Morning everyone!
I’m just enjoying my early morning cuppa and posting the card I made yesterday for an entry into The Challenge #46 ‘The Colours of Autumn‘. The reason I didn’t post this yesterday is NOT that I was having a baby or anything (still waiting on that, two days until she’s officially overdue!) but actually because I couldn’t work out where to put the darn sentiment!! I’ve never struggled so hard with sentiment placement/style with a card before. See what you think – I’d also love to hear if you had any other thoughts on where it could have gone/style.
I was inspired to play by this card I saw on Instagram by @dianejaquay – my commentary on the gorgeous colours (and overall awesome card) prompted a ‘that’s the colours we’re using over at The Challenge’ so of course I had to check it out.
Onto the card – I dug through my stash and would you believe, I had very very few leaf image stamps. The ones I used today are from Cloud 9 Designs – unfortunately I’m not sure you can get these anymore, but they do come up on eBay every so often. For a similar design look for solid leaf image stamps.
Card Recipe:
- Using watercolor cardstock ( I used Tim Holtz) stamp the leaves at random in Versamark (prep your surface with a powder tool first) – start with the largest and use the smaller images to fill in any gaps. Be sure to rotate your blocks if repeating any images for a more random look.
- Sprinkle with white embossing powder (I used Hero Arts) and heat set. If you struggle to see where you have stamped, heat set as you go. I find with the thicker watercolor paper, there is little warping if any.
- Liberally apply Distress Inks using a blending tool at random. For the color combo I used Rusty Hinge, Wild Honey, Fired Brick and Barn Door.
- Add a small scoop of Perfect Pearls in the color ‘perfect pearl’ to a Ranger mini mister and spray liberally until the inks start to blend. Leave to dry or speed up with heat tool.
- Apply inks to craft mat and spritz with plain water. Dab piece into the ink, then dry with heat tool. Repeat as many times as you like until you have the look you want.
- Die cut the piece using the largest Simon Says Stamp Stitched Rectangles die, and then use one of the SSS Wavy Scallop Stitches dies to cut the piece at an angle of your choosing.
- Cut and score a piece of Neenah Desert Storm cardstock to form the card base (mine is a landscape card 5.5″ x 4.25″).
- Die cut front of card with the largest Lil Inker Designs Stitched Mats: Rectangles – this one does NOT cut out a panel but creates a row of stitching all the way around the card.
- Dry emboss the front with the Tim Holtz Sizzix Texture Fade (embossing folder) ‘Rays’.
- Adhere stamped card panel to card base with foam tape, lining up with the stitched cuts and dry embossing.
- Die cut a small tag with a hole at either end (I used the Cuttlebug Tiny Tags die from Amazon).
- Stamp small sentiment (I used SSS Circle Sayings) in Versamark on tag and heat emboss in Ranger Super Fine gold embossing powder.
- Thread twine through tag (I used Hemptique Metallic Vintage Natural which has beautiful rust metallic threads in it). Apply 3M foam tape to tag and adhere where you choose. Pass twine round the card (I snipped a tiny hole on the card crease to feed the twine to the back. You could also wrap it around the embossed panel before you adhere it to avoid cutting your card if you want) and secure with tape on the back.
- Add Pretty Pink Posh sequins with Ranger Multi Medium Matte adhesive – I used 4mm Sand, Tangerine and Marshmallow. I also added a large Lawn Fawn Fall Leaf sequin popped up on 3M foam tape – leftover from a 2014 SSS card kit.
I’m finally pleased with where I added the sentiment – you wouldn’t believe how many different times I changed my mind!! See below for the link to The Challenge #46 and be inspired!
All the best,
Jenny x
Disclaimer: For the supplies I used (where still available) please see links below. Note some of these are affiliate links (SSS) for which I receive a small commission on any purchases made via my link.
Jenny, this turned out beautifully!! I love the blend of gorgeous fall colors over the white leaves, and the shimmer from the Perfect Pearls. I think you decided on just the right place for your sentiment (I drive myself crazy like this ALL the time trying to decide how to arrange things lol!), and the addition of the twine and leaf embellishment is perfect. I'm so happy my card inspired you to play along with us at The Challenge!
Wow Jenny! This is indeed a gorgeous card and I love the swoop of your design. And emboss resist is always one of my favourite techniques. I cannot believe you're having a baby in two days! Congratulations! So happy you were inspired by Diane's card template along with us.
Gorgeous technique, colors and design Jenny.
Hugs Diane