Autumn Elegance

Good morning! Are you ready for a new week? 

I'm taking a break from making kid's cards for a little while. The last few posts when I've made holiday cards have given me a chance to remember some of my favorite styles besides whimsical and CAS. 

For today's autumn card I wanted to go for layers and elegance. I began by getting inky creating with Distress Oxide Inks. 

Using watercolor paper, I loosely painted these three colors onto a panel. I dried it and repeated this process until I got the look I wanted, ending by flicking some of the colors onto the paper and also flicking a few spatters of water onto the design. 

I stamped the leaf outlines over this background in Fired Brick and Peeled Paint Oxide Inks and then die cut the leaves. The photo above shows the leaves close up and is closest in color to how they really look. All the images came from the same sheet of paper that I colored even though they look like they are different colors.

After die cutting the images I used my Copic markers to add details and shading. 

Having texture and details in the images, I wanted to add more layers and texture to the card. I embossed Very Vanilla card stock with a leafy design and layered it onto a card base with a layer of fun foam behind it. The tag was stamped, and heat embossed in gold. A few flicks of spattered gold paint tie in that element. 

Finally, I wrapped it all up with a Kraft silky Seam Binding bow. 

Here's a look at the markers I got out, although I didn't use them all . 

Hope you've enjoyed my card today! 

Be yourself

Delight in your craft 

Make something beautiful!

Supplies used:

Stamps:  WPlus9 - Autumn Leaves stamps and dies, Bold Banner Greetings

Accessories: SU - ribbon, Darice - embossing folder

I was inspired by the elegant tone on tone layers on the cake and the leaf colors. 

I'm playing along with challenges at The Card Concept and Simon Says.

Dashing through the Snow Flurries

The last technique I'm trying from day one of the Online Card Class Merry Making was taught by Jennifer McGuire, who makes such beautiful cards! She taught us several ways to add the look of snow to our backgrounds and I tried using white embossing powder two different ways on my card to look like snow. 

My catchy title to this post may have misled you. I did not dash through snow or ANYTHING else while making this card. It took  a L-O-N-G time and a couple of attempts that ended up in the trash until I got a sample I could post. Still in the learning curve on this one but I will try it again.
I began with white card stock which I did double emboss. First in gold, then in green to add the holly leaves. For the berries, I used Nuvo Crystal Drops in Red Berry Gloss .  

I  sure am glad that the weekend is finally here and I will be having more time to stamp. I look forward to playing with the ideas from day 2 and onward! Happy stamping to you.

Be yourself

Delight in your craft 

Make something beautiful!

More Holiday Backgrounds

It's been a long time since I made three cards in one day . The inspiration and teaching at the Online Card Class  called Merry Making has been wonderful and I'm loving every minute. If you've never signed up for these classes offered by Jennifer McGuire and Kristina Werner you will find them to be excellent resources and loads of fun. 

I'm continuing with another background as shown in Day 1. This one is supposed to use cover plates, but this time I made my own by die cutting a trio of snowflakes from white card stock over and over again. I combined three shades of blue card stock for a bright background. 

Since my background is quite busy and I didn't want to cover it up, I kept the focal point small and simple.

I hope you're enjoying this preview of my winter/holiday cards. 
Happy stamping to you!

Be yourself

Delight in your craft 

Make something beautiful!

Supplies used:  

Stamps:   Avery Elle - Let it Snow

Accessories: Dies - Elizabeth Craft Designs - Reindeer (snowflakes); Impression Obsession Birch Trees