I have wanted to make a card with fall leaves for a LONG time, and decided that I would try and come up with some leaves using the glorious colors of fall that I love so much for my good friend's recent birthday. He is someone who notices new techniques or anything different that I try on my cards, so it is a lot of fun creating a card for him. Unfortunately I ran out of time, so I couldn't do a whole lot with the inside of the card and the envelope... After making this one card, I made more fall leaves, so I hope to get caught up on some thank you notes I want to send and even have a few cards on hand (that would be a new experience for me! .
My first attempt at creating these leaves didn't work out, I was stumped with the shaping of them, and then the coloring didn't work as well. With the flowers I have made fairly recently, I shaped the flowers first and then colored/painted/glittered/crackled. But this didn't work so well for the leaves. My second attempt at these produced the leaves you see in this card. I started with painting the leaves, and found they could be easily slightly shaped when they were wet. I tried to use a variety of types in the 4 leaves on this card, using different paints and products listed below.
The trellis die is a Tim Holtz Alterations die, I really love these and have a few of them. I used Sookwang tape on the top and bottom of the cardboard. I simply use household cardboard--from cases of pop, kleenix boxes, whatever, and used the cardboard side--MUCH more economical, and I have a more sturdy die-cut than I would if I used plain card-stock. This was not my idea, I heard it on a Scrapbooking Made Simple tutorial on YouTube, I thought it was a very inspired idea!!! The glitter is from Elizabeth Crafts micro-glitter. Normally I would not use glitter on a masculine card, and tried another die-cut in green, but the dark and bright, sparkly green seemed to ground the leaves much better, so I went with it. I think an evolved male can handle just a bit of velvety glitter, after all it's not a sparkly pink with iridescent colors flashing!
I used some older Marvy Urchida leaf punches, I think they are maple, beech, and oak. Just what I had on hand. Was planning to use something else, but liked the larger leaves since they were the focal point.
The Happy Birthday greeting is a Spellbinders die. It was my goal to make it look like it was almost floating, so I carefully glued using a pin and some glue on the letters in the middle of each word. I love these dies and hope to find more, loved the texture it added to this simple fall card.
I planned to use several layers of cardstock with some other colors, but somehow that took away from the leaves, so instead I took a sheet of almost tone on tone leaves from the PTI Fall Prints & Patterns paper pack. I love that this is 8" by 8", lots of space and room to play with. I wanted some texture, but didn't want to totally obliterate the beautiful leaves on this DP, so I took a Darice stripes EF and carefully embossed it. Just a hint, when you use a new Darice EF, it's sometimes a good idea to gently sand the edges. The first time I ran the EF through, it cut through this paper and this is not thin paper at all. Lesson learned! It also cut right through my envelope flap... I was in a hurry, so I just left the envelope quite plain and simply pasted a maple leaf on the envelope front.
Inside the card is simply another leaf with a crackle finish and my hand-written note to my good friend, whose friendship I appreciate very much. He has always been a good friend, but he really showed great support in May when he stayed with me in Emerg at the hospital when I had a severe kidney stone attack, and found out that a huge one was blocking my kidney and that I would require emergency surgery. No one could have done a better job of being there and showing caring support. You really know who your friends are when you're very ill and that person insists on staying and seeing you through a very difficult time!!!
I'm editing this to add to my very first challenge ever, it took some time for me to get the info, so I went ahead and posted the card--now I have the information for the Twisted Sisters Challenge of a fall leaves card, TSC1002. I hope I've done this correctly. Hoping to do a lot more in challenges, I know I will learn and grow and will appreciate getting to know more of the SCS members this way too.
Thank you so much for stopping to take a look at my card. When you leave a comment, it absolutely makes my day!!!
I have learned so much from all of you at SCS, it is a pleasure to be a part of this wonderful community of giving, caring artists, and I hope that I can give back even a portion of what you give to me in encouragement, support, and in all that I learn from seeing all of your amazing cards.
