Layered Leaf Card

Hi everyone!
I'm back today with a project celebrating the release of the much anticipated Layered Leaf Bigz die and texture fade from Sizzix.  I have been waiting for this set to arrive so I could test it out.  I will tell you, it did not disappoint!  Follow along and I will show you what I did...

To start, you will need a piece of Distress Watercolor paper.  The pack comes with twenty - 4 1/4 x 5 1/2" pieces which will work for our leaf.  Cut the watercolor paper to 4 x 5 1/2".

I am using Distress Stain to color the Watercolor cardstock - Gathered Twigs, Crushed Olive, Ripe Persimmon, and Evergreen bough.  Just a little of each onto the Craft Sheet.  Remember, the colors are next to each other on the Craft Sheet, not on top of each other.  Spray stain with water.

Smoosh (is that a real word?) the card down into the stain and pick it right back up again.  Move to a paper towel to dry.  The card does not have to be completely dry before you go back into the stain gathering small droplets. 

Repeat 4 or 5 times until the card has layers of color, then dry completely.

Once it is dry, run the card through the Vagabond/Big Shot machine to die cut the Layered Leaf shape.  It really is beautiful with all the different layered colors of Distress Stain.  That little hint of Evergreen bough is my favorite part.
So I bet you're thinking, what she gonna do with that leaf?
nothing.
really, truthfully, nothing.

After I cut the leaf I was rather enamored with this...
the leftover shape or negative image or the leaf.
So I set the leaf aside for another day and went to work on the idea in my head (I get those every once in a while).

I cut a piece of Specialty Stamping paper 4 1/4 x 5 3/4" and centered it in the Texture Fade that comes with the Layered Leaf set.

Note: I used 12 x 12" Specialty Stamping Paper to cut my own paper, as the pre-cut sheets are only 4 1/4 x 5 1/2".  Yep, only 1/8" shy of what I wanted.  Yes, I probably could have adapted the idea if I only owned the smaller size, but since I had one package of the 12 x 12" I used it and cut the size I envisioned.

This is what it looked like when the paper was removed from the texture fade....even better than I imagined.

I got out the Gold Alcohol Ink and a Blending Tool with felt on the pad.  Little by little I added the gold over the entire card.

Until it looked like this.

Another layer of Alcohol ink in Slate to add more depth.  I had a few ideas on how to use just this piece so I may have to revisit this again in the future.

Now back to the watercolor paper - I flipped it over onto the Craft Sheet and added a nice coating of Multi Medium over the back of the heavy card.  I brushed the glue towards the center of the leaf so the Multi Medium did not get under the cut shape (remember to work quick!).

Then added it to the Alcohol Inked leaf.  Press down so that all the leaf pieces stay put.  As you can see the watercolor paper is just shy of the base piece...just what I wanted, a really nice gold border going all the way around the card front.

Next up, the sewing machine.  I ran a long double stitch around the card front with brown thread.  Once it was stitched in place, I went around the card with my fingernail pulling up the small edge on the outside of the stitching...lifting, bending, and sometimes even tearing the thick watercolor paper.  If a little too much white began to show I just added a bit of Distress Ink to the edge.

I cut a brown Core'dinations Kraft Core base for my card front and used a tape runner to adhere the leaf to the cardstock.  I also used a craft knife to cut a small slit into the folded edge for some Jute String.

Thread 24" of Jute String into the right side of a Word Band.  Pull through till the ends are even.

Then wrap around the card front, pulling the two cut ends through the slit in the side of the card.

Tie through the left side of the Word Band.

And there you go.
Super simple.
Absolutely L.O.V.E. this Layered Leaf die/texture fade!
I realize the expectation is that the leaf would have all the mottled color, but in this case the gold is a great foil to the bold color of the stains.  It is hard to see how wonderful that gold Alcohol Ink looks in a photo though!

I know I will be trying out this same technique with the Layered Butterfly as soon as possible!

Loving everything about this quick card since it looks like it took way longer than it did.  I'm also looking forward to next week when I have some time to tackle the leaf I didn't use today.   The Layered Leaf die just moved to the top of my favorites list!

Hope everyone has a great weekend and that it involves a little bit of crafting and spending time with people you love. 
now carry on,
paula
UPDATE: the Layered Leaf die is available NOW at Simon Says Stamp!

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Pumpkin Parts

The new Sizzix dies started shipping this week so I thought I would make a card using the new Pumpkin Parts Bigz die.  Super cute and great for fall!

 

I cut the pumpkins parts from Grungepaper.  You'll notice the pumpkin is scored when run through the Vagabond machine.  This makes it super easy to see right where the parts go when putting the pumpkin together.

I painted the pieces with Ripe Persimmon and Peeled Paint Distress Paint.

Once the Distress Paint was dry I gave the main pumpkin a coat of Distress Crackle Paint then set it aside to dry.

About an hour later, I came back and the crackle had done it's job.  I pounced Frayed Burlap Distress Stain over the entire pumpkin so the stain would seep into the cracks, then wiped away the excess.

Love the effect its gives!

I coated each of the remaining pumpkin parts with a thin layer of Glossy Accents.

Then poured Spiced Marmalade Distress Glitter over each piece.  Tap off the excess glitter and leave to dry on your craft sheet.  Do do not press the glitter down.

 Once dry, you can use Distress Ink to color the edges of the glittered piece.

I cut a card base from Core'dinations Kraft Core cardstock in a dark green as well as a card front from the 6 x 6" section of the Wallflower Paper Stash.  I used a Tonic Paper Distresser to rough up the edges of the patterned paper, then inked it with Vintage Photo.

A quick stitch around the card front with dark brown thread.

Once the card base was complete, I used the Burlap Layering Stencil and Ranger Texture Paste to add texture to the card front.
Just a couple notes on the new Texture Paste - it's very light and easy to spread.  It also dries really quickly with the Ranger Heat Tool.  Super happy about that!

And two minutes later, it's dry and ready to ink.

I chose three colors of Distress Ink I thought would complement the orange pumpkin; mustard seed, wild honey and seedless preserves.  The Distress Ink and the Mini Blending Tool work like a charm over the Texture Paste. I love that the Texture Paste is totally inkable!

The pumpkin is large so I needed a small quote.  Yes, I could have just stamped the card front, but I decided I wanted to stamp on a transparency with Stazon Ink and add it to the card front with a Tiny Attacher.

I did add a bit of Antique Linen Distress Paint onto the card front to obscure some of the flowers and writing so the quote transparency would stand out.

I added the pumpkin and a few Mirrored Stars to the card front.

I decided to add some small leaves at the stem of the pumpkin.  This was easy using the same color cardstock as the card base and the Autumn Gatherings Decorative Strip.

A little sanding and bending and there you have it.  The Kraft Core cardstock is easy to work with, one quick sanding and you have a great distressed look.

I added the leaves to the stem with Multi Medium making the pumpkin complete.

I also added a bit of Jute String to the folded edge to complete the card.  Love how this big sparkly pumpkin turned out!  The Distress Glitter was the perfect medium make it shine. 

Note: I used a Walnut Stain Distress Marker along the left side of the "faux creases" in the pumpkin, then smeared it with a bit of Multi Medium, giving the pumpkin more depth.
 
I hope you will check out the new dies that were released this week....you know you can count on me to be back with more ideas!
carry on,
paula

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