Autumn colours --- an artist's palette

*Thrilled to be a winner in The Paper Plunge first challenge*

I love Autumn.  The best years have the colours of the leaves changing slowly, going from green through the reds, oranges, and yellows before they finally give up and drift away, a brown shadow of their living selves.  Of course some years the colours seem to go from green to brown overnight, and that's no fun.  This year the trees are putting on a brilliant show.  I love it!

One of my favourite stamp sets is an oldie but a real "goldie".  It's still current even though I'm sure there are bets that it will retire as each new annual catalogue approaches.  I don't care.  I'll keep using it forever.  If you've guessed that the stamp set is Lovely as a Tree, then pat yourself on the back.  You're right.

When I decided to make a card showing off some of the Autumn colours, I considered quite a few techniques and stamp sets.  In the end I decided to use Lovely as a Tree.  I used the stamp with the cluster of oak leaves and the one acorn.  The leaves are so true to life as is the acorn.  That really appeals to me.  My decision to fussy-cut them after colouring them using my Blendabilities?  Well, I gave myself a good talking-to during the seemingly endless curves and twists of that image.  But in the end I'm glad I did it.  I love the way they look mounted on Dimensionals.  The touch of Crystal Effects on the acorn makes it look real, too, doesn't it?

I used Crumb Cake as my base and then a layer of Soft Suede.  For the Soft Suede, I first stamped my sentiment using Versamark and heat embossed it with Gold embossing powder.  Then I stamped along the right side with the largest of the Gorgeous Grunge stamps using Soft Suede ink and also Encore Gold ink.  After that had dried, I scuffed the edges up using my Distress Tool.

My top layer is a strip of Very Vanilla which I first stamped over and over again using the script stamp from the By the Tide stamp set using Sahara Sand ink.  Then I carefully tore all around the perimeter and sponged the torn edge again using Sahara Sand ink.  After that I stamped it using the same large splatter stamp from the Gorgeous Grunge set, again using Soft Suede and Encore Gold inks.

Before adding the strip to the card, I wrapped Linen Thread around the top area and tied a little bow in front.  Then I glued the strip down on the left side of the Soft Suede layer.  That's about the time I added the cluster of leaves which I already told you I mounted with Dimensionals.  To finish the card off, I added a small Gold Mini Clothespin to "hold" the leaves in place.

For more cards featuring Autumn colours, check out SUO Challenges.

For more projects that feature fall, check out The Paper Plunge Challenge.

For more projects that used the photo inspiration, check out "Just Us Girls" Challenge.