Leafing It to Autumn

So much to learn and do and so little time! I bet you can relate to that statement too right?

While at the Artists of the Round Table bash recently, one of the attendees taught us a couple types of marbling. The first sample uses the easiest form aka Suminagashi.

Autumn is my favorite season of the year and tonight’s class utilizes three main dies by Spellbinders that have leaves on them. I am not going to go into how to use the Wizard the instructions are on a DVD you now get with the machine. The three dies are:
S4076 Assorted Leaves
S4011 Harvest 2 Leaves
S3092 Foliage

In this first sample I cut three leaves from the Suminagashi paper I made. I spent an entire day watching all of season five of Smallville and made papers what fun! I have a nice stash ready. I made them in card size.

Encaustic wax technique.

I used regular and pearl crayons on black glossy for this one. The next few show different samples I prepared. I like how when I ran it through it kind of took a little off the edge so I pulled some off the veins on purpose.

This is another easy and fun tech. You will also note I used the oval dies to make the window and one of my new textures to add the dimension to the layered piece. Cindyc loves her textures!!!


This scan looks messy but the card is gorgeous. After cutting out the leaves, I used the discarded paper with the leaf shape holes as a stencil and chalked on color using my Judi-Kins Color Dusters.

I then traced with a Stardust pen. You can't see it in the picture but it is stunning!

You know how Northwoods always has glitter cards that stop everyone in their tracks? They are just the right light touch of glitter. Well this is that look without the hassle! Just trace and you get just a perfect hint of sparkle. They will be great with the new snowflake dies too!

TIP: If you cut your shape from thin craft foam you could use paste for a thick design.

On to 4:
Now Spellbinders does have a nice slim doll type die that they carry but those who know me wouldn't recognize me trim... giggle. So I used the child doll die for me. Much better!

If you looked ahead you will see what I used for her clothes and wings. In this case it was Kroger’s version of Dr. Pepper cans. Yes, pop cans! The thin aluminum in most soda cans works fine. I would guess most beer cans too but can't say for sure. Just cut & emboss like paper in your Wizard. I then added Adirondack alcohol inks.

The doll was stamped and the background made using the polish stone technique then stamped too with a leaf stamp from HIT.

Notice the pop cans in the next pic and then the following pic shows the embossed cans before coloring. A pretty look all by itself.

On to 5!

Now this one is a bit more complicated as I couldn't stop myself. First notice the following pic; it is a scrap piece of butcher paper left over when I made my scarf with the Adirondack color sprays. I have a lot of it and it is gorgeous! Lol

First I die cut some Harvest 2 leaves from fun foam aka craft foam. I then used them as stamps. I decided I wanted some dimension so I traced the leaves with an embossing marker and poured on Ranger Distress Powders and heated. Remember with Ranger Distress Powders you shake, pour on, heat, and rub off excess to get the “grains” out.

Once the leaves were done I added the flowers. Then it needed something down at the bottom. I chose a thin metal charm that comes in a silver color. This one says “create.” I usually use these to emboss into aluminum foil tape.

I wanted color and texture so I used one of my new textures and ran through. It gives it a lot of angles to catch the light. I then did the polish stone technique on it as well.

See that big yellow circle in the large flower? It is a Great Big Brads! The brads are about the size of a nickel and come in colors and metallic! I plan to emboss those.

Ok, see 6:

Just to throw more ideas at you…. Here the leaves and acorns from the Harvest 2 die are cut from wall paper (via free books). After dry embossing I added more color to the veins by brayering ink on. ‘So simple! I then cut strips from the paper for borders to complete the card.

See 7: What do you see?

I’ll tell ya a Dominos pizza ad! Yes, Scoutdogs, I cut a pizza. Lol! Don’t toss those glossy ads... very handy and aren't the colors perfect?

Ok, on 8: I used a technique I had forgotten about, the lost Burnt bag technique! I used cereal cardboard instead of brown bag. After cutting your shapes smear white school glue all over. Then heat the glue over a hot candle or fire starter. Put it in the fire and keep moving. It will get very sooty. Then set aside to be sure glue is dry. Once dry and cool gently wipe off the soot.

You will get a shiny surface that is very cool. Leave as is or add metallic rub-ons or… take it a step further and add the butterscotch Adirondack alcohol ink. It is super yummy! These would make great hair barrettes or other embellishments.

Try it you will be surprised!

TIP: Keep a tub of water handy just in case. Safety first!

See 9:

I made this for CHA (Spellbinders) a couple of years ago. The leaves on the box are copper that have been heated for color. I think Stacey hauled that box everywhere for about a year. It has been places I will never get to, lucky box. Ü

See 10:

The leaves here were done the same way. The bottle caps were flattened in the Wizard and the polished stone letters are from the Vintage font aka spellbinders! (Two fonts in one). The turkey was colored with chalk

See 11:

“Boo” and the “ghosts” were done with vellum, perfect for this. The pumpkins were transferred in the Wizard using an inkjet printer and “Stewart Superior Transfer Medium” to muslin.

The frame was cut and textured in Wizard too.

Samples as well as instructions are copyrighted and may not be used without the owners permission. Thank you.