WLS #1 Sept - Trees & Leaves

Good Morning everyone

Its the first Sunday of September so time for a new challenge at We Love Stamping where the theme picked by me is 

TREES &/OR LEAVES

So apt for the season but don't just think Autumn, we can have lovely bright spring or summer trees/leaves or a wintery wreath full of different foliage's so lots of choices.

For my card I decided to go for both and used a leaf background stamp inked with all the colours of autumn leaves as they change, my ombre ink pads were perfect for this and finished with a brown mirri card die cut tree trunk.

5x6.5" Card cut from cream linen card.

Onto cream linen card i stamped the leaf stamp inking up with 3 different ombre ink pads and die cut into long rectangles.  

As the stamped die cut rectangles were slightly too short for the die i wanted to use for my topper panel i cut them apart where i decided i wanted my tree to go as this would hide the join - originally i planed to adhere back in a continued line but as they slipped on my topper before i glued them in place and i thought ooooh i wonder if i off set them....happy accident but i liked it so adhered them offset slightly - i think it adds interest to want is quite a simple design and adds to the movement of the leaves in the seasons - they go from greens into orange/reds into browns and then drop to the floor. Photo below shows this better.

I die cut the tree trunk from dark chocolate brown mirror card and adhered into place, covering the join in the leaf panels.  I adhered the topper panel onto the card front.  Stamped the quote with dark brown ink onto more cream linen card and added across the bottom of the card front with glue gel so its slightly raised.  Enamel dots added to finish to give the feel of falling leaves.

You can see the shine on the mirror card better at this angle, it just adds another texture and finish.  It was only after adding the enamel dots to my sentiment strip when i realised they were UK traffic lights😂

Quote reads

'Nothing is more peaceful than the whispers of the wind through the trees'

My topper showing how i added the stamped panels.  I could of course just have cut all the panels with a trimmer to fit the stamped panel size but as i was making a fairly CAS design I wanted to use my stitched edged dies to add interest so I made the stamped image fit the dies with some hidden cuts.

Items Used:

aall&create stamp #556 'leaves'

Inkylicious quote stamp 'forest quote'

Kaleidacolor ink pads 'carribean sky, cappuccino delight & desert heat'

Enamel and glitter dots

Memory box birch tree die

MFT stitched panel dies 

CraftUk ltd cream linen card

We have 2 prizes this month, a $30 store voucher from Taylored Expressions and Penny Black stamp set and stencil from Buddly Crafts so hop over to We Love Stamping to join in 

Id love to join in the following:

https://cinspirations.blogspot.com/2026/09/september-challenge-hello-autumn.html - #2

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https://thefourseasonschallenge.blogspot.com/2026/09/fall-season-september-2026.html - 2nd entry

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https://www.simplyellibelle.com/2026/08/ellibelles-garden-party-no-18-anything.html

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https://sweetstampinchallengeblog.blogspot.com/2026/08/use-die-cut.html

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Creative Creases Aug

Good Morning everyone

This is my 2nd post this morning, if the scheduling goes to plan

I am honoured once again to be Guest DT over at Creative Creases where anything goes with a fancy fold.  

I decided to try one of the many fancy folds on my 'to try' list and make a hexagon pop up card.  After reading a few step by steps online I ended up using the one from beccys place as it was clear and easy to follow

Ive used 2 stamp sets, one leafy one from aall&create and a lovely quote from inkalicious and one ink pad which is an ombre one.

I first cut and folded the card from white linen cardstock.  Onto another piece of white I multiple stamped the leafy background stamp with an ombre ink which has lovely shades of green from lime through to a greeny blue. I then cut the panels out to fit the 6 sides of the base.  I die cut the rest of the leafy background sheet with a leafy sprig die.  Onto a white die cut circle I stamped the quote and then framed it with the die cut leaves

3 acetate butterflies to finish

Such a lovely quote... there is something very peaceful and calming about being surrounded by nothing but nature.  I love the effect of die cutting the leaves from the leafy background stamp, makes an interesting finish to them which is also softer than a solid colour would be.

On the back of the card I lined up a smaller white die cut circle with the one on the front and then added a smaller circle die cut from a pale paper for a place to write the greeting.  I also lined the inside panels with a green paper to give a more finished look.

Just showing it side on

and it folds completely flat for posting which is great.

