I'm Fond of Autumn

Here is upstate NY we had a very hot summer with 25 days over 90 degrees, which is very unusual for us.  (Last year we had 4.)  But on the first day of fall, the weather changed dramastically and since then we have had very cool weather.  The leaves on one of my trees have already fallen and it definitely feels like autumn now.  

So this week I took out a new fall set called Fond of Autumn.  And I have to say that I loved it!  It has some nice fall images of leaves and acorns, but it also has a lot more to offer.  

I started with this Cajun Craze fall card with a side "door opening."   I used a sheet of the pumpkin paper from Gilded Autumn designer papers that we offered last year in the fall.  The image is colored in with Stamping Blends using the Crumb Cake for the leaves and cut out with the die cuts.  I love the soft colors for this card.  I added a vanilla circle for the Thank You saying.  I got the idea for this from Melissa Faust.  

Next up is a card using Pear Pizazz for the background.  I used the die cut from Hues of Happiness and tucked a sheet of designer paper behind the cut out for a subtle look.  The tag is from Designer Tags cut outs and looks great as the background behind the leaf cut out.  I colored in the leaves using watercolor pencils and added a slight water wash to them to blend in the colors.  My idea came from Debbie Henderson.

For this card, I used the birch folder to emboss some trees onto the circular cut out for the background.  I think the cut out is one from a wreath, but I'm not sure which one.  I embossed the Old Olive background piece with the Timber folder and put it onto a card base and envelope from the Sale-a-Bration Cards and Envelopes.  I wanted to keep the color scheme green and crumb cake.  This idea is from Mikaela Titheridge.  

Even though all three cards have a fall look, this stamp set can be used into Christmas and throughout the year.  It also has berries that can be used as holly berries and flowers that can be used all year.  I enjoyed using it.  

 

Hues of Happiness

For this week's class, I used the Hues of Happiness paper and die cuts.  This card is my interpretation of the card on the front of the catalog.  I used the thick white cardstock for the card base and added a piece of the designer paper for the front.  I cut the edge of the white piece with the die cuts and ran it through the emboss machine using the Timeworn Type folder.  I cut out a couple of flowers from the beautiful papers and added some sprigs made from vellum that I punched out using the Bough punch.  

The saying is from Peaceful Moments and it is cut out with a die from Tasteful Labels.  I used Wink of Stella on the flowers to make them shine and added some rhinestone embellishments.  I could make this card all day!  LOL

For this next card, I used Highland Heather for the cardstock and added a white layer cut out using the die cut from this set.  I cut it out twice so that it filled the whole space.  The purple flower in the corner is just glued onto the front and the other two flowers are added with some dimension.  I used the Bough punch again with some vellum for the sprigs.  

I love the soft look of this card.  The Hues of Happiness papers are just so beautiful and easy to work with.  I got the idea from Leslie Jendra.

For the pink card, I used shiny white cardstock for the background and painted through a butterfly cut out with ink from the indpad.  I saw this technique from Christy Gridley.  You can watch her video here.  

I cut out the sprigs using Layering Layers printed vellum and added the pink strip that I cut out from the Palms die.  I love to make "get well" cards to send out to my friends.

Lastly I made this teal card using Coastal Cabana for the cardstock.  I cut the white layer diagonally and then added some Pool Party strips along the edges.  I used an older embossing folder and then added some flowers from the paper.  I got this idea from Barb Pheffer.  

To make these cards, I didn't use the stamp set.  They're made with the designer papers and the die cuts.  These are easy and beautiful cards that you can make with these pretty papers.  I cut out a bunch of the flowers and will keep them on hand for more cards!