Yep, this time it's a fall card! Again, a "Lynda version" of a card that's been all over the 'net, and I loved the contrast between the die-cut lacy leaves and the solid, multi-color ones. Some versions of this card "out there" use a fun, but rather messy inking technique. But since I had designed my version for class, "messy" wasn't something I particularly wanted to tackle.

So here's how WE got a similar multi-color, autumn effect.  It's a pattern that you repeat for each individual image:

• Start with a clean stamp. (Good idea to keep a damp paper towel handy.)
• Ink up the stamp with Daffodil Delight, but do not stamp with it yet.
• Lay out all your remaining leaf color inks in order from light to dark, left to right, and have a sponge dauber at hand for each one. (At my class we laid out Pumpkin Pie, Old Olive & Soft Suede.)
• Onto your yellow-inked stamp, "daub" (is that a real word?!?) a couple of other colors directly onto small areas of the stamp….. one at a time, and always working from lightest to darkest. So because of the order we'd laid out the inks, that would mean Pumpkin Pie followed by Old Olive, OR Old Olive and then Soft Suede.  Pay attention to where you daub each color on the stamp so you don't overlap sections entirely.
• Once that was done, there would be 3 colors on the stamp (Daffodil Delight + 2 others), and after "huffing" on it, it was time to stamp the image (onto a scrap of Whisper White cardstock).
• Clean the stamp and get ready to repeat the process for the next leaf.

We stamped (and then die-cut) enough of these colored leaves for not only the front of the card, but also one or more for the inside, too. 

And we followed the same process for those little "flowery-leafy-thingies", too. 

After layering up the main pieces on the card front, we made the banner with the sentiment and anchored that in place…..

And then the lacy-leaves (cut with the corresponding stem-and-leaves die from this bundle – from Gold Foil paper) were laid in place to give a general shape to the layout. And finally, all pieces were tacked down with either strategically-placed dots of glue from the Fine Tip glue pen or the Tombow Multipurpose glue. (Repeat after me, Lynda's cardinal rule of glue-use:  "Less is more. Less is more. Less is more!")

A large (retired) pearl finished it off (and ensured it would cost an additional 21-cents to mail)!

At my card classes earlier this month we capitalized on the versatility of the Thoughtful Branches Photopolymer Bundle and stamped up cards representing spring/summer, fall and winter. (See an additional fall card here.) Today I'd like to share our spring/summer card. Isn't it fascinating how the same stamp/die combo turned one way and stamped in orange can be a pumpkin….

 yet  flipped over and stamped in a different color becomes a hydrangea?!?  Yes, I do believe this bundle from Stampin' Up!® is truly one of the top most creative and versatile they've produced. And I'm so sad that in only 3 more days it will go away. 

The color palette for this card is simple and fresh - generally monochromatic with its Whisper White, Basic Black, Pool Party & Bermuda Bay. The basic idea was something I'd seen online, but then I added my own tweaks, including the jaunty angles of the layers for an extra punch of fun.

For the hydrangea, we first tinted a piece of Whisper White cardstock a light shade of Pool Party with one of our new sponge brayers.  Then stamped over that with Bermuda Bay before die-cutting that wonderful lacy shape. Then layered that piece over an oval (of Pool Party cardstock) to provide the sense of dimension…. just as I'd done with the pumpkin.

The stem & leaf were die-cut as well (Basic Black), and the stem adhered to the underneath oval with tiny spots from the Fine-tip glue pen. To back the leaves, we traced the shape of the die itself onto scraps of Pool Party and cut them out by hand before adhering behind the detailed black layer. The black polka-dotted layer comes from Pop of Pink Specialty Designer Series Paper, a HOT DSP package found in the still-newish annual catalog. (You can never have too many polka dots, can you? And when they're black they go with EVERYTHING!)

And here's a fuss-free tip for cutting a banner exactly the right length for your sentiment:

1. Cut a piece of cardstock as wide as you wish your finished banner to be, and plenty longer than you want its finished length to be.
2. Notch one end with the Banner Triple Punch.
3. Orient the notched edge according to your ultimate design, and stamp your sentiment close to the notch.
4.  Then clip off any extra length – to yield a perfectly-sized stamped banner!

Stay tuned for the "fall" and "winter" examples -  from our card classes earlier this month!

  Product List

Thoughtful Branches Photopolymer Bundle [144328] $52.00	Whisper White 8-1/2" X 11" Thick Cardstock [140272] $7.00	Whisper White 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [100730] $9.00	Bermuda Bay 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [131197] $8.00	Pool Party 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [122924] $8.00	Basic Black 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [121045] $8.00
Pop Of Pink Specialty Designer Series Paper [141648] $13.00	Pool Party Classic Stampin' Pad [126982] $6.50	Bermuda Bay Classic Stampin' Pad [131171] $6.50	Basic Black Archival Stampin’ Pad [140931] $7.00	Sponge Brayers [141714] $8.00	Banner Triple Punch [138292] $23.00
Big Shot Magnetic Platform [130658] $40.00	Layering Ovals Framelits Dies [141706] $35.00	Precision Base Plate [139684] $25.00	Stampin' Dimensionals [104430] $4.00	Liquid Multipurpose Glue [110755] $4.00	Fine-Tip Glue Pen [138309] $7.00