Autumn Morning

Are you ready for Autumn to get here?? I sure am! To me, the quintessential Autumn stamp set is SU's Lovely Leaves. I was honestly shocked when Stampin' Up retired it. I couldn't believe they'd get rid of such a classic set so quickly. I mean good grief, they still have Lovely As a Tree!!! This set surely is as good, I say. I hope to bring it out to play with numerous times over the next couple of months. So I hope you like it, too. You can see samples of cards done using that set here and here. As you can see, a very versatile set.

To make this card I began by creating a black base. I used Pumpkin Pie as the card's main color. I stamped several leaves from Lovely Leaves in Basic Black and the leaf outline stamps from the set with Ruby Red. I ran it through the Cuttlebug (twice, due to size) using the Mesh embossing folder. Then I rubbed Vintage Photo distress ink all over it.

For the sentiment area I stamped the Wordsworth "O Good" stamp in Basic Black. After it thoroughly dried, I sponged and rubbed various inks (listed below) over it. (Clarification: I actually rubbed some of the ink pads themselves right on the cs - also, I forgot to mention that the sentiment cs piece was white cs. Sorry for the omission.) I adhered it to the black cs after I did the edge of the black with the Martha Stewart Embossed Zigzag punch.

To get it to fit right I made sure the sides of the black were right with the sentiment piece and made the length longer than I needed it to be. Then I used the punch. I positioned the sentiment piece on the black near the punched edge and marked on the top (above the sentiment) where to cut. Then I trimmed it and adhered the sentiment to it. I added antique brass eyelets using the Crop-a-Dile. Once I did all of that I used a straight pin and the Mat Pack cushion and added holes around the sentiment on the black.

I added the zigzag ribbon and then adhered the sentiment using Dimensionals to pop it up.

Inside the card I cut 2 pieces of Pumpkin Pie cs to fit each panel and paper-pierced the edges with the straight pin and did some fancy paper piercing in the corners. I stamped a leaf from Lovely Leaves in Pumpkin Pie ink on the panels. I accidentally got a bit of black ink smudged on one panel, so I sponged both with Basic Black a bit to blend in my mistake. You'd never know I goofed! ;)

I wanted to mention something that worked for me in trying to line up my holes neatly when paper piercing. I just tried this so it's a new idea to me. You all may have already figured it out:

To keep the lines straight (I have the Mat Pack template, but find it hard to work with until I get a proper piercing tool - on my list!) I used the edge of one of my Stamp-a-ma-jig sheets and held it in place while I paper pierced freehand along its edge. It worked very well, I must say. A good "get by" tip for those who've not bought the Mat Pack from SU or a proper piercing tool.

So...my first Autumn card of 2008. Hope you enjoy it. Thanks for looking!

Stamps: SU Lovely Leaves, "O Good" by Wordsworth

CS: Black, Pumpkin Pie, White

Inks: Basic Black, Ruby Red, Pumpkin Pie, Real Red, More Mustard, Summer Sun, Tim Holtz Vintage Photo distress ink

Other: Cuttlebug Mesh embossing folder, Martha Stewart Embossed Zigzag punch, Sponges, Antique brass eyelets, Crop-a-Dile (for eyelets), Straight pin, Mat pack cushion, Dimensionals, Zigzag ribbon