When I began cardmaking almost ten years ago I only had a few supplies. So in a desperate desire to make my meagre stash go as far as possible I began to experiment. While my stash has grown significantly I still love to make cards using white (or vanilla) and just one other colour. My first attempts were truly awful but thankfully I’ve refined the process using texture and layers. That was my plan while making this card featuring the retiring Fond of Autumn Stamp Set and coordinating dies.

TEXTURED BACKGROUND

I began this projcet by choosing my feature colour; Gray Granite. First I used my Paper Trimmer to cut and score some Gray Granite card. I folded it along the scored line and sharpened the crease with a Bone Folder to create my card base.

Next I cut a 4″ x 5-1/4″ piece of Gray Granite Card and embossed it using the Hive 3D Embossing Folder. Then I mounted the embossed layer straight onto the card base using Multipurpose Liquid Glue (Tombow).

With that done I was ready to stamp my sentiment using Gray Granite ink. From the Fond of Autumn Stamp Set I chose “Sending many thanks”. I did consider stamping it onto Basic White Card but then I had an idea… I found a small light Gray Granite pattern in the Sun Prints 12″ x 12″ Designer Series Paper (DSP) pack and cut a piece about 1-1/2″ x 4-1/2″. Then I stamped my sentiment onto the DSP.

Cutting out the sentiment would be easy using the coordinating die from the Autumn Bouquet Dies. However I was worried that the sentiment would be a little flimsy so before going any further I mounted it onto a matching piece of Gray Granite Card using liquid glue. Then I die cut the reinforced sentiment and set it aside while I worked on the flowers.

AUTUMN FLOWERS

The large image in the Fond of Autumn Stamp Set is designed to be used whole, or it can be cut into three separate sections. I wanted to concentrate just on the flowers so I just stamped that end of the image onto a scrap of Basic White Card. Then I cut out the flowers by lining it up with the flower end of the coordinating sectional die. Once one set of flowers was stamped and cut I repeated the process to create a second piece

While I was done with the Autumn Bouquet Dies I still had a little more Gray Granite stamping to do.

First I stamped the flower end of the large image on two diagonally opposite corners on the front of a Basic White Medium Envelope. Then I repeated the process on a 4″ x 5-1/4″ piece of Basic White Card.

Now I decided to add a little colour to the various images using the Gray Granite Stampin’ Blends alcohol markers. Interestingly I ignored the flowers completely, opting to concentrate on the leaves and berries. So on the leaves I used just the dark Gray Granite Stampin’ Blends, while colouring the berries with light Gray Granite.

At last it was time to assemble the card and I started with the two die-cut floral pieces. Using liquid glue I fixed these two images in the centre of the Hive embossed layer. Then I added the die-cut sentiment over the top using Mini Stampin’ Dimensionals.

Finally with the decorated Basic White layer glued to the inside of the card base my monochrome card was done. I’m sad that this stamp set and dies are retiring but I hope you love this last project as much as I do.

For a more colourful thank you card using the same stamp set and dies see my earlier blog post Autumn thank you.

If you missed my original exploration of the large image in the Fond of Autumn Stamp Set and the coordinating dies check out my short video..

PRODUCT LIST

BUNDLE BONUS – I bought the Fond Of Autumn Stamp Set and coordinating Autumn Bouquet Dies using a single ‘bundle’ item number. Buying the two products together as a bundle saved me 10% off the cost of buying the same two items separately. I’ve included links for both options so you can compare these if you wish.

LAST CHANCE LIST – As I mentioned, the Fond of Autumn Stamp Set and coordinating Autumn Bouquet Dies are retiring. This means they’re both now only available while stocks last. Starting December 1st the dies will be on sale at 20% off. So if you’re ordering these products during the Last Chance Sale you’ll save a little more if you ignore the bundle and buy the stamp set and dies separately.