Hello friends! Crisp air and falling leaves always inspire my soul. A friend of mine took this photo while on a walk in Wisconsin. I used this as inspiration for yesterday’s candle bands and today I have a nature-inspired Thanksgiving card to share.

Here is the card. Using the Gilded Autumn Designer Series paper for a background turned out pretty good. I still can’t help looking at the houndstooth print and seeing the Atari Space Invaders game. Can you see it?

• Thick Whisper White cardstock:
  • 4-1/4″ x 11″ scored at 5-1/2″
  • 3-3/4″ x 5″ for embossed card panel
  • 4″ x 5-1/4″ for message insert
• Early Espresso cardstock: 3″ x 3″
• Gilded Autumn DSP:
  • 2-1/2″ x 2-1/2″
  • 2″ x 2″
• Bumblebee cardstock: 1″ x 3″ for sentiment
• Cardstock for Leaves: Granny Apple Green, Pumpkin Pie, Cajun Craze

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.

Check out the instructions for preparing the leaves in the candle band post.

• Emboss the 3-3/4″ x 5″ Thick Whisper White panel with Subtle 3D embossing folder.
• Using Square dies, die-cut:
  • Early Espresso 2-7/8″ square
  • Gilded Autumn DSP 2-3/8″ square
• Tie a bow. I used the retired 1/4″ Copper Trim because it lies flat. A nice alternative would be a double bow with Linen Thread or Braided Linen Trim (see this post for making a bow that lies flat).
• Stamp sentiment ‘Happy Thanksgiving’ using the Banner Year stamp set. Use Cajun Craze on Bumblebee strip. I also think that any of the sentiments from Itty Bitty Greetings are nice.
• Die-cut sentiment using All Dressed Up die. An alternative would be using the Pick a Punch from the Banner Year Bundle.
• Add Dimensional to the back of the sentiment.
• Grab a leave from the In Good Taste Elements and we are ready to assemble.

ASSEMBLY

• Adhere Subtle embossed panel to the card base.
• Position the layered squares in the top half of the card front (as shown)
• Add Dimensionals at the base of the 1st and 2nd leaf.
• Crease the midrib of each of the leaves for added dimension.
• Assemble the leaf cluster as shown.
• Add the bow and wood leaf element with a couple of glue dots or Multipurpose Liquid Glue.
• Adhere cluster to the layered square.
• Add sentiment,
• Customize the message insert panel and envelope. I used the smallest Stitched Triangle die to make a DSP corner. Then added a small leaf. TIP: Use Multipurpose Liquid Glue to attach die-cuts to the envelope. Make sure that the edges are secure and do not flip up.

This card was super fast to create because of my mantra, “Make lots of elements that you think you might use”. In this case, autumn leaves. I have a little pile of them and was able to make several of these cards quickly. I look forward to seeing your nature-inspired Thanksgiving card.

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