next, I put Gorgeous Grape and Granny Apple Green ink on clear blocks as well. I then scooped up some ink with my aquapainter and colored in the flowers and leaves. I put down more color in the areas that I wanted to be darker, like the centers of the flowers and along the stems of the leaves. 

I let everything dry and then finished off my cards. (Well, I finished off the cards months later.) 

Next, stamp the image using an embossing ink or Versamark ink. I chose to use Versamark. This leaves a sticky image for your embossing powder to stick to. 

​I stamped "hello" from the To a Wild Rose stamp set in the lower right corner of my card base.

You will want to lay your card on a piece of scrap paper before dumping embossing powder on it. This will make clean up much easier and avoid wasting embossing powder. It's amazing how long one little jar of embossing powder will last!

Next, it's time to heat your image. This will melt the embossing powder and give it that shiny raised appearance you want. Back in the day, when I first started stamping, I used to hold my cardstock over my electric stove burner to melt the embossing powder. This isn't the best way though and can lead to scorched paper. But, if you're in a pinch, it can be done as long as you are very careful!

To finish my card, I embossed the flower and stem images on the See a Silhouette Designer Series Paper. Then, I used the Wild Rose dies to cut them out. I ran a strip (2.25 x 5.5") of Blackberry Bliss through my Big Shot using the Subtle embossing folder to add a little texture. I mounted this strip on a piece of Whisper White cardstock (2.5 x 5.5") and then on a piece of Rich Razzleberry cardstock (3 x 5.5"). I tied it with a piece of Polka Dot Tulle and mounted my flower and stem images on top. To give it a little pop, I used some dimensionals to adhere the flower and the outsides of the leaves. I finished by adhering this strip to my card base and adding some sequins.