Oct 11 2008
Fallen Leaves – Tutorial #132
A while back I asked the readers of this blog to leave me a comment telling me their most favorite thing about Autumn. Close to half of the comments mentioned walking through fallen leaves, feeling them crunch beneath their feet. I agree whole heartedly that it’s a wonderful thing in the Autumn months. Today’s card is my version of fallen leaves to try to echo that feeling and put it on paper.
Let’s get started 
Supplies:
| Stamps: Stampin’ Up With Gratitude & Touch of Nature |
| Paper: Stampin’ Up Whisper White, Chocolate Chip & Old Olive |
| Ink: Stampin’ Up Close to Cocoa, Really Rust, Basic Black, Chocolate Chip & Old Olive |
| Accessories: Crop-a-dile, Eyelets, Brads, Raffia, Tim Holtz embellishment, Tim Holtz Ruler, Sponges, Prismacolor Markers, Versamark Pad and Marker, Dimensionals, Fine Detail Embossing Powder, Heat gun, Photo Corner Punch |
Stamped acorns by first loading my stamp with Versamark and then loading it with Close to Cocoa ink before stamping it on a 4.5″ square piece of Whisper White card stock.
Heat embossed the images using fine detail clear embossing powder and a heat gun.
Colored the bottom half of the acorns with a Prismacolor Sienna Brown marker.
Colored the top half of the acorns with a Sand marker.
Stamped leaves by first loading my stamp with Versamark and then loading it with Really Rust ink before stamping them.
Heat embossed the leaves with fine detail clear embossing powder and a heat gun.
Colored the leaves with a Burnt Ochre marker.
Let the marker dry and then went over the darker parts of the leaves again with the Burnt Ochre marker to give a bit of variation in color.
Colored over the leaves and acorns with a Versamark marker and heat embossed the images with clear embossing powder and a heat gun.
Stamped the leaves a few more times by first loading my stamp with Versamark and then loading it with Always Artichoke ink before stamping them. Heat embossed the images using clear embossing powder and a heat gun.
Note: There is no need to wipe the Always Artichoke ink from the already embossed images before heat embossing them. Once you heat emboss the Always Artichoke leaves the ink will magically disappear from the already embossed images. Try it you will see.
Colored the green leaves with a Limepeel marker.
Added Light Olive marker to the darker parts of the green leaves.
Colored over the green leaves with a Versamark Marker and heat embossed them with clear embossing powder and a heat gun.
Sponged, using a circular motion, Chocolate Chip ink all over the card stock.
Decided I wanted a warmer tone to the background so I sponged Really Rust ink all over entire piece of card stock. A girl can change her mind if she wants, right?
Over stamped the entire card stock with the leaf stamp using Chocolate Chip ink to create the look of brown leaves under the more colorful leaves.
Let the Chocolate Chip ink dry a moment and then wiped the Chocolate Chip ink off of the embossed images using a soft rag.
Sponged Basic Black ink around the edge of the card stock.
Ok, I’m not one for a bunch of embellishments. It’s not that I don’t own a ton of embellishment. I have drawers and drawers full of them. I usually just can’t figure out what to do with them, lol. I can spend more time trying to place just one embellishment on a card then it took me to create the rest of the entire card. So I usually don’t embellish.
This is probably the most you will ever see me embellish, lol.
I added punched corners.
Used my Crop-a-dile to add eyelets. Man those eyelets haven’t seen daylight in over a year, lol.
If you want a cheap solution to ribbon for your fall cards try Raffia.
Added Raffia and a Tim Holtz embellishment that has the sentiment of Wonderful on it.
Frayed the raffia ends.
Pierced holes in two sides of my out card-stock layer using the Tim Holtz ruler and a push pin.
Dimensionals, Wow! I really haven’t popped something up for the longest time.
I used lots of them, especially in the middle of the main panel so it wouldn’t cave in.
Here is my finished card front, popped up and embellished. It measures 5.5″ square.
Hope you are able to get out today and enjoy the sites and sounds of a beautiful Autumn day.
Until my next post. . . . . . . . . . .
Hugs,
Michelle
Links to all my tutorials can be found here: http://zindorf.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/tutorials-ive-written/
Here is a link to my workshop calendar if you want to get info on beginner and advanced Brayer workshops: http://zindorf.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/workshop-calendar
39 responses so far
Absolutely fabulous, Michelle! The fallen leaves are gorgeous and I love the raffia!
WOW..very beautiful. Love those colorful fall leaves! Thank you so much for showing the entire process, including the final assembly of the card once you had created your image. Oh how gorgeous is this one!
Wow – it still amazes me how you visualize the finished art – incredible. This is stunning.
And you’re making me covet that ruler, I’m not gonna lie!
Have a great Saturday!!
I love the colours in this card, can’t wait to try it. Thanks and have a great weekend!
Really beautiful!!! Pretty inspiration. Congratulations!!! Nice weekend.
OMGosh, I just did something similar to this yesterday and posted it on my blog and in my SCS gallery! Mine does not look anything like yours! Yours is fantastic. I keep checking for those dates when you will be doing a workshop in New York! Are you coming soon! I need you!
Wow. I love this card. I have to say that my bf adored the wolf card! He words were “She is good!” Thanks so much for sharing Michelle..:)
Just when I think you couldn’t possibly come up with another “leaf” card you do! You are so talented! I’m so thankful you are willing to share with us less talented! I almost bought this set and passed up because I couldn’t visualize how to use the leaf. Now I know I should have bought this set! Hope your weekend is filled with warm wonderful moments!
