Welcome to InKing Royalty’s October Blog Hop! During this year’s blog hops, we are enjoying a year of celebrations. This month’s projects celebrate Thanksgiving, so prepare yourself for Autumn landscapes, warm colors and sweet reminders of all the reasons we have to be grateful this time of year. We are excited to share our creations with you today! After you read my post, I hope you’ll hop over to the next person on the list at the base of this post.

I made 2 versions of my project today. Both use the Stitched Leaves dies. On the first one, I used cardstock and sponge wedge or dauber to add ink for a mottled effect. The second one is a little messier. I used watercolor paper and then smooshed and sponged on ink for color depth. These were so much fun to make. I have them already placed in my autumn Thanksgiving vignette.

Here is the first version of my Autumn candle band. This one is perfect for beginners and the colors are so vibrant.

SUPPLIES

Stamp the Good Morning Magnolia image onto the vellum panel using Basic Gray ink. The lines will be blurred by the Stampin’ Blends and the alcohol to create a faux watercolor effect.

Color the image starting with the lightest color. Use Dark Daffodil Delight for the center. Dip a fine-tip paintbrush into the rubbing alcohol and gently move the color. I added Champagne Shimmer Paint to my rubbing alcohol.

Next, color non-adjacent petals with Dark Flirty Flamingo. Gently blur the stamped line. Let dry and repeat on other petals. Do the same for the leaves. TIP: Blow into a straw to gently direct the ink flow in the desired direction.

Add a second layer of color after the image is dry. Repeat the process of alcohol painting and gently blowing the ink.

OPTIONAL: Pick up some clean rubbing alcohol with the paintbrush and flick it over the image. This will create small droplets that will lighten some areas by moving the color outward.

Adhere the vellum panel to the Basic White cardstock panel using Stampin’ Seal or a light amount of Multipurpose Liquid Glue. Add to Basic Black card base.

Stamp the sentiment in White Craft ink and heat emboss with with embossing powder. Trim to you liking. Add to card panel with small black Dimensionals.

Customize the message insert and the envelope with some flicks of color from the brush end of the Stampin’ Blends.

• Die-cut several leaves from the cardstock using Stitched Leaves dies.
• Using a sponge wedge (cut sponge into 4 wedges) add ink to the leaves. There is no right or wrong way. Take your cue from nature. If you like the leaf, it’s right.

• Cut 1/4″ strips of Mossy Meadow cardstock and roll them around a thin stick. This is a very basic Quilling technique.

• Tie a triple bow using any ribbon you have on hand that works with your color scheme. TIP: Add an acorn or pinecone trinket to the bow by threading it through one of the ribbon strands before tieing the bow.
• Use 1-1/4″ to 1-1/2″ strip of Gilded Autumn Designer Series paper or burlap ribbon for the candle band.

ASSEMBLY

• Crease the midrib on each leaf with your fingers.
• Start layering leaves add Black Dimensionals behind some of the leaves at their base. TIP: When you are building a large focal piece like this one, you may want to start with a circular base. Adhere (2) 1-1/2″ circles of cardstock together and add elements to the circle.
• Use Glue Dots or Multipurpose Liquid Glue to attach curled leaves by tucking them in between the leaves. TIP: Twist the base of the curl so that it lies fairly flat to the leaves.
• Wrap candle band around the candle and secure with adhesive. TIP: Adhere DSP or ribbon tightly to itself. It should not slide down without help.
• Attach focal bundle to candle band. TIP: Use 2-3 rows of Tear-n-Tape.

Here is the second version of the autumn Thanksgiving candle band. The colors are a little less bold, your fingers may get inky and there is a drying time factor. But I always say, “Go For It”. Ink washes off. (eventually – LOL!)

SUPPLIES

Stamp the Good Morning Magnolia image onto the vellum panel using Basic Gray ink. The lines will be blurred by the Stampin’ Blends and the alcohol to create a faux watercolor effect.

Color the image starting with the lightest color. Use Dark Daffodil Delight for the center. Dip a fine-tip paintbrush into the rubbing alcohol and gently move the color. I added Champagne Shimmer Paint to my rubbing alcohol.

Next, color non-adjacent petals with Dark Flirty Flamingo. Gently blur the stamped line. Let dry and repeat on other petals. Do the same for the leaves. TIP: Blow into a straw to gently direct the ink flow in the desired direction.

Add a second layer of color after the image is dry. Repeat the process of alcohol painting and gently blowing the ink.

OPTIONAL: Pick up some clean rubbing alcohol with the paintbrush and flick it over the image. This will create small droplets that will lighten some areas by moving the color outward.

Adhere the vellum panel to the Basic White cardstock panel using Stampin’ Seal or a light amount of Multipurpose Liquid Glue. Add to Basic Black card base.

Stamp the sentiment in White Craft ink and heat emboss with with embossing powder. Trim to you liking. Add to card panel with small black Dimensionals.

Customize the message insert and the envelope with some flicks of color from the brush end of the Stampin’ Blends.

• Use the Smooshing Technique to create autumn-colored watercolor sheets. See the Smooshing Technique here.
• Continue adding color and drying using the heat tool or letting the ink dry naturally. TIP: I find that I like the natural drying best. Feel free to experiment. Go ahead and flick some droplets of water onto the finished piece, they add lots of interest.
• Die-cut several leaves from the colored watercolor paper using Stitched Leaves dies.
• Using a sponge wedge (cut sponge into 4 wedges) add ink to the leaves. There is no right or wrong way. Take your cue from nature. If you like the leaf, it’s right.
• Crease the midrib on each leaf with your fingers.
• Separate the strings of the gold trim from the Forever Greenery Trim Combo Pack,
• Add several coordinating ribbons and tie a triple bow. TIP: Add an acorn or pinecone trinket to the bow by threading it through one of the ribbon strands before tieing the bow.
• Cut 1/4″ strips of Mossy Meadow cardstock and roll them around a thin stick. This is a very basic Quilling technique.
• Die-cut foliage sprigs from Brass Foil. I used retired Brightly Gleaming Foil Elements. OPTIONS: Use Bird & More or Sunflower dies to cut foliage.
• Tuck metallic foliage between leaves.

ASSEMBLY (same as first version)

I used flameless candles for safety. I hope you give these a try. Wouldn’t these look good on top of a package too?

Thank you for stopping by today.  I hope you’ll hop along to the next stop on the blog hop, Sue Jackson at Just Peachy Stamping. There’s lots of inspiration to be found in this group – and you don’t want to miss it! Please leave comments along the way and tell us what you liked about our projects.

Thank you for hopping along with us.  If you get stuck during the Blog Hop, please use this line-up as a guide:

1. Brian King at Stamp with Brian
2. Renae Novak at Blessed by Cards
3. Pam Morris at Tap Tap Stamp
4. Lynn Kolcun at Avery’s Owlery
5. Joanne Brown at The Inky Dragon
6. Linda Krueger at The Stamp Coach
7. Sheryl Sharp at Sharp Notes by Sheryl
8. Rachel Brumley at Artistic Designs by Rachel
9. Ann Murray at Murray Stamps Ink
10. Sue Jackson at Just Peachy Stamping
11. Katie Ferguson at Cottage Paper
12. Jackie Beers at Blue Line Stamping
13. Candy Ford at Stamp Candy
14. Julie DiMatteo at The Paper Pixie