Thursday 3 October 2013

Falling Leaves

Evening Everyone,

It's been a miserable, dreary day here, even the cat was looking a picture of misery for much of it. She doesn't do rain and there was rather a lot of that!

I packed another three boxes today - only six weeks to go before the big day. The EM busied himself sorting out something in the mancave ... it's a bit of a no-go area for me so I have no earthly idea what he has stashed away that could take him the best part of a day to sort out, but it did :))

Whatever it was, it gave me the opportunity to sneak up to the craft room to finish of this card. It is the one that was lying in bits on my desk yesterday morning - you can check that out in the post here.
The topper was an excuse to try out my newest stamp - Hero Arts Overexposed Leaves - and a technique that was new to me involving VersaMark, clear embossing powder, distress inks a paint brush and a stamp block for a palette. I'd seen a video demonstration on YouTube and thought I'd like to try it out for myself. The patterned paper - a Nancy Watt design, Cute Creatures - that makes up one of the layers, provided the inspiration for the colours of Tim Holtz ink used - Scattered Straw, Dried Marigold, Shabby Shutters, Fired Brick, Vintage Photo and Aged Mahogany. The Darice folder, Fall Leaf Background, got it's first outing to create the embossed layer (Papermill Direct Kraft card). Stickles yellow glitter glue looks perfect in the centre of the tiny punched flowers.
To get the autumnal effect on this leaf stamp - a giveaway with Craft Stamper magazine - the ink pads were dabbed, starting with the lightest shade through to the darkest, working from the centre outwards. 

Other materials used:

  • white card base
  • snippets of card - smooth white for the topper, Papermania brown textured for matting and Core'dinations Tim Holtz Peeled Paint for punched leaves
  • punches - small leaf (Woodware) and tiny cherry blossom
  • Momento Rich Cocoa ink pad and stamp from Wild Rose Studio Everyday Greetings
  • orange grosgrain ribbon from stash

I'd like to submit this card to the following challenges that all have a photo for inspiration:

Colour Throwdown # 262 

Addicted to Stamps and More Challenge #65 -

Papercraft Star Challenge # 164

Aren't the colours gorgeous. I once consulted a colour therapist and was told that these were my colours. I was a lot younger at the time and had red hair ... I'm not sure that now that I have grey hair that the advice still applies. However, they are still the colours I'm most drawn to. 

You might have spotted the mention of snippets in that materials list. And using up some snippets is all the requirement needed to allow me to skip over to my buddy Di's challenge blog:


That's it for this evening. I'm exhausted so I'm off to spend an hour on the sofa watching TV with the EM before making it an early night. I'm well into a good book, Margaret Foster's The Memory Box, so I'm looking forward to reading a couple of paragraphs before falling asleep. 

I hope you are all having an equally entertaining evening too :)

Take care and happy crafting,

12 comments:

♥Jan♥ said...

What a gorgeous style, very unique ! I love the rainy time of the year - I hear Scotland is dreary so often, sounds like my kinda place !!
Thanks for sharing with us this week at Papercraft Star ! We are so happy to have you !

Anonymous said...

Good morning Eliabeth :)
Beautiful card,I love the combination of the stamping and the die cutting together-and the effect you tried came out perfectly.
Horrible day here too-perfect crafty weather though isn't it?
Have a lovely daY,Nessa xx

debby4000 said...

Oh what a fabulous card.
luv
Debby

Kylie said...

Lovely colours and wonderful design!! Thanks so much for playing along at ATSM xx

Ros Crawford said...

This is really lovely ... I love that image ... so pretty and soft ... It's been quite dull this end of the UK too ... a bit brighter today ... Thanks so much for playing along at Papercraft Star!

Hettie said...

What a gorgeous card Elizabeth. Love that stamp and my favourite colours. I think we went to the same therapist as she told me the same. However, I wear what I like and enjoy them!
My friend commented this morning that I had a mustard yellow handbag and purple dress on. My reply was "do I look like someone who worries what colours I am wearing? I like colour"!!!
Tee Hee
Happy Friday
xx

Krisha said...

Beautifully done Elizabeth!

MaryH said...

Lovely card, and I admire your skill with this technique. I try it from time to time, but just don't feel I'm successful. Love the look though, and you did wonderful. I'm liking this stamp & love the EF. Will have to find that one! Had to laugh about your trip to the colorist. I did the same many long years ago. Found out I was an autumn too. It was a fun experience as I learned that some colors I would never have chosen, looked well on me. Took my DD (who was 16 at the time...so goodness, that was 40 yrs ago!) and she was a Spring. They told her as she aged, she would probably become more of an Autumn person. Love those rich colors..I'm also drawn to the fall motifs as well. TFS & Hugs

coops said...

so gorgeous elizabeth.really stunning autumnal colours and design :D

xx coops xx

Jenny Marples said...

A beautiful autumnal card Elizabeth. Jenny x

Wanda Cullen said...

What a gorgeous fall creation! I love the look of your leaves using this technique! Thanks so much for playing along with us at Color Throwdown!

Sue Lelli said...

Elizabeth, LOVE the Fall leaves on your BEAUTIFUL card! THX for playing with us at Papercraft Star!