Have a great day!
Date: Wednesday, October 21, 2015 GMT Views: 2246
Favorited:6
Splitcoast Dirty Dozen Alumni SCS Gallery Moderator Splitcoast Challenge Hostess Teapot Tuesday TEAm
Registered: July 27, 2007 Location: Dublin, Ireland Posts: 131500
Wed, Oct 21, 2015 @ 9:37 AM
The texture and sparkle in those leaves is beautiful, Joanne. I am always struck by the way you use patterned paper in your flowers (and leaves here) and how wonderful that looks.
Registered: January 20, 2010 Location: Brampton, Ontario Posts: 26123
Wed, Oct 21, 2015 @ 2:15 PM
Those leaves are fantastic! I love the way you 'firm them up' with glitter and gloss! I have both but seem to be blocked somehow in using them. :-) I have an oak tree out front that my daughter planted from an acorn when she was 7. It turn the most marvellous colours in the fall ...just like these leaves. Beautiful Joanne!
Your leaves are absolutely gorgeous!! Such detail! The recipient will not be disappointed! Thanks too for your kind comment on my Vintage Leaves cards. It is so nice to get feedback on your work! I will keep an eye out for more of your work!!
Registered: June 10, 2015 Location: Ohio USA Posts: 173
Wed, Oct 21, 2015 @ 9:00 PM
Your leaves are so stunning Joanne! What an amazing technique! Autumn is my favorite season besides Spring. I just love seeing the glorious of the leave colors and you have captured it gorgeously! Stunningly done Joanne. And thank you so much for your sweet comment on the breast cancer awareness card I made for my SIL with the Power Poppy Climbing Clematis digi. You've made my day! Hugs.
------------------------------ CHRISTINA HOR | MY BLOG |
Registered: September 21, 2006 Location: In the beautiful Sequatchie Valley, Home of the Paper Clip Project - The National Cornbread Festival Posts: 26563
Registered: July 9, 2008 Location: Stars Fell on Alabama Posts: 74734
Mon, Oct 26, 2015 @ 6:20 PM
Such beautiful leaves and I do think it will do nicely for your nice, male friend. As you said, no sparkly pink with iridescent flashing colors here. Your tone on tone leaf paper is very pretty, also. Thanks for your very nice comment on my "shepherds abiding in the field..." card today. If I ever find out who made the star, I'll let you know.
------------------------------ My Blog---My Gallery---My PinterestI'm a Punchkateer! (Prez) FOREVERDirty Dozen Alumni2014 CAS Spring DT--- Inspiration Challenge Co- Hostess 12/02/17-12/28/19 Watercolor Wednesday Design Team Hebrews 13:2Brenda
Registered: May 16, 2015 Location: Illinois Posts: 88
Thu, Oct 29, 2015 @ 2:58 PM
Oh My Joanne, i saw all beautiful floral works here. The colouring, the sparkles.. It must have taken such a great patience and efforts and of course skill to create these cards. I am gonna "stalk" more cards from you ... )))
Thank you for viewing my card and also commenting on my card, i am just by nickname in_quebec but i am in Illinois, USA ha ha. I should probably change that nickname, after i found out how to. I have used in_quebec nickname before i know anyone from actual Quebec (just thought it was cool nickname 15 years ago).
Is it cold in Ontario now?
I am new to SCS so thats why it takes me some time to respond your last comment ))) .
Registered: February 3, 2005 Location: Delray Beach, FL Posts: 34769
Fri, Nov 06, 2015 @ 1:02 PM
Oh, Joanne! You are such an encouragement here at SCS, and we all just love our friendships and the joy with share with each other. I love these amazing leaves, and they look so real. What gorgeous colors, and I love the technique! Amazing, and thanks for sharing this beautiful card! Hugs, sweet friend!
------------------------------ Cheryl
Proverbs 3:5-6 My blog