Wednesday, October 11, 2017

Thinking of you when leaves are falling

Well, our leaves are falling - the maple leaves that is - but they aren't falling because it's fall and they aren't in beautiful hues of red and orange -  no - this year the maple trees in our area are suffering from some form of blight -  they have been falling off the trees since late August and they are green with horrible black spots on them - like they have been sprayed with tar.   I can only hope next year they all return in good health!

So I have to pretend I am surrounded by lovely New England Fall colors by using them on my cards!
I die cut my leaves from a panel I made by rubbing Distress Inks in Carved Pumpkin, Candied Apple Crushed Olive and Frayed Burlap onto my craft mat, spritzing with water and dragging and pouncing a panel of Mixed Media Cardstock through it all.   Then I used the lovely Stitched Leaves Dies from Lawn Fawn to cut the leaves. 
 Here's a close up so you can see the stitching on the leaves.
The circles frame is from the Mix and Mat Flourishes Die set from PTI (LOVE this die!)  I layered the larger leaf onto the panel of Rustic Cream with a foam dot and then adhered the smaller leaves flat on the panel.  I stamped the Thinking of You sentiment in Cocoa Bean ink.
I had colored a 5 1/2" x 8 1/2" panel with the inks so I was able to die cut lots of leaves out of it.  I made 2 Thinking of You cards and 4 Thanksgiving cards.  The Happy Thanksgiving is from a retired Waltzingmouse set.

I'm linking my cards to the October CAS Watercolour Challenge -  

 Did you hear they are celebrating their 1st birthday?  And there are prizes to be won!
$25 Gift Certificate to Simon Says Stamp for Challenge Winner
&
$25 Gift Certificate to Simon Says Stamp for one random draw of all entries
 (must follow rules to be eligible for prizes)

So join in and maybe you'll win?!!
Stamps:  Thinking of You - Autumn Abundance/PTI,  Happy Thanksgiving - Peace and Plenty/Waltzingmouse Retired.
Paper:  Mixed Media Card Stock - Dylusions/Ranger, Rustic Cream, Canyon Clay - PTI.
Ink:  Ranger Distress Carved Pumpkin, Candied Apple, Crushed Olive and Frayed  urlap, Cocoa Bean - PTI.
Accessories:  Stitched Leaves Die - Lawn Faun, Mix and Mat Flourishes Die set - PTI, foam dots, Tombow Glue.

8 comments:

Words and Pictures said...

Ooh, those leaves are beautiful - perfect mottling!
Alison x

LeAnne said...

Wow, this is beautiful! Our leaves are pretty awful this year too and my apple trees just up and died! :( Your leaves will have to suffice for me too! These are my favorite leafy dies and I agree, that little frame die is going to send me to PTI to put it in my cart! Thanks for sharing this beautiful creation!

Vicki Dutcher said...

Gorgeous fall leaves! I wish we had that color on AZ

Christine Alexander said...

gorgeous fall leaves, just the perfect amount of colour and I love that circle die cut frame. Thanks for joining us at CAS Watercolour :)

Loll said...

Those leaves are so pretty, Julia! Love the bright mix of colours. I don't have a couple of those Distress Ink colours that you used, so now I need to go shopping! :) They are so amazing together. Thanks for sharing your beautiful card with us at CAS Watercolour! xx

Susan said...

Beautiful leaves in wonderful autumn colours! Love the way the colours peek through the tiny circles in the die - a great way to frame the leaves. Thanks for joining us at CAS Watercolour!

nancy littrell said...

Simply beautiful CAS framing for your Stunning so real looking maple leaves. Sure hope your leaves come back nice and healthy next year. Happy Fall, Julia. Hugs

Bonnie said...

These leaves are beautiful, Julia! So realistic and I love that dotted frame! Thanks so much for sharing this with us at CAS Watercolour!