Thursday 5 October 2017

One card, two ways

There seem to have been quite a few "Your favourite stamp" challenges recently so this lovely old horse chestnut leaf stamp, which I've used so often the writing has worn off the wooden block, is never far from reach (although it's in danger of being usurped from top spot by the Katzelkraft grumpy cat stamp!). It's perfect for the season too.

I've used it to make a background, watercoloured by smooshing  the craft mat with distress inks and spritzing with water, then when dry stamped all over with the leaf, die cut into two matching ovals and then used in two very different ways.


For the first one I have kept it very CAS - just added another leaf that has been heat-embossed using a tapestry embossing powder that comes in mixed brown and green shades, then picking up the main colours with a row of Candi dots.


I am sharing this one with
Addicted to CAS - Favourite Stamp
CAS watercolour - Autumn leaves

Now for the second card, which is a lot more complex. I added a background of kraft card, run through a woodgrain embossing folder and lightly inked, and as well as the embossed leaf as above I added a second one stamped and embossed onto a thin metallic sheet (it's much more of a brown-terracotta colour than it appears in the photo) and cut out, plus two leaves stamped into squares of hot "Almost leather".


Almost Leather was a product available 20-25 years ago, A4 sheets that looked rather like fun foam but changed texture when heated to give a leather-like finish. While still hot, it was possible to stamp into it using permanent ink like Stazon, to give a result very much like tooled leather. It was lovely stuff, great for key tags and bookmarks, and I really can't think why they stopped making it. I'm down to my very last few tiny scraps now - none of them even big enough to take a complete leaf image!

I am sharing this one with

Mix it up - ATG & watercolouring
Country View - Mixed media with autumnal hues
Stamping Sensations - Autumn Glory

16 comments:

Loll said...

Both cards are so beautiful and celebrate that fall is here! Great work Jane! Especially love the CAS version. :) Great idea to smoosh a background and then over stamp with the beautiful leaf. No wonder this image has been a lot of love ... it's so pretty. And the leather look is so cool. It's a shame they no longer make it. Thanks for sharing with us at CAS Watercolour!

Margarets designer cards said...

Two beautiful cards, love the stamp.

Liz said...

Two super cards, Jane. The stamp is lovely and you've showcased it beautifully with two very different designs. xx

cotnob said...

Two gorgeous cards Jane, they are both fabulous designs but I think the CAS one is my favourite.
Pauline - Crafting with Cotnob
x

Tracy said...

Thanks for joining Stamping Sensations with this great entry, good luck.
Happy crafting
Tracy x

Jane said...

Hi Jane what a gorgeous stamp that is and your cards are beautiful.Thanks so much for joining in with our mixed media with autumnal hues challenge over at Country View x

julie_woolston said...

2gorgeous cards Jane, very autumninal .
Hugs Julie xxx

Unknown said...

Gorgeous cards, love the leaf stamp and the 'leather' is great
Hugs Kaz xx

Lynne K said...

Absolutely beautiful, Jane, both cards are perfect for our Autumn Glory challenge at Stamping Sensations. I still have a few pieces of Almost Leather somewhere too! It's great stuff, and you've certainly used it to good effect with your leaves.

Lynne

Bonnie said...

Both of these cards are amazing, Jane! I love the softer look and beautiful fall colors of the first! And of course it pleases my love of CAS! And the second card with the embossed in "leather" leaves is amazing! Thanks so much for sharing with us at CAS Watercolour!

Christine Alexander said...

Two wonderful cards, your CAS card is wonderful but I'm really intrigued with your faux leather, it look amazing. thanks for joining us at CAS Watercolour :)

Corrie Herriman said...

Beautiful ! Thank you for joining us over at Country View Challenges !
Corrie x

Cara said...

Wow, two fantastic cards x

brenda said...

Slowly catching up after holidays jane so rather belatedly popping in to thank you for sharing your pretty creation with us at Stamping Sensations challenge.

B x

create.365 said...

Ahh, such beautiful cards and love the fall colors. I too remember the "almost leather" product from a stamp show/expo...loved that stuff!!! Thanks for joining us at the MIUCB and we hope to see you back again soom!

Karen Dunbrook said...

beautiful cards...great colour and textures.
Thanks so much for playing along with the CAS Watercolour Challenge this month!
Karen