There’s something really satisfying about turning one crafty session into two finished cards – especially when the first one turns out to be a new favourite! Today I’m sharing a project that celebrates rich, glowing colour and beautiful embossing – all centred around a bold mandala panel brought to life with warm ink blending and perfectly matched embossing powder.
This post focuses on that dreamy glowing arch mandala card – but keep reading, because I’ve also included a bonus card that uses the leftover piece from the die cutting process. No mandala here, but with bold mixed media texture and a bit of sparkle, it’s far too good to waste!

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Glowing Arch Mandala Design

1. Stamp a detailed mandala image onto a panel of Neenah 80lb with WOW Embossing Ink.
2. Cover with Rusty Embossing Powder and heat set.
3. Ink blend Tiara ink (Catherine Pooler) over the panel, starting at the bottom right and letting it fade softly up and out.
4. Die cut an arch from the centre of the panel and set aside the outside/negative piece.
5. Deepen the colour at the bottom right of the arch with Orange Twist to add contrast and depth.
6. Die cut the next size arch from metallic cardstock to frame the coloured arch and adhere your blended arch on top.
7. Score a separate panel of Neenah cardstock every ¼” (on the back) to create raised vertical embossed lines.
8. Mount your arched panel on this background using foam adhesive for dimension.
9. Finish with a foiled sentiment (mine was from a Pinkfresh Studios foiling session), popped up on foam tape at the base of the arch.

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Bonus Mixed Media Strip Design

1. On a black cardstock panel, apply heat-proof double-sided adhesive strips across the panel.
2. Sprinkle with various Mixed Media Embossing Powders and heat set one colour at a time.
3. Keep layering and overlapping tape strips to build a textured criss-crossed background.
4. Use the outside/negative arch panel left from Card 1 and adhere over the top with foam tape.
5. Die cut a 2-layer sentiment – use vellum for the shadow and cardstock for the main word.
6. Press the sentiment die cut into a WOW Embossing Ink Pad, cover with one of your background powders, heat set, and repeat for extra dimension.
7. Adhere the sentiment across the arch opening, using foam adhesive over the background and liquid glue over the arch frame.

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Two Cards, One Session – No Waste Allowed!

The glowing arch mandala is one of my favourite looks – rich colour, beautiful embossing and crisp dimension. And using what would have been scrap to create a second bold, textural design? That’s just the kind of bonus that makes crafting feel even more fun.Which one is your favourite? Let me know – or better yet, tag me if you try this combo yourself!

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Please be aware:

As part of my Design Team and Guest Design work I do often receive free products to use, but I only ever recommend products that I genuinely love.

Also, I know how incredibly lucky I am to have these opportunities, but you don’t always NEED the newest products or the ‘full set’.
So please don’t feel that you need everything.
I like to show a variety of brands and products; this way there will be something for everybody to enjoy.

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— SUPPLIES —

Clear Ultra Slow Drying Embossing Pad Shop at: WOW USA | WOW UK	Dual Speed Heat Tool – **UK** Shop at: WOW UK	Dual Speed Heat Tool – **US** Shop at: WOW USA	Building Blocks Quad Shop at: WOW USA | WOW UK	Citrus Quad Shop at: WOW USA | WOW UK
Tiara Shop at: SBCOM | CPD	Orange Twist Shop at: SBCOM | CPD	Pointed Arch Infinity Dies Shop at: HA | SBC	Happy Birthday Jumbo Sentiment Shop at: SBC	Brushed Copper Cardstock Shop at: Alt
Glimmer Machine Shop at: Spellbinders	Aura Foil Shop at: Spellbinders	Perfect Sentiments Die Shop at: ScrapbookCom | Pinkfresh Studio	Perfect Sentiments Hot Foil Plate Shop at: ScrapbookCom | Pinkfresh Studio

— My Basic Supplies That I Use On Every Project —

Affiliate links are used

MINI MISTI Shop at: Scrapbookcom | Alt | SBP | Trinity	MISTI – Original Shop at: Scrapbookcom | Alt | SBP	Nuvo Deluxe Adhesive Shop at: Scrapbookcom | SBP | Craftstash UK | Craftstash US	Neenah 80lb Shop at: Scrapbookcom | Alt | Craftstash UK
Neenah 110lb Shop at: Alt	Gemini Jr Shop at: Scrapbookcom | Craftstash UK	Tim Holtz Trimmer 8.5inch Shop at: Scrapbookcom | Craftstash UK | Trinity	Tim Holtz Scissors 7inch Shop at: Scrapbookcom | Craftstash UK | Craftstash US
Tim Holtz Mini Snips 5inch Shop at: Scrapbookcom | Craftstash UK | Craftstash US	Tidy Tray Shop at: Trinity	Pick Up Stick Shop at: Trinity	Reverse Action Tweezers Shop at: Scrapbookcom | SBP
We R Trim & Scoreboard Shop at: Scrapbookcom	Pressure Tool Shop at: Trinity	Mini Trimmer Shop at: Scrapbookcom | Craftstash UK | Craftstash US	9.5 inch Shears Shop at: Craftstash UK | Craftstash US
Bone Folder Shop at: Alt	Self Healing Mat Shop at: Alt | SBC

*Affiliate links are used, where available; this means that I may get a small commission if you purchase using one of these links, at no extra cost at all to yourself. A huge thank you goes to anyone who does purchase using my links, it is so highly appreciated.