Autumn cards

 I've been in a rut lately & asked for some inspiration.  Another card maker suggest working with fall colors and leaves.  My first step was to create some leaves.  I used watercolor paper and dabbed watercolors and water all over it.  When dry, I used dies and punched to cut leaves from this paper.

Next, I had to find cards to mount the leaves on.  I used some embossing folders to create them.

Now, I need to work on a few more.

Alcohol ink backgrounds

 I've been in a bit of a rut and haven't made many cards.  I decided to pull out my alcohol inks and yupo paper.  I didn't have a plan, just see what happened.  Here is a couple of my backgrounds.

After making a few more backgrounds, I pulled out some dies to create some cards.

This shadow box card was made with 1/2 of the top background.   I used 2 Memory Box dies to create window in both the front and inside panels to show the background.  A few stamps added to the design.

This card was made with the other half of the previous background.  The forest collage die is from Simon Says Stamp.  I added some punched leaves cut from watercolored paper and a die cut sentiment.

This is another alcohol ink backgound showing through the opening cut with a die by Hero Arts.   I added a thin frame cut with a Simon Says Stamp die and corner dies from Poppy Stamps.

Pine frame birthday card

 I just got an address for an adult grandson, just in time for his birthday.  I made a quick card with a couple of dies I bought recently and hadn't used yet.

This Pine Frame die is by Wplus9.  It also has 2 pine sprig dies.  I used them inside the card, but forgot to take a photo.  The script birthday die is from Simon Says Stamp.  They go great together and I just put them on a yellow background and cut the sentiment die from the same cardstock.  Quick to make and good for a man who loves hiking.

Another balloon birthday card

 This is a simple one layer card.  I stamped a Penny Black hedgehog stamp in black ink and colored with colored pencil.  The sentiment could have been stamped, but I used a Memory Box die.

Anniversary card

 I made this card for a family member who is having difficult health issues.  The background is made with alcohol ink.  The circle diecut with the birds is by Hero Arts and the sentiment die is from Memory Box.

It's hard to see on this image, but there are little crystal butterflies scattered on the white diecut.  There is also a thin silver rectangle die cut around the edge.  These closeups show a couple of them.

This is the sentiment on the inside with and enamel heart to accent it.

Balloon birthday

This card made use of a couple of die sets.  The balloon sentiment die is by Pretty Pink Posh and the smaller balloon dies are from a set by Poppystamps.  The hedgehog stamp is from Penny Black.  I colored the stamped image with colored pencils and added twine to hold the balloons.

Another rainbow card

 I'm still playing with my rainbow dies.  This time, I cut the rainbow from a watercolor pad by Colorbok.  This is patterned paper with watercolor type patterns.  I also inset the rainbow into the negative space from the die.  The clouds are cut from felt.

Look for the Rainbow

I have purchased quite a few new dies and wanted to use them to create a card.  The rainbow dies are by Lawn Fawn.

I used an alcohol ink background and cut it out with a stitched rectangle die, since the rainbow and clouds have stitching.  The sentiment is stamped, but I didn't have a stitched die the right size, so I used a Sizzix die with piercing around the edge.  I then added a frame and mounted all on a white card base.

For the inside and back of card, I used a new set of House Mouse stamps.

 

Sparkly hugs

This is another background made with alcohol ink on silver sparkle alcohol ink paper.  The circle hugs is a combination of 2 dies.  The hugs part is cut out of an open circle.  I had to use another circle die to create the border.  This circle hugs is cut from holographic silver paper. 

I added a silver layer, cut with a Sissix rectangle die that cuts dots around the edge.  I then mounted this on a lavender card base.  I stamped a cut little house mouse stamp and message to back of card.

These stamps are from a darling stamp set I just got.  These cute mice are all wearing masks, along with the rest of us.

Sparkly birthday

I've had some problems being creative this month.  It's been a sad month with the death of my precious dog and the dog of my best friend.  It's always hard to lose them when they've been a part of out lives for so long.

I had to pull myself out to make a birthday card for a special female relative.  This background is made with alcohol inks on silver sparkle alcohol ink paper.  It leaves a very vibrant sparkly color.  I added several dies to finish this card, then mounted it on a yellow card base.

It's hard to capture the true color and sparkle of this card.  Another photo shows the color better, but not all the sparkle.