Saturday 26 September 2015

Leaves

Hi!  I wanted to make a card featuring leaves to meet a few current challenges, but I didn't know what sort of card to make, so I pondered on it for a while today.  Unfortunately, I got a phone call from a former workmate advising of the sudden death of another workmate's young wife, so I needed a sympathy card.  Because of the nature of this card, I spent quite some time trying to make it the best I could.  Consequently, there were a lot of steps that aren't immediately apparent.


I am playing along in the autumn colors challenge at AAA Cards, the autumn splendors challenge at Simply Create Too and the current Tag You're It Challenge.  Admittedly, I didn't take too many elements from the gorgeous inspiration tag, but I was trying to produce a more muted and somber card.  I did use the leaves, autumn colors and I used white paint splatter instead of sequins.

I started with a manila tag and sponged on various Distress Ink colors in a random fashion.  I then over-stamped the tag with a blueprint-type image in Stone and Cobblestone inks.  The Layered Leaves dies were used to cut some leaves and I sponged the edges in Vintage Photo ink before adhering the open layer to the bottom layer at the stem only.


I white-embossed a sympathy sentiment onto a die-cut tag and then I careful cut around the reinforcing circle from the manila tag and adhered that to the black tag.  Another tag in Desert Storm was arranged behind the black one.  Finally I splattered some Picket Fence Distress Paint onto the tag using a paintbrush before adhering the tag to the card base.

So, that's my card, that'll be mailed out on Monday.

Thanks for visiting.



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Products used:

Stamps:  Deepest Sympathy (Verve), Steampunk (Stampers Anonymous)
Ink:  Peeled Paint, Rusty Hinge, Spiced Marmalade, Fossilized Amber, Squeezed Lemonade, Wild Honey, Vintage Photo (Distress), Stone, Cobblestone (SSS), Versamark, White Picket Fence Paint 
Cardstock:  White, Black, Desert Storm, Dots & Stripes patterned paper (MFT), manila tag
Accessories:  White EP, Layered Leaves dies (MFT), Pierced Traditional Tag Stax (MFT), twine

Cheers
Karren

Edited to Add:  This card got a shout out at Simply Create Too.

15 comments:

Donna said...

Karren... this is a beautiful, understated tag card that I can tell without being told took quite a lot of thought and time on your part. It doesn't matter if not all of the elements of the TYI DT tag are there or not... it's obvious some inspiration came from it.
My heart goes out to the workmate in question... so, so sad.

Linda Callahan said...

Soooo beautiful! The leaves are amazing!

Jill V said...

Really beautiful leaves - and set off stunningly by the black background! Gorgeous! Thanks so much for playing along at AAA Cards! Jill

Jen Timko said...

This is stunning. I'm so sorry for the reason you need it but it will surely be appreciated for the love put in.

Sazzle Dazzle said...

Simply striking, fabulous and against that black tag those leaves just POP!
Thanks for playing along at AAA Cards. Sarah x

Kelly S. said...

A beautiful, serene card...your inking on the leaves look so fabulous!

Susanne Vargas said...

What a wonderful card for a very sad occasion! Those leaves look amazing!

Linda Beeson said...

Everything about this is so neat! LOVE the orange leaves against the black.

Kara Lynne said...

I'm sorry for the sad reason for your card. Those deep, rich colors and the white spatter is just beautiful! Thank you for sharing your creation over at Tag, You're It!

Nancy Penir said...

Always sorry for the sympathy card occasion, but how lovely this card is, speaks for itself. The leaves are so rich and glow against the black bg, and I love the whole neutral stage you set for them. Beautiful!

Jen Mitchell said...

Sympathy cards are always so difficult to make but the care with which you made this is a testament to your spirit. The leaves have such depth - color and those subtle background images. And those little white splatters make me think of the universe. What a great metaphor - the temporary leaves floating through the greater universe. Surely the recipient will appreciate these evocative images.

Jeanin Jügler said...

Hi Karren, this is such a beautiful card! The colors go so well togehter! Thank you for joining us at Simply Create Too!

Marybeth said...

Karren, this is stunning in black and gold with the beautiful stripes, I love this !
I am so sorry for your very sad news and for the family of that young mother.
Thanks for joining us at Tag You’re It!

Jeanne J. said...

What a beautiful sympathy card. Those are always so hard for me to make.

Erin (Homemade Cards by Erin) said...

Beautiful, the black tag is striking and the leaves are beautiful. Thank you for joining us at Tag You're It Challenge.