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.