Leafy Autumn Card

As the leaves turn the colors get vibrant, so what is a better way to get ready for the leaves to fall with this wonderful autumn-themed card. This card is very easily customizable and can be changed to almost any type of card.

The easiest way to get this pretty card assembled is to cut the parts, do the inking on the card and the translucent paper, stamp the message and die cut it into a circle, and then put the card together.

This envelope that fits this whole project is the Sand 6.5-inch square envelope. Take a sheet of Stone and get it cut down to 6 1/4-inch x 11-inch. Score and fold it at 6 1/4-inch, leaving a front flap of 4 1/4-inch, losing a little bit to the fold.

To make the frame for the front of the card use Brown Autumn cut to 5 7/8-inch square. The inside of the frame is die-cut with a 4 1/4-inch square to make it look like a frame. Lay the frame centered and draw a light pencil line on the inside of the frame, onto the Stone. Set aside the frame and ink the Maple Leaf stamp or any large leaf stamp will work. I applied 3 colors and stamped them together. I also took a Q-tip and darkened in some areas. I stamped it twice and liked the offset; remember that the translucent paper will mute the colors and edges a little since the paper is translucent and not crystal clear.

Cut the Glama Natural (Vellum) Clear to fit the backside of the Brown Autumn frame. Don’t attach the Glama Natural, Clear yet, just do another pencil line where it fits inside the Brown Autumn frame. This set of leaves is done with a glue pad and Perfect Pearls, again using what you have. If you don’t have a small maple leaf stamp just use the edge of the bigger stamp down in the corner. Referring to the photo with the envelope, you can see the Brown Autumn frame with the CTI, Natural Glama paper after it is stamped and before it is mounted on the card.

For those of you who have not used Perfect Pearls here is the starter video with the caveat that I skipped the water and finished with the spray acrylic clear coat. The first glue pad I reached for happened to be a Versamark Resist Ink Pad. I have refill bottles for both the glue pad and the Staz On ink and I highly recommend using them. Stamp straight down, hold it for a minute, and pull it up straight so it doesn’t smear. The same is true for applying ink or glue to the stamps. Pat the surface gently over and over until the image is very clean, going straight up and down. Before you add the powder, get up and spray some stamp cleaner on the stamp. Clean your stamp once after stamping the CTI, Glama Natural paper, and again after stamping the inside; dry the stamps before using them.  Use a small paintbrush to dip into the Perfect Pearls and use 3 different colors: Dark Red, Copper, and Gold, which all come in the same set. Just put a tiny bit on the images, darker to the stem and light to the tips of the leaves, then take a Kleenex and brush it off; this will blend the colors.  If you like, go around the image with a Silver Gel Pen. Seal it with some spray acrylic, held at a distance, and misted down. Keep the bottom leaf at least 1″ up from the bottom of the inside of the card, so you can add a color strip and put in the message circle die cut.

On the inside add a color strip with ScorTape using Jupiter cut to 3/4-inch. Cut a second strip of Jupiter 2 1/2-inch wide strip to go on the front to extend and complete the front of the card. Tape the Glama Natural Clear to the Brown Autumn frame and center it on the center of the car. Using Fiskars Large Maple Leaf punch, cut two leaves in Antique Gold and Lapis Lazuli. This punch does better with text weight paper but any metallic paper will work. Using Natural White paper stamp a message that fits inside a 2 1/4-inch circle. Cut the circle and using some foam tape, attach it to the inside.

Enjoy!

Paper Products used in this card:

• Curious Collection:
  • Curious Skin, Stone, 100 lb cover (Has been discontinue but alternative below)
  • Alternative: Curious Metallic, Nude Cover
  • Alternative: Curious Metallic, Virtual Pearl Cover
• Remake
  • Brown Autumn, 140 lb cover
• CT Translucent
  • Glama Natural (Vellum), Clear, 48 lb cover
• Shine
  • Sand, 6.5″ square envelope
• Savoy 100% Cotton
  • Natural White, 92 lb cover
• Stardream Metallics
  • Jupiter, 105 lb cover
  • Antique Gold, 81 lb text
  • Lapis Lazuli, 81 lb text

Other Materials used in this card:

• 4.25″ square die cut & a 2.5″ circle die cut
• Ranger Perfect Pearls & any Silver Gel Pen
• Glue Pad and refill bottle
• Spray Acrylic Clear Coat
• Chalk Ink
• Black Staz On and refill bottle
• Inkadinkado, Maple Leaf Stamp 80-00621, large 3″ stamp
• Inkadinkado, Maple Leaf Stamp, clear silicone, 2.25″ stamp
• Fiskars Large Maple Leaf punch
• Message stamp to fit inside a 2.25″ circle
• Cosmic Shimmer Acrylic Glue
• 1/8″ foam tape & 1/2″ ScorTape