3Quarter Designs Design Team reveal for the Floral Mechanica Collection

There is something truly special about the Floral Mechanica Collection from 3Quarter Designs. It is one of those rare collections that effortlessly blends two seemingly opposite styles — soft, romantic florals and bold, industrial mechanical elements — and somehow makes them work in perfect harmony. The rich coppers, warm browns and soft blues create a beautifully balanced palette, while the intricate graphics (think cogs, clocks, woodland creatures and layered florals) make this collection incredibly versatile for both masculine and feminine layouts.

For this layout, I documented a candid photo of Bronte taken while we were out at dinner. I absolutely love her cheeky smile in this photo — it feels so genuine and full of personality. These days it is rare to get a natural smile (there is a lot of pouting going on!), so this one definitely deserved a special page.

In the top left of the layout, I leaned right into the mechanical side of the collection. The printed cogs and that stunning ornate heart lock design create an instant focal point, and I enhanced that by adding real die-cut cogs layered over the top. This gives the page dimension and reinforces the mechanical theme while still allowing the beautiful printed details to shine through.

One of my favourite techniques is the use of twine. I’ve loosely looped it through two of the tags in the collection and then secured it across the page to create movement and guide the eye through the design. It softens the heavier cog elements and ties beautifully into the natural feel of the florals. The tags tucked into the clusters adds another layer of interest and helps build a dimensional, tactile look.

The title “Cheers to being perfectly engineered” was such a perfect fit for this collection. I combined different fonts and textures to mirror the contrast within Floral Mechanica — glitter script for softness and celebration, paired with structured, bold lettering to echo the mechanical elements. Grounding the title over the cogs helps anchor it into the design so it feels cohesive rather than floating.

Around the photo, I created layered clusters using the graphic prints on the collection, a few paper flowers and sequins. The steampunk-style animals and florals are just stunning — detailed, slightly whimsical, and full of personality. The pops of purple and pink florals against the warmer tones really lift the whole page.

What I love most about the Floral Mechanica Collection is its versatility. You can go heavy on the industrial elements for a more masculine feel, or lean into the florals for something softer — or, like I have here, combine both to create a unique and balanced design. It is perfect for everything from family moments to quirky subjects, and the level of detail in the artwork means every close-up tells its own little story.

This layout was such a joy to create, and the collection really did all the heavy lifting — those graphics, colours and textures make it so easy to build something layered and interesting without feeling overworked.