Items Used

aall&create stamp #556 'leaves'

Inkilicious stamp 'forest quote'

CheeryLynn Foliage die

acetate butterflies (ebay find)

Kaleidacolor Ombre ink pad 'caribbean sea'

craftUk ltd 300gsm white linen card

So do hop over to Creative Creases challenge to see what everyone came up with and to join in - anything goes with a fancy fold. 

  I hope you all have a great weekend.  Big hugs Emmax

Id love to enter the following:

https://sweetstampinchallengeblog.blogspot.com/2025/07/anything-but-square.html

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https://traumfabrik-challenge.blogspot.com/2025/07/challenge-141-spotlight-highlight-or.html - my sentiment/quote is made the focus with the frame to draw the eye in

 

WLS Dec - Winter

Good Morning everyone

Scarily its the first of December today and the first sunday in the month so time for a new challenge over at We Love Stamping

The theme this month is WINTER, or there is always the anything goes option as long as we see stamping in action

Card size approx 5x7" made from navy blue card. I took white pearl card and stenciled with oxide inks in tumbled glass, shaded lilac & cracked pistachio through lavinia 'pods' stencil.  I then over stamped with grey & blue inks winter words.  I then die cut this into 3 arches of descending sizes - missing out one die inbetween so its wider frames.   The i carefully put all 3 into a snow embossing folder, keeping them lined up so that the embossing matches.

I glued the smallest layer flat in the middle, the next size up on 2mm foam tape and the largest outside with 4mm foam tape (2mm doubled up) - its actually easier to line up starting with the outside one.  Hopefully once in place all the stenciling, stamping and embossing line up.

I them stamped the majestic stag stamp onto white card with versaClair medieval blue ink and added a little soft colour by watercolouring with distress inks - lemonade, honey, vintage photo & walnut stain - I liked the contrast of these colours against the cool background.  Cut him out, adhered into place with glue gel.

Sadly doesn't show in the photo but the pearl of the cardstock still shimmers through the oxide inks.  Of course as its a snowly theme i did add just a little bit of stickles glitter glue to some of the embossed snowflakes for a little sparkle.  

You can see the snow embossing a bit better here.  

I should have taken a photo of the insert as i used another inkylicious stamp which reads 'Winter waves a magic wand over the world and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful' 

My parents are lucky to have alot of fallow deer roaming their fields - although mum doesn't see why they need to eat half her garden...every so often im lucky to see one when im over there

After making a big effort this year to make more postal friendly flat Christmas cards, Im very happy to make one with as much foam tape and glue gel s i wanted😁

Items Used:

Inkylicious stamps 'forest stag' 'sofly sofly' 'winter beauty'

aall&create stamps 'seasons'

Lavinia stencil 'pods'

Crafters companion 8x8 snowfall embossing folder

Distress Oxide inks - tumbled glass, cracked pistachio, shaded lilac, lemonade, honey, vintage photo & walnut stain

Versafine clair ink  - medieval blue, morning mist

Archival inks - colbalt, petunia, library green

White pearl & navy card

Rangers stickles 'twinkle'

These lovely stamp sets for the lucky winner

So do hop over to We Love Stamping to see what the rest of the design team have come up with for the Winter theme and to join in.

I gave mum her advent calendar y/day and she loved it as did dad and my brother was impressed so thats a real compliment! 

I hope you all have a good week and start to December.  Emmax

Id love to enter the following:

https://justusgirlschallenge.blogspot.com/2024/11/just-us-girls-755-stencil-week.html

https://craftygalscornerchallenges.blogspot.com/2024/11/challenge-261-anything-goes-woptional.html

https://www.simplyellibelle.com/2024/11/i-spy-with-my-little-eye-something-for.html

https://creativefriday.blogspot.com/2024/11/creative-friday-373-x-beliebiges-tier.html

https://theoutlawzchallenges-friday.blogspot.com/2024/11/festive-friday-challenge-1-november-to.html

https://cyhtp.blogspot.com/2024/11/anything-goes-embossing-with-twist-of.html - ive used a snowfall embossing folder

 

WLS OCT Autumn Colours

Good Morning everyone

I should be back from holiday but just in case the ferry was delayed this is hopefully another scheduled post..............    