Just love the colours. I’m the same as you with embellishments – I can’t stop buying them but I never know what to do with them. I know you haven’t used it on this card but how do you keep your brayer clean?
Another incredible card. Walking through leaves, hearing the crunch and the smell. Brings back childhood memories of playing in the piles of leaves. Thank you for sharing!
Michelle, All I can say is >>>> AWESOME JOB <<<< Now if this were laying on my front sidewalk I’d be trying to sweep them off the sidewalk. That is how real they look……you are sooooo talented. I look forward to seeing your wonderful creations everyday. Thanks for making my world brighter. Cheers to you my dear.
and Happy STamping !!!!!
Wow Michelle – you’ve really captured a piece of Autumn here! I never would have thought to stamp the brown leaves on the background to look like old leaves! So realistic! Have a great weekend!
WOW!!! this is gorgeous,
Boah Michelle,what a great card,i love it.Can you please tell me,wherecan i buy this great Prismacolor Makers?
Thanks for your great inspirations.
Many greetings
Angela
Wow! Beautiful colours and layout. Love it. It’s such an awesome day out there today and this card matches it perfectly. I also love the raffia….great idea.
Trish
Beautiful card as always.
Beautiful! I have a new leaf stamp and I’ve been trying to figure out how to make a card to send to my mother who has cancer. This is so bright and cheerful & I hope you don’t mind if I case this card to send to my mom!
Love your work and your inspiration.
Terri in Missouri
Another Beauty! I always like to play a game with myself trying to figure out where you will start on any given card. I so lost. I did a double take and had to go back up to the card to see — you started with the two acorns! Who’d a thunk? Anyway it is beautiful as always!
Fall is fantastic and so is this card. Your leaves are lovely. Ihave been outside loving the gorgeous weather that we are having. Hope your day is great too.
Heather
I just love your work! I was wondering if you have a list of the Prismacolor Markers that match the SU ink colors?
BEAUTIFUL. Thanks for taking part of your Saturday off and showing us how to create art. The comments you share regarding why you choose a specific color or tool really helps. I’m off to try these tips.
GORGEOUS – as always!
-mary
Breathtaking!! This just brought autumn inside the house!
Michelle – I’ve only been getting your emails for a week or so, but already you’ve inspired to me break out my scary brayer AND try my hand at some of the cards you’ve made. Thank you for making it seem doable for someone who isn’t that artistic!
Keep up the fall theme, especially leaves. I have so many leaf stamps and no muse to get me moving this year. Love this card and the wolf yesterday….and I lent my wolf set to my DD 750 miles away so I can’t recreate.
Michelle how pretty! We went up north today and saw so many trees that have turned, what a nice surprise to see you made a card with all their glory. Hope you had time to play outside also today.
Beautiful Michelle! Will try to do this one myself. Love it. I too am still waiting to see the day when you hit New England for a show. I would definitely take the day off from work. lol I’m sure alot of us in this part of the country would do our darnest to get to see you. Keep it in mind. Springtime would be nice. Hint-hint.
Wow! I’ll have to get out my embossing gun. Just have to get my twins out of my house so I can do it – alone! Thanks for sharing your gorgeous card and instructions.
Michelle – You are remarkable!!! Your name was mentioned in the Marco Paper Newsletter by Greg, so I had to see what the hubbub was all about. You can’t tell, but right now I am giving you a standing ovation:) I wish I was able to attend your upcoming class in Ohio, but for right now I’ll just keep drooling at your works of art!
Michelle – You really make me want to return to Connecticut where I grew up to see the fall leaves. Your colors are so gorgeous and full of life. I usually don’t emboss much due to the mess it makes, but after seeing this card, I really need to find it somewhere here in the craft room and make a card with my Touch of Nature set and leaf stamps. Thanks again for bringing back the memories in Connecticut.
Ashley in Surprise, Arizona
One word: SMASHING!!
Beautiful Michelle :0) I can smell the smell of fallen leaves :0)
**Hugs** Heather x
Love it thanks !!
Beautiful. You’re an inspiration………
Your last two cards are some of my favorites. I also LOVE fall.
I marvel at how easy you make this look! Time to give it a try.
Happy Stamping…
OMG, girl, this and the wolf card are AMAZING! I always love “watching” you work… the step-by-step photos are just fantastic. I know it must be VERY time-consuming to stop so often to take them, but rest assured they are so VERY APPRECIATED!
Hugs,
Betsy
This is amazing, the versamarker is something I have & never use. Thanks for showing me a great way to use it!
Wow! I just discovered you and I can see I am going to be spending lots and lots of time on your site. You are so incredibly talented and I love your work. Your tutorials are great and I know I’m going to learn so much. Thank you, thank you, thank you for sharing with us.
Karen
WOW! TRUELY INSPIRATIONAL. WHAT A BEAUTIFUL PIECE OF ART YOU HAVE CREATED. THANK U FOR SHARING YOUR WORK OF ART TO US VIEWERS. VERY KIND OF YOU TO SHARE HOW YOU CREATE YOUR PIECES. YOU HAVE OPENEND A NEW WORLD OF STAMPING IN A DIFFERENT WAY. THANK U FOR BEING SO INSPIRATIONAL. I SHOWED MY HUBBY AND HE WAS IN AWWW! PLEASE CONTINUE YOUR PIECES AND SHARING WITH US!!!
GOD BLESS!!
HAPPY THANKSGIVING AND HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO YOU AND YOURS!!!
SINCERELY,
YANERI – ORANGE COUNTY, CA