My Facebook memory for today was a couple of photos I’d taken four years ago. They were the same view of maple trees in my front yard taken one day apart. I was actually comparing how different the autumn leaves looked as the sun came up versus when the sun was higher in the sky. This memory gave me the spark of an idea for today’s card project. So after pulling out four ink pads along with the Soft Seedlings and Go To Greetings Stamp Sets I quickly got started.

SOFT SEEDLINGS START

I began this card with the large maple leaf from the Soft Seedlings Stamp Set. This would be the coordinating image on the front and inside of my card, as well as on the envelope.

First I tapped the stamp onto a Crushed Curry ink pad. Then before stamping the image I flipped the stamp over so I was looking at the rubber surface. Next, using a Sponge Dauber I added a little Pumpkin Pie ink onto the points of the leaf and towards the centre. To add even more interest I then used a Sponge Dauber to add Cajun Craze ink to the very tips of the leaf segments, as well as the stems. With that done I stamped the multi-coloured image in the top right-hand corner of a 4″ x 5-1/4″ layer of Basic White Card.

After setting aside the stamped card I cleaned off the stamp and repeated the whole process on another 4″ x 5-1/4″ piece of Basic White Card. Finally I stamped a multi-coloured leaf in the bottom left-hand corner on the front of a Basic White Medium Envelope.

Now I needed to make the area around the leaves a little bit more interesting. So using a Blending Brush I added a light layer of Balmy Blue ink around the leaves. This was much better, although I did decide to make the blue background on one of the card pieces just a bit darker. This darker piece would be for the card front.

I hadn’t been working long but I was already thinking about assembling my project. So next I used my Paper Trimmer to cut a 5-1/2″ x 8-1/2″ piece of Cajun Craze Card. Then with the long side at the top I used the scoring blade to score the card at 4-1/4″. Finally I folded the card along the scored line and sharpened the crease with a Bone Folder.

THANK YOU

Before starting on the sentiment I fixed the lighter of the two card layers inside the card base using Multipurpose Liquid Glue (Tombow). Then I glued the darker card piece onto the front.

For the sentiment I turned to the Go To Greetings Stamp Set. I chose the largest of the three “thank you” styles and gently tapped it onto the Cajun Craze ink pad. Then I stamped it in the middle of a 1-7/8″ x 4″ strip of Basic White Card.

I toyed with the idea of mounting the sentiment onto some contrasting card but instead decided to tear along the two long edges. I’m right-handed so I held the strip in my left hand with the sentiment facing up and tore the long edge towards me. Then I turned the strip around (still with the sentiment facing up) so I could tear off the other long edge. Finally to accentuate the rough surface I used the Blending Brush to add a little Balmy Blue ink.

I was almost done, but before attaching the sentiment I decided to wrap some Linen Thread around the sentiment strip and tie it in a simple bow. Then I added the completed sentiment to the card front with Stampin’ Dimensionals and my card project was complete.

I have to say I love how the maple leaf contrasts against the soft blue background. Plus the torn edge and Linen Thread adds just a little extra rustic charm. What do you think?

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