Welcome to October.  A new theme over at We love stamping which is 'Autumn' picked by me, my 2nd fav month after spring.  Ive gone with a full on autumn design with the colours and lots of leaves and also used lots of older stash too which is always nice

6x6 dark brown cardbase.  I took a piece of white card and tape inkylicious leaf aperture mask/stencil to it, wet the leaf with water and sprinkled on brusho powders and a little copper pixie powder, I removed the mask/stencil and splattered some of the same colours all over the background and put to one side to completely dry. 

I then stamped lots of small leaves using multi generation inking so that some are more faded into the background.  I then removed the stencil & stamped aall&create 'autumn' stamp over the whole background again with multi generation stamping.  I stamped the 3 Lavinia crows sitting on the darker autumn words, I used versaclair fallen leaves so not quite as dark as black and goes nicely with my dark brown cardblank.  Inked the edges and adhered to my brown card base. 

Here you can see the light hitting the copper pixie powder.   

I found that the with the mylor stencil being so thick i couldn't stamp my leaves right upto the edge so I did another version below and this time i drew around the leaf stencil onto copier paper and cut out the leaf but kept the frame this i then used to mask the outside so i could stamp into the leaf and right upto the edge - hope that makes sense😁

Version 2 - background made the same way with exactly the same brushos and pixie powder, this one came out much darker and crisper.  I stamped Lavinia cat with versaclair fallen leaves as well as the autumn word.  I stamped some tiny spiders and snails to finish. 

again showing the light hitting the pixie powders.  I doodled on little spider lines with a fineliner pen - adding a little spider just in front of the cat - my old cat has always been a good spider catcher!

and a 3rd card below which started out as me just cleaning my stencil by rubbing it onto a piece of white cardstock so unlike version 1&2 its the outside i added the colour too this time rather than the leaf aperture 

Top left shows how the leaf stencil printed onto white cardstock and bottom right is the card i made with it.  The inkylicious leaf stencil comes in 2 parts you have the leaf aperture but also the leaf shape mask so it was this piece that i placed over the leaf to mask it so that i could add more colour to the surrounding background.  I used ink pad and a sponge and added colour around the leaf.

I removed the mask and stamped a few leaves into the middle to soften the stark white.  I then stamped Mr Crow and the lovely sentiment with fallen leaves versaclair ink.  I stamped the crow a 2nd time onto white, cut him out and decoupaged onto the base image with glue gel, adding some glossy accents to his eyes and goggles to finish. 

The quote reads 'Into the forest I go to lose my mind & find my soul'

I decided it needed a few leaves so dug out my bag of die cut leaves and added a few.  These I have die cut over the years when have scraps left over, they come in ideal for projects like this where i just want the odd leaf.  I also have a bag of all green leaves for more spring/summer projects.  I tend to die cut them in front of the tv of an evening with my little baby blue die cutting machine on a lap tray.

These are the prizes this month for the lucky winners.  So hop over to We Love Stamping to join in - if the autumn theme isn't for you then we always have the anything goes option too, as long as some stamping is included.

Items Used:

Inkylicious 'ornate leaf' stencil & forest quote stamp

aall&create stamping 'dashing crow' 'seasons'

Lavinia Stamps 'crow set' 'mooch' 'mini leaf 1' 'vine stamp'

Cardio Majestic stamps 'bugs & snails'

Various other leaves from old magazine freebies 

Brusho powders 'gambage' 'lime' 'leaf green'

Cosmic shimmer pixie powder 'copper' 

Kaleidacolor ombre ink pad 'cappuccino delight'

Various leaf dies

Hop over to We Love Stamping to see more inspiration from the DT and to join in. 

 (yes the ferry was cancelled twice due to storms but we are finally home!)

Thanks for stopping by. Emmax

I love to enter card 1 in the following:

https://cinspirations.blogspot.com/2024/10/october-challenge-season-of-autumn.html

https://everybody-art-challenge.blogspot.com/2024/09/564.html - autumn leaves

https://shoppingourstash.blogspot.com/2024/09/sos531-im-leaf-ing-it-up-to-you.html

https://movingalongwiththetimes.blogspot.com/2024/10/challenge-171-autumnal-colours.html

  

https://thefourseasonschallenge.blogspot.com/2024/10/october-2024-anything-goes-fall.html

https://craftrocketchallenges.blogspot.com/2024/10/challenge-119-autumn-andor-halloween.html

https://allsortschallenge.blogspot.com/2024/10/week-801.html